Higher Mileage (over 30k) 355's with valve guide issues

PPI would probably be your best bet..

 

Tough call. I think it may be possible to have the 'bad' valve guides last 30k miles depending on how it was driven. If the car was babied for those miles maybe they haven't worn bad yet. I agree with 285, PPI. OR, buy a late '98 or '99 and sleep sound at night

 

Feb 97 production 355 spider, 44k miles....no problem yet....

 

What is the reason i keep seeing threads that say the 95' 355 is the one to buy? I think I read it has more horse power, but is that the only reason? And, if the guides we replaced on a 95', does that mean it becomes as good as the 98' and 99' models? or there are additional issues to solve in a 95' model in addition to the guides?

Thanks

 

Why do you ask such questions?

Is there a 355 in your near future?

 

95 cars are alot cheaper in price for one. Other than the more HP and 2.7 Motronic verse the 5.2---not any difference. The 95 cars seem to have most of the little problems worked out, but usually will have higher mileage on them...I went with a 1998 because I didn't want to deal with the valve guide issue period...

 

LOL!

Just doing the usual research re. 355, 360 and even a Diablo. I checked out a Diablo yesterday, those cars look MEAN!! It was a 94' yellow. I am trying to find out about maintenance issues.

 

That's a likely explanation, but it isn't safe to say (i.e. it isn't a sure thing).

Frankly, the valve guide issue *hasn't* been nailed down as to cause (e.g. weak metal, poor installation, bad valve seats, driver error/abuse, mistimed cams, heat-soak, etc.).

...and Italians aren't known for parts consistency, anyway. If a box of valve guides is handy when it's time for lunch and wine at the factory, then that's what went into your car, correct parts or not.

 

The '95's are cool. They use Motronic 2.7, which is chip programmable with "known" parameters. M2.7 also displays your error codes onto your dash CEL's without requiring a special tool like an SD2 (needed to see Ferrari's proprietary error codes). In contrast, M5.2 is mysterious internally...and needs at least an OBD2 scanner to view some of your (i.e. the public) error codes.

The '95 355's have 2 large MAFs for straight air input (later 355's had just one that forces air through 2 90 degree bends), and they only have 2 O2 sensors (later 355's have 4). O2 sensors stick into your exhaust path, adding flow restrictions. Less is more.

1995 355's also had the factory option of "no power steering." So it is possible to find some 355's with less weight, components, complexity, et al because the hydraulics, fluid, and pump/belt for power steering aren't there (but these are a tiny minority of 95 355's).

 

What I did not figure out yet is the service cost. Will find out soon. I have never seen one until yesterday (except in pictures). The car looks awsome. The front looks close to the 348 but shorter and the back looks really mean!! It sounds great with the huge engine it has, and the doors opening upwards looks stunning! I really like it but want to make sure I am informed about service costs. If that turns to be a disaster, my focus then goes to a 360 manual tranny.

 

Diablo?! I might have one for you.
Not publically for sale, but I can convince him to sell
Blk/Blk 92 (I think)
Mechanically perfect!
Let me know

 

I'm with you. The Diablo looks wicked. I would love to have one.
Bee Jay

 

I bought a '95 Spider last fall and expected the valve guides and the 30k to be an issue (Thanks to FCHAT) even though the car had less than 12k miles, and they were. The good news was that with the engine out for the 30k service the valve guide update was not that expensive to have done. Now the car is up to date. Just hope the headers hold up for a few years!

 

@ $7500

 

From what I understand the typical PPI will NOT detect this unless you pull the engine and remove the heads.

 

I thought the same thing when we did it - got pics to be sure. I had quotes in the 12k range from others. 30k was @ 5500, valves were another 1500 + tax. They explained that the engine out was a big part of cost to do the valves. Done at a very reputable restoration and maintenance place in LA. Car runs much better. Leak down identified the problem in two cylinders. Did a second leakdown after the change to be sure.

 

That sounds very reasonable. Which shop in LA?

 

Could you give us the shop name? Please?

If I could get a major and valve guides done for $7500, I'd be a really happy camper and would ship the car in from Mars to have the work done.

Are you sure about the numbers? You did it, but that really seems like a bargain. Like you, I keep getting $12k+ prices.
Eugenio's Ferrari prices:
Major - $6995
Major + cylinder reconditioning - $13,995 (includes water pump and main seal)
Ferrari of San Antonio - Major and valve guides $10k + cost of head work (including guides)

The guides cost over $50 a piece (times 40) = $2k for the guides themselves. Also, this is a head-off operation, where I didn't think that a major is, making labor higher...

OK, this isn't apples and apples. Cylinder reconditioning sounds a little more than just the guides replaced, but still...

 

I got it done at Tillacks in Redondo Beach - And I just checked my invoice - I stand corrected it was 2500 for valves. My bad.

 

So what was the total, $8k for major and valves? Still sounds good!