Excerpts from Forza, August 2004, (Number 55)

Black Sheep Makeover

"Some enthusiasts don't consider the 308 GT4 a full member of the Ferrari stables, but that didn't dissuade Tate Casey from restoring his European model. Jay Jones visits Carobu Engineering for a look at Casey's made-over Ferrari."

"The Bertone-designed 308 GT 2+2 is sometimes considered a black sheep of the Ferrari family. It's not surprising, perhaps, since the angular 308 GT4 replaced the sinuous Dino 246 and was followed by the sleek Ferrari 308 GTB."

"Though the Ferrari had less than 7,000 miles, it had spent its early life as a dealer's demo car. It had been used as an emissions testing vehicle at a college in Texas, and was later sold to a doctor who rarely drove it. By the time Casey bought it, the Ferrari's engine was running poorly and its body and interior needed work." We reported on Carobu's first round of engine updates and dyno tests on this 308 GT4 in "The Scientific Method" in Forza #48."

"Initial examination of the exterior revealed that sheet metal had never been drilled for a radio antenna, outside mirrors or license plate mounting bolts."

..."The 308 GT4's nose and rear fenders showed signs of rust… Rather than trying to match his repairs to the existing front panel, Salas handcrafted an all-new center nose section."

"After the freshly painted car returned to Carobu, Casey turned his attention to the crusty mechanicals and sent the suspension components out for powder coating or plating. While the suspension was disassembled, Carobu replaced every rubber suspension and stock bushing. The OE shocks were rebuilt, their exterior housings restored right down to the trademark "winged" logo."

"Carobu also rebuilt the brakes, painted the calipers black, installed new Razzo Rosso brake pads and inspected all the hydraulics, rebuilding and replacing as necessary."

"Prior to reinstalling the engine, Carobu cleaned up the factory Euro exhaust headers and ceramic coated them to reduce further damage from rust. The rear muffler can was dumped altogether and replaced with a Tubi Style polished stainless-steel sport muffler for better looks and a more aggressive sound."

"The factory R-12 air conditioning system was removed to save weight. Without A/C, a spare tire or the American spec bumpers and their supports, the Euro 308 GT4 weighs 2840 pounds with a full tank of gas. Casey say's he's weighed an American-spec car with a/c, a spare tire and a full tank of gas at 3,280 pounds."

"The cold, multi-carbureted engine easily rumbled to life with the twist of the ignition key, but required a little patience before engaging the throttle…. The exhaust note of the 235-horsepower small-bore V8 was sweet, with just the right amount of sharpness provided by the Tubi muffler…. As with any multi-carbureted car, this Ferrari was not truly in its element until the throttle butterflies were cracked open for extended periods."

"Tate Casey and Carobu Engineering have a long list of performance upgrades planned for this 308 GT4, including larger brakes, suspension tuning and, as mentioned, more power… Casey is planning to build up a separate engine from a 3.0-liter block and heads and a 3.2-liter crank. He's considering installing a fuel-injection system… and says his goal is 300 streetable horsepower."