Have you changed any lifters on your F355? | FerrariChat
Buy

Have you changed any lifters on your F355?

Discussion in '348/355' started by carwhisperer, Dec 3, 2015.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. carwhisperer

    carwhisperer Formula Junior

    Sep 29, 2014
    426
    Sacramento, CA
    Full Name:
    Brian
    #1 carwhisperer, Dec 3, 2015
    I am sadly reaching the conclusion that I have a bad lifter on my 95 Spider. When cold it sounds fine but after the oil temperature needle starts to move I get a ticking sound. Using a rod and my ear I believe I have traced it to an intake valve on about cylinder 3. The sound goes away at about 2800 rpm under all conditions, or at least I can't hear it any more. A few questions:

    1. I plan to try some sort of a flush and oil change first. With what should I flush it and what oil should I try? I'm thinking I should try a thicker oil since it happens when warm. However, If this takes away the sound I'm afraid it will only be causing a cushion when the cam lobe hits the presumably deflated lifter, not actually causing the lifter to fill like it should. Should I go as high as 15-50? I've read some 355 owners using that with good results, but not to address my issue.

    2. I have heard that you should not change just one lifter. However, changing all 40 is probably a deal breaker for me and I would probably just have to sell the car. That being said, if I have it apart will I be able to tell which lifter(s) is/are bad by testing them?

    3. I understand that I need to remove the cam(s) to get to the lifter. That part really doesn't sound too bad once I have the engine out. Any real tricks involved in removal/replacement?

    4. If my only option is to take it to a shop, again I will just sell the car. I do all my own work (except for windshield installations). I did a full engine out service on my 348 a year ago. It was hard but I got it done.

    Any input is welcome!
    Brian
     
  2. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,633
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Tim Dee
    #2 SoCal1, Dec 3, 2015
    You will see the bad lifter, it wont pump up and it may have blueing on the sides.

    You may be able to take it apart and clean it out, many times its just crude like silicone sealer someone used along the years preventing it from pumping up.

    I'll try take a few pics tomorrow I have one opened up
     
  3. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,739
    #3 Mitch Alsup, Dec 3, 2015
    Anecdotal side note:

    My 95 F355 has 65K total miles on it, 5K race track miles, and 20 minutes over redline (1-2 seconds at a time) on it and has had not lifter issues. I give credit for keeping low milage fresh high quality oil in the car for the lack of problems in the engine bay.

    Some of those track miles were done on 0W-30 oils ! (gasp)
     
  4. Enzojr

    Enzojr F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2013
    14,001
    West of PDX
    Full Name:
    Tomy
    #4 Enzojr, Dec 3, 2015
    A true shot in the dark here, on a 355 but I had a ticking sound also.
    My Indy mech got his long hose, touched it around while holding it to his ear .....
    I got lucky it was the exhaust gasket on that cylinder.
    Hope that is your issue also, never hurts to pray for the easy fix.
    My noise would also go away at higher revs, probably because of the exhaust noise.
    It was difficult to hear at first, but the more I drove it the louder it got.
     
  5. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 10, 2007
    6,798
    Lake Villa IL
    #5 INTMD8, Dec 3, 2015
    How loud is it? Barely noticeable or overwhelming or?
     
  6. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    #6 2NA, Dec 3, 2015
    I doubt changing the oil will have much effect on a noisy tappet. If you're really cutting corners, there's no reason you couldn't substitute a "good used" tappet.

    Just make sure the noise is a tappet and that you know which one is the problem before you open things up. They're close together and all look the same.
     
  7. carwhisperer

    carwhisperer Formula Junior

    Sep 29, 2014
    426
    Sacramento, CA
    Full Name:
    Brian
    #7 carwhisperer, Dec 3, 2015
    It's definitely not overwhelming. But it is noticeable and it sounds kinda ghetto, haha. Then again, the smog tech didn't mention it. But maybe he was just being nice as I was already having a bad day failing my smog test.

    I don't think it's exhaust, but I wouldn't say I can rule it out for certain. I have jacked the car up, took off the ground effects tray and felt around with it running to see if I can feel a pulse. My headers have been be rebuilt, but I don't know by whom. The heat shield has been welded back on the passenger side, which admittedly, would make it difficult to find a small exhaust puff.
     
  8. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    #8 lotusk, Dec 4, 2015
    Can someone explain how the lifters work...
    Where do they get the oil from to make them hydraulic?

    Are they made of many parts?

    Any photos of them would be very interesting

    Why aren't they called tappets?
     
  9. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,838
    WI
    #9 WATSON, Dec 4, 2015
  10. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    #10 lotusk, Dec 4, 2015
    Just saw that thread and now I know

    Very interesting component

    Wonder if those VW lifters are good replacements?
     
  11. PAUL500

    PAUL500 F1 Rookie

    Jun 23, 2013
    3,136
    #11 PAUL500, Dec 4, 2015
    The VW lifters were also used in the Ford Cosworth YB turbo engine from the late 80s I have a couple of these lifters somewhere, will find and measure them over the weekend. They are made by INA not sure if the cheap ones are though.
     
  12. lotusk

    lotusk Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,840
    London UK
    #12 lotusk, Dec 4, 2015
    Great

    Keep us posted
     

Share This Page