Looking at a 355 stick with 46K miles - top 5 things to look for ? | FerrariChat
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Looking at a 355 stick with 46K miles - top 5 things to look for ?

Discussion in '348/355' started by samba-lee, Feb 6, 2014.

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  1. samba-lee

    samba-lee Formula Junior

    Aug 28, 2006
    677
    Manchester, UK
    Full Name:
    Lee Griffiths
    #1 samba-lee, Feb 6, 2014
    I'm not shy of Italian exotica and I think I've just moved my perfect low miles 360 stick on.

    Looking around for a 355 to replace it and the car that fits my taste happened to have 46K miles. It's just been through a major (I'm waiting for the details but £5K - $8K has been spent).

    Reading around I presume the headers and valve guides cannot last this long so probably have been replaced ? (of course I'll check).

    Other than those two points are there any other major issues I should be investigating ? just a bullet point list will do :)

    thanks

    Lee
     
  2. Sandy Eggo

    Sandy Eggo F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Jun 4, 2009
    3,636
    Encinitas, CA
    Full Name:
    Rick
    #2 Sandy Eggo, Feb 6, 2014
    Probably a safe bet that at 46k miles, the headers and valve guides have been sorted but take nothing for granted (as in, review receipts).

    A compression and leak down test is critical.
    - You want your compression #s to be in a tight range - no more than 20 (ideally) from high to low - but certainly all above 180/190.
    - If you get a double digit reading in any cylinder on leak down, frankly, I'd walk away. For whatever reason, pots #2 and #7 are the first to go so pay particular attention to those readings.

    Everything else is chump change by comparison to what trouble is ahead if you buy a F355 with poor compression and leak down results. That said, check for:

    - Sticky interior bits.
    - Worn motor mounts.
    - Torn CV boots.
    - Pull the codes.
    - Make sure it had the fuel block recall work done. A dealer will do it for free but it's a major safety hazard.
    - Pulled leather on the dash and/or binnacle.
    - Make sure the tires are reasonably fresh (check date codes anything more than 4-5 years, I'd check for rot, dryness).
    - How recalcitrant is it going from 1st to 2nd (not warmed up)?
    - Check that heat and A/C work. A/C won't be amazing even if it works perfectly but it should be decent.
    - Spider? Make sure the top and the whole orchestration works well - put it through a few cycles of up/down.
     
  3. samba-lee

    samba-lee Formula Junior

    Aug 28, 2006
    677
    Manchester, UK
    Full Name:
    Lee Griffiths
    #3 samba-lee, Feb 6, 2014
    Thanks for the info and list. Here's my take.

    - Sticky interior bits - yeah expected, so if it's been done I guess it speaks of a good PO maybe
    - Worn motor mounts - are these easily visible ?
    - Torn CV boots - yeah I can probably see those easily enough
    - Pull the codes - same time as a compression check I guess
    - Make sure it had the fuel block recall work done. A dealer will do it for free but it's a major safety hazard. - OK
    - Pulled leather on the dash and/or binnacle. - OK
    - Make sure the tires are reasonably fresh (check date codes anything more than 4-5 years, I'd check for rot, dryness). - it has new rubber all round
    - How recalcitrant is it going from 1st to 2nd (not warmed up)? - isn't this fairly routine ?
    - Check that heat and A/C work. A/C won't be amazing even if it works perfectly but it should be decent. - yeah, good negotiating point if it doesn't work, but hell it has a hood that comes down and it'll only go out on hood down days :) in the UK we don't actually need AC ;)
    - Spider? Make sure the top and the whole orchestration works well - put it through a few cycles of up/down. - yes I hear they can be clunky

    thanks
     
  4. JPNR

    JPNR Rookie

    Feb 15, 2014
    1
    #4 JPNR, Feb 15, 2014
    I'd make sure the valve guides have been replaced. If not, it will fry the cats and crack the manifolds, which is no fun at all!
     
  5. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,709
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    #5 greyboxer, Feb 15, 2014
    Hang on : my impression there is a far lower incidence in the Uk of valve guides going - different fuel perhaps - so it is unreasonable to make that a pre-condition

    As an aside I wonder how many times there have been buyers guides and/or check lists posted here
     

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