What a great thread. I'd venture that Mackb61's mechanical skill is somewhat higher than many first assumed. It's good to see what appears to be someone who knows how to do his research before jumping into individual projects also. Having been involved in auto repair either as a student, professional or hobbyist for the past 45+ years I have all too often seen the results of attempts to make repairs without first taking the time to study up on how the repair needs to be done. There are two questions concerning enthusiast cars that tend to grate on my nerves. What did you pay for it? And what seems to be the only thing that spectators at car events can think to ask, "What's it worth"?
If he had just posted a pic of this car washed up and ready to drive, no one would have asked him what he paid for it. When someone comes out and says look what I found, it is natural to want to know if this is one of those mythical "barn car" stories where someone finds a car in poor condition and is able to buy it for cheap but finds it is a diamond in the rough. That is the only reason anyone wanted to know what he paid for it. Other than that, people could care less. Now it is just a matter of cheering him on as he works his way through everything. I will agree that many spectators at car events do ask, "What's it worth"? That is just people being in awe of the cars. They like to match a price up with the one in their imagination. It is not a sign that they are being nosy or personal. They just know that most of these cars are in a league that is above their reality.
I've always wanted a 348. It was one of the first Ferrari's I ever drove...then I start to read how this guy takes a barn find, which is just plain cool, and starts tearing it apart... But about half way through I'm starting to feel for the guy...LOL. I still want a 348 but if they are all like this I can see why people don't jump on them. What a great project. My last barn find is still setting waiting for my next paycheck...Anyone interested in a trade? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wow, what a thread! This is a more entertaining read than most 'bestseller' novels... I think I'll hit the subscribe command. All the best, Andrew.
They are not all like this. This is a special case. You do not have to tear every 348 apart after you buy it. This "barn car" looks to have been driven very hard with little to no maintenance or repair. So please do not let this project car give you a bad feeling toward all 348's.
Like Todd stated this is an exception of a barn find of a very neglected 348. Just goes to show you garage queens are not always what you want. The more the 348 is driven the better she is, they do not like to sit for a long period of time and who would want to sit on one.
Close inspection of the camshafts (after the horse left the barn) showed the exhaust lobe on cylinder 5B was chipped right at the nose of the lobe. 5B is my designation. Seated on the side of the engine facing the cylinders, the A valve is the one on the left and the B valve is the one on the right for the same cylinder. I didnt notice the chip until after I had set all the lash on intakes 8-5 and exhaust 8-6. Im glad I noticed it before I had adjusted both intakes and exhausts on cylinders 1-4. It took me 5 hours to set the lash on 14 valves on the 5-8 cylinders. If the chip would have been on the base of the cam I probably would have run it. But being on the nose where valve spring pressure is the greatest, it might cause a problem. Im having the cams (all 4) reground. The intake lobe on cylinder 2A was scuffed. Might as well repair it while it is out. Camshafts are being reground and hardened by Web Cam in Riverside, CA. They have the correct masters for my Ferrari grind. Cams might be done this week. Of course, now I get to reset valve lash again and all my shim calculations have now changed. I will need to purchase new shims probably .002-.003 thousands thicker. When regrinding the cam to repair the nose, whatever material they take off from the nose of the lobe to clean it up, in my case probably .002-.003, will have to be ground off the base circle to keep the same lift. This essentially loosens the valve clearance if the shim isnt changed to compensate. Hopefully, Ill be able to move some of my old shims around. FerrParts has an extensive assortment of shims if I need to purchase a size I dont already have at a reasonable price. Actually, they were cheaper than anyone else I called. Now, what chipped the cam lobe? Id hate to think I did it. I set the lash by removing each bucket from all the cylinders except the one I was adjusting. I would then index the camshaft so that the base circle was facing the shim and torque the caps. I would then take a measurement with a feeler gauge and replace shim if necessary. I knew that the cam lobe would hit the valve stem without the bucket installed so I was extra cautious and aware about it and didnt rotate the camshaft into striking distance. I dont consciously remember striking the lobe, but maybe when I rocked the camshaft a bit it ticked the valve stem??? It didnt look to be a new/fresh chip. Where were the Ferrari Gods this time to save me? Maybe they were there, laughing their asses off.
I wish I knew how to put that little guy eating a box of popcorn in my post, because this is the most interesting thread I've ever followed. I wonder how many are subscribing to it? Thanks, Mack. Geno
This is great stuff! With a tear down of this degree, have you considered modifying the engine to get a bit more power? I was running into similar issues with a tear down on an old muscle car...after about 2 yrs. and countless busted knuckles, I ended up with a very stout 800+ HP. Can't wait till the final day when all is together and you can enjoy a nice drive...
Great thread. Always makes me wonder how these cars or any nice ones for that matter sit that long with no drive time.
I think you answered your own question, probably old damage....sorry to hear of the expense though...
No way that you could have damaged this lobe without knowing it. It would take a lot of force to chip the tip of a cam lobe.
About the damage on the cam lobe - this reminded me of an old post. Back in March 2004 Shanb had a thread about the engine service he did on his 348. He mentioned finding "some rounding on the lateral edge of the #8 intake valve" and could not account for it. The pictures he posted were lost in the famous crash. Anyway, it occured to me that I had seen a picture of the technician at the Ferrari factory who straightened camshafts after heat treating by striking them with a hammer. Here is the picture. The caption reads: "This gent checks camshafts after they've been nitrided, a process which distorts them. A few blows from his hammer corrects any imbalance, which is then checked by computer. All Ferrari camshafts bear the mark of his hammer." What do you think? Is it possible that he occasionally damages a lobe and it doesn't really cause any concern? Image Unavailable, Please Login
Oh the car's fate was divulged, 'tis true. NSXER in Kansas took delivery last year. He is having it brought back to her original argento glory as we speak. Trust me, you would rather not know what the pawn shop took me for 'luvvin this 348 revival... keep it coming please! http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195839 Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hats off to you...Quite impressive indeed. However, couldn't one get the same outcome with: 1) an SOS pad 2) a bottle of turtle wax 3) a can of STP 4) a tube of Form a Gasket 5) a bottle of Armorall 6) elbow grease and some Advil 7) and a 8500 RPM wide open throttle trip down the freeway (AKA, an Italian tune up) ? This threads freaking me out man. Gotta rethink this: should I get the 3xx or the Subaru? Now I'm really confused.
Looking at the picture of the Ferrari technician with the following caption, "This gent checks camshafts after they've been nitrided, a process which distorts them. A few blows from his hammer corrects any imbalance, which is then checked by computer. All Ferrari camshafts bear the mark of his hammer." Isn't this the marking step? Operations I have seen has the tech placing the cam on top of a die (what look to be the three in pic) and the hammer blow marks the part. The famous 456 design/assembly video on youtube shows this step... I'm sure the Ferrari techs are good, but straightening a cam with a hammer???
Slight correction on my earlier post: Shan didn't have damage on the #8 intake VALVE, he had damage on the cam lobe for one of the #8 intake valves. I wish the picture was still there. It really looked like someone had hit the edge of the lobe with a hammer and rounded it over. His thread is still in the archives from March 2004.
