This is how the second rebuild of my Ferrari 308 started. On the way to my job in May 2007 on an empty new highway at 4:15 AM a fox crossed my path, resulting in the damage to the front spoiler and grille as shown below.
The insurance adjuster agreed to pay for a replica GTO front spoiler and grille and some amount for my labour and painting. I used the money however to place an order with Superformance UK to do a suspension and steering upgrade. Upgraded springs, all new upgraded bushings for the A-arms and anti roll bars and a quick steering rack and pinion. Also new boots for the drive shafts.
And I got me some raw materials...
As I had to do bodywork and paint anyway, I decided to do some more work and create a GTO style rear deck lid with fixed side butresses. Didn't take many pictures from the process.
Alu sheet cut to (over)size.
Then I thought, why not go to full GTO width body. The car looked like a GTO but was only 6 cm or 2.5 inch wider as standard. I wanted to go full width now, which meant a widening from stock of 20 cm or 8 inches. Didn't want to use huge wheel spacers or extreme wide wheels, so... I decided to make new longer A-arms out of mild steel. A bit concerned about strength and personal safety I made them a bit heavier then original with closed [] beams and not U beams like original. Were the bushings fit in I used pieces of cold drawn 30mm tube. Warning: making your own suspension pieces is a serious safety issue! (famous last words) Copy at your own risk, or don't.
The suspension arms are 6 cm longer each, that means the upper shock mounts will sit on the other side of the chassis member as original. You can see the original mount here, not the new one yet.
Before painting the A arms with hammerite, I stress relieved the welds (tempering) in my kitchen oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 4 hours. Not sure if that helps but the next pizza after that tasted great.
Of course then I needed 6 cm longer driveshafts. Got them from a shop for VW based baja beach buggy's. These upgraded VW dune bugs use Porsche 930 axles and constant velocity joints, as does the 308 and shafts are available in any length you wish, you could build a 3 meter wide thing. You have to cut grooves for the CV retainers, as those buggy's just let the shafts slide through the CV for extra suspension travel.
Ready to install with new boots and grease.
New bushings for the wheelside of the rear A arms.
