Ferrari Hydraulic Lifters 149750, a detailed look

What I would do personally is disassemble, inspect for wear, clean, lube, re-assemble.

Yes there are detergents in oil but this is a component filled/pressurized by oil, not so much constantly flowing through it at a high volume like the bearings for example.

I think the most likely problem with these is sticking due to deposits/non use rather than actual component failure.

As for the necessity. If the engine is apart, what would it hurt? Especially DIY when I have all the time in the world.

 

Well, tappets from Superformance are $48 each. What's that in labor hours, 20 minutes? Just not worth rebuilding and not being sure of what you have.

Dave, you should buy a tappet from Superfromance and see what it is. I'd do it but I can't afford it.

 

What's the problem with after market? Ferrari didn't make the OEM ones. You can be sure the Superfromance ones aren't OEM because new OEM are not available. Only rebuild or used OEMs around, and I'm not sure Ferrari is supplying rebuilt ones anymore. Even Maranello Classic doesn't list them.

 

Read the thread and found the debate interesting, as usual. Dave, all I can say is thanks for continuing to develop tools/products for these cars. I appreciate the time and effort you put into it!

 

Anyone remember what VW lifters fit the 355?

 

No. There would actually need to ne a couple of minor additions to the pressure circuit. But as I said, It's just a thought experiment.

A DIYer might take apart and clean but he would not have a source for replacement parts. I doubt any manufacture supplies replacement parts for these. The Superformace tappets at $48 are expensive compared to other replacement lifters. FCP wants $12 for a BMW lifter for the 1999 to 2006 engines, $10 for a VW/Audi. Most expensive one I looked at was $25 for a Saab. Just doesn't seem cost effective to rebuild.

I think the better challenge is seeing what is similar to the 355 tappet, VW or otherwise. What's important? OD, height, position of the oil groove, plunger diameter and height, spring tensions.

 

Based on other engines that use the same design of tappet, its usually oil sludge or metal particles in the engine oil that clog up the internal process, so in those cases its a simple strip and clean out of the unit, or alternatively it is wear in the plunger preventing them going solid, hence the rattle.

Given that replacements for most cars are cheap no one bothers fixing them anymore.

If you cannot find an exact match replacement for the 355 then maybe the aftermarket main stream replacement tappets for other engines may yield donor components within their make up that could be used to refurbish the originals.

Are the originals made by INA? it will be stamped on them if they are.

The risk with re use is always building up an engine to then find one of the buggers still rattles, working out which one it is, then having to pull the head apart yet again to replace it.

The other alternative is going to a solid lifter and adjustment shims which race versions of production engines tend to do.

Not sure why you guys are trying to re invent the wheel regarding the dismantle process, when a good solid tap on a chunk of wood typically does the job with no damage.

 

Send one off the johnson and get a quote on new ones custom made

 

The ones I have a working knowledge of are from the YB 4 cylinder Ford Cosworth engine which use the standard VW fitment INA lifter which are always stamped by them.

Aftermarket non INA stamped ones are available but we tend to stay with INA and pay a bit more.

The 355 ones do look very similar in design to the VW type but typically I have thrown all my old ones out and don't have any new ones here to measure and compare.

edit

Just had a trawl through an INA online catalogue, they list plenty for Fiats and the Cosworth ones but nothing at all for Ferrari, so it looks as if that is a dead end for alternatives, they must be a bespoke 355 part unless Ferrari made a non disclosure, supply only via Ferrari pact with the manufacturers, in which case it will be a case of dust off the verniers and find a local friendly aftermarket suppliers and work your way through the shelves!


further edit

Here are some dims for the cosworth version

http://www.motor-doctor.co.uk/products/2384030-rocker-tappet

a trawl through that online catalogue may help match up to the 355 type with another vehicle

This is the same tappet as the cosworth but listed for the VW application. £6 for these as opposed to £20 for the cosworth labelled ones above! even though they are exactly the same

http://www.motor-doctor.co.uk/products/2384012-rocker-tappet

 

This is probably the VW one Ferrari uses. At $4.89 the price sounds about ring for something Ferrari would charge about $100 for.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/audi-volvo-volkswagen-engine-camshaft-follower-034109309ad

(Just kidding. I have no idea if this is similar to the 355 tappet.)

 

Well, for $5 a pop someone could buy some and send them to Dave to disassemble and compare.

I had one bad lifter during my major and bought one from GT in AZ. I did look at that VW version and laughed....not worth the "test".

 

There is a good chance it is one of these?

search

 

Going to try find and fire up my old hard drive, had it listed with pics

I believe the one that fit was a 4 cyl possibly diesel and had a slightly thicker wall and weighed a gram or 2 more. There was also one that was lighter. They are an odd size if you search by the OD you may find it.

Its rainign like a beotch here and all my stuff is outside so I no looky today

 

Slightly off topic, but I do recall cosworth used an uprated design for the 4x4 version of the YB engine, although dimensionally the same as the earlier model it had a revised oil reservoir. This may be the reason for the difference in part number to the VW type, but they can used.

 

^^ Good idea. I was thinking the same yesterday when I was using a Mityvac on my 993.

If the piston is too small to pull out with a vacuum cup directly, would a vacuum applied to the outer body draw the piston out?