Leaky Belt Tension Bearings

For what it's worth I checked the belt tension again ~700 miles after replacing the belts and the leaky OEM tensioner bearings with HE's PT-550, and the bearings were as dry as as when I installed them with zero sign of seepage.

 

Twice in the past year I have had shipments get stopped by customs here in US. One from Canada, one from UK. Canada package was held up 3 weeks or so. Much back and forth trying to convince them it was a simple car part. Finally told them to ship it back. I told supplier to reship as soon as it came back. I had it in my hands in 4 days.

The other was a syncro ring. I wrote and called 20 time declaring what it was, what it was for, what it was worth etc. They were pretty sure I was lying to them.....A simple syncro ring. About a month after it was shipped I finally got it.

Simply cannot run a business that way. It one of a few reasons I shop in the USA.

There is nothing wrong with DC that cannot be made a whole bunch better by firing 80% of them and making them get real jobs.

 

I'm seeing that in my business too. I deal primarily with the feds and the state govs... Covid happened and the bottom dropped out of their productivity.

 

Funny. I have been experiencing mass stupidity in the federal government since about 1975.

 

So I changed the oil sender unit as part of this belt replacement project. It was leaking a little. Here is why. Looks like it took some curb hits.

Torqued the filters with my $5 walmart wrench too.

 

How old are your motor mounts? Do you have the 2nd generation mounts? Mounts are junk, then the motor sags and sits on the frame. At that point there is less than 1/2 inch between the sway bar and the oil pressure sensor. Bar flex's and breaks sensor off.

So common Ferrari ran out of replacement engines long before they were even out of production.

You are very lucky to still have an engine. Those get broken off , you then have a hole about 1/2 inch around with about 80 pounds of pressure pumping the motor oil out onto the road. And if was following on a motorcycle the law suit would cost most of what you have.

 

Bingo. I was about to warn of the same thing. I actually fabricated a little remote mount adapter that allowed that sender to be relocated up higher in the engine bay in a safer place. It also keeps it from accumulating road crud that builds up on the terminals and causes it to start generating bogus oil pressures. Of course you could always use one of these from Daniel to do the same thing: https://www.ricambiamerica.com/135940-b-oil-pressure-sender-cover.html (shameless plug for another great MSW product, LOL)

 

Relocating is a good thing to do. Probably easily gain another 3/4 inch of space there. .

 

In my case with worn out original 550 motor mounts the engine was resting on the steering rack. The oil pressure sender was close to the sway bar but was not in contact.

 

You are correct. It rests on the rack, not the frame.

The sensors do not end up in contact with the sway bar but too close to it. Close enough the bar can be flexed enough to break the sender off. I think it is less than a centimeter away.

 

Yes, and that's why I installed updated (575) mounts right away.

 

New MSW product...

 

LOL, show of hands please & if there's enough interest I'll get some made up.

 

Funny you mention that. I got the car not running. Straight trade for my 308 back in 2018. Anyway, when I unloaded it from the trailer (reverse mounted). I broke the sender mount and dumped 10qts of oil in my driveway. I replaced the mounts with 575s, suspension bushings, belts, water pump, alternator, transaxle mounts, radiator and had the shocks rebuilt.

I still hit stuff if I'm not careful. And to make it worse, I have a steep driveway angle.

 

If you don't, ill look into making this. Made a similar setup for my old VW bus

 

I would take one. I have casually thought about moving my sensor but that's as far as I went. I have had no issue so far on 575 mounts even twisting the front bar on track on street tires. But that sensor is close. It really is a "should do" kind of thing. I can't remember what the area exactly looks like maybe just an angled fitting is needed?

 

I would if it could be fitted to a 456M

 

Your house made me think of something. Are you an FCA member down there?

 

No. Should I join?

 

I'm in for one. We can sell the used ones too. They go for a good price. Ask me how I know.

 

Eric I'll take a stab at it again if there's a demand.

Carl, mine was different; I fabbed a billet adapter to replace the little cast adapter that the OEM sensor screws into (https://www.ricambiamerica.com/car-diagrams/ferrari/v12/gt-group-2-seat/550-maranello/lubrication-oil-sumps-and-filters/143866-support.html), threaded it for a -4 or -6 AN straight adapter, built a braided hose assembly & mounted the sensor up onto the same bracket that holds the windshield washer refill hose.

 

Well yes but I was asking to see if you knew a couple of friends there.

 

I have run these off the shelf Canton Filters for about 10 years in this car and many other cars. Is the oil pressure inside the filter the same as what the sender sees? Can the removable lid on the Canton filter be drilled and tapped for the sender? I can't remember how thick the lid is but it's aluminum and easily modified, welded, or made from billet.

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If not thick enough you can weld a bung to it..

Pressure in filter should be same as in main oil gallery less whatever the pressure drop through the element which should be nearly nothing.
Depending naturally what side of the element the sender is on.

 

You could put a nut on both sides of the fitting as well to keep it in place. I like those filters... Do you replace the cartridge?