| Author |
Message |
Ernie (Ernie)
Member
Username: Ernie
Post Number: 731
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 1:05 pm: | |
Jeff
I don't know about the parts for your TR, but the parts for the major on my 348, minus the water pump, were about $1,200. You can take the engine out your self. I have the engine out of my 348 right now doing the major on it. It is no big deal. All you need is two floor jacks and a dolly. I have NEVER worked on a Ferrari before. As matter of fact I'm not even a mechanic, yet I managed to get the engine out myself. The dealerships are pure and simple THIEVES! After I drained all the fluids it only took me 4 hours to get the engine completely out. Using no lift and all by myself, without another person. Also this is the first time ever I have done something like this, so I took my time doing it. Now that I know how it is done with the proper tools it shouldn't take more than 3 hours. You can do it yourself, don't be scared. Just take your time and be careful, thats all. Oh yeah as for the dolly, I have my engine on a half ton moving dolly, the ones with four caster wheels on the bottom, that I got from Home Depot for $19. The entire subframe, engine and all, has been on the dolly now for two weeks with absolutely NO PROMLEMS! So don't be fooled by the scare tactics that the technicians will throw at you. Bottom line, if you have ever turned a screwdriver you can do this. |
Jeff Green (Carguy)
Member
Username: Carguy
Post Number: 340
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 12:19 pm: | |
Up to this point I have done very well fixing my TR's numerous problems from it's "storied" past. But now...the biggie I'd hoped to avoid. The front of the motor has always been a bit oil-damp. It doesn't appear to be from any one source, but numerous little seeps,wet gasket edges, etc. The car is on stands for a good detailing, and I decided to delve into the oil-wet motor further. Start her up, get up to temps, nothing. Rev up and down from idle to about 4000 or so a few times, and dive back under. I can see a drip from the small rectangular opening at the bottom of the left cambelt cover. Looking closer, it also looks like the tensioner has oil on it too. The right side cambelt cover also looks a bit wet at the bottom edge. This really worries me. I would assume the potential leaks could be the main seal leaking and running downhill in the cambelt covers, or the cam end seals, or all of them! The major was performed on this car by an independant shop back in late 2001, and I'm suspecting shoddy workmanship. My worst fears are the cam seals leaking, and oil is being slung around, making everything wet with oil, including the cam belts. To me this means another major service is needed to avoid a disaster. My budget does not allow for this work so soon, so I may have to park the car for some months-damn! (..or sell it out of frustration) I will have to do the work myself. I don't relish the idea of yanking the engine out, but may try and remove the gas tanks and oil tank instead as it "looks" like there would be sufficient room to work then. But I have some questions before I go on:
1. Is it possible to remove the cambelt covers while the motor is in the car, and actually "see" the source of the leak?
2. Could the oil leak be anything else other than the cam seals and/or main seal? Water pump? Oil pump? Items below this area seem to be okay.
3. Has anyone on this board done a major with the motor in the car?
4. I'm hoping that if I do the work, the total parts expense will be no more than $1500. Does this sound about right? |
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