F430 headers

Regarding the technical bulletin #1661 (thanks for attaching that BTW), I talked with FoW today....yes, they replaced BOTH sides. When they said that one side was bad and they had replaced "it", they replaced "it" with the full replacement kit which, indeed, is TWO manifolds, so both sides were taken care of. So, should be good to go....but always good to check.

 

No problem. Glad to hear they did both.

 

What warranty were they replaced under, the 8 year Federal Emissions Part Warranty or was your car originally sold and registered in CA or CA regulation state, and covered under the 7 year warranty?

Thank you

 

To the best of my knowledge, it was under the Federal program...I don't think the car was originally a CA car....I bought it used from FoW in 2008 (paid more than sticker....that's what they were going for back then...how times have changed, eh?). So I don't KNOW that it wasn't a CA car, but as I recall it was a car that FoW had sold to the original owner so I am guessing it was a VA car.

 

I'm in the UK, my headers were ordered just over a week ago and they arrived at the dealer yesterday. I'd be calling my dealer again if I were you, mine had to come from Italy too.

John.

 

It really is amazing that we (all Ferrari owners collectively) put up with this kind of thing. Headers/manifolds have been an issue since at least the 355's.....and yet Ferrari continues to use crap in terms of materials and production processes for these parts...and then doesn't keep an adequate stock on hand even though it's looking like a lot of early 430's will need new headers within the emissions warranty time period. Aftermarket manifolds are often guaranteed for the life of the car....so why can't Ferrari do the same thing?

Good thing the 430's are such great cars, eh?

Of course, my brand new Aston Martin Vantage V8 dropped a couple of quarts of oil in the driveway within the first 24 hours of ownership...and don't even get me started on my E-type Jag back in the day. And then there was my Lexus SC300 6speed that they just couldn't get right. Dealers ended up buying back my Aston Martin and my Lexus...also sold back a Jeep that was leaking transmission fluid at 200 miles. And my 1991 BMW 750iL would have eaten me out of house and home without the extended warranty. My 1997 911 NEVER BROKE and NEVER had any mechanical issues even after 30 track days in one year. The only problem was the antenna in the windshield....that's it. OF course those old air-cooled beasts were pretty bullet-proof.

But when all is said and done, I do love the F430....nothing wrong with it that about an extra 150 lb-ft of low end torque wouldn't solve. But that's why I have an SL55 too....gobs of low end torque...but that ones been back to the dealer at least 5 times since June for silly little stuff.

My wife's Toyota is bullet-proof. Of course, it has the driving fun factor of a dead fish.

So, I guess we put up with it on the 430's because we are all just car sluts.

I wouldn't change that for anything!

 

It really is amazing that we (all Ferrari owners collectively) put up with this kind of thing. Headers/manifolds have been an issue since at least the 355's.....and yet Ferrari continues to use crap in terms of materials and production processes for these parts...and then doesn't keep an adequate stock on hand even though it's looking like a lot of early 430's will need new headers within the emissions warranty time period. Aftermarket manifolds are often guaranteed for the life of the car....so why can't Ferrari do the same thing?

+1

 

Supposedly the updated manifolds are a new design by a new supplier so we can hope the issue has been put to bed.

Dave

 

Well, I'm sorry to say but whatever exhaust manifold you have, older or newer, they will all break eventually. The problem are not the headers but the entire exhaust line with is fixed to strongly not allowing the pipes and components to extend with the heat. Ferrari updated their exhaust brackets but they are now even stronger to avoid them to break. This make the situation worst for the headers as the back part of the exhaust line is so rigidly attached that all the pressure goes on the headers which eventually will make them break. Remember that at each piston impulse, an important pressure goes through the exhaust line. Imagine those impulses as a frequency of 1.1 KHertz (at 8.500 rpm) which is 1133 impulses per second. Combined with the heat, with such a solid attached exhaust line, it's not surprising that the weakest part will crack. With the older exhaust brackets, the weakest link were the brackets, the exhaust pipes and very often the headers too. With the new exhaust brackets, the exhaust pipes and brackets will hold but not the headers, even new. Fortunately, there exist some good aftermarket solution to resolve this problem for ever

 

This is the reason why Fabspeed has a full line of great headers available for the F355/360 and 430. All our Headers are a direct bolt-on replacement for the factory exhaust manifolds. All Fabspeed headers are made of T304 Stainless Steel with lost wax investment cast merge collector and flanges to ensure they will never crack or warp.

Here are a couple pictures of our Fabspeed Headers
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fabspeed headers look great,the only concern is getting100% no cat codes.

 

If you install the Fabspeed headers on a F430 you will not get any CEL's

 

That's nice....can you send me a set but have Ferrari pay the bill? As long as I have another three years on my emissions warranty, no matter how many times the headers fail, Ferrari will have to replace them at no cost to me. Would probably be cheaper for them to just replace them with FABSPEED headers so they only have to do it ONCE! IF you convince them of that....let me know.

 

Ditto. I wanted to go aftermarket, but as long as someone else is footing the bill, I'd be an idiot to pay for it myself.

 

If it works that way, I would like to do mine too. OEM headers suck!

 

Just picked up the F430 from FoW with new headers. Mine must have been going bad for some time because the car is quieter at start and throughout the rev range.

Anyway, FoW took care of it with no muss or fuss and so while the car was there I had them take car of a few other items...all down without any issues.

They had a red over tan 458 sitting there....not sold on the looks of that car, but to each their own. And while I was there a 599 GTO was delivered to the dealership straight off the plane at Dulles. All white with a steel blue metallic racing stripe and side mirrors...actually quite attractive.

Anyway, thanks to Terry for taking care of me.

You all have a Happy Thanksgiving.

 

I'm surprised more customer don't switch when your headers get to this point to the Fabspeed or Capristo aftermarket, honestly the quality is top of the line but you get huge horsepower gains....

 

That 599 GTO sounds Hot!! Did you get any pics of that thing?

 

Say, aftermarket headers with test pipes and capristo twin sound, wouldn't the car suffer from massive loss of back pressure? I'm guessing it'd run like a dog. Since the exhaust path is so darn short in F-cars. My M6 benefitted from race headers and straight thru exhaust, just not sure the F430 would be the same.

 

True. A lot of back pessure is loss.

 

Thanks mate for confirming. That said, the best setup is still aftermarket headers, sports cats and a free flow muffler. The cats will help with the back pressure, but high flow from headers will release the most ponies.

 

I agree with you Malvin. My concern will be how loud it becomes even with high flow cats. The only way to appreciate it is to try all like I did. If you don't like the setup just start to play with the parts to find the best setup that meets your need and taste. Power vs Noise.
Just my $.02.

 

Changing headers for OEM is definitely a go
Changing stock cats for small diameter (105mm) sport cats is a no-go (or only if the 200 cpi sport cats have a large diameter + heat shield wrapped to keep them hot)
Changing stock muffler is a no-go (as for me), no win win as the stock muffler is already loud enough especially with unplugged exhaust valves

But most of all, spend first your money on some serious exhaust brackets! Capristo has a very good set and replaces all stock exhaust brackets which are well too rigid. This is a real go go

 

Agreed, bought a set from Andrea. Should be on route to my grubby hands.

 

Mine are shot too at.......6200 miles (it's a 2007). Unreal. It is at the Dealer (Wide World of Cars) in Spring Valley. Could I ask them to replace them with Fabspeed Headers?