Yep... another 355 belt question... Sorry

Enzo, what do you think?

Nice socks!

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Whoa!

 

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I thought I read somewhere on Fchat your belt broke or am I mistaken?

 

For me it's not this, it's that I do my own work and have very little free time...and majors are time-consuming. So it's not about money, but time. And fwiw, the reason I service it myself is that I find my work is better than a shop's (not yours Brian)

 

No, you are correct. Nothing that service could have been prevented. Sometimes sh&@ happens.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/148436956/

 

Thanks @yelcab ! Just going through an engine out right now, and mostly changed everything on your list (and then some). You did list a couple of things that I’ll have my mechanic check out while the engine is out. I’d also add the transmission mounts - mine were done - 40k mile car.

The @Ricambi America 30k mile kit is amazing, highly recommend.

My car had a dealership documented engine out 1.5 years (1000km) ago completed by the previous owner… they didn’t bother to change the cam seals (one had a rip). To that point, the new seals from Ricambi are orange, the ones in the car were black. Does anyone know when/if there was a color change?

The bearings were not stamped hill engineering, and the tensioners were still the original - they still had a 96 date code (97 car). One oil line was leaking considerably - changed all three. Moral of the story… unless you did the previous major and know what was done and what wasn’t done, you never know what to expect until you pull the motor - regardless of how long ago the previous major was done.

 

What was the failure in your case? I have heard some weird ones as well as some where people have gone beyond Ferrari's "service life."

 

Sometimes you see some pretty strange stuff that was , "Done."

 

The long an short of it is that I drove over a short section of road that was being repaved. All dug up and just a stone base. Best we could tell was that a stone kicked up and caused the belt to ride up on the drive pulley fence, initially shearing the teeth off the outer 1/2" of the belt before it got cut through. No mechanical issues or were found. Make of it what you will.

 

There was a similar 348 one where a guy actually found the toll token in the undertray that exactly matched the punched out area of the timing belt! It was posted here

 

By the way, the 355 is the wrong car if you are "looking to save a buck or two."

 

Quote of the year right there. I had to dip into my children's college fun to run a 355.

Good thing I don't have children!

 

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I am seriously thinking of getting the challenge belt "guard(s)" to seal off the belts.

Do I need anything else besides the two upper and one lower guard to fit them to my '95? Longer screws perhaps?

This has been a big fear of mine since I got the car. When I pull the engine these are going on!

 

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Longer bolts might be necessary, Paul, but they're easily sourced.

The toll token picture I posted were of a 308. Its transversely mounted engine is more prone to foreign body ingestion than our 348s and F355s.

Barry

 

I do not think you need longer bolts. There are two super thick washers on the top bolts. I'm sure these come off and the guards go in their place

 

Thanks Barry, I know the 308 is transverse and that my fear is a little irrational. Still, it only takes one pebble to ruin everything!

Perfect, thank you!

 

Paul,

The reason those belt guards were developed for the F355 Challenge was due to all the rubber on the track shed by the slicks all the cars are driving on. The "tire boogers" are thrown up by cars ahead and by my own car and get into the brake calipers, on the inside surfaces of the wheels (sometimes throwing them out of balance), and even into the cabin. Big chunks of slicks can do real damage. A couple of years ago at Sebring I had a chunk of rubber smash through the screen in the forward aspect of my left rear wheel well. It took out two blades of the cooling fan and damaged the radiator.

The underbody panels on the F355 protect the cam belts from small debris on roads. The track is a completely different affair.

If the guards are available, put them on at your next major service. They'll provide an extra layer of protection over that provided by the stock belt covers.

Barry

 

The one argument against the guards is if something does get in there as the guards do have openings, you'll have to get creative to get them out .

 

Yes, the guards are ventilated but tire boogers would have to take a creative trajectory to get in.

My car is currently undergoing its major service. I'll ask my techs if they found anything inside.

 

I knew it was for the marbles but I had no idea they could do that kind of damage. Wow! I think I may just put these on.

Yeah I dont think much should get in there. They "seal" the top of the cam covers (I always worry about those spark plug covers coming loose) but the lower one in the V has holes in it. Hopefully nothing comes in!

 

Examined my beltss.
On the left was 5 years and 3000miles. rubber felt more slick, plasticky. the stock tensioners made bit of "white" noise when moving. On the right, just came off about 7 years, 4500miles. felt soft, and grippy. the tensioners where quiet.
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My new belts, pulleys and tensioners as of 3/23/22

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Here is the only example I've seen posted here related to a 355 belt failure. I dont remember exact miles, but I think it was in the teens. Obviously a beat 355, likely salt belt. Im guessing frozen tensioner pulleys or the rust cause the belt to slip on the gear?? GROOSSS lol

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