355 Cam Belt Change | Page 2 | FerrariChat

355 Cam Belt Change

Discussion in 'Australia' started by Aircon, Mar 1, 2009.

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  1. moretti

    moretti Five Time F1 World Champ
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    it's been scarred, is that good enough ? :D
     
  2. Horse

    Horse Three Time F1 World Champ
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    True.

    BTW, in hindsight, I don't know that PP subscribing was a good idea.......:)
     
  3. goober

    goober F1 World Champ

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    name 2?
     
  4. moretti

    moretti Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Wax will always get rid of him if YOU say so ;)

    teacher's pet :p
     
  5. Horse

    Horse Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Wax on, Wax off. :)
     
  6. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    yes. in anticipation of doing it this way in the future.

    regardless, i'd be doing it anyway...i KNOW the timing is right and really can't see a downside. that should make maintaining one of these very reasonable.

    the previous time the belts were done was when ferrarifixator did it and engineered a magnificent oil leak that he refused to fix. the engine had to come out that time anyway.

    this time the engine came out when the belts were due for a full rebuild. next time, who knows what will happen.
     
  7. Modeler

    Modeler F1 Veteran

    May 19, 2008
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    a.n.other
    Next time the cam drive bearings would want attention too, I imagine?
    Is there a regular interval they're looked at or are they checked for play every time belts are done?
     
  8. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

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    Hang on, it's not the long way of doing the job, it's a shorter (time frame) option, this is why you are interested in it, to save on the labour cost. It is a short cut, you may not like the term, but in this case the term fits.
     
  9. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #34 PAP 348, Mar 2, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  10. goober

    goober F1 World Champ

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    he has a different hoist in the cellar
     
  11. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    no thanks. not in a million years.
     
  12. carl888

    carl888 F1 Veteran
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    I think removing any engine to change a cam belt is a totally idiot procedure and any endevour (Whether factory sactioned or not) that minimises this should be encouraged. The fact that it is necessary suggests a design flaw in the car.

    When you remove a 355 engine you do the following:

    1. decommision the air con.
    2. disconnect the brake lines.
    3. disconnect the handbrake.
    4. disconnect the gear shift linkage.
    5. disconnect the oil lines.
    6. disconnect the power steering lines.
    7. disconnect the fuel lines
    8. disconnect the exhaust.
    9. disconnect the clutch line.
    10. remove a myriad or electrical harnesses and connections....ABS, ignition, etc.

    Then you can get to the cam belts. Do you really think that disturbing all the above is necessary to change a belt????? You wouldn't do this on a Holden, or any other car for that matter.

    If I ever suffered the misfortune of owning one of these COHOS I would certainly remove the engine the first time to check the cam timing. Once the pulleys were marked, it would be engine in, save for any other issues such as an oil leak (TM PP) or a water pump.

    Regards,

    Carl.
     
  13. carl888

    carl888 F1 Veteran
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    There is no service interval for the bearings in the cam drive.
     
  14. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    lol...well whilst you are strictly speaking correct, of course, the common meaning for that term would put a negative spin on this procedure, which doesn't exist.

    Carl's right, of course, the engine out is a BIG job and if it can be avoided, i'm all for it.
     
  15. carl888

    carl888 F1 Veteran
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    Well, people believe what they want to believe, but lets look at it this way.

    If the engine has been out, then the pulleys should be marked so you can check the timing.



    I'll offer you two alternatives for a cam belt and tensioner change:

    Offer 1.
    Disconnect fuel lines and remove fuel tank.
    (Actually, I think you would still have to remove the gear shift linkage but I'm not sure)
    Change belts, tensioners, check timing.

    Offer 2.
    decommision the air con.
    disconnect the brake lines.
    disconnect the handbrake.
    disconnect the gear shift linkage.
    disconnect the oil lines.
    disconnect the power steering lines.
    disconnect the fuel lines
    disconnect the exhaust.
    disconnect the clutch line.
    remove a myriad or electrical harnesses and connections....ABS, ignition, etc.
    Change belts, tensioners, check timing.


    Which one would you chose??????
     
  16. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
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    Geez Karl,
    for a second you had me worried that I had missed servicing something important on my Commodore and you knew what you were talking about, but after I checked I learned that Holden's (well proper ones anyway, like Commodores ) were so advanced that they don't have cam belts.

    M
     
  17. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
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    Worth a read:

    http://www.the355.com/mambo/content/view/28/29/

    and

    http://www.verdi-ferrari.com/servicing.htm


    M:)
     
  18. carl888

    carl888 F1 Veteran
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    Ha ha Mike, well, I've not had the pleasure of a Commodore as yet!

    Not sure I'd be going to Verdi......did you see they are quoting 1,395 quid for a cambelt change on a 400/412/early V12............
     
  19. Modeler

    Modeler F1 Veteran

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    Thanks Carl.
    Yet another time I get confused which car we're talking about, 3X8 or 355. Thread jumped around a bit.
    Have read so many threads on 3X8 belts I could do them in my sleep I think.
    Know SFA about 355.
     
  20. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
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    LOL, but it's the only model for which they don't offer a cambelt only service, I reckon they know the difference between chains & rubber bands.

    M
     
  21. jmillard308

    jmillard308 F1 Veteran
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    Neither does Carl ;)
     
  22. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    here's a question for you doubting thomas' ...........and mikes

    how do you check the cam timing when you change the belts in a 360?
     
  23. Aircon

    Aircon Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #48 Aircon, Mar 2, 2009
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2009
    makes perfect sense to me!

    An Interesting Conversation With Karl Verdi

    Karl runs Verdi Ferrari (www.verdiferrari.biz), and is a very knowledgeable chap regarding Ferraris. Karl does all of his cambelt servicing in-situ unless instructed otherwise by the owner of the vehicle. The die-hards in the Ferrari community often cite reasons why the cambelt must be replaced by removing the engine, and one commonly stated reason is that you cannot set the timing up properly using DTI guages when the engine is in-situ. Initially this claim seemed reasonable but Karl was able to debunk it entirely by explaining why you don't need to use DTI guages in the first place. What follows is a recount of his explanation to me. I am a much wiser man for it !



    When Ferrari build an engine, they do two key things. Firstly, they manufacture the engine camshafts etc to very precise tolerances. Secondly, they set the timing up using proper measuring equipment such as DTI guages etc etc. It is a very involved process, but the key point is that once it is properly timed the engineer at the factory scribes very precise marks in four separate places. The most important ones are behind the endplate and under the cam covers on the camshaft itself. Claims about factory marks not being accurate is myth and nothing more. The marks are placed by people who just build engines, and don't do anything else, so the thought that they might scribe marks that are way off is plain ridiculous.

    In addition to the scribed marks, there are also some hand written marks on the pulleys which are for guidance only. Given the spacing of the teeth on the cambelt, even these marks are accurate enough to show if the belt is one or more teeth out, assuming the cam timing hasn't been altered by someone.

    Assuming a car is running well, and assuming the factory marks on the cams under the cam covers or behind the endplates line up, then it is a simple matter to replace the cambelt - even if the belt has stretched. The new belt just brings it back in line. If an engine is running poorly and yet the guide marks line up, this is a sign that someone has been altering the cam timing away from the factory marks, and this will be evident on the cam markings.

    The only reasons the timing can be out is if either the factory guide marks simply don't line up, meaning that someone put the belt on wrong, or secondly if someone has messed around with the timing thinking that they can do a better job than the factory. This would be evident by looking at the factory timing marks on the cams to see if they line up.

    Conclusion? You don't need to remove the engine to get a proper timing result on changing the cambelt. There are accurately scribed marks on the engine to go by. A decent mechanic can tell if the timing on an engine is out just by listening to it.
     
  24. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
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    I apologize to everyone for posting a link to information that reinforces what you said. :(

    It's more fun to argue. :)

    M
     
  25. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
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    No idea, don't own a 360, don't care.

    But there is an access panel that allows you to get to the front of the motor through the bulkhead behind the seats - it's not a new idea for Ferrari, I think they had that with the F40 - I recall someone around here used to have one

    M
     

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