355 30k service without engine removal

So sorry to butt in!
Dave

 

No Dave much respect to you my friend, you are a pro in your feild and i respect your veiws. Just that the statement that i made was only at the original posters. Please chime in at anytime, your veiws are respected.

 

Note that the cam timing wasn't really the thrust of the main question, and the guy who sorts my car made it very clear that the only way to get them perfect was to use dials, take the top off etc.

As it was running shed loads better, and I didn't have time to hang around whilst this lot was done, I opted not to bother for now.

 

It was merely a question, stop trying to read into things! My market here is a very small one, being located in a void 2 or more hours from any other shops working on Ferraris. My customer base is around 100 Ferraris, many later models coming in town the last few years, so I have had to up my game/knowledge and investment to suit. I would love to be able to be doing ONE a week to recoup and justify investment in tools/books and diagnostics as well as increasing my personal experience.

Brian, an ex-pat now living in the US, 15 years of Ferrari service (albeit as a self taught independent).

 

Hi Brian, and where are you mate?

 

"The Racing Capital of the World", their choice of words, not mine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

growing away from a farming community, although the first ferrari Club of America national meet was held here many years ago. A small core of enthusiasts here in town and surrounds. And with many here only driving a few thousand miles a year, when I do a major service, I put myself out of work for 5 years, LOL!

Brian

 

I will state it again if not clear. Your method is just not the proper way to SERVICE the timing belt and engine. And if you think for a moment that The ferrari factory would suggest replacement of the timing belt in the 355 in this manner, I believe you would be mistaken.

Now, can the belts be done in the Verdis manner? why not.

Is it a complete and through major service? NO.

Can you properly check the cam timing? unless you can fit a degree wheel in there and still have room to see, probably not.

And unless he is a magician, he cannot loosen or remove the crankshaft pulley without moving the engine assembly up and back away from the subframe. there really is just not enough room.

I can have a 355 subframe down in about 2 hours including a coffee and pee break.
With the subframe removed I can go over all the engine connections and systems, all the chassis connections and grounds, check suspension mountings and shocks, all the hose clamps, check all the mountings that cannot be easily reached with the subframe in. then I can turn to the engine assembly and do a through check of every nut and bolt, Repaint and detail the valve covers, I can replace all of the seals, and wash and detail the engine assembly, after the service. all this under nice bright shop lights in a relaxing condition.

Like Joe eariler said, You paid less and you got less. And if you are satisfied by that then verdis did their job well.

I`m also not saying that the technician that performed this service did a bad job either. I can tell that by your satisfaction. and he must have some skill to perform a service in this way.

The problem I have with this whole issue is that you are suggesting that the dealers (independent and factory) and ferrari are just taking advantage of their customers by not doing the timing belt replacement the way that you suggest.

I have the 355 workshop manuel (yes the technicians version). I would love to know on what page it says to remove and replace the timing belts without removal of the engine subframe.

As for my experience?

24 years Ferrari experience, 11 years of that With Ferrari North america technicial department, another 7 years F dealer technician, and 6 years independent.
Been to most all ferrari technicial classes.Including Spa
Ferrari Challenge technicial support from day one and with factory help built the first challenge 348 car for the USA CN#93849 #1 YELLOW/BLK tb
Ferrari challenge technician from the beginning to current.
I also, at one point handled the publications and technicial information for the North american market, and managed FNA`s workshop/PDI facility.
I even taught a Ferrari technicial service class once.

And I feel there are many others with much more experience than me on this site and that have chimed in on this thread and agree removal is best.

Again, I do not have any problem with verdis and the services they perform, I as others have stated on this board just feel that the service is better performed with the engine removed. JMO.

Best regards, Jim

 

Bottom line is this, its all about how much money ferrari can get out of the custumer. Whats the recomended time for a ferrari belt change on a 355? I dont know but lets say 10 hours at ££$$ an hour, then they give you the big bill that ferrari tell them to give to you. And yes i am right that some ferrari tecs just get the job in the least possable time as long as the jobs done. Think about it, a ferrari tec can do one job in 8 hours or two jobs in the same time.
I cant go into details, but Karl is known in the ferrari comunity in the UK and personaly knows other ferrari specialists who admit to him that the procedures that he uses, they use but then charge the custumer thefull ferrari price becourse they have to, and some of them are on this site and i can name names but like i said its not my place. Thats why i have the opinions i have.
You know no matter what job you do there is always easyer ways of doing it and making life more simpler. When i was in the forces and were being trained to do tours of Irland, we would be trained in CWR tecniques and do it all by the numbers just like the manual said, and that was fine up to a point, then you would go into the feild and learn from the time served old solders how to do the job in the least pain in the arse way.
Question, whats the book time for a warter pump change/? Do you take out the engine to do it? i dont know you tell me, but if you do have to take out the engine as opposed to doing it in situ, then i say again its all about the money and draining it from ferrari owners and brain washing the said owners into beleving that the only way is the longest and most expensive way, thats the ferrari way. And i for one am P*ssed of with tossing ferrari tecs ripping me of. And i have expereanced that first hand at my first ferrari specialist that i used in england that were doing the job in half the time and charging me the full price. Todays mantra...its all about the money...its all about the money..

 

Hi,

Now, many years later... How to remove the crank shaft pulley in engine situ? Since timing belts cannot be replaced otherwise?

Best Regards, Paul