I have HAD IT!

I would go with a custom rad and help the rad shop you choose sell a boat load more to other member's in a similar predicament. You could probably turn a profit provided your design is an upgrade.

 

aluminum radiators are great. you won't be sorry. It sucks how 500000 things need to be sorted on these cars to make them just right at times. It's like, why did Ferrari not do this in the first place? It's not like the car isn't already made by hand.

 

+1.

 

I just want to say that I actually believe Ernie's threads on "how to fix xxx on a 348" actually increase the value of a 348, and gives someone who is actually afraid to buy one the confidence to actually do so, because Ernie's posts/threads demonstrate that a lot of things on the 348 that need repairing actually are not that difficult to do yourself.

Case in point: when I had that leak under my clutch, I was terrified to take apart my clutch to have a look. It just so happened that Ernie had taken his apart a few weeks prior, and Ernie created a remarkable thread, with very detailed instructions and pictures every step of the way.

I also called Ernie and told him how scared I was, that I had no mechanic background, never worked on cars etc...and he gave me a pep talk and told me to relax, "it's just nuts and bolts".

Well, with that pep talk, coupled with his tearing down a 348 clutch thread, I was able to take mine apart and repair it myself...for the ludicrous cost of....wait for it.....$15.....that's right, it was a $15 dollar rubber seal, that's all it cost me....how much would it have cost without Ernie's thread and pep talk? Likely $1000 or so.....a credit goes to everyone else who assisted me in that process as well....of course, the job ended up costing about $100 because I did all the rubber seals including the triple seals while I had it apart...but that's besides the point, it isn't about the money, I honestly would have been okay if it cost me $500, the point is I did the job myself in my own garage...as I mentioned in that thread, if you would have told me at the time of purchasing my 348 that 2 years after I buy it, that I will have the clutch apart laying on my garage floor ALL ON MY OWN, I would have told you that you are crazy....but guess what, that's exactly what happened, I did it myself with Ernie's and everyone else's assistance.

Also, Dave Helms, you assisted me with an electrical issue that I was having, which turned out to be an unplugged sensor which I ended up repairing myself...with your assistance...so thanks again very much.

So I want to thank Ernie, Davie Helms, Tim (2NA), and everyone else who gave me the inspiration and confidence to wrench on my 348 myself....and all of this is to emphasize the point that if someone that is in the market for a 348, that reads horror stories about the repair bills on them, and as a result is afraid to buy one, will hopefully come across Ernie's threads (and whomever else's that post "how to") , and even my two "how to" threads to see that someone with ZERO background can actually do some repairs themselves, and hopefully this will get them over that fear and add value to the 348 and help make their decision a "yes" on buying a 348 because the Brotherhood will have my back when something goes wrong.

Sorry for the long post, but I feel it important to very clear and very detailed in explaining this.

Ernie/Dave, both of you are valuable to the Ferrari community, please neither of you go anywhere ...and with all due respect to everyone else who are assets to the Ferrari community

 

I like the people that I met through owning the 348, much much more than owning the car. Non stop issues. That being said, loved my 512 and 550.

 

This is so true and probably the best post on this thread! I have met and now have the priviledge of calling many of them my friends. Although I love my 348 too

Much respect to Ernie and Dave and as Mike has mentioned you both have shared a wealth of knowledge to this site and helped so many of us. Please keep it up we need you guy's here!


Cheers

 

Ernie,

You got Dave all wrong. He trys to help. He is not trying to put a stick in your eye. Just take a step back this is all getting too personal. Think about the vision you want to have for your car and lets get there. Time and skills I got and the price is always right. Lets have some fun with it.

 

You are COMPLETELY incorrect in your assumption and suggestion.

I have no dog in the fight, it makes no difference to me how the car runs EXCEPT it is a friends (pay special attention to that word) car, it has a problem and he is flipped out frustrated. Re read the first paragraph of my reply as it should spell that out quite clearly. Your standing too close to the situation and are taking it too personal. It's a car... nuts and bolts.... After 40 years of doing this do you think I get wound up about a flipping car that I have no stake in that is 1500 miles away? No chance of that, I walk away from owning cars that would have you peeing yourself and money sitting on the table if I think for a moment it would cause friction in any way in my life. Ferrari is a passion (and a career) for me, has been all my life. I was taught a valuable lesson about 13 years ago regarding what is REALLY important and it has nothing to do with Money or Cars! Family, Friendships and Principal, those are the only things that matter to me, for damn sure make no mistake about that.

My advise has been consistent since the beginning of your ordeal Years ago but you chose to head in a dozen different 'expensive' directions rather than follow it. No logical, rational person could ever make even a remote connection in 'blame' regarding a used harness, that is ridiculous and never crossed my mind. The harness/connections are discussed because it is the Elephant in the room you refuse to accept is standing there. You crawled under it to do the headers, over it to do the intake manifold, around it to do the injectors but there is one common factor in each of those jobs... "IT" is there. All of the tasks mentioned are worthy and in convoluted way's, justifiable but have little to do with an end goal.

Eric, Fatso, Myself and a half dozen others, including a number of your friends have tried to help explain this to you but..... Don't attack the messenger because you don't like the replies. When I step back and review the subject, none of the advise or suggestions you asked me for over the years has been followed.... the car isnt fixed either. Doesn't matter one whit's worth to me, this business has a way of helping one grow some pretty thick skin over the decades. You keep asking and I will keep giving you what I feel is advise with your best interest in mind.... and it's worth exactly what you paid for it.

Unless the radiator is pissing out on the floor as fast as you can dump it in.... that amounts to a NON issue in the big picture. You have a temperature gauge, fix the car, loosen the radiator cap and go for a ride. A blown HEADGASKET???? Where the heck did that come from?

 

Man...I understand Ernie's frustration. Funny (or not-so-funny) what a car can and will do to you if you care enough about it, as the great majority of us to about ours.

Hang in there, Ernie, cliche' though that sounds.

 

Whew! Are we getting close to the resolution of this issue yet?

Get a plan
Fix the radiator
Do the electrics
Beat Lightenings

Remember Ernesto, we Stooges do not need an excuse to monkey with someone else's car! Just say the word, get the beer and stand back.

 

Considering the history of this Problem Child... you might want to reconsider the order in which things get done. The way I see it......

*The cam belts do not have a timer on them where they will go Boom on a given day, they can wait a little while. RE, a secondary concern.

*You have a host of 'wants' with this engine, all of which I understand. Those 'wants' should only be considered IF it is behaving and proves it will run correctly.

*Although it is easier to repin with the engine out, it is very doable with it in place with the newest tooling and advances we have made as of late. Eric, Fatso and a host of others have proven this can be done quite effectively.

*If the harness is repinned with the engine in place, the car can be test driven a good deal prior to engine removal. These test drives will define a clear direction regarding the 'want list' which require the engine be removed to perform.

I propose that the 'Test and Verify' method be employed in this case, thus leaving you open to make informed choices with the lump laying on the floor. If T&V is not in place you will be doing any other work based on assumptions which leaves far too many variables in the equation. Just a week or two of daily driving will answer all the questions. If it behaves during that period... spending money a proper cam belt procedures or even expanding that into your wants list can be done with clear vision and knowledge.

The order I am suggesting things get done will only add a hour or two to the overall time spent but will remove 85% of the variables in the equation. Remove the variables and it makes spending money on Proper Servicing procedures or upgrades a whole lot more palatable. It is for these reasons I see the cam belts and radiators being secondary concerns. Remove the term "Easy" from this discussion as it has no place here. Focus on the smallest details one time, that is all I am suggesting...... there is method to my madness.

 

Fixed for you Dave

 

That sounds like a solid plan. Much better to know what you have before taking it apart. Good luck Ernie.