So, I've been on this forum for 7 years, read plenty of stories of stock manifold failing as we all are familiar with. I was wondering if anyone who had their factory manifolds replaced by the dealer ever had them fail again? Slight suspension Ferrari may have revised them, since I cant remember anyone ever saying they experienced a second failure. I realize many people go aftermarket after a failure, or pick up a set of cheap used ones, so maybe not a large sampling here. I've been wanting to go aftermarket, but cant justify replacing my perfectly functioning OEM manifolds. My car had both manifolds replaced at 20k miles in 2005. Car now has 46k miles, plenty of enthusiastic driving and some track time. I stuck a camera in them and the primaries look great on the inside, no sign of holes, melting of deformation.
My friend installed new 5.2 factory headers and they failed after just 4000 kms. In saying that my 2.7 headers were removed at 55,000 kms as a preventative and we’re functioning fine. If yours are fine leave them until they aren’t
We had a client who went through something like 6 sets. And that was still in the 90's. He drove it like a rental car every day.
My 2.7 Rosso 355 has the “updated” one from 2005 purchased new. Air rail design is slightly different. 12k mi so far. They look great from the outside still and car drives strong. I’ll be pulling them out eventually and analyzing them. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I wouldn't trust a visual inspection. My OE headers looked fine with a borescope but a smoke test showed leaks.
I've seen comments like this, yes, but I've never actually heard/read from a first hand experience. I'm not saying I don't think it's possible, but it does seem plausible that Ferrari may have changed suppliers or something after their 10,000s warranty claim lol Like I mentioned, I've been on this forum reading daily since 2014, and have searched several times, I do not recall a single member here stating his 2nd set of new manifolds were replaced. She if you picked up a set of old used ones and they failed, that's different.
5.2 differences: Rail design, heat shield shape and length, the y-pipe design etc. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I don't mean "I heard about it" like an urban legend, I mean threads out here with people stating they had multiple failures in first hand posts. I have read many like that. Ran a search for you here is one of a ****e ton. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/index.php?threads/360150/ Sent using FerrariChat.com mobile app
The consensus of the thread you linked was not a leak. The pictured hole was not even in a part where exhaust gases could get to,(i.e. near a primary tube) it was where the pinch weld was between the upper and lower half of the heat shield.
It was just a quick search man, I did not read it. Perhaps your right, its urban legend. I must have misread posts. Sent using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Btw I also read out here folks claim that headers were improved and they heard that from Ferrari. Sent using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I think we are all in agreement about the common failures of the stock manifolds. All I was trying to establish is: was there ever a successful revision? I posted above at least 2 different 2.7 and 3 or 4 different 5.2. that I was able to find in 2 minute on ebay... so it's clear they were revisions. Now, Is is possible to find a consensus on which one might be impossible.
Never was resolved. They became better but never good. As I said, Ferraris solution was to define them as a consumable part.
interesting, when did they do this? I went back and looked at my records, my cars warranty expired nov 2000, and ferrari replaced then under warranty march 2001. maybe the owner either threw a fit or was buddy buddy with someone there. glad we established there are newer variants
There are newer variants for sure. Air rails on my nero 355 are different than the ones on my rosso 355. I have documentation of a new header purchase in 2005. Unless they “upgraded” the header tubing material to something like 304, I’m not sure how reliable they can be regardless of new outside design changes.
A mechanic I'm friendly with who has a lot of 355 experience claims the headers were improved sometime in the 1998 model year and he's seen far fewer failures in the later cars. My '98 is closing in on 40K miles on factory headers. There's no record of them being replaced, so I assume they're original but of course that's just an assumption.
Other problem is significant deformation of tubing even if no leaks. I’ve never seen anyone open up Scud headers, but I would be curious. If minimal deformation, they used a better material. Tubi uses 304 and they are right next door to Ferrari. Go figure.
