Redlining 355

Which chips are these? I've seen a few but was always curious as to which ones were better and why...

 

Friend took the pic!

 

Shoot man, I figured you were driving with your knees....or....

 

+2!

 

yassa-- i was interested to hear your comment that your 355 has not had its cambelts changed for the last 4 years
here , in the UK , we are told by both the independent and official ferrari dealers to have a major cambelt service every 3 years

please could you (and others )confirm what the equivalent advice is for 355's in north america

 

yassa-- i was interested to hear your comment that your 355 has not had its cambelts changed for the last 4 years
here , in the UK , we are told by both the independent and official ferrari dealers to have a major cambelt service every 3 years

please could you (and others )confirm what the equivalent advice is for 355's in north america

 

Yeah that's what Ferrari recommends, but I've been told by several people, including independent shops, that they sometimes push it out to 4 yrs some even say 5. Here's what I got relating to this from an independent shop.

"We recommend the Ferrari factory interval of three years or 30,000 miles for the cam belt replacement on all belt-driven V8 and V12 models. In the past, we have recommended a five to seven year interval and none of our clients have ever had a belt related failure. In addition, we have never had a car come in the shop with a belt related failure when the belts were not at least ten years old unless induced by a different problem."

Of course the factory recommendation still stands at 3yrs ...

 

Ferrari recommends 3 years or 30K miles
Ferrari chat consensus is 5 years
I went 7 without issues (strictly road use)

Overall, its your car, you get to make the choice of when to spend $8-12K on the car.

 

Hey Mitch, in those 7 yrs what checks did you do/have done to ensure nothing immediate was needed?

 

Keep them moving (drive the car) and there's no reasothey can't last 5+ years.

That said I drive mine regularly and will change them every 5 years because it will only cost me ~$1500 and my time.


Rob

 

Care to expound on this? I have an early 2.7 and would like to hear more.

 

+1

 

Fellow member Rorie just completed a number of upgrades on his 355, including ECU programming. You may not have seen this thread as it was under the Canadian section. Great thread with pics that I am sure you will find interesting.

It's a Christmas list of GOODIES!!

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326182

His ECU was sent to Italy to be upgraded. This allowed complete removal of exhaust by-pass valve without any CEL lights, increased RPM limit, and also increase HP and torque.

On my list for winter upgrade

 

I listen very closely. I know the different sounds of a tension bearing from <say> an alternator bearing or <say> a clutch housing bearing. Other than that, I was simply willing to take the risk.

I got a very good listen before my first major on what a tensioner bearing sounded like, and between majors what a clutch housing bearing sounds like. {Bearings with sound are not good.}

BTW at the end of 7 years an 27K miles, the belts were still looking new, and neither tensioner bearing was in need of replacement.

Do I recommend it, no; however, I did get away with it.

 

Nice

 

Give Alex a call at Daytona auto in Toronto. Rorie had the same chips put in his car.

 

Very nice

 

I best Ive done is abut 6 maybe 7k in my 92 348.. I tried the other day but my Mrs just about sh'''t herself as I floored it in 2nd then 3rd (admittedly I had the roof off and have a tubi , no cats !!). Must say I backed off as the shear thought of redlining it only to hear a sudden crunch or bang.. This would give me a heart attack on the spot..!!!

Just how strong are these motors to hit redline on any sort of regularity. I've got 33k on the OD and its not long since a cam belt service (tensioners and seals) ??

 

Anywhere below redline=safe for a long time
Above redline=not as safe for very long very far over it so rev limiter kicks in.
Never to redline=carbon buildup to unsafe levels

 

You are obviously in the learning stage. While not all, many of us simply do not under any circumstance press on the gas pedal to the point that the bypass valve opens while she is in the car. It is simply a lose/lose situation. Just don't go there. If she is in the car, drive slowwwww, show her how smooth you can drive the car and let her complain about how bad Ferrari radios are.

Step 2 - find someone else with a Ferrari and meet them for an early morning "drive" to get a cup of coffee. Step 3 - place your foot on the gas pedal and push hard enough that you think your foot will touch the front bumper. Hold it there until she is screaming in joy, begging for more at which point you will realize why there are 5 more gears. Shift as needed and enjoy. They are made for it.

To me driving a Ferrari at only low rpms is like having sex with your wife but not giving her an orgasm because you are afraid you are going to hurt her. She wants it and you are going to enjoy it! Just go for it!

Case in point. When I bought my 355 it had not been driven a lot over the previous couple of years, nor very hard. These are the compression numbers just before I purchased my 355.

Compression test #1-205, #2-215, #3-210, #4-210, #5-205, #6-190, #7-195, #8-205

I admit it. I am an addict when it comes to listening to my 355 near redline. Don't get me wrong, I do not abuse the car and actually most of the miles I put on it are highway miles. But I rarely take it out and do not come close to redline at least once. (i always warm the engine up prior to going over 3,500 rpm, etc) A year and a half and 3,000 miles later a repeat compression test at the same shop showed that I had successfully, cleaned most of the excess carbon deposits out of the motor.

Compression test #1-205, #2-230, #3-210, #4-220, #5-210, #6-205, #7-215, #8-220

These numbers are on an early 95 (July 94 build) 355 with over 43,000 miles on it. I have now put over 8,000 miles on it and have over 50,000 on the odometer and it runs like a scalded cat. And just like when I see my wife, just the site of my 355 still makes me weak at the knees.

 

Thanks so much for the confidence boost... You put forward a convincing argument....especially when you bring sex with the lovely Mrs into it... can never leave her unsatisfied so I must apply the same to my beloved Red mistress...! I'll give it a go soon !

 

All the time. That's why I bought it! I do second third and fourth. First is a little short.