The great belt change interval poll | FerrariChat

The great belt change interval poll

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by dozzina, Dec 23, 2006.

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?

Select the option that best describes you

  1. I will replace belts at the specified interval and will not whine about the cost.

  2. I will replace belts at extended intervals and will not whine about the rebuild cost.

  3. I am a whiner.

  4. My cars have no belts. Neener neener neener!

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. dozzina

    dozzina F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 14, 2005
    10,488
    In a vortex
    Full Name:
    Dave
    Please note that the technical merits of this issue have been discussed to death already, and a full regurgitation of the relevant threads is available at any time using the search function.

    A short summary of ALL relevant information:
    1. Changing your belts at the factory specified interval reduces your chances of damaging your engine due to belt breakage compared with extending the change interval.
    2. The amount of risk reduction is unknown.
    3. The cost of changing the belts is high (if not self-maintained.)
    4. The cost of rebuilding the engine is extremely high.

    Without knowing the specific amount risk reduction, there is no possible way to calculate the risk-adjusted economic value of extending the service interval. There are opinions either way, but nobody can back it with a valid cost model. It all comes down to a personal decision. Do you feel lucky? Do you feel unlucky?

    This poll is about YOU, and YOU fit into one of the poll categories.


    If you are having difficulty making a selection, use the following guide to help you.

    1) Do you have a car with belts? (Yes/No)
    Yes- go to question 2.
    No- Select poll option 4.

    2) Do you or will you replace the belts at the manufacturer recommended interval? (Yes/No)
    Yes – go to question 3.
    No- go to question 4.

    3) Have you or will you whine about the cost of belt replacement? (Yes/No)
    Yes – Select poll option 3.
    No – Select poll option 1

    4) Have you or will you whine about the cost of an engine rebuild? (Yes/No)
    Yes – Select poll option 3.
    No – Select poll option 2.
     
  2. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2003
    43,844
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    Dave M.
    Chains Baby!!! neener neener neener.

    Dinos rule.

    Took Ferrari another 30 years to get back to them, right?

    DM
     
  3. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,224
    Mount Isa, Australia
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    Pap
    Yeah I locked in A :D
     
  4. J.P.Sarti

    J.P.Sarti Guest

    May 23, 2005
    2,426
    those that are so concerned with running costs of Ferraris such as belts should not own one as they can't afford them, buy a Porsche or Corvette if you want a regular average sports car with cheap maintenance.

    Older chain driven Ferraris motors have issues as well such as jumping time and crashing pistons which Dinos were famous for and just basic longevity of the motors as they don't last near as long before a top end or full rebuild is needed vs belt cars, the Boxer was the first Ferrari to use belts but it was also the first Ferrari motor expected to last more than 100k miles before needing a rebuild and one that offered greater reliablity.
     
  5. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

    Jun 11, 2004
    3,376
    NoVA, AmeriKa
    Full Name:
    Komrade Jung
    Pay out the nose or pay out the other end.:)
     
  6. gerard.hansen

    gerard.hansen Formula Junior

    Jun 29, 2004
    665
    Hattiesburg/Petal MS
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    Gerard D. Hansen
    #6 gerard.hansen, Dec 23, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Changed them myself.....took about 3 hrs, belts that I took off looked new. IMO not the big deal that it is made out to be. Pg 11 on service times has 7.9 hrs with AC engine in car.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,224
    Mount Isa, Australia
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    Pap
    That extra time must be for smokos and test drives :D
     
  8. blmjumper

    blmjumper Formula Junior

    Jun 18, 2006
    341
    Boise
    Full Name:
    Ty
    ...and an espresso or four....
     
  9. rolindsay

    rolindsay Formula 3

    Jul 14, 2006
    1,022
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Rick Lindsay
    ditto.

    -rick / 79308gtb
     
  10. gerard.hansen

    gerard.hansen Formula Junior

    Jun 29, 2004
    665
    Hattiesburg/Petal MS
    Full Name:
    Gerard D. Hansen
    I still think we should turn this topic over to the Myth Busters!!
     
  11. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Maybe I want to own a Ferrari or two or three and not happily swallow every expense that comes my way.
     
  12. blmjumper

    blmjumper Formula Junior

    Jun 18, 2006
    341
    Boise
    Full Name:
    Ty
    Ditto.....
     
  13. GCalo

    GCalo F1 Veteran

    Sep 15, 2004
    7,645
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    Greg Calo
    I wonder if Rifledriver has voted in this poll!!!
     
  14. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
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    Jon
    I think we wore him out with the last weekly belt topic.
     
  15. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
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    goth
    True, I know many airplane/jet owners who complain even more than f-car owners do LOL :p...... So what, some of the expenses are "overpriced" IMO.
     
  16. fastfred

    fastfred Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2004
    450
    antioch calif.
    Full Name:
    fred pedersen
    if the belt thing keeps coming up ...then why is't it a sticky??? there seems to be a lot of people asking for this info......and a lot of others are posting on it...sticky may work???
     
  17. J.P.Sarti

    J.P.Sarti Guest

    May 23, 2005
    2,426
    While I agree with not getting gouged paying dealer prices on some repairs or parts these are high performance cars and need high maintenance to be kept running as they should, this whole issue sort of explains why some of these cars turn into POS even the newer ones as some refuse to maintain them decently as they can't afford them or are just too cheap to and view them as they should offer reliability and running costs of a Honda by just changing fluids and adding fuel
     
  18. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    I believe that much of this argument is being taken totaly out of context. I don't think anyone would argue that if you own a new car with warranty you shouldn't follow the recomendations for service to the letter. But a lot of us own older cars, and we question if some of these recomendations are really pertinant to a car built in 1983. With some discussion we can gain some insight into what others think and do, and make judgements for ourselves. I think one of the problems with F-chat is that most people apply a comment to their particular age of car, and it just doesn't wash. The fact of the matter is that going five years on a normally driven 308 is perfectly fine. Going five years on a newer car may not be.
     
  19. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Dr. Dumb Ass
    Wasn't this thread for Ferraris and not almost Ferraris?
     
  20. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
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    Dr. Dumb Ass
    I would say my window is 3-5 years on the V8 cars. But don't just change the belt, service everything while you are in there.
     
  21. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
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    Mike Charness
    I had my belts changed again earlier this year (thread here). That was more than 11 years and 35000 miles since the last time I'd changed them. I examined them closely when they came off... still looked great.

    Not necessarily a recommendation... just a data point.
     
  22. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Well I did 14 years and 600 miles before my first change, but I wouldn't recomend that time and milege interval to anyone. It was simply a case of ignorance on my part.
     
  23. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
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    The Bad Guy
    For me it's 5 years or 52k miles, which ever comes first.
     
  24. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 18, 2004
    6,400
    London, England
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    Sy
    I'm doing mine less than 2 years after the last one, but only beacuse I want to freshen up everything.
     
  25. speedy_sam

    speedy_sam F1 Veteran

    Jul 13, 2004
    5,559
    TX
    Full Name:
    Sameer
    My belts were last done in Feb 2005 with a major service. I plan to put 5k miles/per year on the car with use about 1-2 times/week. I am going to change it next in Feb 2009.
     

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