355 Exhaust Manifold Replacement

Gents: I know this is a question that has been discussed in other threads, some of those threads are old. I currently have my motor out for a major. The exhaust manifolds are not cracked at this time. However, I would prefer to deal with this potential problem before it happens. At this point, I plan on keeping the car. Following are my thoughts, I would appreciate constructive comment on the options listed:
1. Put the headers back on, not all of the headers are problematic?

2. Have the stock headers rebuilt with better tubing etc. Quicksilver offers this option? I
believe Ricambi was offering this option as well?

3. Discard the stock headers, purchase Fab-Speed knowing heat is an issue, also they are
pricey in my opinion.

Thank you

 

I buck the trend. Don't replace something just because. If they are fine then leave them alone

 

I think that the risk of failure could cause major issues later. I just did a major major on mine, and although my headers weren't broken, I opted to replace them with Tubi manifolds. They are expensive, but IMHO are the best option available.

 

I believe that the stock manifold issues are so well documented not only here but by the manufacturer as well that not replacing them would be a big mistake. Especially since you have the motor out and you know that they have not failed. From everything that i have read and researched it's only a matter of when...not if. I also believe that Fabspeed may be the least expensive option out there if you are not concerned with the design change.

I'm in the same boat as you right now (good system throughout) I'm not due for a major but don't want to be in a position of not realizing I have had a failure and then subsequently having to deal with a much higher repair.

 

Does the motor have to be dropped to change the headers?

 

Another option, cut off the head shield, inspect the headers and if ok have them coated.

I went with the ceramic coating from Swan Technologies which IMO is the best you can get


Before:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138620384&postcount=2


After:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138655371&postcount=17


I also made heat shields for the motor mounts using Heat Screen from DEI:
http://www.designengineering.com/category/catalog/design-engineering-inc/heat-sound-barrier/heat-screen

I also installed a heat blanket around the starter just to be safe:
http://www.designengineering.com/category/catalog/design-engineering-inc/component-specific-products/versa-shield

So far no issues to speak of.

 

Not at all,you can replace the headers with engine in

 

Been there as well,my right header failed this winter.
I went for Tubi's,pricey but the best fix for sure.
Your headers will fail,it's a matter of time.You know the consequences so why wait and take a chance.
If you don't have the budget to get Tubi's,get the one from Ricambi reconditionned in england by JP exhaust.They're pretty reliable from feedbacks all over the world and they're cheap compared to Tubi's.You also keep the stock look wich I think is better.
If you truly love your 355 and if she's a keeper,I'd make the effort to get Tubi's.
I paid 3.800€ over here in France for the pair,I think it's one the best investment you can do on a 355 as it will preserve heat to damage other engine components.

Cheers from Paris

 

Ferrari factory headers are notorious for failing and falling apart internally as the base material that was used to originally manufacture the headers along with the welding was very poor. The factory headers are a ticking time bomb and all the oem headers will fail and how many Ferrari enthusiasts want or need $25,000 engine rebuilds because of lousy headers!

Faulty Ferrari headers are eating a lot of 360 and 430 engines as well.

Fabspeed motorsport has dyno devloped and fully race track tested high performance replacement headers for all these cars. We have installed over 80 sets of headers at Fabspeed for local Ferrari owners all over the north east. Our new fabricating and manufacturing facility headquarters is open at 155 commerce drive in fort Washington.

FYI on my website I made a detailed explanation VIDEO showing cut open factory 355 headers along with dyno results and data on our headers.

 

I should have put my Fabspeed headers on right when I bought the car, as it might have saved my valves and one failed cylinder. Joefab and all the others are right, replace the stock ones with a better replacement during the major, or before if the state of the stock headers are unknown. It's much easier to replace them with engine-out, but were replaced on my car engine-in. Not affiliated, just a happy customer.

To reiterate, please put new headers on!! Tubi with their heatshields are supposedly the best, but Fabspeeds at less than half the cost have worked out great for me after 5k miles.

Why risk your next major being $$$$$ instead of $$? Pretty sure Ferrari has always considered headers to be a wear-item like brake discs and air filters. Stupid!

 

I chose a somewhat different route:

I took a pair of headers (the second set on my car) cut off the heat shields, examined the tubes (which wer fine) and then reinstalled the heat shields without the packing material. This lets more heat int the engin bay, but less than coated headers. Still, its an experiment in progress.

 

Folks: Thank you for the "no nonsense input." After market is consensus, now it is budget time. Also, the heat shield material posted is a great idea. In fact, there is a retail auto store that carries the material close to my home, I plan on visiting them as well. My inner boots on the trans-axel are cooked, so this is good information. I have purchased 4 kits and will repack while the engine is out.

Thank you Gary

 

I would vote against treating the factory headers at Swain tech. I have also heard the problem with them is cheap steel. Coating them with the ceramic coating that Swain Tech uses will do the same thing the factory heat shields do: make the steel of the headers really hot (it all gets trapped inside by the coating). I think they will just fail as expected.

I went with the QV's from Ricambi (cheapest solution).

I would do that or Fabspeeds, then treat the Fabspeeds at Swain Tech.

 

Wow, thanks for the DEI links!! I ordered some of that coolant additive and the reflect-a-gold. Once I get that stuff I'll post whether or not they worked. Reflect-a-gold will be used on my airboxes.

 

Anyone tried these?

http://www.quicksilverexhausts.com/Ferrari-F355---Manifolds-EXCHANGE-(1994-99)_FERRARI_48_productbulletin.htm

It appears to be similar to what JP Exhausts and QV London are doing...but using one gauge thicker ss tubing.

Just me, but I like the idea of keeping the heatshields. We have all seen the heat damaged Bosch connector boots, heat damaged CV joint boots, and this is with heatshields. I can't imagine what will happen longterm without heatshields to all the various rubber components...

 

I have contacted both companies. Wall thickness is the same for both companies at 1.5mm. Both rebuild the primary tubes. Tubes are mandrel bent and TIG purge welded. Quicksilver will not replace the collectors. I am still waiting to hear from JP Exhausts on this matter. Tubi's primary tubes are 2mm. All use 304 s/s. Neither JP Exhausts or Quicksilver would rebuild them in 321 s/s. Both companies stated that they hadn't seen any collector problems except Quicksilver stated that there was only one but the car had other problems which caused the failure. Hope this helps.



Jimmy

 

Since this thread seems to be dispelling a lot of rumor and getting to the facts (thanks Jimmym), can anyone definitively say who QV London uses to rebuild the manifolds they currently sell?

I have hear rumors it is currently JP Exhausts, and they used someone else prior...

 

I was able to pick up a pair of OEM headers with their heat shield removed; they came from a 98' 355 with only 15,000 miles. Look at the way they warped and cracked, I can't believe Ferrari used such thin material for such a hot running engine. I believe its caused by the heat shield as heat has no were to escape and the pipes are expending so much during heating and cooling. I would replace the tubes with 309 or 304 grade SS and carbon ceramic the headers instead of the factory heat shield.
My headers on my car were replaced around 10,000 miles ago. I’m not sure if Ferrari used better grade tubes for the replacement. I wonder if there is a way to tell if OEM headers are cracked with the heat shield.
Does anyone know of a reliable and reasonable shop in the USA that can replace the tubes and ceramic cote these headers?
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Get the Fabspeeds, do it right now, enough said.

 

The headers are the same (minus a minor air injection rail change) from ferrari as they were in 1995.

Smoke testing the exhaust is the most common way to test the headers with them on the car.

 

I have a pair of used Fabspeed I was able to get for a reasonable price but I'm not sure yet; did you ceramic coat your Fabspeeds?

 

Yes, forgot to mention that you should ceramic coat them, definetly

 

Try Stainless Headers in North Dakota. They stated they could rebuild the whole header in 304 or 321 s/s for a very reasonable price. Much less than you would think. Ernie who has a 348 on this forum had Hytech in CA do a set for him that looked very nice. I am thinking about doing this or ones from JP Exhaust (Ricambi).

 

And ricambi also sells fabspeed as well

 

You're gonna have to make the decision one day. I reckon that you have been looking at the options for three months!