Well I'm thinking the only way to be truly sure is to have it opened and check for myself. Records from Ferrari could be wrong, first owner may have already dealt with it - who knows. I trust the guys here, so I'll likely just get it checked on its next major in a couple of years time. It doesn't blow even a puff of smoke though, so I guess that's potentially a good sign.
As I'm so retentive it's gonna kill me not knowing. I'll just get it checked on the next major. I did ask the selling dealer and they were fairly certain, but there's only one way to know 100% I suppose. Given it's going to be used relatively sparingly, it's not something I'm freaking about in the meantime. During engine-out it'll be the best time to deal with it - new clutch as well. Just because. I'm guessing since it's done 65k's, if it was gonna happen it would have likely (but not definitely) happened already. It's had the typical header issue dealt with already so I'm hoping I won't have any nasty surprises otherwise. Speaking of the clutch, is it normal for the clutch to engage around 1/2 - 2/3rds the way up the peddle travel? It's quite a different experience for me. I'm used to a more grabby engagement about 1-2 inches from the floor. No slippage at all, just feels quite a bit different from what I'm used to. It's quite light as well, which was a nice surprise.
Most likely a previous owner did them. Life of 355 guides can be as little as 20,000kms. I say again, don't pull the heads off unless you have a clearly identified problem. 2nd problem is finding a mechanic who (a) isn't FoS (b) has experience with 355 heads and (c) won't create more problems than he fixes. They all talk themselves up but the majority don't know s**t. Just ask Aircon.
65000km? I'd be surprised if they're not already done. Any way to can contact previous owners prior to the one you know?
Original selling dealer won't hand out any previous owner details (was only a single owner prior to the last owner who then sold it to me). Previous owner before me had it for 18 years (bought at 42,000km sold to me 18 years later @ 65,000km) and I've known him the whole time he owned it. The selling dealer told me that whilst they couldn't hand out details, that they did have service history on it and it showed 2 recalls were done. They checked the VIN and told me that the valve guide issue was not relevant to my car but there was indeed a recall for it. Doesn't mean it wasn't done by another mechanic at some point though. So that's basically all I have.... Given it's done 65km and has no issues I'm hoping it's probably OK. Burns no oil and blows no smoke. Might be best just leaving it then you reckon? I don't want to poke a sleeping bear. I'm currently registering myself as the owner with Ferrari themselves as they won't provide me any data until I do... With all the lockdowns in Italy at the moment, it's taking time!... What I've read online (here somewhere I think?) and also what the selling dealer is also telling me, is that both steel and brass guides were used in 1995 and 1996, but by 1997 they had gone to steel entirely. That means that some 95 cars and some 96 cars were impacted, but not all. Apparently they had a few different suppliers of valve guides at the time... You'd think it's BS but I've got a few Ducati's from that era and it's the same story with those. Some had flaking rockers, some didn't - just depends on what supplier's valves went into your particular bike on that particular day. If you can trust their records of course. That's a whole other story again!
Sorry, I just woke up... Congratulations! What a beautiful car. Great seats. Lucky to have those. Did you get the service history with the car? I'm assuming perhaps not the whole lot or it would show if the guides were done, but it seems reasonable to assume they have by now. Ignore the "proper enthusiasts" giving you **** about the shields. As you rightly say, the car looks better with them. Oh, and there's nothing wrong with your fuel gauge. Sounds like normal consumption to me...
.....to myself and realised that I've been wrong about having shields on ANY Ferrari that was not a factory racing car.....................
I’d want shields on an Ferrari where they were a factory option. Why wouldn’t you? Especially for resale. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Have a chat to Angelo Antenucci G.M Millane & Co Motor Trimmer 123 Kensington Street East Perth WA 6004 Tel :08 93255175 Fax :08 92212662 for the seats, really seems experienced and knows what he is talking about regards Neil
As I said, on any Ferrari that they were an option on. Would clash with blue. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
So you're only looking at it in your professional capacity and not the enthusiast we thought you were/are??
No one should buy a new Ferrari without shields. Be like buying a hot beer. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I've got exhaustive records (every receipt with detail) for the last 18 years. Prior to that it has stamps in the service book for everything that was due - but no detailed receipts so I don't know what additional work was done. The dealer is just telling me that it was serviced by the book and had all recalls that were necessary. They reckon my VIN is not one with the bad guides, but who really knows I guess? There's a bit of conjecture on it so I'm going simply acknowledge I don't know but am hopeful Perhaps once Italy wakes up I might get more info. Then again they may not actually know themselves.
Cheers mate, yes I know Millane's do great work. They fixed the "shrinking dash" issue for the last owner many many years ago and did a superb job. They are well respected over here. I'll give them a call, appreciate the note.
And there you have nailed it. If you read the 348/355 section people on there will tell you that it was a crap-shoot in terms of which cars did or didn’t get the better guides. It was NOT done on VIN. About the only guarantee was that if you have a ‘98 car or later they won’t have the bronze guides. Having said that, if your car has been driven as much as it has I’d be amazed if it still had bronze guides.
Cheers Steve. With regards to the clutch, is it normal for it to bite about half way out from the floor? Most manuals I've driven will start to take-up only an inch or two from the floor. This one is about half way, perhaps even slightly further out than that.
I found that the clutch on my 180B started to bite maybe 1/3 of the way up? Same with the HQ. And the Camry Vienta (great car). My 355’s clutch is computer controlled and therefore perfect every time. And it changes gear faster than any reasonably competent driver can do it. (Apologies. Old jokes - bones of contention, etc.)
Suits me fine having a manual. Means the wife will never ask to drive it! Speaking of 180B's, have you seen the prices of those suckers recently?
