Another newbie

I changed the antifreeze today and let the car get up to operating temperature really for the first time. I expected it to stop rising by 195 but it didn't...didn't hear the fans kick on so shut her down at 200. Pulled the connector of the right fan thermoswitch and jumpered the connector...had fans. Started the car and the temp got no higher than 195 with the fans jumpered...so I guess I need a new thermo switch. I wasn't seeing the oil cooling fan kick on either...not sure at what temp that is supposed to happen but may just order a new sensor for that as well unless the price is shocking...then I'll test it first LOL.

Sorry for the post about the guy with the yellow 348...I know a lot of folks at TRH and that guy told me someone at his gym was selling a yellow one...for all I know he doesn't know the difference between a 328 and 348...then again there may be another car lurking about in out area for sale...? Wasn't telling F-stories LOL. Yes I'd love to meet up with ya and see your car too...I have to warn ya...I've been a grease monkey for about a week now...I might have a Ferrari dirt on me when ya see me. Man am I having fun...so far. I'll call ya and we can link up sometime soon. Why are you selling yours...you should keep it LOL ;-)

I'm working all the bugs out before I take mine out so I know what I'm driving and the title is late getting here so I have no choice. I have no worries about the title...it's on the way. It's probably better I gave the car some attention first anyway although I am dying to drive it. The fear of getting pulled over in bright red Ferrari with no tag or registration scares me more though. It would be scarry watching them try and tow it...maybe in my younger days LOL.

 

The temp sensor on the radiator looks to be the same size as the one on my spare Maserati radiator...I think the limits temps are the same and it's a new temp switch. the only difference is the Maserati part has spade lugs...if I had a male plug to mate up to the Ferrari connector (which looks like a common connector I could get at any autoparts place) I could make an adapter cable and use what I have. It wouldn't change the factory wiring and should the one I have fail, then I could get the Ferrari part ouch. I might try this and see if it works...it's not really cobbing it as it's basiaclly the same part if the thread size is the same but it does add another connection into the mix. It's a good weather proof connection and if greased should not be a problem. I can fix it now and not have to order anything...not eactly 100% kosher pristine fix but not really hurting anything either if it works. Can be put back to original by just unpluging the adapter cable.

I'll post some pics if it works...it should.

MarkG

 

I wasn't able to find the exact connector I needed to do it how I wanted to, but was able to fit the fan temp switch out of a Maserati radiator...exact same thread size only difference is it has spade lugs on it into my 348 radiator. I found some contacts that slide in tight with the factory plug and tried it...worked great. Fans turn on at 195 and off when it cools down...I'll find the right connector the next time I go junk yarding. It's like a fuel injector connector on a Bemer or Benz but needs to be a male connector. I had a few laying around the shop but all females...connectors that is...LOL so had to fabricate. Basically soldered a pin onto a wire with a spade lug and the other end...made 2 of them and slide the pins into the factory connector and put the spades on the temp switch. Taped and tie wrapped everything so it can't come loose and is secured...and I'll make the permenent fix when I find the right connector but this should hold good for awhile.

I guess the moral of this rambling is I found the fan switch sensor in the radiator is pretty much a standard size...if you can't find one that has the Ferrari connector on it, you can make any of them work with a very low cost connector adapter. I did not look for the fan swtich price yet but my guess is it's not cheap...you can fix a no fan switch problem cheaply with a generic part. You guys already probably know all this and there may be a part cross reference parts post about this already...but thought I'd mention what I did and got around having to order a special switch. I didn't make pics this time but will when I do it "right". Didn't want anybody laughing at me to hard...but it works great...heck of a lot better than no fans ;-( and once I get the connector I need it's as good as factory at zero cost. Used what I had ;-) I wonder how long that's been bad...? I know the PO owner didn't drive it so maybe he never got it hot enough to see the problem...glad I found that before being out on the road...whew...dodged a bullet there. Who was that said how do you overheat a biturbo...start it...well this 348 WAS doing that too LOL...all better now. Gotta check things.....MarkG

 

So far it seems to be a pretty solid car...nothing major wrong that I've found yet but did need some TLC here and there. I've got just about everything fixed.

The engine sounds strong and there is evidence it's had cam seals done and it's got a new alternator. I'm not sure what service was done but Andy said it had belts done 4K ago in 2006. I can't see someone pulling the engine and not doing everything required while you're in there but if you are just trying to fix something to sell it...people do take short cuts. I am going to drive it a little and see how it does for this season and will probably have a major done this winter. I sounds healthy enough it should make it a few months without blowing up on me. I'm not hearing any strange bearing whir noise or anything like like that...valves are quiet...no smoke...no leaks, idles fine and revs good. Doesn't over heat now that the fans are fixed...glad I caught that one!!

It's not a show car but very nice...for what I paid it seems to be a real deal so far. The only reason I even considered buying it sight unseen was talking to Andy the PO. Although he didn't know a lot about the cars service history I did feel he was honest about it. When it was delivered it was excatly as he told me...no suprises yet although the coolant didn't look real "strong" but no oil in it. Overall it's a real nice driver and hopefully I can get all the little stuff done and let the pros tend to the major. I don't have a lift or I'd do it...it makes more sense to drop it off in the Fall and get a fresh car for the Spring since I put back money for a major anyway so that's probably what I'll do. Yea it's the chicken way out but not sure I'll have enough time if work is busy...I'd like to do it myself but just not equiped properly to do it. Need a lift...

You passed on a good one...I could not believe nobody was bidding...the price was way lower than the car should have sold for. I bid not expecting to win for what I bid...but I won it!! I've seen wrecked cars sell for $15K...I'm finding this 348 has had a lot done to it. Seems like it changed hands a bit and each owner dumped money into it then bailed...maybe I'll be the lucky owner. I was worried until I saw it...I am feeling better all the time about the purchase. I hope you find one just like it when you are ready or even a better one cheaper...if prices keep falling you never know. I am shocked at getting a decent 348 for less than most needing work 308's go for...shock and awe deals do happen sometimes. MarkG

 

Trust me, I trust nothing LOL...unless I know for a fact something was done I can assume it wasn't...that's reality. Is Dave also a Maserati guy...I think we crossed paths sometime ago. Great guy...very helpfull. I agree on your comments about the major...it's not just slipping on new T-belts. There's tensioners to upgrade, cams to set and cam seals to redo, belt guides to check & weld. The oil pump tensioner should be upgraded. The water pump has to done, alternator rebuilt or renewed and a slew of other stuff: flywheel regrease, clutch and TO bearing and input shaft mods to keep the tranny from catastrophy. Have not mentioned the cooling or fuel hoses and filters...and can't forget to check/replace the oil hoses.

The list gets longer as you think about what you need to do while you are "doing it". About a dollar a mile they say....in the big picture that's probably true. The purchase price is just the beginning...once you sink your teeth into the major stuff you just gotta bite the bullet spend the money and do it right. It's a pay me now or payme later reality IMO.

My car appears to have quite a bit done to it but has not been run much since 2006. Even if the belts were done...and have very few miles on them, they are coming of age anyway. MarkG

 

Sorry for the lack of pics so far...I always mean to do before and after shots of what I do but then I start going at it and forget to take any pics at all. Sorry...I get focused on what I am doing and forget until I'm done to snap even 1. Most everything I've done so far is well documented on this site already by others that know way more than I do... I doubt I'd have cast any new information to you Fcar guru's anyway but will make an effort to improve on my photos.

I have new redline tranny oil arriving soon so I decided to drain the oil last night so all I have to do is pour it in when it gets here. One tip that I read somewhere and followed...remove the top fill plug BEFORE draining your tranny oil. If someone before you has it in so tight it won't come out or it's stripped...you're then in a real spot with a drained tranny and no way to fill it...bummer!! I used another tip I read and made a tool to remove the big A$% top drain plug so I would not have to spend money on a 19 hex that I'd use once. My set went up to 17...why is it always like that? You need a tool one bigger or smaller than what you have and it becomes a show stopper!! Basically I took a long 3/4 bolt and welded a nut to the other end. The 3/4 bolt head fits perfectly into the drain plug and you simlpy break it loose with a breaker bar, no busted knuckles or anything LOL...was a great idea (that I don't take credit for because it wasn't mine) but worked great for me. Saved me some money...and now I have my first Ferrari specialized tool for the next time. I'd take a pic of the tool but the welds aren't pretty and someone would crack on me LOL...but it self explanatary...bolt with a nut welded on the other end...nutin' fancy 'bout that and doesn't require a pic...so I have an out LOL.

The good news is the magnetic drain plug looked great...not as much stuck to it as I expected...just very fine particles showing normal or low wear. NO chunks!! It shifted fine but I want redline in there...just beacuse.

BTW: Thanks for all you Fchatters it's a great bunch of people and a vast amount of good info...the more we share the more we all learn and hopefully make it easier on the next guy. I'd like to share that I friggen love this car!!!! I was hot for a 308 for 2 years and bought a 348 instead after stumbeling across one...I am not dinging the 308er's at all but the 348 is a much better car for me personally. I like all the classic elements of the 308 but the 348 simplifies many things...like plug changes...I enjoy working on my own cars and enjoy it more when I can get to everything. Not to say everything is easy to get to on a 348 as I had to remove the fan switch by feel becuase it's in just the right spot you can't get an eyeball on it but things are more accessabile on the 348 IMO. It's a good car for a wrencher as you can do a lot yourself easily and the money you save there can help pay for the next major LOL.

MarkG

 

Hey Zanny1...It sounds like you did real well on your purchase too. It seems I did OK also but it's still early LOL. The sellers opinion of what he has and what it's worth can jade their selling description sometimes and what they think or say is "perfect condition" might not be. I've been down that road before and so have all my other car buddies. I flew into Miami 8 years ago to take possession of a Mercedes I had bought on Ebay. He said it would drive from Florida to Canada and back...but failed to tell me it would have to be trailered to do so. Rear springs wasted to the point the exhaust (what was left of it) was literally on the ground. 4 flat wasted tires, no battery and a slew of other problems not disclosed like a bad water pump once I bought a battery taking a cab to do so and worked all day getting the car to start!! I knew I would not be driving this heap around the block much less from FL to OH. Every picture he took showed only good angles and it looked 1/2 way decent in the pics so never trust anything but driving a car...if it's a boat...float it...if you can. The Mercedes has now been restored but that car was a thorn rom the start. Very nice now but $13K later and 8 years of work...I can drive it. Unfortunately trying to get your money back once someone has it doesn't always work out so realize once you give your money to someone...that might be the last you see of it and not much recourse because they flay out lied. Even the cops told me yep he's crook but can't do anything...take him to court it's civil matter. I ordered up a car hauler and flew home. Either that or not have my money or the car...people can lied cheat and tell you anything they want...truth or not. They can do that...yes they can LOL.

I broke my own rule buying this car sight unseen but the PO of my car Andy and an X-Fchatter (not that this makes him OK just because he's on here) was very honest with me. He gave me a run down of everything he knew about the car. Told me the good and the bad and I felt he was honest with me. He could have lied to me but the car was as he told me and although I have found a few more issues (like the cooling fans not running) I don't think he really knew they were acting up or he'd have mentioned it...that's just how he was. He is also a car guy and an X-member of the brotherhood (again doesn't mean he can't lie...no intentional offense intended towards anybody) but he knows what it's like to be lied to as well and didn't want any problems after the sale. So far it's been a good experience for me.

I am very happy with the car (almost giddy) and I have managed to fix just about all of the small problems it had. It could stand to be painted but it still looks good enough not to worry about that right now. It will get a major on the engine and I'll gradually keep replacing things that look tired before they bite me. These are great cars IMO and the 348 has if nothing else stole my heart...it looks great from every angle and I love the way it sounds. It's plenty fast for me although there are faster cars...but I don't drive around at 160MPH so that's not a showstopper for me. I think the fastest I've ever been is 125MPH on the road and that was a long time ago. I'm not a track guy as I don't have that kind of money and prefer brisk early morning/late night country drives as opposed to sitting on a hot track. I know everybody has different tastes but for the money I can't think of any other car I personally would desire more than my 348. Buying parts for any car is never the "fun" side of ownership but is part of it. Go buy parts for vintage Vettes or other muscle cars and there's not a lot of difference...there's all kinds of cars for all kinds of people but once you find the match you've been searching for that meets all your cosmetic and mechanical desires...you'll keep it. I have fixed and restored many cars that I loved initially but over time my view points changed and I'd sell them. Someone else got to enjoy the car more than I did and all the money I spent to make it perfect.

I think I like the 348 enough that the parts I put on it...I'm going to wear out myself LOL. As long as I don't have a horrorific experience as some have (and anything is possible even if you do prevenative maintenance) this will be a long relationship. I'll do my part to ensure the car can do it's part...like fixing the cooling fans...had I not done that, it could have over heated and done very bad expensive things. I could then sit back and complain about how crappy of a car the 348 is when it was my own fault. ANY car blows up without proper cooling...if you pay attention to gauges and check your car over you can usually can catch things before a catastrophy bites your back side....not always but you have a better chance if you check it over frequently. If something leaks or squeels...find out why don't keep driving it!!

As long as I make it in for my major before I join the "my belt broke" club...I'm sure I did real well on this car. It's not perfect but I didn't spend $50K-$60K on it either and whose to say a more expensive car wouldn't have things that it needed...? My car wasn't abused or track raced and for the most part looks as if it had an easy garaged life. In all my years of car buying (going on 30 years now) I have not seen any (except new on a lot) that don't need something. I am hoping common sense will help me make the right choices and I'll have a good experience with my 348.

Together we stand, divided we have to figure it out on our own LOL This forum has been a real help to me thus far in helping me to fix the little problems with my car faster than if I had to dig up the info on my own. Hopefully I won't have to be asking how to rebuild a gearbox or an engine....but it's still early in my ownership...anything is possible I guess. From how it seems to run...doesn't seem likely she's read to "blow" on me but we never know now do we. There's always a risk when you turn the key no matter what car you choose to drive but I never got the joy I am feeling with this car from any other marque and I've had many. Hopefully next year I can say the same thing...as I've said...it's still early and the journey has just begun. So far it's been a great deal of fun even with the inhearent risks.

MarkG