Was that your red 355 in the Huntsville Times last year when you invited us up to your track for a skidpad day for the Make-a-Wish charity?
I think you have to distinguish between pre-Luca cars and post-Luca cars at Ferrari. He imported Japanese boring machines and the first real semblance of quality control Ferrari ever really had starting in about 1994. As a result, the modern 430 and 599 are going to be much less troubled over greater mileages than prior models. They've put the old Enzo manufacturing ways behind them for good. Watch the National Geographic special on the Ferrari factory and see what I mean.
Until Lamborghini or Cadillac can replicate the Formula 1 dominance and romance of the legend that is associated with this, Ferrari will be the #1 brand. The #1 brand in virtually any industry always commands a significant premium and draws customers, ask any marketer....Apple, Google, Coca-cola...
That's a topic worthy of its own thread! Even before Luca, Ferrari was improving long-term ownership with the introduction circa 1991 of the Motronic 2.7 engine computers with live, on-board engine and system diagnostics. Such real-time, on-board diagnostics go back to 1989 at Ferrari for the ABS components, A/C, and heater sensors/motors/powersupplies/valves/computers, etc., as well. So from 1989 onward, Ferrari owners have had progressively more and more abilities to be proactive (e.g. being automatically alerted that a sensor was bad in time to replace the sensor before any damage was done to other systems). None of that improves assembly quality per se, but all of it improves reliability and longetivity.
Well now, here's a first. No Doubt, not only do I agree with your post, I think your reply was stated softly and lacked the appropriate expletives to properly convey the feelings. I never would have believed this type of thing was possible in todays world but alas... "Midevil" is the only word printable I can think of. Dave
I did (3) 94-95's last year but have yet to see any failure on any beyond the mid 98 change point. Dave
Did two 95's last year, one had bad guides, the other one had the guides changed already. Have a set of heads coming to me this week (95) that needs guides. 3 for 3 on 95's just in the last 8 months.
The red 355 in the paper belonged to a guy in Nashville who came down for the event. We are having another FCA charity function here June 7th. Hopefully you can attend this one. Get hold of Mike Charness if you are interested. Were located very close to the I65 / I565 interchange......towards Huntsville. From B-town your only about 75 minutes away. Danny
NO DOUBT, again, you may need to address your counsel and their failure to get you out sooner. Also, in most States, you would have a cause of action against your wrongful accusers for malicious prosecution not to mention you can file a complaint with your States's Bar regarding the prosecuting attorney's alleged misconduct.
Thanks, Dave. I suspect that on being ridiculously sued (and probably on business insurance premiums, as well), that you and I can find some common ground.
As for me, F1 is great but its application questionable. I'm more impressed by, e.g., the 24 hours of Le Mans. Look how the Corvette has benefited from it's racing cousin's success. Or the possibility of Audi putting its LeMans winning V12 in an R8. Now that's real world benefit from racing success. On the other hand, an F1 car is so far removed from street cars that I don't feel the connection. Outside of pride, I see little other direct benefit. A Bugatti is faster than an Ferrari yet they don't even compete in F1. I can't don't relate my F355 to their F1 program. On the other hand, when I drove my 512TR daily I knew my flat 12 engine was directly derived from a race motor. I don't think winning in Formula 1 alone is enough particularly when the car you're racing isn't one being sold to the public as part of your product line. Whether Ferrari wins or loses in F1 has little to do with my purchasing a Ferrari. Formula 1 has failed to make major in roads into the American market yet that hasn't hurt Ferrari sales in its largest market. The more Ferrari becomes like every other corporation the more it will have to rest its sales and reputation on its product. Enzo is gone and some might say so too is Ferrari's soul. Whereas once Ferrari was the underdog, and we all root for the underdog, now Ferrari is the Warlord. Times have changed.
I've pursued ethical misconduct complaints against two attorneys. One was in Florida. The Florida Bar scheduled a hearing for my complaint, then dismissed the complaint without allowing me to attend the hearing. Classy (if you're a mafia thug, anyway). The other was in Alabama, for which the Alabama Bar Association informed me that they would only disbar said attorney if he embezzled funds via power of attorney. So some key problems with our legal climate are: #1. there is no downside...no punishment...for an attorney wholly fabricating a complaint and suing you #2. there is no justice for non-attorneys when making charges to a Bar Association that claims to "police itself" Y'all have rigged the game...and grown wholly corrupt in the process.
Yes. From a chassis engineering standpoint, the LS7 motor and the F355 motor are nearly identical in length width and height and comparable in weight. Internal displacement means nothing, IMO. The two relevant questions are: How big and how heavy? The LS7 motor is around 22.5" wide, 20-21" tall and about 26" long including accessories.
What a joke all the 355 issues have been valve guides Exhaust manafolds steering racks JUST COMPLETE BULLSH@#!!!! I dumpped my 98 b in a hurry and glad I did it!!
I have heard that no, not usually, as the catalytic converters burn things off enough to prevent a lot of visible signs of oil burning. But you will be adding oil often, like a quart every gas tank or two.
No offense, but your F355 may well have the F1 transmission, the first in the world with a semi-auto with paddles, a direct result of the technology going into Formula 1. It continues today. Look at the Scuderia's F1 Trac. Ferrari provided the formula 1 car's TC algorithms and settings to Bosch, who apparently took the codes and adapted them straight into the road car. As a result, the Scuderia is faster around Fiorano than the Enzo.
I'm sure there has to be some visible smoke, oil burning in the exhaust stream is sure to create smoke. I'm not sure how much would be seen to the naked eye, given the small diameter of a 355 valve (6mm) vs. an 11/32 valve stem on something like a small block chevy. I've posted pics here before of oil saturated exhaust ports caused by extreme valve guide clearance issues, and if anyone's interested, I'll post pics of the whole head rebuilding procedure next week, as I have some more 355 heads coming in. Knowledge is power. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'm interested. Intrigued, even! 11/32 valves are about 8mm versus 6mm? And small block Chevy's have the oiled cam under the motor, with pushrods acting on lifters to raise/lower valves, yes?
Well, you caught me. The valve guide issue is all a fantasy, and the picture above is a Photoshopped image of a 355 exhaust port. Yes, you're very knowledgeable to know that SBC's have an oiled cam BELOW the cylinder heads, but yet oil up through the pushrods to rocker arms directly OVER top of the valve stem and seal. Whereas Ferrari's on the other hand have oiled cams OVER the valve stem and seal area, SHIELDED by tappets that divert oil away from the direct top of the valve stem. It's not where the oil comes from, it's a matter of how much and how directly it flows into the stem/seal area.
