308 owner considering a 1990 348ts

Hello All,

I have owned a 1979 308 GTS for about a year and now have an opportunity to trade another car I have for a 1990 348ts. I've spoken with the owner and seen pictures of the car, but I have not seen it yet in person.

Here are list of the its weaknesses and owner's diagnosis. What do you think?

Per the owner:
It does have a significant oil leak which he thinks is a cam seal. How much of a jb is the cam seal?

It has a few rust spots on the threshold for the driver's door? Car is supposed to be from FL. Is this common and is it a sign of larger problem?

The HVAC shuts down randomly, but will start back up if re-start the engine.

Thinks it has an aftermarket alarm that occasional locks out the starter. Is there something else that causes seemingly random starter interruption?

What do you think?

Thank you

 

Depends, I think. What are you trading and what condition is it in? Are you prepared to drop some coin on the car to sort it a bit once it's yours?

Sounds to me like the car must not have had a recent major. Some of those things probably would have been addressed while the car was in, especially the cam seal -- of course, I understand there is a real art to gooping those things up in the proper manner, so perhaps it was just a little bad luck...but if it truly is "significant", I'd say that's likely not the case.

I have never heard of that particular problem with the HVAC.

 

You'll do cam seals when you do the major service. Til then, just tell yourself that oil is cheap. No biggie.
The rust in the threshold is from the powdercoat on the trim bubbling up. Very common, easy to fix, cost is a rattlecan.
HVAC could be simple or $1000, no more 99% sure.
Rip out the alarm as soon as you get the car. Nobody steals Ferraris. Sometimes the starters have heatsoak problems. They're Italian. Need I say more?
The 348 is very robust and a true pleasure to own if you have any mechanical skills at all.
Buy it and drive it like ya stole it.

 

How are the cosmetics of the interior?

I find that to be a real litmus of the care, as there are some here in Houston that look AS NEW, which believe me if you leave it outside, or even use it a lot, will not be the case.

The leather is great but wears quickly, many feet in the carpet and it no longer looks fresh.

If you see those things looking great, then I'd dive into it.
These 348 owners are telling you the score.

I don't own one, but would love to get one of these "Sleeping beauties" I 've seen out of it's sheltered life!

 

Random non starts is a common issue which is easily fixed by fitting an relay for the starter:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/202861-348-starter-relay-modification.html

HVAC problems are common too - cure may be as simple as cleaning the contacts or replacing the "melted fuse" in the frunk

 

Hello All,

Thank you for the replies and advice.

The owner assures me the interior is fantastic. I plan to the see car in person Thursday.

He has receipts for a major done at Ferrari of Atlanta about 3 years and 7,000 miles ago. It does not mention the cam seal.

oh ... he mentioned it grinds when shifting from 1st-2nd when the drivetrain is cold. Says that is not an issue when warm.

 

Not supposed to force that 1-2 change when cold ... and I think you mess up the syncro if you do force it ... red flag here esp since early 348s are notorious for gearboxes that self destruct.

 

This is common on most Ferraris. Nothing to worry about. Use Redline 75W90NS gear oil and you will notice a significant improvement.

 

I have a 308 & 355. Very different cars. Luckily, you can wrench either yourself.
Starter interruption: if it is a sticking starter, somebody mentioned a starter relay. I'm more an OEM person so I prefer just rebuilding the starter. Do it yourself with a kit on ebay (there's a thread with the parts & how. Watch the length of the actuator) or ship it off to any starter shop.
I have rust on my door sills. One of my more pressing to-dos.

Luckily there's lots of threads and help if you go with the 348.

 

I would reconsider the above suggestion. I have an early 348 (July '89 build) which I put the above oil in and the trans was terrible ( I couldn't get 5th gear many times). Drained that and went to the Red Line 75w90 shockproof and it was greatly improved. Differing opinions here on the blog about which one to use but this has been my actual experience.

 

Inclined to agree, just to be on the safe side I would include a good transmission inspection in the PPI.

 

Transmission PPI? You gonna remove the sidecover and inspect the ringnuts? Remove the filter screen and see what's there? Remove the bottom plate and look at the gears? Remove and measure the clutch? Magnaflux the output shaft? Remove and inspect the clutch shaft?
How about just drive it and see what you hear. If something's wrong, you'll hear it.

 

I used to think that 20 years ago. Interestingly if the clutch pack is properly filled with magic kluber a relay is never needed. However, a relay can help in a marginal clutch pack. A fatal clutch pack will give a no start due to the feedback to the crank position sensors.

 

Agreed! However if a new owner does not know the tranny history then I would service the box when time for the engine out as part of the major.

 

Not true. All 348 boxes are the same early and late. The issue was that it took a while to figure out how to fix the boxes with no help from Ferrari. That means early boxes saw the failures and FNA fixed a few. The problems showed up in the hardest run challenge cars. I was one of the early boxes and the first known diy'er to fix it around 1991. We have the fix and it costs $0 in parts to fix it and is easily done during a major or can be a separate tranny removal.

 

My 91 348 TB, Trans from First to Second sometimes is difficult when cold, common problem.
Just go from first to third until trans warm up.
Not a big issue on this beautiful and torque y engine .

 

A large number of 348/355 owners (speaking about members on this site only) have used 75W90NS and reported a vast improvement. I am one of them.

There are a few, a small number, that did not find an improvement. Some of them used the Shockproof and it worked for them. Others tried a different brand altogether.

I was imply pointing out the odds that, based on my experience and reading on this site, that the 75W90NS likely will work.

 

FBB: Can you elaborate on the feedback you are talking about here? Just curious.

Every issue you described is fairly common and documented with the car. The A/C issue, based on your description, is very likely to be the inter-board connector internal to the AC ECU. There is plenty of info on the site regarding it.

Sills and rust, very common.

Oil leaks. Eventually, yes.

Cold shifts also a "feature." I find that around 4k is the natural shift point even when cold, more or less and I'll grind.

Starter: What FBB said, but I'll also add that these cars have electrical connection issues. Most of them are fairly easy to correct with patience. Get a multimeter and learn to use it. You will save yourself a lot of trial and error by simply confirming resistances, continuity, voltage, etc. You can work your way back from the starter itself, but simply stated, if it isn't starting something is either impairing the signal voltage to the relay, or there is not enough amperage reaching the starter motor itself to handle the load (bad wire, or too much load).

Lastly, 345/355 crew have a high % of owners that work on their cars, so you'll find a lot of helpful brothers if you take the plunge!

 

When I got my 348 the cold shifting was awful and even when warm now and again the gearbox wouldn't play ball :-(

I changed the oil to the NS with no improvement and it was a about a year later when I was truly sick of it I tried the superlight and now the cold shifting was a thing of the past

Transmission/Gearbox Oil Change using Redline Superlight Shockproof Oil

The slave cylinder throwout bearing went on mine (another common problem) and after replacing that along with a full fluid change and bleed shifting improved again

Clutch Slave Cylinder Release/Throwout Bearing Replacement incl. Triple Seals

Finally, a coupl eof months back I took the gear change cables out and cleaned and lubricated them and I now have what feels like a "normal" gearbox that is useable straight away and I can change gear anytime without wondering "will it go in" to gear.


With regard to the hard start - I had this happend quite regularly but since fitting the relay its not happened a single time.

Bosch WR-1 Hard Start Relay Fitting

As mentioned plenty of online support for 348s

 

I went from the 308 QV to my 1004 348 TS Series Speciale and never looked back. The 348 is a much better handling car wit the great looks and comfort. You shouldn't be sorry after you switch.
Mike
Reading PA

 

Thank you for the continued feedback. I should get to try it out tomorrow and will report back with what I find.

 

Uh, well, no, but I don't think checking the mag plug for metal and listening (by someone who knows what to listen for) as you suggested is such a bad idea.

 

I was not able to see the 348ts last week, but the fella is supposed to drive it up to show it to me on Saturday.

He did provide the VIN ZFFFG36A9L0086633

 

Why the desire to trade?

 

I'm a rabid car nut, so I am always looking for something new ........ and I'm not trading the 308, I'm trading a 1969 Corvette Convertible