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Another reason to buy a 355 from a Private Party

Discussion in '348/355' started by sdbmwfxr, Sep 28, 2011.

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  1. sdbmwfxr

    sdbmwfxr Karting

    Feb 25, 2011
    238
    San Diego
    #1 sdbmwfxr, Sep 28, 2011
    I've had my 355 for about 6 months now but I haven't shut off my Autotrader search for one and occasionally I get an email alert from them when one comes on the market. Here's one in Orange County:

    http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=307556679&dealer_id=44645881&car_year=1995&doors=&model=F355&start_year=1981&body_style=COUPE&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&search_type=both&distance=0&min_price=&drive=&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&end_year=2012&make2=&certified=&engine=&origin=myatcemail&transmission=&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=92109&LNX=ATCMYATCEMAIL&incremental=last_searched-1315540800000&max_price=&make=FER&seller_type=b&cardist=71&standard=false

    Had the "30k major service" done and a tubi exhaust. But then the ad goes on to state that cylinder #7 has leakage due to valve seat. Which basically means that they all are leaking, but that #7 is really bad. They had the engine out and didn't do the valve guides?? Unreal.

    I looked at about half a dozen cars that met my criteria before buying mine. Most of which were at dealers. I can say that pretty much all of the dealer cars I looked at were complete crap with the exception of one car, and that one was still a bit rough around the edges. My car was privately owned, and maintained to a much higher standard than those in dealer possession.

    Not saying that you can't get a good car from a dealer, but it takes a lot of work to get straight stories and a good car. One dealer in Santa Monica had a stack of service records from day one. The only problem was that the stack of about 100 pages had about 10 actual invoices that were copied several times. Like they were hoping I would just see a large stack of papers and not actually go through them.
     
  2. sdbmwfxr

    sdbmwfxr Karting

    Feb 25, 2011
    238
    San Diego
    #2 sdbmwfxr, Sep 28, 2011
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2011
    looks like they took down the ad . . .

    It was a 95 red/tan GTB with 21k miles for 45k
     
  3. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Mitchell Le
    #3 yelcab, Sep 28, 2011
    When I looked at a car from a dealer, a major means an oil change. So the engine never came out at all.

    I would be interested in that car but not for 45K.
     
  4. Chupacabra

    Chupacabra F1 Rookie
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    #4 Chupacabra, Sep 28, 2011
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2011
    "#7 cylinder has leakage due to a valve guide not seating"

    YIKES! I guess they're thinking they've factored everything into the price, but they need to discount it another 10K for the probably 20K worth of work it needs and they may be in the neighborhood. Nice looking car, though, and a Berlinetta!!

    Why do these places ALWAYS list the mileage of the major, not the time since?? Some are clueless, to be sure, but many of them know better.

    Edit: When I posted this 5 minutes ago, the listing was there, now it has disappeared. ??
     
  5. sdbmwfxr

    sdbmwfxr Karting

    Feb 25, 2011
    238
    San Diego
    #5 sdbmwfxr, Sep 28, 2011
    I think it is an Autotrader issue. Sometimes they do updates and certain servers go in and out or whatnot
     
  6. sevminasyan

    sevminasyan Formula 3

    Jun 24, 2008
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    Glendale, CA
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    #6 sevminasyan, Sep 28, 2011
    Well, they probably took it in without a PPI as a trade thinking low miles, what can be wrong or bought it sight unseen from one of those dealer auctions. Now, someone has to loos some $ on this car. It won't be one of us, that's for sure.
     
  7. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
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    #7 bcwawright, Sep 28, 2011
    That is funny...a major=oil change? Maybe for a Ford F150...lol
     
  8. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2006
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    #8 climb, Sep 28, 2011
    The ad is still up.

    At least the dealer disclosed the leaking cylinder. Most wouldn't dare.
     
  9. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #9 climb, Sep 28, 2011
    How long could you drive that thing with the leaking cylinder? Could it be worth it if the car could be bought for 25k?

    I have a Zcar that burns oil and needs a valve job. Every now and then it will foul a plug, stumbles a little and idles bad when it does. I simply replace the plug and all is ok for a thousand miles or so. Recently i switched to iriduim plugs and the fouling hasn't happened anymore. Every 350 miles i put a half a quart in. Been going on for 10,000 miles or so (4 years of top down local driving).

    Could this be an opportunity for someone to drive a 355 at a much cheaper price or would the car die in a few thousand miles and need the 40-50k engine rebuild?
     
  10. sws4re

    sws4re Formula Junior

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    #10 sws4re, Sep 28, 2011
    I just did the same job on my 355. It cost me around $6000.00 in parts. That is all water hoses, gaskets, machine work, axle boots, tens. bearings, belts. F.I. cleaned, ect.ect.ect.
    So if you could get the car at 35K and you do the work it would not be a bad buy. I had about 120-140 hours in mine so that could add another 15k inlabor if someone else does it.
     
  11. junglistluder

    junglistluder F1 Rookie
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    #11 junglistluder, Sep 28, 2011

    $6k for a major plus valve guides?! Did you do all the labor yourself? How did you rebuild both cylinder heads for so cheap?
     
  12. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

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    #12 bcwawright, Sep 28, 2011
    If I'm not mistaken Scott is a mechanic and has access to a machine shop
     
  13. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #13 climb, Sep 28, 2011
    How long could you drive it "as is" before the valve guide problem prevented the car from running properly?
     
  14. sdbmwfxr

    sdbmwfxr Karting

    Feb 25, 2011
    238
    San Diego
    #14 sdbmwfxr, Sep 28, 2011
    climb. This is not a Z car by any means.

    Keep in mind that when you drive a car with a bad hole it can do a lot of damage to that cylinder as a whole over time. The real answer is that the car has probably been driven too long with that guide being bad and, most likely, #7 is just the worst one of many. With a known valve guide issue, it is highly unlikely that just one of them is having issues. They are all having issues, #7 is just the one exhibiting bad behavior.

    Last thing you want to do is destroy the piston, cylinder bore, etc for a bad running engine. If you do it on an old Camaro or Cougar, it just gives you an excuse to do that fancy motor upgrade; do it on a Ferrari and you'll never want one again.
     
  15. sws4re

    sws4re Formula Junior

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    #15 sws4re, Sep 28, 2011
    I do all my own stunts! I was lucky and did not have to buy any valves. I caught my problem quik with min. leakage. I replaced all guides and seals. Like most everyone knows its not the parts that add up most times its the labor. I stoped looking at the time after about 40 hours so my time is a guess but I know it was at least 120 hrs. maybe 140-150ish.
     

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