F355 - My thoughts on Major Servicing

So I recently dropped the engine out of my F355, and thankfully I did so, as there are some pretty annoying aspects of dropping the engine that perhaps I fail to appreciate before starting the project. I get why it was designed this way at the factory, and I know that parts commonality, packaging constraints, and other factors like cost engineering, manufacturing simplicity, and just plain lack of consideration in terms of maintenance issues, but there is a great deal of room for improvement. This is somewhat of a rant but I would love to hear the thoughts and modifications made by others to simplify the process.

Upon pulling my sub-frame, I found that the wiring harness had chaffed through, wires were exposed, and honestly, I have no faith whatsoever regarding the integrity of the wiring to the ECU. This will require me to rewire the harness, as it is likely faulty. Since I am dropping the sub-frame again, I plan to re-engineer the whole thing so that I can quickly, easily, drop the motor and sub-frame with limited drama. The whole thing is getting quick disconnects, there is no excuse for all the extra work and other misery (you should see the scrapes on my hands from wrestling hose clamps).

I am still amazed by the car, so much is so very elegantly done, but the last 10% can make it go from a maintainers nightmare to a dream to work on. Now that I am settling in to California, I intend to document the modifications I am making for major servicing here in order to help others. There will be pictures this time.


Here are the things I intend to address in the coming months.

1. Draining the fluids. This was an entirely annoying process, some of which cannot even be easily drained (e.g. power steering fluid).

Solution - Add a drain for the power steering fluid

2. Discharging the A/C system. Should be able to disconnect the A/C compressor and leave it in the damn car.

Solution - Build a different A/C mounting bracket

3. Lack of space to get to the needed coolant and heater hoses to drop the motor.

Solution - Still in work. Likely a re-routing of coolant lines or some other reasonable means of dealing with it.

4. Limited space to pull the wiring harness through into the passenger compartment.

Solution - Adding a bulkhead connector to simplify the operation. Remove the need to pull the harness through. Downside is that it is a potential point of failure. Alternative would be to move the computer into the engine bay (not practical or good for the life of the ECU).

5. Fuel system requires disconnect from bottom of the tank, thus requiring a means to prevent all the fuel from draining out of the tank.

Solution - fuel tank caps or redesign the distribution system to allow for disconnection at the top of the system.

6. Having to break hydraulic lines at the middle point of the connection without a bleeder provision at that junction or sealed coupling to prevent contamination.

Solution - add a bleed screw to the blocks at a minimum. investigate hydraulic quick disconnect suitable for this application.

 

The fuel lines as connected on my junction block are not designed to be removed at the junction block, not even close (at least on my car). Disconnecting from the junction block would have been my preferred solution, and some high quality AN connectors would make that easier.

The coolant and heater hoses are the greatest challenge, no doubt, but I think I have a plan... I think, but I need to pull the motor again to verify.

I agree about not relocating the ECU to the engine bay, I would prefer to leave it where it is, this is where a bulkhead connector makes the most sense. Since my harness has been damaged, I think this is a reasonable approach to making it easier to pull the motor.

 

Ok, I feel like an idiot now, that's pretty simple actually. I was so wrecked from all the time shifts that I didn't even notice that!!!

Thanks!

 

So the car gets out of port in a few days... The man cave is almost ready.

Unfortunately, I am in a rental property and can't make major modifications to sink the lift into the floor. This will make working on the car much easier though.
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Does anyone have a car trailer they are willing to loan for a day near Long Beach, CA. I need one next week and have a tow vehicle.

 

Actually, I don't need a trailer anymore, I need to unload the car from a 4'4" height onto the ground from a container shipping chassis. Just my freaking luck.

 

Now that is a great idea... USAA, I need to get towed... I know I paid for towing for a reason!!! LMAO.

 

I have been seriously getting the shaft on this deal, there is only one shipper in Guam and they have not been very helpful on the Guam end... Here in the US they are doing a bit better, but they are still not 100% helpful. Usually you have to pay another party to transport it on a car carrier to your house... It's complicated, but everyone has their small part and everyone wants a pound of flesh to do it. Believe me, I just wanted them to drop it off on any flat piece of land, but you would think that I was asking for them to part the red sea!

 

So the Ferrari has arrived from Guam, made it off the truck (flatbed suggestion was awesome), and is in the Garage. Pictures to follow, net is too slow where I am at for the moment. Should start in on dropping the subframe this week. Shipping was well under the estimate.