Missing cam belt gear cover? | FerrariChat

Missing cam belt gear cover?

Discussion in '348/355' started by Carmellini, Oct 25, 2019.

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  1. Carmellini

    Carmellini Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2019
    814
  2. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    The F355 Challenge cars had a rear belt cover on each side (174689, 174688), but the road cars do not. I suppose it would be useful to have, in rare cases where debris could get up in that location (the 348 had rear covers). The actual Challenge covers would also be super simple to copy -- they appear to be simple laser-cut pieces of thin steel.
     
  3. Carmellini

    Carmellini Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2019
    814
    thank you for the information; are these parts still available?

    have any others installed original or fabricated covers?
     
  4. Ferrari Tech

    Ferrari Tech Formula 3

    Mar 5, 2010
    1,114
    Georgia
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    Wade Williams
    I have never seen any issues with the rear cover being open and I have been working on these cars since 1995 when they were new. I am not saying it can't happen, just haven't seen it, I would not waste the time and effort. The issue with Challenge cars is rubber chunks. It damaged all kinds of stuff. Inner fender liners were beaten every race and had to be repaired. We had replaceable screens and they were replaced frequently. I can see where not having a cover on that car could have been an issue.
     
  5. Carmellini

    Carmellini Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2019
    814
    ^^^^^good to know. now in my rear view mirror...thanks
     
  6. krazykarguy

    krazykarguy Formula Junior

    Apr 17, 2014
    716
    Fort Mill, SC
    Full Name:
    Matt
    Most modern engines with belt-driven cams have rear covers. It's a durability thing - especially when most are calling for belt changes every 8-10 years and 80-100k miles.

    However, with belts being changed every 15k miles and 3-5 years (depending on your personal beliefs on the subject) the 348/355 missing the rear covers is not a huge deal. As mentioned above, the Challenge cars have is because of the track debris that might find it's way into that area.

    With all of that said, there are cars that have NO timing belt guards, and this is also considered normal...
     
  7. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
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    New Jersey
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    Barry Wolinsky
    My 1995 F355 Challenge has the rear covers...


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    Yes, the rubber chunks (tire marbles) do a job on the undertrays, inner fender liners and screens.

    You can hear what's happening on my Sebring onboard video when I was sharing the track with the Porsche pro teams...





    10:48 - 11:24
     
  8. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
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    Bubba
    That was a great vid, Dr. Barry!!
     
  9. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
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    Barry Wolinsky
    Thanks, Alan my friend. That was only my second time at Sebring. I had the rhythm of the track down and asked my coach, Rolex Series driver Peter London, to keep up the patter so I could use it as a personal training video. I was out there with pro and semi-pro Porsche Team drivers but I did okay. :)
     
  10. Carmellini

    Carmellini Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2019
    814
    ok...my rear view mirror got spun back around. the super simple to copy got me thinking. does anyone have a set to replicate? not sure I comprehend when and how these are attached? looks like the belt may need to be off?

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  11. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    Jul 28, 2018
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    Eric
    I'd use the cover for a template.
     
  12. Carmellini

    Carmellini Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2019
    814
    agreed, that would be simple enough, but would be nice to have a proper template. guessing they might be mirror images?
    looks like the belt needs to be off to attach?
     
  13. Carmellini

    Carmellini Formula Junior

    Jul 16, 2019
    814
  14. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
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    Eric
    For those yes belt off. If I wanted to protect it from the top you could make one that slips down like a U. Not much happening from underneath. You count measure with calipers and make template from card stock and trim and adjust to fit then transfer it to CAD or even Visio and make final contours and have it water jet cut. There is a lot of tolerance there to play outside the 2 bolt hols. A few hours of work is all.
     
  15. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

  16. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    A lot of stuff in the seems to go in waves/trends/fads. For a time, the Challenge Grill was the hottest item going, then clear front F355 signals were all the rage, after a while it became the 355 Challenge radiator screens (170904, 170906), then came these rear belt guards, and of course Speedline Challenge wheels never went out of style.

    In other words, there was indeed a bunch of legitimately cool stuff -- but not really 'necessary' for normal road-going F355 cars. IMHO, if you wanted those rear belt guards, I'd just wait until your next engine-out service to mess with the project.
     
  17. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
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    Feb 7, 2002
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    Barry Wolinsky
    Leo,

    I agree with Wade, Matt, Eric and Daniel's advice. The F355's front belt covers in conjunction with the undertrays adequately protect a road-going car's timing belts. Rear belt covers aren't necessary so don't obsess over this.

    The track environment is a completely different affair. At high speeds, tire marbles and other bits of track debris can be very destructive to the undertrays and it's possible for debris to ultimately find its way into the timing belt area. Early 308s were vulnerable which is why Ferrari added rear belt covers later on during production. There was no shielding from underneath in that car series.

    If you track your car, you can always have some rear belt covers made up and installed at the time of your next major service.

    Barry
     

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