Need help on 96 F355 Berlinetta - Possible Purchase

The cats shouldn't be any problem to change if your an avarage technical person, and i would replace them with metallic race or sport cats, probably better quality than oem and some extra power and most likely less expensive. The manifolds usually requires much more work and mechanical skills.

 

The compression check won't be able to tell when the manifolds will be going out or not. Again, very few F355's have aftermarket catalytic converters and exhaust manifolds, it's just something to take into consideration because they are known to go out frequently but don't let it prevent you from buying the car.

 

Agree. I did the cats myself on mine, and I enjoyed it, but it did take me a while. I could do one now really quickly now...

You are getting closer! With a clean PPI, you've managed to save enough to handle any big problems. Keep working it!

 

You really need to have a leakdown test done in order to determine the condition of the valve guides; a compression test is not enough. The leakdown %s should ideally all be below 5%.

 

Alot of talk about cats, manifolds and valve guides. I am currently looking at a 99 355 B car with 23k on it. Major was done last year. Should I be concerned about the those things or did most of that get taken care of at the factory by 99??????
It also comes with a 12month/12k mile warranty for anything that may go wrong with the car. Dealer told me anything from a window switch to the pump for the F1 trans. It would all be covered, it will be in writing and has a $100 deductable for the warranty if needed....

 

All 1999s will have the sintered steel valve guides which wear much better than the bronze guides in the 1995 through mid-1998s. I believe that cats and exhaust manifolds are still potentially problematic; my dealer's service people (Continental Autosports) tell me that 1995s are actually the best for cats and manifolds due to the lower exhaust temperatures resulting from a richer mixture.

 

Thanks very imformative, how about the F1 trans---I have heard good and bad---not sure if I should stay with a 6 speed.

 

The problem with the F1 is that if it goes out or the pump becomes a problem, it is a $10,000 part from Ferrari.