'96 F355 Spyder issues

With 22K miles - you would have already had valve problems if you were going to...

You should have the 15K and 30K services done on this car.. If you only have had the 15K - The 30K will need done ASAP (due to time not miles). You can figure 5 - 10K depending on the dealer/what needs to be done while you have the engine out.

Factor the (say 5K) into the buying price - have them lower due to the need of the 30K - if they tell you it doesn't need done - they don't what they are talking about

 

According to several threads on this site, the valve material was not changed until mid year 98. That certainly does not mean you will have a problem, but there is a small amount of risk. Best to have a leakdown and compression test done to see if there are any obvious problems though.... This should be mandatory on any car you are considering anyway.

 

I have the same model/year.

Headers went out .. replaced under warranty.

Cats went out @ 28,000 ... replaced under warranty (by 2 months!)

 

Quote ... According to several threads on this site, the valve material was not changed until mid year 98.



So, a whole bunch of us are driving around with the 'weaker' valve guides.

What do you think causes some people to have problems and others not?

 

The actual quote is that the issue was found in the mid 95 model year, and correction began. However, heads as late as the 98 model year still suffered from this issue.

 

Mitch, you may have better (or first hand) information, but FNA seems to have identified the problem in 95, (and even had a service bulletin issued in 1996 or 97), but the production change did not appear to happen until mid to late 1998. My mechanic is working on the heads of a 1997 355 right now, and they have bronze guides...

But, again, not all cars are affected...most seem to be fine, even if they have the bronze guides.

 

Look out the see whether CAT ECUs have been replaced. Always a good thing as causes lots of hastle when they go wrong (engine shuts down etc) although not very expensive to change. Known weak area.

Look for wear on Fabric hood just above driver's and passenger's head. this is where it folds when down and you don't want to let this completely wear through as lots of hastle to patch. Also check hood hood operation is smooth as I know several people who have spent thousands on trying to gremlins out the system but with little success (mine still makes an awful groaning noise)- you need one thats been looked after.

If previous owner had problems with headers, check he has other work done to car at same time during fix - like spark plugs replaced if fouled, and CAT condition checked. Just a sign that its been properly looked after I'd say.

Also, when belts were changed was it engine out or engine in?? The value of an engine out is quite high I would say for a 22,000 mile 355 engine. You would have wanted the previous owner to fully inspect to engine for others problems, repaint the cam-covers, go the extra mile.

Just a few ideas, things I've had to get done etc. Good luck
Ade