| Author |
Message |
Scott DeGhetto (Scott63)
Junior Member
Username: Scott63
Post Number: 98
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 11:30 pm: | |
I believe the 355 engine was a new design. It was definately the first street legal Ferrari to use a 5 valve design. It is still one of the most powerful engines for its size, it produces 109 BHP/Liter. The problem goes past 96 and also into 97. A fellow F-chat member is in the process of replacing his bronze guides right now on a 97 355. I would not stay away from a 355 for this reason. Only a few cars have had a problem, and it is fairly easy to detect with a compression test before you buy.... If any cylinders are down (in most cases it is just one) have the heads pulled and the guides checked. That is just what happened to me this week on a car that I am buying.
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Donald Rose (Wdr328)
New member
Username: Wdr328
Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 8:09 pm: | |
Scott, what were the valve giuides in the 348. Maybe my question should be was the 355 a new series engine or merely a continuation of the 348 V8. If it was a new motor I could see the potential engineering problems. Since you say it only occurred in approx. 5% of the engines perhaps it was a production problem. I have seen bronze guides and indeed installed bronze guides in other engines and never experienced a problem.
Does theproblem continue past 96? I have talked to a couple of experienced wrench turners and they say its over after 96. I question this because I am considering the purchase of a 355. Any info would be helpful. Thanks for the help. |
Scott DeGhetto (Scott63)
Junior Member
Username: Scott63
Post Number: 95
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 4:26 pm: | |
The problem has to do with the valve guides that were made out of bronze. While the factory acknowledged the issue (by the way, it only has appeared in less than 5% of the 95's according to FNA) they did not switch over to the sintered steel guides until late 97 or early 98. |
TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member
Username: Tifosi
Post Number: 3885
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 10:18 am: | |
donald - check the archives as another memember recently found his 97 guides had the old soft material |
JRV (Jrvall)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jrvall
Post Number: 1750
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 7:24 am: | |
The problem was not corrected in 96-97, where did you come by that erroneous information? |
Patrick Denonville (Arizonaguy)
Member
Username: Arizonaguy
Post Number: 263
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 1:21 am: | |
I believe the metal was to soft and they wore out quickly. |
Donald Rose (Wdr328)
New member
Username: Wdr328
Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 12:36 am: | |
The 95 355's seemed to suffer a lot of valve guide problems which were corrected in the 96 and 97 models. What was the problem? |