360 360 Engine tapping sound solved after 6 years.

I bought my 2004 360 red/tan spider with gated shifter in 2014 from a Ferrari Dealership in Florida. I commented on the tapping sound coming from the engine and they told me that 360s have noisy engine and it was normal. I took their word and bought the car. It did not have any performance issues just a tapping sound. Later I took to the shop that works on most of the Ferraris in the Cleveland OH Area. He heard the sound but could not isolate it. In March I took it to NJB Automotive In Westerville OH. Kevin is the head mechanic. I Told them my story and my thoughts dealing with it for 6 years and where I thought the problem was. I though it was from the intake manifold butterfly valves. I got my information from a Aldousvoice.com from the UK. Kevin at NJB carefully eliminated items like exhaust leaks and valves. That left the intake manifold. He found there was wiggle room in one of the butterfly valves. Hurray! Found it. They replaced the manifold. Now the cars sounds like it should.

 

You can source the valves and bushings. It takes some digging and I am not sure about the labor but I know you can find them.

 

It was a used Manifold they said that there was not a new one out there. Those that said they had one one their website when you called they did not have one. I have been told that the older manifolds are better than the newer ones. I do not have the source for that. You can find one through Ebay and places that deal with used parts. Make sure you get some detail of the car that it came from. You do not want one where the engine bay was hit in a accident. I think you can find one from $1,000.00 to $3,500.00 depending what comes with it. Good Luck.

 

They do not have in stock they said they can get it from Italy.