Ferrari 348 runs Smooth but lacks power, help!! | FerrariChat
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Ferrari 348 runs Smooth but lacks power, help!!

Discussion in '348/355' started by Randyarizona, Mar 16, 2015.

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  1. Randyarizona

    Randyarizona Rookie

    Mar 16, 2015
    4
    #1 Randyarizona, Mar 16, 2015
    I just purchased a 1989 348 from the original owner with 18k miles on it. It had been parked for 6 years without being started so I had it flat bedded home without even attempting to start it. It is all original and has never had a belt service so I brought it to my shop and decided to do the belt service myself with my friend who is a master mercedes mechanic. We did a full on 30k service including timing belt, filters, fluids,etc...

    We got it back together and it fired right up and sounds fantastic. I drove it around and noticed a serious lack of power but it pulls smoothly all the way up to redline. It has a hard time accelerating away from a traffic light but sounds fantastic while trying to do so. I brought it to a shop here in Scottsdale with a very reputable Career Ferrari mechanic and asked for help. A few days later he called and said the timing belt may have jumped a tooth on the intake cams and I probably did not install the belt tensioner right.

    I picked it up and drove it 25 miles back to my shop and pulled the engine out again. All 4 cams are totally on he money and aligned perfectly. Before I reinstall the motor does anyone have any idea what this could be? There are no warning lights on, weird noises, no vibrations, no sputtering and the car really runs fantastic otherwise.

    Has anyone experienced anything like this or have any ideas? Any help would really be appreciated.
     
  2. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    Mitchell Le
    #2 yelcab, Mar 16, 2015
    Did you perform cam timing with a degree wheel?
     
  3. ghardt

    ghardt Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2004
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    Jerry
    #3 ghardt, Mar 16, 2015
    Clean the fuel injectors. Remove the fuel pumps, clean the screens, and install new rubbers. Did you drain the old fuel?
     
  4. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
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    Jeff B.
    #4 Miltonian, Mar 16, 2015
    Just out of curiosity, you didn't set the cam timing using the existing marks on the back of the cam pulleys, visible through the slots on the belt covers, did you? (As shown on page B51 of the WSM).
     
  5. ghardt

    ghardt Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2004
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    Jerry
    #5 ghardt, Mar 16, 2015
  6. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
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    Bruce Bogart
    #6 plugzit, Mar 16, 2015
    What you describe indicates that your cam timing is off, probably by one tooth. Once you've timed the cams, be sure to rotate the motor all the way around and recheck the timing. You'll be surprised how often it happens that the timing, when set static, will appear perfect, then not be.
    By the way, welcome to fchat Randy! You're gonna love your 348!
     
  7. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Aug 10, 2002
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    #7 fatbillybob, Mar 16, 2015
    If you in AZ ping copterjohn. He is a former 2 348 owner. let him drive the car. He will tell you if it is indeed off. The 348 is not a fast car with vettes and 911s around.

    Your statements above just can't happen if the car is as down on power as you say. Newbies can be fooled when these cars run on 4 cylinders by the way. You 100% sure you don't have a bank down?
     
  8. Randyarizona

    Randyarizona Rookie

    Mar 16, 2015
    4
    #8 Randyarizona, Mar 17, 2015
    I did not remove the cam sprockets from the cams when I removed and reinstalled them
     
  9. Randyarizona

    Randyarizona Rookie

    Mar 16, 2015
    4
    #9 Randyarizona, Mar 17, 2015
    I lined up the camshafts with the marks on the front of the motor. The fuel tank were basically empty and I filled them up and drive the car close to 100 miles with no changes in performance.
     
  10. Randyarizona

    Randyarizona Rookie

    Mar 16, 2015
    4
    #10 Randyarizona, Mar 17, 2015
    I just pulled the spark plugs and the right side plugs are all consistently looked like it was running lean. The left side plugs are all perfect.
     
  11. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

    May 13, 2014
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    Randy..alluneedtokno
    #11 Shootfighter65, Mar 17, 2015
    welcome to the Ferrari club... I have no idea why people let these cars sit and waste instead of driving them let alone sit for 6 years without even starting it.... The previous owner needs a super hard kick in the A$$ and then charged with with neglect and fined...or at least another kick. I'm a 355 owner and not sure I can help but from experience with other HP cars after 6 years of sitting it might need a lot of attention before it runs like its supposed to...I wonder how much varnish build up there is in the intake system and injectors..dont worry when you get it right it will be worth the effort.
     
  12. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 14, 2011
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    Tim Dee
    #12 SoCal1, Mar 17, 2015
    That may be one of your issues. Those are assembly marks to get it close so nothing collides in the motor when assembling.
    You really need to do it with a degree wheel for accuracy.

    Do a leakdown test while you have it in front of you also.

    Good luck you will get it
     
  13. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    #13 yelcab, Mar 17, 2015
    So, the answer to my question of "did you do cam timing with a degree wheel?" is a no. Which leads me to say "you really need to do cam timing with a degree wheel. One bank is out of time vs the other bank.

    Good luck.
     
  14. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Bruce Bogart
    #14 plugzit, Mar 17, 2015
    Yep. You're a tooth off.
     
  15. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    #15 yelcab, Mar 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

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