308 exhaust valves, do they really need to be replaced with unleaded valves? | FerrariChat

308 exhaust valves, do they really need to be replaced with unleaded valves?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Tomasoshea, Sep 21, 2004.

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  1. Tomasoshea

    Tomasoshea Rookie

    Aug 29, 2004
    12
    Ireland
    Full Name:
    Tom O'Shea
    Hi,

    I have a 1979 308gt4 with 74,000 Miles on the clock, the engine is fine apart from a few usual oil seal leaks. I have heard various "stories" about original exhaust valves breaking between 60,000 and 90,000 miles. I want to know how much of this is truth as oppossed to Ferrari specialists trying to get $ out of you for replacing the valves.

    Interested in the experiences/ recommendations of the community. If the concensus is replace them, I will want some assistance on Head removal precedures (Ones that have not been removed in 25 years!!!)

    Thanks for you help guys
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
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    Bubba
    Nothing to do with unleaded actually.

    They are sodium filled for heat transfer, cutting edge at the time, bad idea as it turns out for the long haul. Others will chime in but if it was me, I'd shop for a nice set of stainless steel, (search for manufacturer) and buy a little insurance on all the rest of your hard work.

    The stem snaps off, throwing the valve head loose into the combustion chamber, by the time the engine gets turned off it's a big mess.

    Good Luck to ya! HTH
     
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Those heads will be stuck on, like green on a shamrock!!!

    Lot's of penetrating oil, time and patience willl be the key....are you doing all this youself???
     
  4. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2001
    4,995
    La mamma dei fessi
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    e sempre incinta
    I recently rebuilt my 308 GT4 engine and thought I could get away with not changing the exhaust valves. While doing a valve adjustment the very last exhaust valve broke. The head snapped right off just from the pressure of pushing down on the valve to put in a shim. Needless to say I'm glad it happened while the engine was still out. Removed the heads and replace ALL the exhaust valves with solid ones. Runs great...why take the chance?
     
  5. Matt Morgan, "Kermit"

    Matt Morgan, "Kermit" Formula Junior

    Nov 12, 2003
    405
    Ferndale, WA
    Big Tex is right on the money!
    They were a "bandaid" for lean mixtures necesary to meet EPA,and as the are older now, they are even more prone to breaking even while you are driing nice! if that seems an expnsive propisition, look into FULL overhaul prices compared to a top end job!
    Kermit
     
  6. Tomasoshea

    Tomasoshea Rookie

    Aug 29, 2004
    12
    Ireland
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    Tom O'Shea
    So the answer is replace them. I guess I am going to have to find something that removes green from a shamrock then!!.

    Can both heads be removed without taking the engine out?, this would of course be my preferred option! any knowledge on how to do this would be great, anyone I can pick up the phone to for advice?

    Any suggestions on literature/ procedures/ tricks of the trade, what works/ does not work, what to expect! when to start crying and wishing I had not started the job!, self help and support groups would be good!

    Thanks
     
  7. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    We are here for you!

    Not sure about the 308GT4 as far as the front head, you can adjust valves with it in the car, but to remove the heads would be easier with it out..IMO

    J. Grande????

    I know from watching my tech break the heads loose on these old girls that a two to three day time period is realistic! You cannot pound or pry on them vigorously without risking damage, so penetrating oil is your friend.....wood wedges and rubber mallets.

    Post in the UK sections for a shop to talk you thru it. Long distance to Texas would break the bank....
     
  8. ham308

    ham308 Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2003
    358
    NE Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Richard Ham
    Surely there's many older 308's out there with original valves being regularly revved to the red line. If I worried too much about what could happen, I'd probably never get in the car let alone enjoy it.

    So before I rush off to change something that ain't broke, what's the real chance of failure? Anybody know?
     
  9. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Ask an OLDER Ferrari Tech that question.....they broke when they were NEW!
     
  10. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2001
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    When you see one fall and hit the floor they shatter! If you're gonna do a major service then you might as well order the tensioner bearings, 2 head gaskets, cam seals, new fuel lines and a new set of exhaust valves and then forget about it for the next twenty years...you're in there...do it once. I don't know if you can take out the valves with the engine in, mine were done while it was out.

    When was the last valve adjustment done?
     
  11. GavC

    GavC Formula Junior

    May 9, 2004
    492
    Lincolnshire, Englan
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    Gavin Culshaw
    I have just fitted new valve guides to my gt4. The exhaust valves were in perfect nick as were the valve seats(70k miles on engine).I do run it on leaded petrol, the seats are hardened anyway so should be ok on unleaded(I have been to Shell and had a long discussion about unleaded petrol/valve seats/Ferrari engines and it was very interesting to hear what they had to say off the record). Also my heads came of with a couple of taps with a rubber mallet no problems there also. Regards to sodium filled valves Porsche 944 turbo run with these in and my last one was pushing over 130k miles and I know of a chap with over 200K on his with no problems. I am probably in a minority with this. But good luck with the work I would suggest that you take the engine out if you can its easier to work on when out on a bench. Make sure you time it up correctly on the vernier pulleys after.
     
  12. 16valves

    16valves Rookie

    Sep 9, 2004
    41
    I can't speak from experience with this particular engine, however...

    If enough people tell you they have seen problems with these exhaust valves popping apart, replace them. One thing I notice with old air-cooled bug motors is that you can bet the number three exhaust valve will be the one to go every time. Why? Because the oil cooler sits just before the number three cylinder in the cooling air path within the cooling shrouds surrounding the engine. Number three always receives hotter cooling air, exhaust valve can't cool as well, pop goes the weasel. This is a known thing with these motors. An indication of when it is going to fail is when doing your regular valve adjustments, the number three exhaust valve will be tight two or three ajustments in a row while the others are still within spec. Maybe this is something you can keep track of the same way with your motor. If you do the valve adjusts, keep track of the exhausts compared to each other. If one is getting tight frequently, change the lot.

    Caveat, I just saw a 360CS motor apart on the bench in need of new cylinder liners, one new head, four new pistons and a blessing from the pope on the crank!!! And this was from something much smaller than a valve head coming apart.

    If you think a top-end rebuild bill is a tuff pill to swallow, try choking down a complete motor.
     
  13. Tomasoshea

    Tomasoshea Rookie

    Aug 29, 2004
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    Tom O'Shea
    Gav C,

    Good to know that some of them come off easily, I have heard that the later engines were "better put together" in the factory and the heads better finished, earlier ones had pitting and more opportunities for oxidation etc to bind the head/ main engine together.

    What year is your car as a matter of interest - as I grasp at straws of hope!,

    Has anyone elses experience shown a similar trend, i.e have the tough ones been earlier engines?
     
  14. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
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    Jul 22, 2003
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    On UK and Aus spec cars, it's perfectly practical to get the heads off in situ. Even if a bit stuck on the studs. If a US car has a whole load of sound/heat shielding it may be a bit tricky with baulkhead clearance.

    I usually pull out the front cam cover studs to gain some clearance, it only takes a moment.

    There is no sign or warning for the valves to break. They don't stretch and you cannot see any external evidence. Under x-ray, you can see the internal erosion at the head/stem joint, but in reality, most likely cost is more to test than to replace.

    I just got a local shop to make some new valves. Wasn't too expensive at all. Also need to replace steel valve seats for stainless (test with a magnet if unsure), then you can use high octane unleaded without worry.

    I've had problems with Shell optimax turning a bit jelly like if left to stand, but otherwise you can use any unleaded you like. The higher the octane the better.
     
  15. 308GTS

    308GTS Formula 3

    Dec 27, 2001
    2,223
    TN
    Did they use the same valves in 308 QVs?
     
  16. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
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    Jul 22, 2003
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    No. QV's are completely different and no known problem!
     
  17. Tomasoshea

    Tomasoshea Rookie

    Aug 29, 2004
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    Tom O'Shea
    Hi,

    I have checked this one out with Ferrari in the UK they referenced and read out to me (Bullitin number 966 Sept 01). I Also checked this with Superformance in the UK Mike Elliot (specilaist/ parts vendor) In case you have not heard of him www.superformance.co.uk.

    You do not need to replace the seats when you change the valves, they are fine for unleaded petrol, lots of peole tell you that you do, but you don't.
     
  18. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    I think he meant that usually they are worn, at the point of the engine needing attention........
     
  19. Ferrari_tech

    Ferrari_tech Formula 3

    Jul 28, 2003
    1,527
    UK
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    Malcolm W

    Basically correct, but you must bear in mind that Technical Bullitin 966 also states that while it is permissable to use unleaded fuel without modifications to the engine it also states "in case of heavy duty use of the engine (such as use on track or continuous high speed) we recommend the use of high-octane fuel or appropriate additives"
     
  20. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
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    Jul 22, 2003
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    Like I said....Use stainless seats for "fit and forget". Once fitted, the clearances go for about double distance before needing re adjusting.....and valve clearances never need doing on a time period, so your clearances can stay set for years and years in most cases.
     
  21. ants2au

    ants2au Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2003
    774
    Sydney Australia
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    Anthony
    From the below Phil, I would deduce that the original seats are not that hard afterall, and may not survive unleaded like everyone says they would.


     
  22. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
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    #22 tbakowsky, Sep 22, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I replaced ALL the valves,guides and seals in my 308 just last winter. I git the valves from SIvalves aswell as the guides and seals. They were very well priced,,cheap really and the quality is very good. My valves seats were in very good condition. The machine shop said just too leave them alone.
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  23. Tomasoshea

    Tomasoshea Rookie

    Aug 29, 2004
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    Tom O'Shea
    Is it only the exhaust valve seats that need replacing for unleaded?
     
  24. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
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    Jul 22, 2003
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    Both inlet and exhaust in stainless will give you years of trouble free motoring. The first thing to fail if you used unleaded solely, would usually be the exhaust, but the inlet will go too eventually.

    The exact seat material needs to be clarified..there's stainless and there's stainless...I'll get the info from my cyl head guy.....
     
  25. Tomasoshea

    Tomasoshea Rookie

    Aug 29, 2004
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    Tom O'Shea

    If you could get me the spec that would be great
     

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