| Author |
Message |
Gary van Hartogh (Garyvh)
Junior Member
Username: Garyvh
Post Number: 62
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 12:45 pm: | |
Guys, Thanks for the info. I'll install the ones that I have. They have been in separate boxes and look fine.
Thanks .... Gary |
Malcolm West (Ferrari_uk_tech)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrari_uk_tech
Post Number: 59
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 2:39 am: | |
Timing belts have always been a bone of contention in the UK - the service maintenance schedule recommends replacing the belts on 308 / 328's every 25,000 miles or 2 years whichever comes first, but in the US handbook it recommends replacing at 52,500 miles with no restriction on time - can anyone explain why the difference when it's the same belt. It's a well known fact that once a belt is fitted, under tension it will stretch and from that point in time will start to deteriate, add to that the constant change in temperature will all cause the belt to age.
What would worry me even more is the fact that the tensioner bearings can, and do fail more often than the timing belts, this is why regular inspection is, in my opinion required on time as well as mileage.
MW |
Phil Hughes (Ferrarifixer)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrarifixer
Post Number: 79
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 9:37 pm: | |
You can tell from the colour of the printing if they've deteriorated.
Often, one belt will have been tucked inside the other in the box. If the outer one has yellowish printing while the inner one is bright white, the yellow one has aged. If they're both yellow...same thing. White is all right!
Rubber degrades in UV light and humidity....just talk to your tyre supplier about it....you'll see many performance tyres come wrapped in foil or plastic to protect them.
Even so, fit 'em if they're new as you'll spend more on therapy if you let all the "maybe's" get to you! |
Oldslow308 (Djparks)
Member
Username: Djparks
Post Number: 527
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 9:19 pm: | |
While we are on the subject I must say the previous owners of my 308 were not religious about belt intervals but the previous set was included with the car and they still look very good. No discoloration, cracking or frayed edges (thank God!).
DJ |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1689
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 3:21 pm: | |
I wouldn't sweat it...install and drive on...you could sweat this stuff to no end. When were they actually manufactured? How long did George have them?
I bought a 78 308 GTS with the original belts still on the car! 21+ years! Others have had them snap for no particular reason...so go figure. If you stick with the 30k miles, 6 years interval, I would suspect there is enough "cushion" that you would not be risking a thing... |
Joe Craven (Rscapri2600)
New member
Username: Rscapri2600
Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 3:00 pm: | |
I would think that it depends. How did you store the new belts. If you drive the 308 quite a bit and expect to need a mileage based major within 5 or 6 years, then I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not sure how long these belts last though, I hear some say 5 years and others 10 years.
I just replaced the belts on my 85 Mondial a year ago. They were original which would put them at 17 years old. Old belts actually looked ok when I removed them but I didn't cut them apart to check out the internal construction.
85 Mondial
|
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Advanced Member
Username: Peter
Post Number: 3020
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 2:59 pm: | |
Install them Gary. As long as they haven't been stored all twisted-up, or wrinkled, etc... They'll be perfectly fine. |
Gary van Hartogh (Garyvh)
Junior Member
Username: Garyvh
Post Number: 60
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 2:39 pm: | |
I bought belts for my 83 308QV about 16 months ago from George Evans. I am now, finally, ready to install them. Are they too old? Should I order new ones?
Any thoughts ....... Gary |