Ferrari 348 tb cambelt service

A messy but rewarding job - well done.

You must be nearly "there"?

 

Vitor, ssshhhhhhh, now everyone knows we never really worked on these cars !!!

 

That's right. Should be on the road next week!

 

That's alot of grease.

 

My 348 has developed an antifreeze leak which has gotten worse progressively. I find approximately a pint of fluid on the ground after a drive and continues to drip even when cold. I have checked every hose that I can see and access but I have not been able to locate the leak. I have decided that the problem is coming from the water pump and I am ready to take the plunge and drop the engine, unless someone else suggests differently.

I intend to use the two-jack procedure and I have studied other members' as well as PORTOGTS excellent pictures and check lists; I also have the tools and the space to do the work. My questions are: Have I forgotten anything that verifies that the problem is with the pump? Any other suggestions from those who have tackle this chore before?

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

 

^ Are you absolutely certain the fluid is coming from the pump, instead of perhaps running down from a pinhole in the expansion tank or something like that? It would be a shame to drop the engine if the leak is elsewhere.

If the car has original (or "old") rubber hoses, it's a great time to upgrade the very finest silicone hoses available for the 348 from SRI Innovations. "Do it once, do it right, make it last"

Silicone hoses from SRI: http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=100056_100062&products_id=343634


BUT, having said this... really, do as much digging as possible before dropping the engine. I'm afraid you might find that once the engine is on the floor, you'll find yourself doing timing belts, tensioners, and the whole timing belt service.

 

Buy a system pressure tester. You put air into the system and with a cold motor in the off position you will see coolant leaking from the source. Once you ID the problem you can then plan your proper attack. Don't diagnose based on guesses.

 

Check the long hose that runs from the expansion tank to the crossover piping under the intake plenum. The fitting on the piping can corrode and leak. Also the hose can go bad on the fitting and burst causing a leak.

Next I would check the radiator cap on the expansion tank. It could have gone bad resulting in coolant running out of the over flow tube, which exits at the right rear tire.

As fatbillybob pointed out, you should go buy a pressure tester and check for the leak while the cooling system is under pressure.

 

Looks great. Take some vid!!

 

Wonderful!!!