355 Owners - What’s Your Valve Guides and Manifolds Story? | FerrariChat

355 Owners - What’s Your Valve Guides and Manifolds Story?

Discussion in '348/355' started by Rossocorsa1, Jun 29, 2018.

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  1. Rossocorsa1

    Rossocorsa1 F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2017
    6,200
    Anyone who owns or just admires 355’s is well aware of this subject. So, for 355 owners, what’s your answer to these questions?

    - Year and type of your car?

    - Valve guides, stock or replaced? If stock, have you had any issues?

    - Manifolds stock or replaced? If stock, have you had any issues?
     
  2. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    Jeff, your car will have steel guides and you won't ever have an issue. At some point, the manifolds are 90% + certain to fail but it might be many miles from now. When I take my car for inspection in the next couple weeks I'm going to smoke test mine for giggles. 15.5K miles now or thereabouts.
     
    carnutdallas likes this.
  3. audi_328

    audi_328 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 13, 2005
    2,421
    NH
    Full Name:
    Audi
    95 Berlinetta, approximately 15,800 miles now
    Valve guides replaced in 2013 at around 14K miles
    RH header replaced with OEM also in 2013, believe LH is still original. No issues as yet, but will be fitting Tubi headers likely this winter.
     
  4. Rossocorsa1

    Rossocorsa1 F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2017
    6,200
    - 1999 F1 Berlinetta

    - Stock valve guides - no issues (though mine are steal)

    - Stock manifolds

    I’m purist so I stick with everything stock. That’s how my car will remain.
     
  5. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    If you drive the car enough (you probably won't) you will likely need to replace them or have them rebuilt in a manner that is not visually detectable.

    You might want to buy a spare set now while the getting is good.

    The 95 I'm restoring will be stock with the exception of all exhaust components.
     
    Rossocorsa1 likes this.
  6. Rossocorsa1

    Rossocorsa1 F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2017
    6,200

    Good idea. Dave.
     
  7. Skippr1999

    Skippr1999 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 22, 2009
    4,209
    1998 F1 Berlinetta
    18,000 miles

    Stock valve guides, no issues and great compression/ leakdown

    Tubi headers, oem were fine at 17k when replaced.
     
  8. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 18, 2008
    5,942
    Indio Ca/ Alberta
    Full Name:
    Grant
    Have all stock components and they are still good.
    Replaced tubi headers and cappi twin valve and hyperflow cats about 10 years ago and all still good.
     
  9. 05011994

    05011994 Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 1, 2004
    1,859
    Golden, Colorado
    Tubi headers in 2007 at 10,500, currently in the middle of 5 year engine out serice headers are fine, valve guides replaced before ownership and all still good.
     
  10. Drock28

    Drock28 Formula 3

    Jan 13, 2013
    1,429
    Montreal
    Full Name:
    Tony
    1997 Berlinetta Euro spec

    past service history shows guides were done, before my purchase.
    car was 100% stock when I bought it.
    receipts showing OEM cats were bought new a few years prior, perfect condition, I removed and put straight pipes.
    headers were stock, no receipts of being changed previously, otherwise good working condition, because I was "paranoid" removed and put Fabspeed.

    my car has run solid over 4 years of ownership, ~18,000kms driven by me, and an engine out under my belt.
     
  11. FourthAlfa

    FourthAlfa Karting
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 15, 2015
    182
    Paris, France
    Full Name:
    Andrew Love
    1995 Berlinetta with 43000 miles at the moment
    All valve guides replaces in 2004 at 22000 miles (PN 176437 intake, 176438 Exhaust) - no issues since
    Exhaust manifolds replaced also in 2004 at 22000 miles (Ferrari manifolds 180293 / 180294) - no issues, but will be retiring these manifolds during the upcoming belt change (replacing with Tubis)
    Valve guides and headers were replaced in 2004 under previous ownership (but have receipt)
     
    ShineKen likes this.
  12. Enzojr

    Enzojr F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2013
    14,001
    West of PDX
    Full Name:
    Tomy
    1997 spider with OVER 41,000 miles, just finished the engine out belt service.
    I had a discussion with my mechanic about valve guides.
    He is a master Ferrari mechanic, and worked at a dealership for years.
    He said ......at 41,000 miles if my valve guides were going to go, they would have by now.
    I am the third owner with prior owner records, first owner records are partial at best.
    I have no evidence mine were ever replaced/repaired.
    My car was built in July of 1996.
    I have had CEL issues.
    Prior owner installed Fabspeed headers, Nouvalari cats and exhaust.
    I just replaced the cats with new ones at the last service.
    Hoping for no more lights..........lol.
     
  13. John M

    John M Formula Junior

    Nov 18, 2004
    887
    Kentucky
    99' Spider with 32k miles now.
    I replaced the left header and Ferrari replaced the right header, both with OEM, at 27k and 20k miles respectively
    Stock guides.

    I have a Ricambi rebuilt set of headers on the shelf if the time comes again, and I expect at some point it will.

    I would recommend using an USB endoscopy camera to inspect the insides of the tubes for distortion.
    i.e. https://www.amazon.com/Endoscope-Pancellent-Waterproof-Borescope-Inspection/dp/B01MR8EONS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1530369630&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=bore+camera&psc=1
     
  14. skierlawyer

    skierlawyer Formula Junior

    Sep 12, 2010
    383
    Golden, CO
    Full Name:
    Brian
    '97 F355 Spider
    40,000 miles
    Just did a major service and had the manifolds smoke tested, they are still good. I do run test pipes and I believe not having cats helps get the heat out and saves the manifolds. (OEM headers, Test pipes, OEM muffler) My car has had test pipes for most of its life. Valve guides are just fine.
     
    john a barnes likes this.
  15. mclaudio

    mclaudio Formula 3

    Dec 13, 2003
    1,236
    Seattle area
    Full Name:
    Claudio
    1995 Challenge car

    - Valves guides were replaced in 2004 as part of engine rebuild/refresh. No sanctioned racing since then; engine and valve guides are holding up well.

    - Exhaust manifolds were replaced in 2015 while engine was out for inspection and service. Exhaust metal was changed to different SS material, but heat shields are stock to maintain original look as much as possible. This practice harkens back to my 90s Indycar days wherein engine out and exhaust manifold replacement were part of proper race car service. Good thing that 355s were designed for engine-out maintenance as servicing the engine and suspension is easier.
     
  16. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,485
    Lake Villa IL
    Oct 94 production, original guides and headers. 15,500 miles.

    No idea on leakdown but makes 340 to the tire and doesn't use oil so I'm not worried about it.

    Headers will be replaced as I don't trust them, will update on condition when removed.
     
  17. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    Hey Jim - remind me again - what was the condition of the 95 headers I gave you?
     
  18. ducrob

    ducrob Formula Junior

    Nov 20, 2011
    749
    Canada
    Full Name:
    Rob
    Late 1996 Spyder (5.2). Heads rebuilt at 28,000 km (if memory serves me right). 18 valves replaced. Fabspeed full de-catted exhaust installed at the same time. When I picked up the car after all the work, I was well over $20,000 CDN lighter. Argh. Oh, all guides replaced also.
     
  19. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,485
    Lake Villa IL
  20. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,485
    Lake Villa IL
    Also keep in mind the above manifolds would have passed a smoke test so these things are basically destroyed long before they are leaking.
     
    jimmym, ShineKen, 308 GTB and 2 others like this.
  21. thibaut

    thibaut Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2004
    528
    London, UK
    Full Name:
    Thibaut A.
    95 Challenge
    14 000 miles
    I believe original valve guides
    Original manifold was junked years ago and replaced with custom fabricated manifold, cat delete, light backbox. No problem in that area to report

    Re: valves I wonder if there isn't a relation with US petrol. It is not something that seems very prevalent in Europe (or as far as I can perceive it)
     
  22. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,282
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    That is my sense too from many years observing EU & US sites - that's not to say Euro's never need it but far less prevalent
     
  23. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    Manifolds replaced with Fabspeed.
     
  24. Challenge

    Challenge Formula 3

    Sep 27, 2002
    1,933
    PA
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    99 Spider, 29k miles
    Stock headers
    Hyperflow cats and Tubi exhaust installed ~11k miles
    Original valve guides, no issues

    This is one of the reasons I wanted the last model year. Not only for the steel guides but word from reputable pros indicate the factory quietly beefed up the headers toward the end of the run.
     
  25. Rossocorsa1

    Rossocorsa1 F1 Veteran

    May 14, 2017
    6,200

    I too was focused on finding a 99 so as not to have to deal with the "guides" issue.
     

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