Does the 348 have any design flaws to watch out for?

I read in Forza magazine that early 348s had gear box problems that would destroy them selfs. Never heard of the problem me self, has anyone else?

 

I heard the TR's have weak boxes.... and since the 348 is mini TR.......

 

You can get the same 348 steering by removing your power steering pump belt. The manual system backs up the 355's (and Mondial T's) power steering.

That would also give a 355 owner an extra couple of hp.

 

Maybe I can take out the pump alltogether and use that drive space for a supercharger??? Hmmmmmm

 

348's prior to ~~1991 need a tranny gear oil pump bearing update. The factory did catch and correct that issue during production.

The weak differential problem, however, was not on 348's but was common to Boxers and TR's (prior to the 512TR, where it seems to have been corrected).

But to be fair, I haven't personally heard of *any* problems with the 355's 6 speed manual tranny/dif. Gotta give credit where it is due. EDIT: No, there was an issue with the newer throwout bearings (Hill Engineering has a fix).

 

So there is an improved throwout bearing for the 355 from hill??? 6-speed right??

 

Yep, changed mine 6 months ago when mine let go

 

Well,

Instead of talking about what a 348 can't do how about what it can do?
1-Sit idling for a race restart on the starting line on a 100 degree day without overheating like other race cars.
2-Once at speed you can beat the crap out of a stock engine on the racetrack and the engine stays cool and wants to be pushed harder than I can drive. Stock you do not need bigger oil coolers, trans cooler, bigger radiators , more air flow etc...
3-The gearbox/drivetrain can survive over 5 years without the grease filled dampen flywheel under race conditions
4-The standard flywheel assemby can be modified to be solid and avoid all grease and hot start issues without damage to the engine and drive train proven under race conditions.
5-A 348 stock clutch plate can last 5+ years and is not slipping under race conditions.
6-In over 5 years on the track there has been no engine failure, no gearbox failure, no suspension failure.
7-Stock brake rotors and mild race pads last me about eight track weekends
8-I drive hard enough to wear out my rear tires in two track days.
9-My suspension mods are Delta Vee (aka rexracer) revalved stock shocks and his spring formula and my own self lathe cut delrin bushings and home made adjustable swaybar endlinks so I am transfering much more energy into the chassis than a stock 348 without damage to the car.
10-I have a home mandrel bent and welded-in 8pt rollcage
and no interior except the stock guages and steering wheel on 355C wheels and slicks with stock motor.
11-The entire car whether it was street or race has never seen a mechanic other than myself. The car is entirely user repairable including the gearbox which I rebuilt once myself and have raced on for over 5 years.
12- You can work around every electronic system in the car and fix just about any electrical problem with nothing more than a volt-ohm meter.
13-I have not found the 348 handling rumors to be true. You can tune the chassis for whatever you want to do as it is fully adjustable from rear toe to ride heights to spring rates.
14-The achilles heal in every street Ferrari is electronics.

 

Er we dont speak about what the 348 cant do and problems often enough. Its always whats wrong with the 355s. So lets hear more about what can go wrong with the 348.
MB: And were are the givers of doom and gloom when it comes to the 348???

 

Ah, my son, the Brotherhood is strong......

 

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=261280

 

Don't kid yourself... I have tons and tons of recalls, service campaigns, and bulletins on the 348.
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All I hear are crickets!

 

I'd love to see that list for other Ferrari's as well. Please start with the Mondial 3.2 coupe and cabriolet (probably best as a separate thread, though)

 

I take no joy in hearing that any ferrari let alone the 348 has serious mechanical problems. But boy doesn't it make a bloody change from hearing constant bad tidings about the 355s Maybe we could have a thread on how good the 355 is without the usual bearers of bad news, harping on about valves and headers

 

Chaa... rest assured, there are fewer documents relating to the 355.. about 30% fewer in fact. The difference is that when things go bump on a 355 are just so damn expensive.

I'd take the 355 shifter linkage in a heartbeat instead of the crappy 348 crap-ity, crap-o, crap-pot cables.

 

I cant believe no one has posted the worst flaw yet!!!!

No Fracking Cup Holder!!!!!!!!

 

That's great info, Daniel.

Can you please post the details of:
21_15
30_17A
60_28
611
611_2
628_1
636_1
646_3
======
650
======
651_3
615_3

Thanks!

 

conclusive proof that the 348 is a weapon.

15-Kill to deathevery 355 owner who gets passed

 

That does seem like a bad design, but i have'nt seen many threads about them failing. Im guessing it seems to work ok??

 

The bottom line is that u should get a late model car if you want to avoid as many 348 issues as possible. Even then, u have those freaking motorized mouse shoulder harnesses that test even the patience of the Dali Lama. the belt is a non-issue if u just maintain it. Use red line religiously. It's a great car and pretty easy to hot rod. Far less complex than the 355, but then I like what the 355 offers as well. I hated the weird tire sizes - u may have to compromise on tire size matching, quality and even wheels to get the best situation. Personally, I hated the PZeros.

 

Not many, but you need to be fanatical about major services. There are more items in the belt path that can result in catastrophic failure in a 348 than in a 308/328/355/360. It is a design flaw, but with diligent maintenance I think you're right, 348s don't go around throwing belts and bending valves every week or month.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96132

 

It's not a design flaw to use a belt system like they did.
the design flaw was having to remove the engine to change it....
I'd like to hear from mechanics that work on the cars, what they actually think

Porsche 928 used a similar single belt timing system...
you didn't have to change them at 30k miles either.

 

Removing the engine is really not that hard. I did it alone in a one-car garage with a couple of jacks and jackstands. I think the deal is overblown because a lot of guys spend $100/hr labor to get it done. It is somewhat time-consuming, but it's much better for this old back to do the valves and belt while sitting on a stool than while leaning over the wings! If you know how to do timing belts and valves, that makes this car a bargain!!!!!!!!!!

 

You know, bud, since u r in my backyard, u are cruising for a "how to" lesson on belt replacement...