[F355 Challenge]

My 1976 308 GTB has a different rear valance treatment. Instead of the black slotted muffler shield, there is a metal center piece which attaches to the lateral fiberglass sections with screws as pictured here:

(see "valance detail")

I have a Euro ANSA muffler installed and the tips do not clear the central portion of the valance and so it has been removed:

(see "valance detail 2")

The OEM muffler's tips do not interfere. I have the OEM muffler and center valance piece in my garage.

Would it be possible to reposition the ANSA muffler to allow me to reattach the center part of the valance?

Barry

 

[Magoo]

Barry, According to the photos it shows that the ext. come up higher on the Ansa conversion. To lower the mufller by dropping the pipes where they connect on the rear of the muffler may drop it too far and it would show or also the muffler may protrude to where the cover won't go on. Also to cut the pipes behind the muffler where they attach to the muffler could be very tricky. In any event it will be a touch and go job. You may have to take it to a muffler shop and have them make new pipes that attach to the muffler up inside the cavity that houses the muffler. These are only suggestions not being there and seeing the situation first hand. One thing you have going for you is that the muffler cavity should be large enough to acommodate a pipe redesign.

 

[F355 Challenge]

Thanks, Magoo. It's pretty much what I figured should be done. I'll drive it this way until I'm due for an oil change and then I'll let Classic Coach see what they can do to correct the muffler's position. I'd like to be able to put the central part of the valance back in place.

Barry

 

[Magoo]

Absolutely Barry I would want to replace the orig. valance also. It really is a tough call to make without seeing it but I think there will have to be some serious cutting and pipe redesign done to correct it. The whole concept here of a repair is for the muffler to be brought straight down and lower the entire unit so the pipes clear the valance. The trick is to get the pipes designed that connect to the muffler from the manifold to lower it and not push the muffler outward. I'll bet you were ticked off when you got it installed and tried to replace the valance.

 

[F355 Challenge]

Magoo,

I know it's hard to assess without seeing it. I think Classic Coach will know precisely what to do. They're set up to do every kind of restoration and modification. You should see all the bent Challenge cars that come in, get straightened out only to come back bent again!

My car came set up this way. The ANSA muffler was installed about 16 years ago by an independent service facility and service records indicated that the original owner brought it back to Algar with the complaint of "knocking sound from rear of car." Algar removed the center part of the valance for him to stop the "knocking." The OEM muffler came along with the car when I purchased it and I have it in my garage.

If Classic Coach feels that I would be better off replacing the ANSA with another which would allow the tips to clear the valance, I'll certainly go that route (eg. Tubi, etc.). The ANSA tips really are nice. The muffler itself is in nice shape save the blistered paint in the central area. I understand that ANSA tips can be installed on other mufflers.

Barry

 

[bretm]

I know a thing or two about Classic Coach... In my opinion you will not find a better place in the U.S. to have anything done in the world of Ferrari.

 

[F355 Challenge]

I agree, Bret. I was happy to learn that they were just 20 minutes away. They have taken fine care of my car. I'm sure they can take care of the muffler repositioning.

Barry

 

[F355 Challenge]

I just wanted to post these follow up pictures. Classic Coach modified the ANSA muffler system to allow the rear valance to fit. This valance is unique to the 1976 North American and Australian Version 1976 GTBs.

Barry