Engine In timing belt change

Grant
Its still alot better than up here $450k wouldn't buy 1400sf apt.its just crazy.like I said if I was younger I would go live in a camp and work on the oil sands.think about all the money you would save, I know its real hard work and its cold.Last week I was driving my car but it even got cold up here now +1c in the day -3c at night but still sunny and no snow.I think you sent us some cold wind from alberta...

 

I agree with you on that. Being a shop owner.

 

I feel your pain! My Autologic alone with 3 softwares costed me 35k

 

Does anyone have the link which "allegedly"has photos of an engine in belt job on the 355. As I recall it was maybe a UK based chat? Have been unable to locate it.

 

I do not have the link but you need to cut off the retainers that cannot be accessed which hold the fuel tank heat shield.

Then take it out and build some new ones that can be tightened when reinstalling.

This gives you enought room to get the covers off and replace the belts.

 

Have you tried having sex with your clothes on?

It may be possible, but much easier (and much more fun) without being dressed.

 

LOL!

Well said Mikey.

 

Why is this still a thing?

 

I think I will make a stencil with Ferrari on it, sell it with a can of yellow paint, renew your belts in situ.........

 

Because for some, their standards are so low and their frugality so well developed there is no length they will not go to cut corners.

I just want them to post VIN's so I know which cars to stay the hell away from.

 

I am not sure I get it but I do understand the sentiment.

 

Me too. I can't comprehend how some feel removing the gas tank and all the other baloney is less work than removing the sub-frame as designed...

 

Well in the end it may be less work, I am not looking to dispute that. We actually set out to do it one time to see if it was a valid method. We quickly discovered there were so many areas where you were compromising not only the car but also the quality of the job I put a stop to it.

There are butchers in every industry and I am not hesitant to call anyone who performs this service in that way a butcher. Sadly I regularly see cars having been repaired by people of that mind set. Such is the legacy of the flat rate pay system.

 

Right? You can do the job on a bench or try to build a ship in a bottle

 

I've said many times - every profession has Heroes and Zeros

 

I have never seen a ship built in a bottle being sea-worthy. Have you?

 

And I've said many times - do the job right, or don't do it at all.

The vehicle was built and designed in a way to have the engine come out and worked on, and anybody trying to re-invent the wheel here is nothing short of lunacy (IMVHO).

Ferrari may not have gotten it right with some things on their models, and there are ways to do things better on certain jobs, but an engine out service is not one of them.

 

Man...Tough crowd here...but I do see both sides. Looking a high mile, low price 355 and don't feel this particular car is worth spending that kind of money on an engine out service. It's just that simple. It's just a business decision....will never get money back out of this particular car.

 

I have a lift at my house and can throw a set of belts and bearings in over a weekend for $500...VS paying thousands to a shop, who you guys can't deny do make mistakes. In fact I know more people who have had belt and/or bearing failure just after a major vs cars that were due or overdue.....Just stating the facts.

 

The ship-in-botttle is a good analogy. From doing engine-in services on my 308, I will say with experience that taking the engine out will yield far greater results and offers much higher quality control than engine-in services. And the service will in fact be done correctly in less time.

Anyone with any level of mechanical experience will find it hard to justify how an engine-in service where you're only able to see 50% of what your working on in dim light while the other 50% you're primarily working on by "feel" can yield better results than having full access in full light with full circulation/reach to all sides and top and bottom of the motor. It just doesn't add up.

 

I didn't read this thread as a debate over owner-performed service versus shop-performed service. By all means if someone is technically capable perform your own service. And I agree with you shops make mistakes, owners are probably more thorough, although watching some 355 engine out videos on youtube it's not always true. For example, check this series out - he removes the tension bearings, he has them in his hands, he spins them and talks about them, and then to save a few dollars he re-installs the used bearings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZHeZI--T7Q

But this debate is particular to the 348/355 engine-out service. The engine was designed to come out for the service, and that is the correct approach to perform the belt service and will yield the best results.

 

When I was in college in Gainesville I had a Porsche 914. I did all my own oil changes at my apartment with ramps. My good friend had a 911 nice car. He took his to Jiffy Lube. On the way home his engine exploded; they never put the oil filter back in. This is why I have always done my own service and repairs when possible. For me part of the joy of Ferrari ownership is working and tinkering on the cars myself....not that I'm a cheapskate...just enjoy it and trust my work over any shop.

 

I think the major majority of people here will advocate doing the work yourself if you are capable.. not many would argue the fact that it can be done well at home. Some people who have ACTUALLY DONE THIS EXACT WORK BEFORE are trying to give you some advice. The cradle was designed to come out, it is not that much more work then trying to reinvent the wheel. Doing it "right" is much better documented on how to and in the long run I think you'd be in way better shape just doing it the way it was intended. If you have read anything about these cars you know changing the timing belts is NOT doing a major service. I'm always the first guy to say it's your car do whatever the hell you want, don't come here to ask permission. But on something like this you probably can't come here to ask many questions on things you might run into either because you are going off road and into the weeds where others don't travel.

 

If that's the case, then why don't you drop the engine out yourself and do it properly, the way it was designed and engineered to be done.