355 water pump

Have any of you gentlemen used the new aftermarket water pump from superformance in the UK? I would appreciate you sharing your experience. They claim it's better than the oem one. Thanks in advance

 

I had it installed when i did my last belt change and yes it's more durable to the propeller being made in metal, no problems yet

 

I used it the last time I changed mine, but that was many years ago and it's still rock solid. no leaks, no problems.

 

Has anyone ever seen an OE impeller break? 28 years in and I have never seen it so it makes me wonder? How does redesigning a part that does not break constitute an improvement?

 

I bought a rebuilt water pump and installed it during my last major service 6k miles and 6 years ago. It started leaking. I pressed out the bearing and 4 bearings fell out and they said made in China right on them. There were also a bunch of spacers and shims. I can't believe someone would do that. I was just gonna rebuild it myself this time using real parts, but I don't know if the housing is original Ferrari and I had to send my old pump in as a core at the time. It doesn't say Ferrari anywhere on the pump and I don't know if it should or not. Open for some advice. I'm all ears. Just want a pump that will last, since it's engine or fuel tank out if leaks prematurely.

 

Rebuilding a pump is one thing. Buying a rebuilt pump is another. Rebuilding a 355 pump is very simple if you have a press. Most commercial rebuilders care about one thing, keeping costs low. Many will do anything to that end.

Post some pictures of yours.

 

Water pump can be replaced without removing either. Not convenient but not that big a deal. I think a shop with no work started that rumor.

 

Here are pics of the front and back side of my pump housing. Can you tell if its a Ferrari housing or an aftermarket?
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It is.

 

Thanks Brian. In that case I'm just gonna buy rebuild kit from Daniel at Ricambi and rebuild it.

 

There are several non-standard versions of the bearing floating around. Did yours look like one of these two photos?


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I just went through the process of rebuilding my water pump using Ricambi parts. The "gotcha" is the fixture needed to properly press in the seal without cracking it. I designed and 3D printed one and it worked perfectly. A press is definitely required to both remove the old bearing and seat the new one.

I wrote this article on the process: https://www.ferrari360.org/2023/09/ferrari-355-360-550-575-612-rebuild.html

If your housing doesn't say Ferrari on it, it's after market. I doubt it would matter much one way or the other except for the little horsey thing.

 

I have 9 waterpump housings here. the only ones with any identification are aftermarket. 5 are OE and say Ferrari nowhere.

 

Yep, that's what my bearings looked like.

 

Do you sell the tool to press the seal into place?

 

^ No, we no longer have that tool in our catalog.

 

All you need is access to a lathe and calipers.

 

GT Carparts have a tool. Although, something is changing at the place. I can't get Bill anymore.

 

@tatry68 - The tool for pressing the bearing is free if you have a 3D printer. A link to the file is in the article.

@Mitch Alsup - And... the skill to use it.

@Rifledriver - Mine had the Ferrari logo and the word "Ferrari" on it, plus some number. I doubt my car is the only one with a logo'd water pump housing. But who knows? Maybe it's a unique item.

@Ricambi America - If you're interested, I'd print you out a dozen of the water pump tool for $5 each and shipping. Or you could print them out yourself for about $0.30 each.

As for the aftermarket with the aluminum impeller, I see no need for a "stronger" part. The plastic one in my car was perfect. It's just more spinning mass and the rough finish of the part (looks cast) would just cause more turbulence and friction.

 

Thanks Mitch Is it possible to break the ceramic in the seal even with the tool? Would you know that you broke it by looking at it after the install?

 

You cannot break the ceramic with the proper tool. The tool only engages the very metal lip of the seal and not directly on the ceramic portion so there is never any pressure on the ceramic. And if it breaks, you can immediately tell by looking at the top of the ceramic.

 

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I have a few of those too. Ferrari must be using a new vendor that Maanello classics has a contract with. That is a very different casting than they used to use.
I have not bought a new pump for several years. That actually looks die cast. The pumps made during the cars production were very different.

 

All the pumps I have do not have any Ferrari markings. That must have been new.

 

+1 on the superformance water pump. No issues with mine since install (12 months).

Installed at the same time as a major service. Was originally worried it was leaking but it turned out the nuff nuffs at the dealership just didn't tighten up the clamps properly... Any of them....