Cracked frame and other assorted woes

Bummer Henry but 365 days a year are "prime driving" in SoCal

Want to try with us guys in the NE?

 

Well, you may be able to brace/weld up the subframe in situ (only tig so no weld spatter). The rest should be fixable in place as well if you can deal with the oil leaks for now.

And yes, you will find no sympathy from me if you want to talk about driving season

 

I think you need to bring it out to Bruce's where we can mess with it on our time. You live too high in the mountains for a Stooge-a-thon. Also, I'd invest in some gothspeed heat shields for your CV boots. FBB can easily weld the subframe if its fixable. Motor mount? Meh, done. Oil leaks, well, ... never know until you're in there. Didn't you take at least one off road excursion at Chuck?!

 

Cracks are easy to weld

If you can get it down here we can weld. lets get that done


Post up a few pics for us to see or email me them Henry

 

I have seen that crack before. You can really get to only one side of the cracked member if the engine is in. It would be best to weld it with the engine out. Hey, we do remove engines on 355 at home.

 

You can do it Henry!

 

Patience is the key. You can do it.

You do have some very good support people right in your area...F-chat guys that know a lot about these cars. Wish I still lived in Long Beach. I would have done my own engine out for sure. The two "pro's" that did my last two were not exactly great.

 

Is the " DYI " here accidental or intentional . I'm familiar with " diy " , do it yourself , but sometimes i wonder , in instances when an owner can get in over their head , if it stands for " do yourself in ".

Good luck , i hope your project is a diy , not a dyi.


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Henry,

Hang in there, it really doesn't sound that bad.

As was mentioned.... have someone weld/repair the crack with the engine in the car.

replace the motor mount and CV boot.

The next would be the oil leaks. Are they bad enough that they are leaving spots on the ground or is it oil seaping in a few places that can be cleaned up periodically?

Now the big question? Who did the last service? Didn't they see the leaking oil or failed engine mount?

 

How does a frame crack- accident? Old age? I've heard the 348 has some weaker sections (although I'm not sure if it is merely cracks that form in the buttress for the coupes, or actual sections of the frame?) My old 360 coupe was the stiffest car I ever owned (all aluminum chassis), whereas my 355 spider has some cowl shake that my open topped 911s never had...but I do love the car and the cowl shake it isn't as bad as my brother in law's 90's mustang convertible

Anyway, I'm just curious if there is any accident damage present on your car Henry? Keep the faith and hope to hear the project on your 355 comes out a success!!

 

Well Henry is an experienced driver. Maybe the crack caused the off at "chuck." And yes I can weld it MIG or TIG. Post up a picture of the area in question. Perhaps some extra reinforcement is a good idea or prevention for the other side. I would really like to weld in a whole cage in there and make Henry go racing.


Remember...No Stooge Left Behind...

 

It's great to see how you guy's in soCal help each other all the time.
Best of luck.

 

I'll do anything for pirogi's

Mmmmmm

 

Henry you are in CA, probably more "qualified" DIY people in that state than the other 49 combined. THIS is what F chat is for, ask and skill and friends are close by.......
Relax, exhale, have a beer and talk to your people.
.....I just wish I was closer to that area........Waaaaaaaaa

 

Henry,

You will want to completely remove the engine and gearbox from the subframe BEFORE you get the cracks welded. I had stress cracks in my subframe that I had welded up and reinforced when I did my engine out major. You don't want the weight of the engine and transmission causing flexing in the subframe when it's getting welded.
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I had gussets welded in key locations to provide more support and stiffness. I didn't want to have to deal with the tubing cracking again.

You can do it Henry! You have a load of Stooges out there willing to help you. Now GITTERDUN!
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For future Stooging when Henry has his Subassembly out we should make a jig off it for the pickup point changes that were done after 1992??? If this welding/reinforcement becomes SOP as the fleet ages we may as well update the earlier 348 subass to the later subass while you are in there. Mitch did a detailed analysis of the subass. He can probably tell us the changes between the 2 subass. IIRC it was something like the upper lead pickup points were moved?? I think Tim had another 355 subass we could measure off that too making sure the jig makes sense. IIRC Ferrari had a jig that went around as some early subass were reworked with factory blessing to the new geometry.

 

Got 2 here at the house


Don't sweat frame repairs it was my favorite specialty I still do a few biggys a year to stay in shape
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I was going to offer up my TIG welder, but I am sure that SoCal1 and FBB have TIG machines too. If however you need one for welding this up, feel free to hit me up. Also, my subframe is out of the car for other reasons if you want measurements from it. I am in San Clemente.

 

Henry as discussed fix boots and mounts. Fbb can weld up for now and if you want help with an engine out we can do it next winter. I will do mine early. Its an option anyway.