Engine In timing belt change

First off, I would like to introduce myself to Ferrarichat.

I own a f355 and have been using the forum as a valuable resource for the past year. There is lots of great information here and I have been able to accomplish many repairs thanks to the help of members.

After not finding much information about an engine in belt change, I decided to give it a go. The main reason I did it this way was because I read all the horror stories about wiring and connectors: I did not want to disturb things that were not broken, my car runs great with no CEL's.

Details of the job:

Gas tank has to come out..it is a bit tedious to do but on a two post lift it was not nearly as bad as some make it out to be. I would say it was an honest 2 hours to get the tank down. All bolts are accessable, the oil tank does NOT have to come out to remove the bolt, just loosened.

Once removed there is actually a decent amount of room to change belts. Everything was straight forward. My old belts were the old design and the tensioner bearings were toast (presumably original). I would recommended buying the hill engineering bearings so that the job is only done once.

I understand many will not agree with this method to change belts, but my cam seals had no leaks, my valve covers are dry so I will not pull it apart at this time.

I will agree that it is better to pull the motor if you are doing tons of work other than just the timing system. Things such as axle boots, timing drive welding, water pumps or headers are all things that are probably better addressed with the motor dropped.

On the contrary, the total investment of this job was approx $1500 parts and labor.

If anyone has questions about the procedure I can answer them.

 

That's awesome, many of 348/355 owners typically follow the recommended procedures of dropping the engine + replace everything while at it = bigger bill than $1,500.

I'm kindda guy who focus on results, doesn't matter how to get there. Your goal was to replace the timing belts, so you got it done with the lowest price tag I've ever seen so far!

Good job!

 

Why not post some pics and a detailed procedure like others did for engine out. I'm sure some would appreciate it.

 

Question: on the 348 you have to remove the crankshaft bolt and pulley to do the timing belt. There is a big steel chassis brace blocking the access to that. Is that not an issue on the 355 model, or did you find a clever way to get around that??

 

AMG55, I would vote against posting pictures. This subject on this forum will suck you in to a false sense of security, and then will be chewed up and spat out. This subject matter has been covered hundreds of times and it never ends well.
Oh and you will get the usual remarks about with the engine out you cant check and replace all the other things that may be worn on the engine bla bla bla. This is valid, very valid, so can you imagine the state all 360 engines are in
But from my point of view I congratulate you on what you did. I have personally done both methods during my long years of 355 ownership. However because of how easy it is to remove the engine, thats my main method on my cars every 3 years. Its your car so while you own it, its down to you as to what standard you keep it up to.
By the way for anyone who reads and can digest this. The front pulley and nut does not as a rule have to be totally removed, the pulley only has to be slid forward enough to slip the old belt out and new one in. Anyone who has actually done a belt job with engine out or in will know this.

 

So is this a troll wind up or a legit posting? No profile, just a rehash of a much discussed volatile subject. No evidence, no compelling explanation..........

You state that after a year around here you could not find helpful threads as to the belts change procedure? Come on, do we have to list them? I'm sure someone will for you......Why not use the workshop manual?

 

Let's see some pics!

 

Its not even Ground Hog Day yet!!!

 

Why hasn't some one just developed an after market 2 tank system and a kit to install a hatch behind the seats, a la 360? Probably end up with 14 or 15 gal. total fuel. Seems every V6/V8 2 seat Ferrari since the 246 except the 348/355/ has used a 2 tank system. (Yes, I realize structural integrity would need to be considered.)

 

Subscribing

OP said he wanted to introduce himself and answer any questions.

Maybe start with at least a pic of your 355 and lets get technical. I'm all ears

You didn't happen to go to MIT and have a hand in discovering the theory of relativity did you? What ever happened to that dissertation?

 

Hi thanks for the responses. I appreciate the warm welcomes. When I say I searched the forum for the last year, it was on the topic of engine in belt services, not just the typical engine out as stated supra.

I have done various repairs/maintenance to my car since I bought it including cat bypass (retaining factory look) RH header retube, full fluid service mobil 1 and redline and now the major timing service etc. These cars are really fun to work on but it is like a puzzle to get some bolts out (removing the RH header is like a jig saw puzzle, and no the oil tank does not get removed for that job either) Sorry, the car is already back together and running (sounds amazing) but I did manage to snap a few pics in progress at the shop

So here are the pics and I even included my invoice on timing belts/tensioners.
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No, I did not attend MIT, but I am also curious about that thread as I also did a header job last summer. Lots of good information here, but there are also some full time hater trolls but thats every forum on the internet. I also called KROME in FL for some help with the engine in service he was extremely helpful with questions because that was the only member who posted detail photos on ferarrilife.


P.S , no the belts I got are not old for $60 each they are 2013 date code as seen in the photo.
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Why did this come up every 2 months?

 

Thats awesome! I just hired a mechanic to change the belts while I am driving the car. Anyone see American body shop show series on comedy channel where they strap the guy to the bottom of a car to find a squeak while driving?

 

Pictures or it never happened. There's barely a half-inch clearance between the crank pulley and the crossmember. Unless you cut it there's not room for the deep socket needed to loosen and re-tighten the bolt.

 

You can't slide the belts past the crank pulley once they're loose? It looks like it'd be easier to just take it off, but if you can get the cam belt covers off without removing the crank pulley, you should be able to slide the belts in and back out... Or you could unbolt the rear engine mounts and raise the engine up an inch or two to unbolt the crank pulley.

 

There you go again Tim allowing knowledge and experience get in your way.

 

No

 

Considering the 360 was designed to service every part of the motor short of removing the heads or crankshaft while in the car this is a particularly ill-informed post.

 

Then where would you put the radiators?

The car was designed around the fuel tank and the entire design philosophy was to keep as compact an overall car as possible. You cant just take major, large, heavy components and move them unless you move something else unless you want a 5 gallon fuel capacity.


I hate removing 355 motors and wish I never had to do it again but it is the only way to properly service the car without drastic compromises to the quality of the job. And our time could be spent much more profitably doing other easier jobs.

WTF we've all said it a hundred times before. You get it or not.

Carry on. Stupidity runs rampant around here anyway, whats a little more?

 

Because karma has us all trapped on some Mobius loop to punish us for some past misdeed.

Sort of like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

 

I was saying that tongue in cheek, so relax.
While were on this subject, what can't be done to a 355 that can on a 360 with the engine in. I have come across nothing that can't be got at or removed with the 355 engine in.

 

We have seen a 348 on which you can do the major with the engine in place. The gas tank is permanently removed in place of a fuel cell in the front boot. Not an optimal solution, IMO. But there it is.

 

Oh, priceless. This is so funny.

 

If you roll over yelcab, he may tickle your belly and give you a treat
It seems like the original poster has started something and ran