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355 heads

Discussion in '348/355' started by F355Bob, Jul 24, 2015.

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  1. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    Nov 4, 2003
    2,001
    Madison, Wisconsin
    #1 F355Bob, Jul 24, 2015
    I have an extra set of 96 heads that I am having guides done on it for my 95. Are all the heads the same from year to year as far as compression etc other than the 95 intake cams are both machined for cam sensors? For what it is worth,,The engine builder was the mechanic for Scott Tucker when he was running the Challenge series and said bronze manganese guides is the way to go.
     
  2. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 10, 2007
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    #2 INTMD8, Jul 24, 2015
    I've read that the early 95 heads had larger ports. This lead to coolant leakage on some of the early heads.

    Any other changes I'm not aware of, but if you have them side by side and can measure a difference in port size, you may be slightly down on power with 96 heads.
     
  3. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
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    Jun 11, 2004
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    #3 johnk..., Jul 24, 2015
    FYI, the valve covers are machined to the heads. So if you don't have the correct valve covers you may have a problem.
     
  4. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    Nov 4, 2003
    2,001
    Madison, Wisconsin
    #4 F355Bob, Jul 24, 2015
    I have all the parts of the heads. Bought them from Bruce Wright along with the full block.
    Yes I think that sometimes the early head ports are too big. I have had the car for 15 years and the original owner had to replace the heads in 1998 because the heads cracked along an exhaust port.
     
  5. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
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    #5 ShineKen, Jul 25, 2015
    Do you have any issues now with the current early 95 head? A confirmed measurement or side by side shot by someone would be nice.
     
  6. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    Nov 4, 2003
    2,001
    Madison, Wisconsin
    #6 F355Bob, Jul 25, 2015
    I don't have 95 heads because the original owner had them replaced in 1998 under warranty because the heads cracked. They were replaced with 96 heads because 95 heads were not available in 1998. According to d Helms the later heads are better because you get better velocity. I am going to have guides put in because my spare heads are off a car with 6000mi and the guides are already bad. I will then have a whole spare motor to keep or sell. The block is perfect with only 6000mi.
     
  7. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    #7 INTMD8, Jul 26, 2015
    Both flow numbers and port velocity is certainly important. My personal experience is that my early 95 made significantly more power than my 99 so I would be inclined to stay with the early cylinder heads.
     
  8. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    Nov 4, 2003
    2,001
    Madison, Wisconsin
    #8 F355Bob, Jul 26, 2015
    Did you dyno each car to see the difference. My 96 heads have been ported so they flow like the 95s.
     
  9. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    #9 INTMD8, Jul 26, 2015
  10. phrogs

    phrogs F1 Veteran
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    #10 phrogs, Jul 26, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2015
    The only thing that can even be considered incompatible is a Very early 95 cylinder head and cam covers combo that didn't have as many Holes in them as the later cars.
    My 95 is a later build and it uses the same cam cover as every later 355 out there.

    The majority of 355's can use cam covers from other cylinder heads. It has a part number (get the correct one problem averted) its not a critical matched set that you could never seperate or the combo is made worthless.

    These cam covers use no bearing surface in the heads, they have gaskets and then end cap o-rings, the tolerances are not life threatening. If its leaking after new gaskets its warped or cracked it wouldn't have anything to do with it not being the original that came with the car.

    I have engines that actually have matched heads and cam covers because the cam cover also acts as a bearing surface.
     
  11. sevminasyan

    sevminasyan Formula 3

    Jun 24, 2008
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    #11 sevminasyan, Jul 27, 2015
    I believe the front timing cover bolt holes are a bit different. You may have to leave some of the bolts out I think.
     
  12. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
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    #12 ShineKen, Jul 27, 2015
  13. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    Nov 4, 2003
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    #13 F355Bob, Jul 27, 2015
    My stock heads flowed 218.5cfm and my ported flowed head 232.5cfm. My bore is slightly larger -because I have slightly larger pistons. I am going to do an engine out with belts this summer. My problem with the heads on my car now is that it would smoke on cold start up when sitting overnight but never smoke again on accel or decel or warm starts. Did not use any oil. It now has not smoked for over a month,1000miles and 20-30 cold starts. The only thing we can think of is a valve stem seal came loose and caused the smoking on cold starts and now it may have reseated itself and does not smoke a puff. We will know when the motor comes out later this summer. Car really runs strong but I bought a spare engine with only 6000 miles last year thinking the worst of my current motor because of the smoking, but I think the smoking is really something minor. This engine runs so much stronger than when it was stock. I might have a stock block with rebuilt heads for sale this summer that has only 6000miles on it.
     
  14. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
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    #14 ShineKen, Jul 27, 2015
    Keep us updated Bob. Thanks for taking the time and initiative getting the most of out of our cars. I know youve spent quite some $$$ with lots of ups and downs along the way. Most wouldve given up long ago.
     
  15. F355Bob

    F355Bob Formula 3

    Nov 4, 2003
    2,001
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    #15 F355Bob, Jul 27, 2015
    I will have updates on the heads and motor as time goes on. These cars are really great when modified a little on brakes, handling, and power to increase throttle response. If you can get better midrange these cars are more fun to drive than stock where all the power is at high RPMs. where nobody drives for long. Everybody loves to hear a F355 at 8500rpm but I would rather have better midrange. You are not going to out run a C7 Corvette but on a tight twisty canyon road like you have in California or even country back roads like here in Wisconsin these cars are fantastic. Too bad they cost so much $$$.
     
  16. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    #16 INTMD8, Jul 27, 2015
    I haven't started on the headers. Still working on setting up my shop. It's taking more time and money than I expected but so does everything I guess.

    To be honest I've considered trying a few other things but probably won't get too far into it as I'm very happy with it as-is. Runs awesome :)
     
  17. 355 P4

    355 P4 Karting

    Oct 13, 2020
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    #17 355 P4, Dec 17, 2021
    Can anyone tell me at what point (year etc.) the 355 cam covers added the five valve script? My covers only say Ferrari. I believe that I have a 5.2 engine because it only has one TPS (a Bosch 0 280 122 005).
    Thanks
     
  18. 355 P4

    355 P4 Karting

    Oct 13, 2020
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    #18 355 P4, Dec 17, 2021
    Have you tried, or considered, the Coil-on-plug mod?
     
  19. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    #19 taz355, Dec 21, 2021
    All of them
    Show us a pic of your covers
     
  20. 355 P4

    355 P4 Karting

    Oct 13, 2020
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    Bill Krueger
    #20 355 P4, Dec 22, 2021
  21. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    #21 taz355, Dec 23, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2021
    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    This was in the brochure when publicly unveiled the car.
    Maybe it’s some kind of challenge thing
    Or someone modified it
    Never seen one if that’s actually factory. Thanks




    Is that cover attached properly?
     
  22. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    #22 taz355, Dec 23, 2021
    This looks like a modified engine based on pics
    Race car maybe?
    Show us a pic of entire engine bay as well as back of car might help
     
  23. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
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    #23 taz355, Dec 23, 2021
    This all most looks like the engine in the old p4
     
  24. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #24 Steve Magnusson, Dec 23, 2021
    The 355 SPC shows there was a design change in the 355 spark plug cover:

    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    The one shown in post #21 is the early kind (with two mounting holes along the bottom edge) -- item 49 in the SPC figure (used on engine SN 38150 and before).

    The one shown in post #20 is the later kind (with four mounting holes along the bottom edge) -- item 39 in the SPC figure (used on engine SN 38151 and after).

    However, both have the "cinquevalvole" (sp?) script in the SPC figure -- maybe an early production new part without it? If someone has a 355 engine with a SN above 38151, please post a pic to compare to the pic in post #20.
     
    ShineKen likes this.
  25. 355 P4

    355 P4 Karting

    Oct 13, 2020
    135
    So. California
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    Bill Krueger
    #25 355 P4, Dec 23, 2021
    My covers are NOT attached per production. I have it standing off on 3/4" spacers because I am old school and believe that the plug wires should have some separation.
    Here's a rear photo. Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    SoCal1 likes this.
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