2 year old "new" timing belts okay?

Okay, before anyone says "search is my friend," I have done a search and found various answers to my question but I wanted to see if any opinions have changed since some of these posts are over 8 years old.

I am in the process of doing a 30k service on my 99 Modena. The timing belts that are on the car are from 2013 and the last service was then, putting them at 4 years old and being in service approx. the same amount of time.

The new belts I received are date coded 2015, putting them at two years old prior to being put on. Granted, they have been stored in a climate controlled environment since then, but they are still two years old. It has been said, one of the downfalls of storing a car is the fact that the belts take a set. Is this a factor or is it just an issue when they are under tension? With these being two years old brand new, will I be changing belts again next year or does that clock start once the belts are installed?

With the Modena having been out of production for 12 years now, new parts are not being produced as most of what is available is NOS parts. The timing belts I have are Ferrari branded Dayco belts. So, is there a benefit to buying "Ferrari" branded belts rather than Dayco which may have a newer production date?

I have already talked to the supplier and he has assured me that they rotate stock and ship the newest belts out.

 

I'm doing it myself. Ferrari wanted 10k, my indi wanted 4k w/annual. Parts cost to date is about 1200 including some additional stuff and tools that are a one time purchase.

One of the reasons I went with the 360 rather than earlier models or later ones is the fact that if one is proficient, it's a fairly easy car to work on. Unlike the previous models. As far as two versions, there is only the Modena and the Spider but that is it unless you include the Challenge Stradale but I am including that with the Modena for this purpose. All 360's have the access panel behind the seats to allow belt servicing. The spider has a few more complications relating to the convertible mechanism on the early versions but nothing else as far as I know. To my knowledge, there is no reason for a 360 to have the engine pulled unless there was an engine failure.

Overdue is subjective and a hot topic to say the least. My last belt service (before I owned the car) was in 2013, with the belts dated 2013. I am assuming that the service before that was sometime after 2009, based on the PS belt which is dated 2009. So, it appears my car has been serviced close to what Ferrari recommends on a 3yr/30k interval. Some people go by this, some do not. Up to you to decide when enough is enough. What I can say now is I will be going by the 3 yr cycle given the fact that the distance on the tensioners on my car is about a 1/4" out. While the specifications call for it to be a few mm's, indicating a good deal of belt stretch. This was also validated by the frequency test. The old belts measure out about 140hz while the spec for the new ones is up around 200hz I believe. So, even though the belts look good and they were changed I will be doing at least an inspection every three years.

 

So you wouldn't have any issues installing belts that are coded 2015, as long as they were from a reputable source and in a climate controlled environment?

 

Yea, and I think that as time goes on, more 360 owners are going to run into this situation as the Ferrari branded Dayco belts are not being produced any longer. I have reached out to Dayco but have not heard back from them yet.

 

Dayco responded to my inquiry and according them, their belts have a 7 year shelf life.

 

Not if you use a knife.....a really sharp knife.....and a pair of cutters.....or a grinder......

 

Well, since they make them, wouldn't they have a better idea on shelf life than a lay person? If he wanted to sell more of them, I would have thought he would tell me something like they have a best use by date and that is one year past production. If you choose to use these, bad things will happen up to an including Armageddon....

 

The Ferrari branded belts and all components came from a reputable supplier. Check your PM for specifics.

 

Your right, I stand corrected.....it's $14k from my local dealer, and yes it is a 30k service including timing belts but nothing with the clutch as far as I know. Quote from the email...

"It sounds as though you’re due for the bi-annual service, which includes replacement of all of the fluids and filters. On your car, this is around 2,500.00. The major service which includes the replacement of the timing belts and tensioners, all fluids, filters, etc., is around 14,000.00."

 

I was told by my indi that it would be about 5 hrs to do the belts not including the annual service.

Sent from my SM-G955U using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

That's about what my indi quoted me. $3900 for belts and fluids. Think his rate is about the same as yours.

Sent from my SM-G955U using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

Well, I guess the saying is true, everything is bigger in Texas...including prices! As far as the two different bulkhead panels, first I have heard of this but I never claimed to know everything. Not sure about the 2009 version though since 360 production ended in 2005. Having worked on everything from 800t cranes to almost every type of auto around, I can say that working on a 360 is one of the easier ones I have undertaken. Five hours of actual working time to change the belts isn't unrealistic to someone who has done it before. Someone undertaking it for the first time, would take a little bit longer but not a significant amount more.