| Author | Message | ||
| Mark (Markg)
Junior Member Username: Markg Post Number: 185 Registered: 2-2001 |
I agree with Ed Gault 110%; I only recently got a place to work on my GTSi, so have had 90% of work to date done buy over-priced (but top notch)shops here in town. Bottom line, these cars really, really arn't worth the expense; they are an Ego stroke. Still, I just can't bring myself to sell it just yet ..... | ||
| Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Intermediate Member Username: Irfgt Post Number: 1261 Registered: 2-2001 |
Since I repair cars for a living, of course I do everything to my car that needs to be done. If I did not do this for a living I would not pay someone else to do it. As much as I like my Ferrari it is not worth the ammount of money that you have to pay someone to keep it running. It just ain't that great of a car in my opinion for that kind of expense. If it were that great of car, it would not require that amount of expense. I just work on too many daily drivers that will last almost forever with minimal maintenance, so therefore my experience taints my objectivity. As a footnote, if it were not for the "do it yourselfers" most of the mass produced Ferraris would have been scrapped since it costs more to restore them than they would ever be worth. | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2045 Registered: 5-2001 |
James if you have been an auto mechanic for 6 years you have nothing to worry. just remember on italian cars: "If it aint leaking, it needs more oil!" | ||
| James H. (Jamesh)
Junior Member Username: Jamesh Post Number: 57 Registered: 5-2001 |
I guess the reason I started this thread was to find out how complicated it is to work on a ferrari. I used to be a auto mechanic for 6 years, but that was working on american and japanese cars and never had to work on fuel injected cars. That was over 22 years ago, where most if not all the japanese and some european cars still had carburetors. I recently changed the spark plug wires on my 308 and it seems a person had to be a contortionist to work on these cars. NIKA would do well working on a Ferrari cuz her hands can get to places where my hands cant  I guess I will have to jump into it and get my feet wet. I am one of those ferrari owners who was able to afford buying one but cant afford to pay for the upkeep.  | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2038 Registered: 5-2001 |
...besides all the rumors, ther eis not much to do on my car anyway! | ||
| Martin (Miami348ts)
Intermediate Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 2037 Registered: 5-2001 |
I thought a "Wrench" is the side kick to some guy at the WWF. With that said I can not do much. Oil check, oil change (with my mechanic, because I do not have a lift yet, little stuff here and there. I am eager to learn though. | ||
| Greg Rodgers (Joechristmas)
Member Username: Joechristmas Post Number: 262 Registered: 3-2001 |
I work on both of my 308s. One carbed and the other a QV. This site has made it possible for me. I wouldn't have it any other way. I enjoy tinkering and repairing problems. Plus you get to learn some much more about your car. It is very rewarding also. | ||
| Greg Owens (Owens84qv)
Member Username: Owens84qv Post Number: 341 Registered: 10-2001 |
I've have done maintenance on SB 350's so this is my first jump into working on a foreign car. I intend to do as much of the work as I can. As Terry said, go slow, read, read, and take notes. The principles are the same from car to car, the how's are obviously different. | ||
| Tim Hogan (Tojo)
New member Username: Tojo Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2002 |
MMMM. You're welcome  | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Junior Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 177 Registered: 4-2002 |
THANK YOU MR AEROSMITH...... BRUCE | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
New member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 34 Registered: 4-2002 |
I am shopping for an early GTB, when I finally get one I will do all of the maintenance. Im no ace mechanic but I do have a good set of tools and have restored Porsches and tons of English cars (Jags, Healeys, Triumphs...). Its been my experience that anyone with a very basic mechanical understanding can do just about any repair, including an engine rebuild. For me, the only way I can justify or afford a Ferrari is if I maintain it myself. As a bonus, its fun! The key for the amateur is going slow, do lots of reading, make lots of notes, shoot lots of pictures, label all of your parts well and ask lots of questions. The pro may be able to do an engine rebuild in less than a week. The amateur with little experience may take several months. Its not rocket science, but mistakes can be expensive and time consuming. Doing lots of reading on general mechanics coupled with studying the parts manual and shop manuals while getting some expert advice will help the patient novice to do just fine. The internet has definitly made doing your own maintenance on a Ferrari and entirely different proposition!. All of the help, detailed instructions and tips you can get on sites like this and many others is amazing. I dont think there is any repair a Ferrari could need that you could not find experienced advice on in this chat room. All of the internet resources have made me much more confident that I will be able to properly maintain my own Ferrari. Terry | ||
| Tim Hogan (Tojo)
New member Username: Tojo Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2002 |
Hey Bruce, 'Crack Testing' is a regular part of Aircraft maintenance. You should remember that when you fly :-) "The buzz that you bin gettin' from that crack wont last, I'd rather be OD'ing on the crack of her ass" - Steve Tyler | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Junior Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 175 Registered: 4-2002 |
THANKS TIM FOR YOUR EXPLANATION.. I WAS KINDA LOOKING AT THAT IN THE JOKING SENSE OF CRACK SMOKING... THANKS | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 650 Registered: 9-2001 |
it pays to have connections - look at Tommy Yang's restoration of his 330 america - the guy uses the CBS machine shop for parts! | ||
| Tim Hogan (Tojo)
New member Username: Tojo Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2002 |
crack testing is where parts are soaked in a fluro dye cvered in awhite powder then put under a UV light the dye soaks into the crack then the white powder will make it show up under the light. Theres a magnetic test as well for parts that may be magnetic. It will show an anomally in the reading when there is a crack and the crack disrupts the magnetic flow. All this is real good for engine parts like heads, cranks, rods etc. I hope this explains crack testing to you Bruce. | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Junior Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 173 Registered: 4-2002 |
TIM "CRACK TESTING" ??? EXPLAIN | ||
| Tim Hogan (Tojo)
New member Username: Tojo Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2002 |
I work as an aircraft mechanic, I think I'm pretty handy with mechanical stuff. I'm restoring my car, so I,ve done/am doing everything except for the panelbeating and spray painting. There's a guy I work at the airport with, who has been working on Ferrari's on the side for 25 years, so I help him out as well, servicing and restoring cars, which has given me a good idea on how Ferrari's work. The airport is such a great facility for things like consumable goods, sheetmetal, beadblasting, crack testing, spraypaint and other stuff. If any of you have friends working in aircraft maintenance, make the most of them. People like me can help you save a lot of money on the little things when you work on your own car. | ||
| bruce wellington (Bws88tr)
Junior Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 171 Registered: 4-2002 |
i basically worked on corvettes for 15 yrs or so, knew every part and metric screw, and now advanced myself to the ferrari world.I HAVE DONE MY OWN OIL,AIR FILTER ETC CHANGED, HELPED MY MECHANIC PUT ON A TUBI EXHAUST( WHICH WAS A PAIN IN THE ASS) AND NOW I NEED HELP AS TO PAYMENTS TO THE BANK FOR MY NEW PURCHASE... HI ALL BRUCE | ||
| Nika (Racernika)
Member Username: Racernika Post Number: 517 Registered: 12-2001 |
Well - I've just finished rebuilding the engine - adjusting the valves and torquing the wheels.....(cough choke sputter) Okay..okay.....I put gas in it and wash it. Nika Note: I DO check oil and tire pressure etc - I'm not THAT bad! | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
Advanced Member Username: Bretm Post Number: 2530 Registered: 2-2001 |
I do everything on the 308, also in a big rebuild process now. Before the Ferrari I did most of the work on my Jeep and dirtbikes before that. My dad teachers me a lot of the stuff, without him I wouldn't be able to do it. I'm getting to the point now though that I could pull the whole car apart without him, put it back together, and maybe even have it run. | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Junior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 160 Registered: 12-2001 |
I do everything on my 308, currently reassembling the engine hoping for a big gain in HP with the changes so far. Ive been a mechanic for 15 years. Also have done restorations on other brands of cars so body work isnt an issue. | ||
| Russ Moore (Rem9)
Junior Member Username: Rem9 Post Number: 69 Registered: 6-2001 |
I work on both mine. Wouldn't have it any other way. 30 yrs experience on vintage British iron, 14 years racing in vintage road racing in Northeast. | ||
| James H. (Jamesh)
Junior Member Username: Jamesh Post Number: 53 Registered: 5-2001 |
I was just wondering how many of you out there works on your own Ferrari and how much of the work do you do. Also, what background if any do you have prior to working on your Ferrari. |