What I found on my 348 42k tear down .... | FerrariChat

What I found on my 348 42k tear down ....

Discussion in '348/355' started by 348steve, Mar 13, 2019.

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  1. 348steve

    348steve Karting

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    Stephen G
    #1 348steve, Mar 13, 2019
    I just bought a 348 that has 42k miles on it. The last major was done 7000 miles ago, but also 9 years. So I took the car apart to see what I could find and to have a little fun. Here is what I found plus a few photos.

    - Slight leak between cylinders 6 and 7, showing 13% on the leak down test. So ... the head was coming off. Compression was good with over 204psi on all.
    - Head gasket was visibly perfect which I was surprised. Could not find visual indication of sharing between 6 and 7 ... but we know there was.
    - Replacing head gasket with a 355 head gasket. Why .... it is a long story and good for another post and has been covered on this forum in the past.
    - The engine tore down more easily than anything I have ever touched. Everything was clean and in incredibly good visible condition.
    - No leaks anywhere.
    - Valve lash was perfect.
    - Belt was 100% visibly perfect. Will be replaced.
    - Water pump appears to be perfect. Will be refurbished.
    - Chain tensioner and idler appear perfect. Will be replaced will Hill Engineering set.
    - Oil pump chain tensioner was almost perfect, must have been replaced earlier. I will replace with 360 version.
    - Drive pulley inner ball bearing is perfect. I really thought it wouldn't be but it was perfect. Very hard to remove. I will replace it.
    - Drive pulley outer bearing perfect and will be replaced.
    - Timing chain tensioner pad is half warn. Will be replaced.
    - Valves have plenty of carbon on the intakes, needed to be cleaned.
    - All valves stems are perfect and so are the guides. Valve seals are nominal. I will replace only the seals.
    - Head surface was perfect, brought it back to standard surface at the "spa". I will lap all the seats which are also perfect.
    - Springs, buckets, shims, all perfect.
    - Fuel tank was making a noise as if something was floating in it. Of course we all know what that is because eventually it will happen to most 340's, the baffles rip off the side walls. This is dangerous and I suggest everyone test their car for this condition. Best way is to sway the car forward and back with a half tank while parked in a quite location with the engine off. If you hear a noise then you need to take the tank out and bring it to a surgeon. Mine had to be opened in three places and properly welded. This is a true blue Ferrari defect and it is dangerous, as the process of ripping off the wall could puncture the tank and result in sudden a fast fuel leak and fire. It happens, don;t screw with this point.

    Starting to put it back together soon.

    Fun stuff!
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    imahorse, ernie, Dolcevita and 3 others like this.
  2. 348steve

    348steve Karting

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    #2 348steve, Mar 13, 2019
    I have 100's of photos ... and lots of stories of how to get to this point. If you have questions maybe I can answer them?
     
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  3. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 Wade, Mar 13, 2019
    Sounds like it only needed a pad and some belts. But one never knows until it's reveled.

    Great to see [again] the durability of the 348's motor.
     
  4. mello

    mello F1 Veteran
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    #4 mello, Mar 13, 2019
    I must be missing something here because I have an 360 Spider. Having to tear down a 348 motor at 42K miles is durable?
     
  5. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 Wade, Mar 13, 2019
    I think you are missing something. ;) He didn't say that it had to be torn down. Instead... "So I took the car apart to see what I could find and to have a little fun."

    But finding the internal components of a 90's exotic to be "perfect" is refreshing. Lots of horror stories about other cars with similar mileage.
     
  6. mello

    mello F1 Veteran
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    #6 mello, Mar 13, 2019
    The OP did say "Slight leak between cylinders 6 and 7, showing 13% on the leak down test. So ... the head was coming off." That must of threw me off. My daily beater is a '92 Volvo 940 Turbo with 240K+ miles on the odo. The engine has never been taken apart. The OEM fuel pump lasted 150K miles as compared to my 360 Spider at 13K miles.
     
  7. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 Wade, Mar 14, 2019
    One of the horror stories I was alluding to is the F355's valve guides.
     
  8. mello

    mello F1 Veteran
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    #8 mello, Mar 14, 2019
    Yes, I know. I was looking at a nice F355 a year ago. Unfortunately, it has the original valve guides and was burning some oil, that blew the deal. I'm still on the prowl ...
     
  9. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 ernie, Mar 14, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2019
    Nice job Stephen!

    I love the engine stand with the bottle jacks.
     
  10. 348steve

    348steve Karting

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    #10 348steve, Mar 14, 2019
    My sentiments exactly! Its not durable, its a Ferrari.
     
  11. 348steve

    348steve Karting

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    #11 348steve, Mar 14, 2019
    Good point Mello! I didn't mention that the fuel pumps needed to be re-built in a sense because all the rubber components had the consistency of paper. Its probably impossible to drive one of these cars to 240k miles without replacing every component numerous times. But again, its not just a car its a Ferrari and the act of holding all the shinny parts in my hand while I rebuild it back to new feels marvelous!
     
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  12. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

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    #12 4rePhill, Mar 15, 2019
    +1 - That's a nice bit of kit!

    (Have to say though that personally, I'd probably have a couple of mounting brackets to bolt the engine subframe to the the stand for added peace of mind - A bit of: "belts and braces" so to speak [looking at the pictures, I'm assuming the subframe assembly is just resting on plate/pads on the bottle jacks] )

    Something I've never understood, is why people make such a big deal about the fact that the engine has to be dropped from a 348, in order to do the timing belt.

    For a start off, Ferrari made it about as easy as possible to drop the engine out, and, whilst it's out, you can get a good look at the entire engine, to see if there are any issues that need sorting, and if you do find something, the access is brilliant!

    Got an oil leak on the engine of a 348?, or a cracked exhaust manifold? - No worries: Drop it, sort it, re-fit it.
    Got an oil leak on the front bank of a 308/328, or a cracked front exhaust manifold? - That's going to be a bit of a pain!

    In another thread on Fchat, about the 328 Vs the 348, I've mentioned how here in the UK, independent Ferrari specialists carry out the job of dropping the 348 engine so often, they've got it down to a fine art, and it takes them no time at all.
     
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  13. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #13 Wade, Mar 15, 2019
    There's another, more appropriate word - robust.
     
  14. 348steve

    348steve Karting

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    #14 348steve, Mar 15, 2019

    I agree, there really should be some sort of feature in my assembly to ensure the engine does not fall off. I was scared of that . In the end I only used my bespoke trolley to receive the engine assembly then move it to another spot in my 3 bay garage where I rested it on serious jack stands. These jack stands allow me to work underneath as well, and there ain't no way you can knock it over!
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  15. Cauf61

    Cauf61 Formula Junior

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    #15 Cauf61, Mar 15, 2019
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  16. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 ernie, Mar 15, 2019
  17. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #17 Wade, Mar 15, 2019
  18. todd6363

    todd6363 Formula Junior

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    #18 todd6363, Mar 16, 2019
    Whats the bottom end look like?
     
  19. Cauf61

    Cauf61 Formula Junior

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    #19 Cauf61, Mar 16, 2019
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  20. Cauf61

    Cauf61 Formula Junior

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    #20 Cauf61, Mar 16, 2019
  21. Jh348

    Jh348 Karting

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    #21 Jh348, Mar 16, 2019
    What lift is it? Im in a market for scissorlifts atm, and would like to get a view what works nice with 348
     
  22. Cauf61

    Cauf61 Formula Junior

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    #22 Cauf61, Mar 16, 2019
  23. Cauf61

    Cauf61 Formula Junior

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    #23 Cauf61, Mar 16, 2019
    One thing i did learn is that the lift is positioned wrong on the foto's.
    The fixed axle of the lift should be at the engine side of the 348. Much more stable.

    But for removing the engine the position on he foto's is the only way to work.
    But not that stable.
     

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