How to document a DIY engine out

Like I said early, John - I agree it's something that would need to be sold so the potential buyer has confidence. That come in the total overall car and condition of the car.

I'm sure some would walk without seeing dealership records and most would not. Aside from very well known indies that specialize on fcars, I'd have the same concern about them.

 

True. But meh.

It seems like most buyers would balk at buying a 355 if the engine out service was performed in Italy by Ferrari.

Assuming everything else on a DIY major car checks out, the largest financial impact on the sell price is $6k...the cost of another major. ..and I think that is extreme thinking.

 

Now we get to Part 2 LOL

Most Ferrari Dealers do not even have employees that were around for the 355 and only see a trickle down and same rumors we talk about here

So where does that leave us?

Were in that grey area of hobbyist or Independent fixed cars.

Yeah Pep Boys can do it for you or a local gas station or service shop where no one has any experience to speak of on these cars.

So back to wearing a thong and doing a good documentation on what you did and what knowledge base you sued to get there.

You can see predetermined obsolescence is upon this model. Simply look at the 3-8 series to see where were going. If we want to keep resale up I have a few ideas and started one myself. It goes beyond the normal documenting we do here

When I get the bugs worked out I will share it with you. I just spent 3 hours in the attic banging my head putting in led lighting and getting poked with nails and the thong did not help at all, stuff kept falling out :0

 

Pro Shops are not magic. Many are far worse than DIY'ers. You can have idiot DIY'ER's and you can have idiot pros. I have seen both and worked with both. Credentials do not mean the job is done right. It increases your odds the job MIGHT be done right and that is about all. One of the biggest luxuries on the side of the DIY'er is time. He has the time to do things the way he wants. The best shop is on a timeclock and must earn a living on your car. He has to move cars in and out. No matter how good the shop is the timeclock and earning a living work against a shop.

 

To the OP my question is did you buy your Ferrari for you or the next guy? Are you going to keep the car garaged so that the miles are low for the next guy? I say enjoy your Ferrari all aspects of it. Fixing it is a major reward of the hobby.

 

I would have to agree. Even my regular mechanic that works on Japanese cars says he would never touch a Ferrari. And he's been working on cars his whole life and I believe he is in his late 50's.

 

Tim, I don't know about where you live but around me there are numerous independents who specialize in the older cars like 355, 348 308, Dinos and earlier. They know what they are doing because many of them are the guys who worked for Ferrari back in the 70s and 80s when they were young. I don't understand you reference to the 3-8 series. What's the point?

 

Agree completely.

I don't think the OP was questioning his involvement in ownership. I think he is just thinking through the process to feel comfortable in taking it on.

 

In my mind, if you're going to buy a used car, the "other guy"...the seller....be shop, dealer, or DIY'er...and his qualifications and representations, are NOT the issue. It's your qualifications that are the issue. You're buying a used car that has had multiple owners and mechanics. Even "records" do not show what you need to know. What you need to know is "what is the condition NOW, and what and how much will it cost to do what needs doing. Clearly with a 3xx series, if you have to pay somebody to turn every bolt, and many bolts need turning, you're an unqualified buyer and should get something else or buy a zillion dollar perfect car. So, if you have to ask a bunch of guys on the internet if "it's a good deal", you shouldn't buy an Italian car. If you're unwilling to take a risk, not capable of assessing the current condition of a car, and/or unwilling to hire somebody that is capable to lay hands on the car, well, you're (finish however you like)......
Just my 2c

 

I will leave you all with one last comment. Professionals did not fix the worst car to come from Maranello according to LDM. It was the DIY owners like Me, Ernie, Bruce, Vince and countless others who have made the 348 the rock solid reliable performer it is today. In fact it is the newest crop of 348 owners posting their victorys here and on youtube who are inovating beyond the early dark days of the 348 making the model even better. On the 550 Board owners are taking a reliable 550 and making it better. Crusiecontrol, suspension upgrades, switchable steering ECU's remote trunk releases,and sun visor fixes to name a few DIY successes. Some pros have embraced owner's changes selling and incorporating these new technologies for their non-DIY clients. With the exception of Helms, The Pros did not invent this stuff DIY owners did. The Fchat DIY braintrust is deep.

 

I'm in Long Beach, Ca here.

Simply less folks are alive that were at dealerships when the 3-8 was current. Us old timers are falling the way of the Doo Doo.

 

...and there you have it. Perfect.

If the possible next owner freaks out, well, perhaps you have the wrong buyer

...and if you can not afford that experience, perhaps you have the wrong car

 

If I had the tools and knowledge, I'd do my own stuff and document the hell out of it.

Take pictures, write descriptions to show the next owner that I know what I'm doing, and I know that it's correct.

A well-documented DIY service should be just as good as shop receipts.