Does anyone know what's really inside the 308 Engine ?

Yes you can but it is a very hard job, and to some, it is not much better than a full removal. Plus, you can do so much more to your engine and engine bay when the engine is out.

 

Which brg?

The outer one can be removed with some special tooling. Not terrible. The inner, well, I know of folks who've pulled the engine for less.

 

There's plenty of room, no need to remove engine from the car.
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+1.

 

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I did this job the summer of '06 with the engine in the car. I performed the job on both outer timing bearings and seals rather than pulling the entire timing cover and removing all 4 bearings. The issue with my engine was the rear bank lower timing gear oil seal was leaking. I figured if I was doing one I might as well do both. I fashioned a special puller by modifying a timing gear puller and shaping the ends of a couple long bolts so they could fit into the bearing races after the bearing race cover was seperated and the ball bearings themselves could be moved aside so to allow for something to be pushed in next to them. I have a photo of the puller I fashioned on my home computer, or it should be floating around somewhere in the archives. All in all I simply replaced the seals behind the timing gears and bearing directly behind the seals. Been fine since.

The timing cover can be removed without pulling the engine, but it is a task. The oil sump plate must be removed and the oil pickup pipe must be removed. The two nuts which hold the oil pickup pipe in place are very difficult to get to and a special socket must be fashioned. What is the issue with your engine? Leak? can you hear a bad bearing?

 

........i know little about........ BUT giveme some time and i am sure i can find it
....well as long as it is a 1976 model!
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"Verell" has a post on how to remove the timing cover while the engine is "in". I've done it, helped by phone conversations with Verell. The only specific tool needed/wanted, is (as I recall) a 1/4 dr. 10mm, 6 pt. Snap-On socket. The process to remove the timing cover is the same, engine in or out. It is a "short-cut" process, not the "right" way. The right way is to pull the engine, pull off the crankcase/transmission case, then the timing cover. This is the way it was put together originally. It takes longer, but is easier, and the reliability of the sealing is better. But, to each his own poison.

 

As stated, it can be done. Fred stated the risks most accurately regarding the potential leaks.

Pull the drain plug now and let the residual oil driop for a day or two before attempting....you will be glad you did. We pull the sump cover and take the car off the hoist for a day or two and put a huge cookie sheet under it and let it drip. This way whe we have to dig for gold getting the studs off the oil pump pick up we are not doing it with oil dripping down our necks.

Re think before digging.... is there any other reason that might justify pulling the engine?

 

And my mouse is a might sick ....................... and the wheel (cam belts) needs replacement

 

Again, be SURE to read Verell's post on the process. I would also suggest a call to Verell BEFORE going any further. And there are 3 nuts holding the pump on, not two. (at least on my 83 Mondial)

 

+1 for Verell's post. He is the man.

As with anything on these engines, take your time and you will not have any issues. The bearings and seals themselves are easy to source once all apart. I am very glad for you that it is not something more serious. I believe if we were to ask a dealer this question they would say this is an engine out issue??

 

Agreed! I've tried the 308 timing drive bearings (inner and outer) with the engine in the car (with Verell as my guide), and ended up snapping a stud that holds the timing drive case, so ended up pulling the engine to retap the stud anyway. In the end, pulling the engine was not very difficult and I ended up replacing just about ever seal, gasket, etc I could- cleaned, painted, powder coated, etc the entire thing.

I made some errors and learned from them. Here is the complete story (yes, we did the bearings twice!!):

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28437

In conclusion, if there are other nagging neaks, grubby oily components, major service due, shift-shaft seals new replacing, etc- I'd just pull the engine- JMHO. I'm not sure of your experience with the 308, but having full access to the lump during this service was a joy.

Good luck! John

 

Hey I can definitely agree to that. Great time to clean stuff up and take care of little niggling issues, plus it makes the job at hand far easier aside from the r&r of the drivetrain anyway

 

If it's just the timing drive bearings, then quite a bit less work to do it in the car. If there's some other big things you want to do, probably easier to pull the engine.

Some of the most detailed threads about doing this project w/o removing the engine are mine & robertgarvins threads in the old ferrarichat archives:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/18741.html
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/21198.html
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/7992.html
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/8707.html

Here's a procedure for just replacing the outer bearings:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103998&highlight=cam+drive

I'll be happy to help coach you thru the process. Make sure your profile has your eMAIL address correct, then click on my name & send me eMAIL. I'll respond with my phone #.