LS3 with a flat crank.

Missing front seats, steering wheel, and gauges. The rest looks pretty good, original paint job. There are dozens of pics and I don't see rust or bubbling anywhere.

YES! They do make flat cranks for the LS series. Big bore, short stroke, LS7 titanium rods and valves, 7000+ rpm and would sound like a 458......but sadly, not a Columbo V12.

Just seeing what is there, your easily looking at $30K to start with body restoration cost, an honest Ferrari engine and transmission will set you back $25K to $40K and figure another $30k for misc. I've restored and drove one of these for a little while, great cars. Another route is buying an 400i that is running and use all f it's running gear. that might save a few pennies on a engine/trans combo. An American V8 is a waste and at that rate just leave it for someone who can afford restore it with a Columbo V12

I suddenly have very (expensive) dirty thoughts about a LS swap in my 944.

Lingenfelter will sell you their all-aluminum 358 cu in flat-plane LS V8 with titanium internals that makes 620hp at 9000 rpm (and redlines at 10,500 rpm)

But if you have to ask.....

Exactly. If I could afford that engine, I could afford to put it in something nicer than a 944.

The car would make great garage art.

Another crazy idea would be to put an electric motor in it.

Too funny. What is it about you people in Cali?

I can imagine that car done.
Would look like a quarter million buck car.
Beautiful.

We have Tesla here. It's the magnetic field.

No kidding. This would be my goal:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1343265387.jpg

This has always been one of my favorite Ferraris, if for no other reason than it's relative affordability. A great look, and a Columbo V-12.

www.ferrarichat.com

That said, by the time you find a correct V12 motor and have it fitted you'll be underwater.

So I say throw in an American V8, get the car working, and go show up at a Ferrari meet just to see the looks in people's eyes.

Hey why not?

I'd be very tempted by something like that. A nice and very reliable V8 and 6 speed trans would be a smart move IMO.
And if you didn't carve up the engine bay there's no reason you or a future owner couldn't put the correct engine a tranny in it down the road.

I'd keep the colour original. It looks pretty good. Even if its faded I wouldn't paint it unless I absouluty had to.

I've always loved these older Ferraris. A lot of parts are from the same vintage Fiats. With some research you could run that thing almost as cheaply as a modern car.

But first things first. It needs an inspection before you part with any cash.
Can you get it up on a lift? At least there's air in the tyres. ;)

An American V8 would turn the car to junk, like I said earlier the Columbo V12 can be found in the 400 or 400i for fairly cheap for instance this car 1982 Ferrari 400i for Sale in Redwood City, California is less than $30k and would make the car whole with Ferrari parts. I don't see the logic in placing a crappy lumpy V8 in the car when V12's are available.

Tom Yang, the guru on such cars, has informed me that the wholesale value of the car is in the $30K range, and an engine/tranny would cost the same. I don't think the wife would sign the requisition form.

Could you send me a PM and tell me where it's located? I would very much be interested in buying and restoring that car.

If that one is worth $30K, and a complete running, driving V12 that needed resto just sold through true Ferrari guru Michael Sheehan for under $30K, there's something amiss......

1963 Ferrari 330 GT America Serial Number 5015 GT - main page

From the link:

"330 America s/n 5015 GT. One owner since 1976. The long term owner, an engineer, rebuilt the motor. When inspected it started without drama, had no smoke on startup or when warmed up. Has good oil pressure and makes no potentially expensive noises. Runs and drives well with excellent syncros but so–so brakes.

The body is rust free and the original paint is in amazingly good shape, but the owner/engineer somehow never found time to finish the bodywork so repairs are needed to the upper nose panel plus a paint job and interior work. This “barn find” Ferrari is really too nice to make into yet another 250 project car but it will probably become another 250 project car, simply because the cost to restore the car “as original” is probably more than it’s worth.

Asking $32K. It will sell quickly."

PM sent.