| Author |
Message |
Al Chelini (F355al)
| | Posted on Monday, November 05, 2001 - 2:49 am: | |
After talking with a large number of extremely experienced F owners and mechanics, the general honest consensus is that you can go about 50-60k miles on a set of belts! Surprised? I was.
However, i've got about 40k on an F355, and the belts are scheduled to be changed in January, latest. It's just too hard to tell the condition without yanking the engine out. Conditions that the belts lived under are too variable - were they oil soaked? did the engine ever overheat? Are the idlers squealing?How often do you approach the redline?
It pays to be conservative.
Al. |
Michael A. Niles (Man90tr)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 5:17 pm: | |
I agree with Sam.
I know that some people say all engines are the same -- well a girl with a B cup is not the same as a girl with D cups -- yet they are both girls. |
Sam NYCFERRARIS (Sam)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 2:08 pm: | |
Caribe,
The other belt discussion , I think are all 8 cyl. guys ( and not Ferrari factory guys mechanics from what I can tell) from what I can tell and is mostly a "philosophical" kind of chat - on a 12 cyl. you have alot to risk if you know the belts are over due. No drag racing starts 'till you know the deal on your belts. Don't risk that gem of an engine based on a internet chat. |
Arnaldo Torres (Caribe)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 11:49 am: | |
Mark,
That's a hell of a deal! Lets talk. I briefly went through my planner, found notes about your car but not your phone number. I will email you directly and perhaps you can reply back with your phone number, just in case I do not find it at home.
Thanks,
Caribe. |
Mark S (Firecopter)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 11:26 am: | |
Caribe,
Do not hesitate on the belts. I drove my Mondial from Santa Barbara to San Diego then another 200 miles on supposedly new belts - but unverified. I deducted a $1000 when I sold it for the purpose of relieving myself from the liabilty of the belts failing. The new owner put another 100 miles then took it in for a belt change. Only 1/8 of an inch of belt still intact. WOW! Made me a believer that you do not believe anyone on the belt condition. Easy 10 grand worth of damage if the belt fails on the TR. I am "grooming" a mechanic who has a small shop (retired) on doing a TR and he will do mine. Around $800 plus parts. Nick has the belts and he is looking into machining the new idler pulleys for me. Might be worth it if you did yours right after mine. Save a lot plus then you can breath a little easier! Call me if you want - still have my number??? |
Arnaldo Torres (Caribe)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 9:59 am: | |
Mark,
I think I have found my TR. I am having the car inspected this Saturday by Kevork in North Hollywood. It is a 1990 TR with 12,500 mi., Everything looks near perfect except for some rock chips in the front. The owner has upgraded the wheels to 17" HREs but the original set with rubbers is part of the sale. He also upgraded the exhaust system to a Borla, and the original, which looks almost new, is also complete and comes with the car. The car has all records and it seems that it has been treated with lots of care. The only seen that concerns me is that it has not have the belts replaced yet. I am trying to gauge from another discussion in this forum if I should go ahead and do it immediately, or wait a few months to minimize the hit.
Caribe. |
Mark S (Firecopter)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 9:27 am: | |
Caribe, did you get your TR?? If you really want to tackle the engine removal go to Sam's club and look at the motorcycle lift that they sell. Then go to one of the small airports near you and find a shop that has aircraft wing jacks. You need 4 cause you have to lift it level. And the engine is faily tall so you need to lift it fairly high. I have used the jacks on my Huey helicopter - 6000 lbs and a 4 foot lift. Might have luck and be able to rent the jacks from the operator. |
Mark S (Firecopter)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 9:12 am: | |
I have my TR up on jacks and looked at removal of the engine. Only way I see is to get the car high enough to allow 4 aircraft jacks to be put in place. Then a heavy duty motorcycle jack (I thought about a transmission jack but the engine is too heavy) with an adapter frame added. Too much work and too dangerous for my investment. Better to find a shop that is a little slow and work a deal on the lift. I even thought of using a wide fork lift with extensions. (Which I have) but it really is not worth the risk and hassle. Give up the mistress for a weekend and use that money for your baby!!!! Good Luck |
Warren E. Smith (Magoo)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 9:04 am: | |
Ask Peter when he returns. I think however he welded a beam somehow in his garage. MAGOO |
Arnaldo Torres (Caribe)
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 12:20 am: | |
I have seen these engines mounted on a very low cart for service, and I was thinking that perhaps there is no need to have a full blown lift to get the engine out of the car. Perhaps something that could lift the car a few feets could be sufficient (specially the back of the car).
Has anybody developed a method, or know of any way to do this in your own garage? How much are those carts? How much does the car weights without the engine?
Thanks,
Caribe. |
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