Black Stripe on 348

Black stripe not present means possible re-paint? Just guessing.

 

Have not seen that before.

Kai

 

As I understand it, that is an attempt to fix the fairly well-known problem of cracking at the junction of the rear quarter panels and buttresses. Apparently, the cracks frequently appear during the engine out, but I doubt it's limited to those occasions.

 

It's usually a caulk repair for a buttress crack that occurs in the TS and TB as mentioned previously. It's a common problem and usually comes back unless repaired internally. The caulk prevents water intrusion and further paint cracking.

 

I'd be curious about the procedure of an engine out at that point, if the stresses are somehow raised during the removal process.

 

I thought EXACTLY the same thing! How can the body flex or stress that much with the engine out to cause this buttress to crack?

I bought my car in 2005 and the buttress wasn't cracked.

I have never taken my engine out and the left side buttress is now cracked.

I still am not convinced it occurs when the engine is out. If it did, it was a coincidence.

It happens from flex caused by HARD cornering if you ask me.

Either way, I will repair properly when I remove the engine. **Hope it doesn't crack after repair when the engine is still out. **

 

I'm not sure how that happens, either, but I would think it would have more to do with putting the engine back in, though maybe there is some kind of load that is released when the lump is out that causes it to crack? I don't know.

Pap, I figured that couldn't be the only time it happens!

 

Im not 100% sure, but when I put 360 wheels on my car and lowered it a bit. I noticed the rear wheels would hit the guard when I would go through this one corner a few times. It had a little dip in the road. I raised the car higher on fear it would do damage to the guard.

Maybe this could also cause the cracking?

 

+1

 

That black caulking at the buttress was factory applied on the early cars. Somewhere towards the end of 1990 they went with a full painted "hard seam" Its hard to know when exactly they did the change over because they are Ferrari and did and do whatever they want. So I imagine there are probably a few cars through 91MY that have it as well.
I personally have never seen it on a car later than 1990.
When I picked up my car a little over 4 yrs. ago it had no cracks whatsoever and now I showing very small ones that I'm sure will progress. That being said it doesn't really bother me as theyr'e not that visable and a good body shop can easily repair them if they get bad.

 

Good call. I have a 1990 348 TS and my car has the hard seams.

 

I suspect its to cover up unsightly buttress cracks

 

Mine is the 5th US 348, so I guess that explains the silicon on mine. Seems like it (and the welds themselves) has held up to a lot of majors and driving.

 

My 348tb is original 1993 and it doesn't have the black stripes.

 

As said above I believe it's a cheap way of 'repairing' the buttress cracking. My understanding was it was caused by body flex rather than an engine out which shouldn't put any pressure on it at all. Pretty sure mine's been done but the propper way of doing it doesn't involve a stripe being put on, I think it's a little more involved than that.

 

This is correct. I have seen it on several 1989 models. IIRC it is a GE product called body seam sealer.

BT

 

Here are some pics that might show it well.

BT
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Got to confess, seen several early cars over here in the UK, none had this on. Either it was just for the US market or the early cars were more prone to the cracking so have been repaired as I said and this is the easiest way of doing it. Have to say, not saying anyone is wrong as I don't know definitively but seen lots of original launch shots, posters etc. and never seen this on any of them. Let me know if you're sure I'm wrong.

 

Maybe. But looked over an '89 when looking for mine and didn't have this on. Could have been taken off I guess but my money is still on a later repair. Certainly never seen it on any official literature or shots.

 

Think I might stand corrected. Just watched a Motor Week vid of one of the first US cars over there and it looks like it might be there. Kind of tough to tell though. Doesn't seem to be in an early UK vid of the 348 though. Bit strange but maybe different for your cars?

 

I have to say that in the 9 years I've had my 348, I've never seen a black stripe repair on a 348 of any age. It must be a cheap repair by someone who didn't know what to do - a bit of a cop out if you ask me.
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