Challenge Stradale Repairs - Advice Needed! | FerrariChat

Challenge Stradale Repairs - Advice Needed!

Discussion in '360/430' started by CS1949, Jun 14, 2016.

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  1. CS1949

    CS1949 Rookie

    Jun 14, 2016
    11
    Hello all,

    I have a Challenge Stradale that had a check engine light come on, so I took it to the dealer for repairs. As it turns out, there are several large repairs that need to be made.

    The largest expense is the following: I got a $38,000 estimate for new exhaust system from a Ferrari dealer. Includes replacement of both exhaust manifolds, catalytic convertors and oxygen sensors. The pre-cats failed and caused the rest of the system to go under.

    Any ideas for a lower cost but effective solution?

    Thanks!
     
  2. RedTaxi

    RedTaxi F1 Rookie
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    Mar 1, 2012
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    Glen
    Aftermarket manifolds and cats are superior and way cheaper.
     
  3. Dart363f1r

    Dart363f1r Rookie

    Jun 12, 2016
    12
  4. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    Curt
    38k.. where do they get this from?

    Why not take it to an equally capable independent? As above aftermarket manifolds or european headers with no precats. (I didn't think CS cars had precats.. hmm)

    O2 sensors can be bought by Bosch equivalent.... probably even at Rock Auto! ;) As far as cylinder scoring because of the precat... I'd have that car at a reputable independent to shave 50% off the bill from the getgo.
     
  5. Skidkid

    Skidkid F1 Veteran
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    Aug 25, 2005
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    John Zornes
    If you live in CA you have to go stock or risk not passing inspection for smog. Any option other than stock will impact resale because it will remove CA from the pool of buyers. If that isn't a concern, and at that price it may well not be, you have options but they will all make the car louder and you will be into it 10k-15K.
     
  6. elliott95

    elliott95 Rookie

    Aug 24, 2015
    42
    Paradise
    Full Name:
    Elliott
    Yeah i'm no expert but people run aftermarket capristo manifolds or brackets to prevent this from happening on the F430 i believe.

    This might be a similar problem to yours but i am not sure, worth researching though...

    Is the motor running correctly? Or does it have trouble idling and accelerating?

    $38,000 is insane to me for an exhaust system. For that i would go get a full custom exhaust hand made by a race shop for half the price. Buy the oem cats and O2 sensors and have them put in.

    Plus it would sound better.. Is the factory 360 exhaust stainless or titanium ? If it's stainless have a titanium one custom made for less.

    That would be my thought process, maybe others can chime in and explain why you would have to absolutely replace it with OEM for $40k
     
  7. CS1949

    CS1949 Rookie

    Jun 14, 2016
    11
    #7 CS1949, Jun 14, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  8. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    Dec 13, 2009
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    I'm not going to confirm the pricing or whether its accurate but if I were you I'd find a good independent that can work with you. If this was my car I can't say I'd put up with a number like that. Ferrari service stamp be damned...

    "You can just bring the car out back.. I'm going to take it to Karl."
     
  9. SAFE4NOW

    SAFE4NOW F1 Veteran
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    Aug 25, 2004
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    If you know you know
    You can absolutely get aftermarket exhaust systems for less.
    LOTS of options in the for sale section and other threads.

    You can also get alot of the OEM parts for less as well, it just takes some of your time to search for it.

    Question is, what is it that you are looking for in the end?

    OEM Challenge Stradale? Warranty on repairs from Ferrari?

    Modified Challenge Stradale? Warranty on repairs from Aftermarket company?

    Are you ever going to Classiche it?

    If not, go with the aftermarket option, it'll be louder too!

    S
     
  10. CS1949

    CS1949 Rookie

    Jun 14, 2016
    11
    The goal is to keep the car as stock as possible, but i'm not opposed to a quality alternative. To me, like it has been said above, $38k for an exhaust system seems crazy. We don't really have any good indy shops in our area from what i've seen.
     
  11. SAFE4NOW

    SAFE4NOW F1 Veteran
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    Aug 25, 2004
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    Where are you located? You have PM

    Steve
     
  12. stevecomp

    stevecomp Formula Junior

    Mar 1, 2013
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    South Australia
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    No sign of cylinder damage or valves in the quote.

    I'm sure the headers are the same as 360's, I know my Challenge is.
     
  13. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    #13 24000rpm, Jun 14, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2016
    1st, I doubt a precat failure will cause the rest of the system "DESTROYED", there must be something that's still usable. such as the muffler box, o2 sensors.

    sell the muffler box to me, even a bad unit, if you decide to go with something else

    and somebody please tell me why the main cat converter was destroyed???

     
  14. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
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    Best reason I can think of is.. you can bill the client for more $$$$ ;) *jk*

    We don't know the whole story. How are the ignition coils? If the car was a low mileage garage queen.. sitting all that time occasionally being driven.. if the coils are occasionally missing that might trash the precats leading to their disintegration. Would it also overheat/trash the main cat convertors? Good question.
     
  15. cm2

    cm2 Formula 3

    Sep 26, 2012
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    Holy smokes. I'd be looking somewhere else for a solution!
     
  16. Robb

    Robb Moderator
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    Feb 28, 2004
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    Please Let us know which dealer wanted to charge you $38k for the Exhaust work and if they bothered to suggest other options.

    Should be an eye opener for others in the area.

    Sorry but that is criminal and rediculous.

    Robb
     
  17. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    Your only problem at the moment, is to determine just what components are really destroyed so that you don't have to buy those that are not.

    Best option now, is to buy all the damaged parts from a parts shop such as ricambiamerica.com or eurospares.co.uk (if you can handle the hassle, its cheaper from UK)

    then find an indie to install them.

    Be quite frankly, the Ferrari CS exhaust system is just another exhaust system.
    There's no reason to find a Ferrari specialist to do it. Anyone can do it. You, with the right tools and a lift can do it yourself with the help of a hammer.
     
  18. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    plus, if the ball joint wasn't installed correctly, you might just want to fix it rather than replace the whole thing, provided that the ball joint itself is in good condition. The boots for the ball joints can be bought seperately

     
  19. koop

    koop Formula Junior

    Apr 30, 2011
    811
    Doubt the muffler needs to be replaced. I'm sure an experienced welder/fabricator could swap out the failed cats for a fraction of the cost.
     
  20. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    or maybe just gut the precat altogether like I did on my modena

     
  21. since-15

    since-15 Formula 3

    Nov 26, 2008
    1,142
    How long have you owned your CS?
     
  22. Skidkid

    Skidkid F1 Veteran
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    Aug 25, 2005
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    John Zornes
    That was my thought. It really sounds more like someone put leaded gas in the car and cooked the cats & precats. The muffler box should be good but the headers and cats could be that much from a dealer.
     
  23. 24000rpm

    24000rpm F1 Rookie

    hey~ my mirror mould and replica will be ready to be shipped to australia

    and the early challenge headers are *slightly* different than euro modena headers.

    but they are interchangeable

     
  24. sammyf

    sammyf Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2004
    263
    Northern California
    Hmm... These guys are also charging you tax on labor as well? Or am I reading the estimate wrong?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  25. cm2

    cm2 Formula 3

    Sep 26, 2012
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    Nathan
    Where is this shop?
     

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