My 348 stopped running on the highway

Hey Al Bundy, did you check out the Ferrari discusion section about a yellow 348 that's been trash? You better go there NOW

 

So are you gonna buy Plugzit's engine? In my opinion that will be the cheapest and fastest way to get your car back on the road.

 

If, key word, tmobileguy’s damage assessment is accurate, why wouldn’t it be faster, and a lot less costly, to buy valves, have the heads freshened, assemble and drive? Costs would be head work, gaskets, new belt, tensioners etc. Just curious.

 

Sounds like a good plan if the heads are in useable condition. That is cheaper than buying a bunch of good aftermarket valves and just popping them in your old heads. Then you still have a pair of rebuildable heads you can sell or trade for ?

 

Good plan. What about the metal you discovered in the oil? You should inspect the bottom end while you have it out. If it checks out, be sure to flush out the oil lines, oil cooler, oil reservoir and of course replace the oil filter. Also, blow compressed air through all the passages. You don't want something trapped in there to come back to haunt you.

Personally, I would inspect the main bearings, rod bearings, and cam bearings. That is where you will see the evidence if anything went through the engine. Don't be surprised to see some wear in the direction of travel. But if you see any flaking, pitting, or gouges then you should replace your bearings.

 

I just want to say good luck with this car. I am sure you can work it out.

 

Al, its good to see your back and that you are still trying to get the car up and running.

I cant imagine a better option than nabbing a set of good useable heads for that cost. I dont see how you can go wrong on that deal. And like mentioned, youll still have an extra set of rebuildable heads. Fire that mother up!

 

you're a very lucky guy

 

I wonder if there is less "interference" in our 348 engines than we've been led to believe...


When my timing belt slipped all that happened was I that got 16 bent valve-guides and a blown head-gasket.

 

What were you led to believe? Also how did the timing belt problem lead to a blown headgasket?

 

Good question.

 

I am genuinely curious. As far a engine damage from a cam timing issue I have never heard a claim from anyone who showed enough knowledge to pay attention to (the rest I really don't remember because I really don't care what they say) say more than valves will bend and pistons may be damaged. In his pictures and statements that is what I get. A bunch of bent valves and slightly damaged pistons. Am I missing something? Have we been threatened with parts hanging out the sides?

Just wondering.

Ferrari motors especially the 4 and 5 valves have very low lift (don't need much lift with small valves) to do anything very dramatic when you have a piston-valve interface. That and the small diameter stems pretty well insure the valve heads just get pushed out of the way.

As for your head gasket, pretty rare problem on these motors. Can't think of any connection to a timing belt/bent valve problem.

 

Well, you got me on that one. My original theory was that me laying on the intake plenum to remove the cam-belt inspection cover caps caused my head-gasket problem, but I caught so much flack for that theory here that I had to believe that I was in error.

My head gasket was blown at the same time as my cam belt slipped. As to the cause...I don't know. From your words it appears that a slipped cam-belt would be an unusual cause of a blown head-gasket. I had an alternative theory, but that theory was dissed unanimously.

It's a mystery. No big deal, but in relation to this thread I was merely trying to show that I had experienced very little damage from a very similar problem, too.

 

I've never had a problem with a Ferrari, but I had a couple of E-types one slipped a timing chain. it just made a mark on a couple of the pistons and bent a few valves. the work to fix it was more than the cost of the parts.

bad things happen when the valve head gets broken off.....
saw a dino engine that did that. looked like someone took a ball peen hammer to the inside of the cylinder.

 

Looks like it wasn't going to be long before you needed some valve work anyway. From the photo, I see a couple of marginal valve seats.

Also, looks like you're burning oil. Are you going to replace the valve seals on the heads you're getting?

Were those two outer cylinders already clean? Or did you do some cleaning?

 

Here's some items that will break a piston.

1. Sucked valve. Valve retaining clips coming loose (usually weren't installed properly), or extreme rpm's causing the valves to float enough to contact the pistons and allow the clips to come off.

2. Broken ring. Extreme rpm's or overheating are possible causes.

3. Detonation. Preignition caused by incorrect timing, fuel, or overheating.

4. Foreign object sucked in through the intake manifold. (once, I found a bolt imbedded in the top of a piston.)

Never had a piston break because of a broken timing chain or belt. However, I wouldn't say it couldn't happen if the conditions were right, but it would be pretty tough to do.

 

Good, at first I thought you may have been sucking water into those two cylinders.

Valve seals or oil rings.

Don't know if it's a weak spot, but most likely caused by lack of use and age. After all, they ARE 16 years old. I can't remember who posted the statement "You're going to pay for the maintenance whether you drive it or not, so you might as well drive it". I agree whole heartedly.

Anyway, I'd replace the seals, easier now then later.

 

PM me if you are interested in selling your old heads


This is typical damage for belt failure on 348s I have repaired two others with same damage. 30 valves bent each time.

I have also seen the timming belt drive bearing fail. Ferrari upgraded to a better bearing design at some point. Probably early in production.

 

So timing belt failure isn't generally "catastrophic," but something a little less disastrous.

Bent valves. Damage to heads? Pistons still re-useable. Cylinder linings OK. Crank OK. Rods OK.