My 360 story

It's 19F here today! Not exactly Ferrari driving weather. It's not even warm in the garage. But I wanted to spend some time with the new car. I wanted to see if anything could be done about the headlights. Unfortunately, mine are not pristine! I could see they are very expensive on eBay, $1200 or more each. Looking at Recambi, new ones appear to be >$6000 each!!! I decided to see what I could do...

Drivers side as the car came. During pre-purchase inspection I thought most was exterior, but didn't look at supper close.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I started out with some 2000grit sandpaper on foam. Realized I was not getting anywhere. Tried 600. Quickly switched to 360 on a block. I found I had some 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 grit 3M paper from when I use to build Ferrari models as a kid. I hit the bad spots with the 360. Over-all with the 600, 1000, 2000 again!, and then 2500. You could see it really was looking nice after the 2500 - especially when wet! It was getting late, but I could not wait, and had to break out the machine polisher with some Griots #4 to see if I had done any good. I want to block out a few more area with the 1000, 2000, 2500 again before I finish polishing. I am thinking there might be some type of coating on the lenses, anti-scratch or anti-glare similar to eye glasses. you can see spottiness is some of the photos.

600 grit block sanded
1000 grit block sanded
2500 grit block sanded
machine polished with Griots #4

I think when finished I will try one of the silica coatings as a finish or maybe the Griots headlight film if I can get it to form over the surface without creases.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

after work I couldn't resist finishing my headlight...

I wet sanded it out with 1000 grit sandpaper on a block until I could not find anymore scratches. Followed by wet sanding 2000 grit, and 2500 grit.

I tried the Griot's Garage Plastic Polish. I think I would just stick with the paint polishes...

Going back to the paint polishes, this time #4 (I used #1 in a previous post, NOT #4). Followed by Blackfire Wet Diamond.

To be honest - I am a little disappointed! I can't seem to get rid of the haze and swirl marks. The headlights are really not that bad. They will never be mistaken for new ones! However, I have other things screaming for attention. It does seem like there may be a little fog on the inside. I also don't think the plastic is as clear as pristine new ones. Probably from sitting outside in the sun - its a Florida car. I really do think there is some type of anti-scratch or anti-reflection coating on them. I did a web search for anti-reflection coatings and it looks liker there might be an option that can be sprayed on.

pictures:
post 1000 wet block sanding
post 2000 wet block sanding
post 2000 closeup
post 2500 wet block sanding
post Griot's Garage Plastic Polish
post Griots Garage #4 polish
post blackfire - they are done for now...

I want to investigate anti-reflection coatings and silica coatings for a final finish.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Took my car out for our first drive today! And washed it, again. Couldn't wait any longer...
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That's awesome! Did you have any trouble with getting it to adhere without any creases or wrinkles from the compound contour of the lens?

 

I'll look into that. Thanks!!

I have applied the Griot's Garage film on my e36 BMW lights and it has been great. I am worried that the 360's lights have a lot of curvature and it may not work as well.

 

Its been a while since I have posted any updates, work, school, medical crises, house work, etc.

I have not totally ignored the 360 - I consider it therapy...

Cleaned up under the engine bay panels.

I have treated some of the leather with leatherique. Top half finished - bottom half with rejuvenating oil still on.

Bought a radio from Sled Driver to replace the Pioneer. Looks original!

My car failed the MD safety inspection miserably, >$4000 in repairs needed. I inquired about the details and confirmed that the brakes were up MD and Ferrari requirements but he thought they should be replaced anyways... He also thought the ball joints were bad and should be replaced and the tie rod ends. So I took a look today and could NOT detect any motion in any of the joints. I think I will look for another inspector! I have disk, and pad measurements and cleaned up a little while I had the wheel off.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Oh, this showed up in my mailbox at work one day from FedEx-

The car is now complete and the only thing I am missing is a paper trail of maintenance.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

It has been an awful long time since my last update and there is a lot of catching up... My thowout bearing failed on the way to an FCA-MAR event this past summer and that's how this latest adventure began.

I have been cleaning and detailing the parts during my major service as much as possible and discovered that 3 of 4 coils are cracked on the driver's side today! The 3 cracked ones appear to be original with a date code of 02-12-16 while the one that is not cracked is from 11-06-16. I was getting the occasional slow-down light without any obvious symptoms. No question, time for new coils!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The final project of my major service was to replace the transmission support bushing. I wasn’t sure if this is a job I would do again and couldn’t find a Hill Engineering installer/remover to rent, I borrowed a bearing puller but needed to make a "cup" to pull the bushing into. Getting the old one out is definitely hard work!! I put as much pressure on it as I could and it didn’t budge. I decided to add some heat with an acetylene torch but was worried about “over heating” the transmission housing. Feeling comfortable up to 100℃, I used an IR thermometer and discovered that getting it much over 75℃ was far more challenging than I anticipated. The aluminum housing absorbs the heat quickly. I kept the torch going until I heard two pops and then just cranked the old one out.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

Image Unavailable, Please Login

It was hard to get the new one to go in straight, however, after about a 1/4inch, it just popped straight in and continued on in with much less effort than on the way out. I went back and forth a little to get the new bushing within .25mm of being symmetrical on each side of the recess in the transmission housing. I forgot to measure where the previous one was installed.

Image Unavailable, Please Login

The previous (probably original) was installed with the diamond at an angle inclined about 45° forward. The new recommendation is for the diamond to be installed vertically. Mine shifted about 5° aft when installing.

If this is something you ever intend to do, I would highly recomend just getting the Hill tool! They arent ridiculously expensive, especially if you do it twice or can perhaps share/rent it with your local Ferrari club...

 

Getting caught up with links to the adventure, some of which transpired on the Technical Q&A forum:

While I had intended to do a "major service" from the begining of the year, it became significantly more than I ever intended when the throwout bearing failed. The failure and fix with new clutch, pressure plate, seals and flywheel resurfacing were discussed in this forum under a different thread here:
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/147920890/

The following link is the comprehensive discussion on the Limited Slip Differential (LSD) rebuild. When pulling the transmission, I discovered there was very little slip torque from the LSD. There isnt a great deal of LSD information out there, so I hope this helps!
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148042414/
Image Unavailable, Please Login

The following link provides some info on the timing belt change and using an iphone app to measure the resonant frequency of the belt pre-tensioning process that I followed.
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148192225/

I also used the same app to set the tension on the power steering belt and main accessory belt. I didnt have much luck with the power A/C belt. The runs were so short it didn't really work out. Replacing the belts was one of the more difficult aspects! Getting them over idler/tensioner pullies is a real effort! I also discovered my coolant pipe must have contacted a pulley at one time and nearly ground through. It was paper thin and am surprised it didn't fail. I found a brand new one on ebay for $28!

screenshot from iAnalyzer Lite
Image Unavailable, Please Login

I didn't have an independant PPI performed before buying the car. However, I am do not think a PPI would have predicted the throwout bearing failure and I have never seen slip torque reported on a PPI either. So I am not bitter about these issues and feel its pretty much par for the course. These are easy cars to work on, I somewhat enjoy it (although not the expense!), and there is no better way to get things clean than to take them apart.

I am now waiting on the manifold and support frame to come back from the powder coaters to get it all back together and seeing if it runs. Unfortunately, we just got our first snow today after working with the door open in short sleeves yesterday.

 

It was 6 years ago, January 8, 2016, that I acquired this 2003 gated 360 Modena. If I can get it running next weekend, there is no question that it is in better shape and looks better than it did six years ago.

Got my manifold cover and support frame back from powder coating Friday and wasted no time trying to get things back together.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I spent a cold Saturday cleaning up my cats.

#1-2 I kinda get now why the seams were dinged up! There is very little clearance between the support frame and air tube on the upper side and the CV shield on the lower side. Mine appears to have rubbed the CV shield on the drivers side.

#3 the exhaust seal between the header and cat is a little to thick and I cant get it compressed enough to get the nuts on the attachment screws (the ones with the springs).

#4-5 header cat inspection (drivers, passengers) Image Unavailable, Please Login

Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

I am 5mm away from being able to test start, run, warm-up, and look for leaks this weekend.

 

See pictures 4 and 5 above. What should I be looking for? I was amazed there is no black carbon inside. It must be running clean.

I discovered today that I had not yet removed the old exhaust gaskets!!! Once removed, the new gaskets fit on and there was no problem getting the nuts on...