What is high mileage

Im in the 125's right now.

So I am free to thoroughly enjoy my 308 on a level that nearly everyone else isn't.

 

Mileage is a material indicator of remaining vehicle utility. For 40 year old antiques, remaining utility is no longer a meaningful consideration. Antiques are no longer simple consumer products like are every-day commuter cars.

Mileage becomes only one factor in assessing condition of an antique. Cars who have lead rough lives can be badly worn in less than 10 years since manufacture. Forty year old antique cars that have been fanatically cared for can be better than they were brand new.

At this point with our 3x8s, it seems that suspension, hoses and gaskets need to have already been addressed at least once already. Many cars interiors have already needed restoration. Engines often need major work sometime after the 100,000 mile mark.

There is a collector category for "zero miles" cars. For that group mileage is a paramount measure. There aren't many "zero" mile 308s but more 328s. There is no real other mileage threshold beyond zero.

 

I have seen 3 year old 308's look worse than a 30 year old one.

I have pics.

 

High mileage must be north of the 120,000 range, because I'm certain mine isn't high

 

The newest 328 is 31 years old. At 100 miles per month, that's 37,000 miles. Beware low mileage cars, because the odometer is really easy to disconnect.

 

When I bought my 308 back in 2001, the posts were saying an average use of 3K/yr

 

At 50k miles, you’re barely getting over your break-in period.

 

These things have had 30,000 miles on them since the 80's. ALL used 308's are 30,000 mile cars.

Look at the ads in an old Autoweek or R&T.

40 years later, they still have those 30,000 miles.

Wonder why that is....... Hmmmmmm.

 

I have 100,000 miles on my 89. so maybe Im half way to a rebuild, for now, It runs better than it did with 40 k miles. The 3x8 motors flow a lot of oil, they designed this car from their 1970 s F1 effort. When this car corners, the engine gets all the oil it needs, same as when the car is going in a straight line,,,10 quarts of oil is a lot !!! Ferraris engine design of the 3x8s was genius, its that simple. My car does not have any of the problems that the high tech Ferraris of today have. Now that I can buy 101 octane from the pump at the VP down the street, the F1 will always get fed the best fuel !!! I run Valvoline 20/50 mineral racing oil with ZINC , this oil might just be a factor in the way my engine keeps up its performance. With the 101, I have been able in the past to get 120 MPH out of 4th gear, (7900 RPMs)so I guess thats my test to see that my motor is still strong.

Thank you.

 

Well done Doc I am at 78K and love driving it,these cars are not an investment the are for driving and enjoyment,

 

IMO You may not need an engine rebuild at 100,000 miles but you will probably have really worn out valve stems. Does that mean you need an engine over haul? No, but you may need to have your heads rebuilt and a valve job long before you need pistons, rings or lower main bearings etc.

 

Mine has 108k so I'm fairly sure that's the actual figure I agree with these cars... if a car really only has 30k miles on it then either the car has been meticulously maintained and driven very very rarely. OR that car will probably need every hose and rubber part replaced since it's bad for them to sit and not be driven.

Mine is going in at the end of the year to get the valves done and probably whatever else needs to be done on the engine while it's apart. I had hoped to do this myself, but I don't know enough about the engine to do it reliably.

 

My 125Kish mileage 308 needs LESS mechanical work today than any 2500 mile 328 on this planet.

Change my mind.

 

Have you run a leakdown test on each cylinder?

 

Did two years ago. Everything is fine.

 

Good to hear it is fine but what were the numbers? Everything is fine will still run just not the same as it was 100,000 miles ago.

 

Not in front of me at the moment. I'll dig them up. What was interesting was back in 97 when I first bought it there was one area on the leakdown that was 3-5% or so higher than the others and I recall Lee telling me they don't even worry until it gets to "X" whatever "X" was. Back in 2017 or 18 when we did another compression and leakdown it was as if we were seeing the same pattern from 20 years earlier and I have had 2 valve (maybe 3) adjustments since.

And it has been a very hard well run 20 years. LOTS of track days.