and that's what my Daytona engine cost, for parts and machining alone. Were head plates and a dummy crank used, or was it bored and line bored just like an ordinary engine? There are only 3 sets of correct head plates in Australia for that block and they are jealously guarded. I'm guessing you didn't need new liners or valve springs and the cams didn't need work? I don't mean to be critical, but I've been around these bloody things for 25 years and I've never seen a shortcut that worked in the long run. I've also seen plenty of big-ticket rebuilds that were smoky (e.g. the 275 I followed on GOR) so it's a matter of having the right work done, not just the most expensive.
Indeed. We've just spent the thick end of $50K on what is basically a Fiat 2 litre, a significant part on the 4 valve head. The valve gear was made in the US, as were the custom JE pistons. We were very lucky to find a brand new 037 crank in Italy and our original rods (made from unobtanium) were fine.
Phil's response via email to my above statement and various issues raised by Goober about his car. "Actually, you need the SD2, not SD3. And the SD3 is simply an SD2 inside, when used on 360. Furthermore, I DO have SD2 with all 360 software on it to do the job. I have the Michelotto GT version. It costs 5000 Euro, but you have to be Michelotto approved to buy it. It costs about $3k for a new clutch plus labour, making the job around $5k all up, as you need to do engine oil change along the way. Or it can be reconditioned for about half that. Oh, and so you know... that **** head goober keeps going on and on.... well, that alternator he keeps whinging about came from Pless' best mate Autolec Steve Varasso and was fitted under Mark Coffeys instruction AGAINST my advice. And I have no idea what he means about the 355 engine... certainly not anything to do with me! Regards Phil Hughes Hughes Supercar Services" Since he can no longer respond to the frequent posts about him, I think it only fair to pass on his response.
thanks for passing on this insight, maybe he hasnt seen the update www.pless.com.au/mechanics.htm oh and I shall find the post reagrding his effort in the 06 Classic about him doing the Picadilly jump two feet higher than us........well he was in back seat and the idiot driving that Evo crashed............maybe Dill was doing something to distract him?
its a reason on who to trust regarding the maintenance of a Ferrari or who one should trust on PPI considering if they have a vested interest on the sale, luckily for me I spoke to the owner of the 360ch and he indicated who and what had been done to the car. the 308GTB was different, BSM went through thoroughly everything that was done to the car and how it was maintained, I can recommend them for their honesty and knowledge.....given the fact my first drive was the drive from Smelb to Sadel....... Having an idiot proclaim it was "his baby" (the 360ch) made him look more like a complete cock given now that all the problems have been sorted, and he may have been instructed on what to do on the car but ultimately it was his workmanship that was on the line and actions will always speak louder than words.........clearly
This is a warning to all Ferrari owners out there, the relationship you have with your mechanic can make or break your experience with the car(s). Example, get QV RWC'd when it came to QLD after buying it in Melbourne and told(by this corner store mechanic who must have worked at Fiorano before coming to Runaway Bay Ampol servo to be so knowledgable ), it has a BAD oil leak that makes it unregisterable PLUS the chassis is rusted out from the 'A' arm forward. I take the car to a "specialist" here on the Coast, he quotes me $3,500 as the engine has to come out to fix it (hmm, did I notice his garage was empty and it was coming up to the end of the month ?? ), then call Ferrari specialist in Brissy, they have always treated me well (I'm a cash customer and the rest are mostly warranty) and offer a flat top to the shop and will probably fixed it for under a grand (bloody top people in a pinch and Keith is very understanding to each customer), then I call Marc Jones as he looks after Horse and Marc thinks it is probably only the rear main engine seal (some mechanic I call says 'oh yeah, probably happened due to lack of use, driving on dirt roads, etc .... yeak ok, I'm a ****wit , I'll believe anything you say ) Marc has a problem with his hoist so says he will travel the 2 hours down from the Sunshine Coast to fix the seal on my hoist (damn, that's service !!), he turns up with all the tools , seal and special greases and oils he likes to use to do the job properly, takes 3 hours to do the job, hits me up for the FULL $30 for the seal (I call the bank for a loan) and I'm on the road with the oil leak fixed for under $200. During the fix he notices that the rear main engine seal had been replaced before and had been put in with a nail punch and hammer (I have the pic somewhere on my other computer but trust me, it was obvious why the engine was leaking from the seal !! Got the rusted chassis fixed for under $3k by local guy starting up here on the Coast, brilliant job . Bottomline here is that if you don't know anything about cars get a new one and sell when the warranty has run out, if you are handy and can do most of it yourself bar the major jobs , get a hoist and save your poor body the additional stress of fixing these low lying creatures, they can be had for as little as $800-2000 and can fit into a lot of garages if you get the roof rejigged although I cheated by having my house built around a garage with 3.5 metre ceilings Or if you are rich like Kerrari, just get the mechanics to keep your 308 in good running order ..... or do a Brett and restore it so it never needs to be driven again hereby eliminating the mechanic all together
