What is top dollar for a pristine 355?

It's a good post, and it supports my point. To say that because a car is a 95 would require extra diligence (as you did) is incorrect and is misinformation.

It is well known that Ferrari changed the guides sometime during the 98 model production. However, it is well documented that many 98s and 99s have had guide issue. No cars are immune to the issue.

In fact, I have personally seen a 99 Fiorano which required new guides. I know the owner and the shop that did the work.

 

I know you will argue this until death since you have a 95 (and it's killer BTW), but I've read all over the place that it's more likely for 95 and 96 MY's to have the problem. I did not say that other years cannot, just less likely.

 

The fact is that ALL of the 355s will need the valve guides done sooner or later. Its not a big deal to do it sooner. Everyone has this big histeria about the valve guides. Many 355s with worn valve guides drive and pull very well and burn little or no oil. Ill take the 95 any day.

 

Where did you get this fact?

 

These are high performance race engines and the guides wear out sooner or later. There are steel guides out there that have been replaced.

 

I don't think one should argue because they have a 95 but rather argue because they feel that information is incorrect.

I don't think the odds of a problem with 95s-96s are greater than later years. The bronze guides were used in ALL years so it's just a question of being lucky or unlucky as a 355 owner.

 

True, but all the early years used only bronze; a minority of the later years used bronze.

 

Well I guess that when buying a 95 you know what your getting whether the guides have been done or not. When buying a later year you dont know for sure.

 

Where did you get this information? What is your source? Just curious...

 

I have a low mileage 95(~8700 miles) with the original guides. Have not had any problems. Had a good ppi, and good compression/leakdown tests.

 

Now thats very funny. Sad but true.

 

Lol! No doubt from the same fact source that says 95s are more powerful and you can feel the difference and, Ferrari went from two chips to one (on the 5.2) in order to save $20 on a car that costs as much as a house.

To the OP - car looks superb. Congratulations.

 

I assume that you are referring to me with that quote. I get my info directly from people who are factory trained in ITALY and worked in F1. One of them was also in on design of 5 different F-cars. The guys who chip the motronic units also work on the F-1 cars and sent my chip sets for my 95. You sir can believe whatever you want. Drive my car and I know your mind will change.

 

Not true. most will never have a problem. it is actually unusual, but not rare. it is commonly discussed, but that doesn't make it universal by any stretch. It is almost unheard of if you replace the headers and cats before any symptoms arise.

Now, whether the stealership tries to sell a new set of guides to every 355 owner is a different story.

 

To be honest, I don't think I could ever tell the difference between the two but it is a fact that the 2.7 has an edge of 5 to 10 hp over the 5.2 and there is something to be said about the fact that all the Challenge cars were 2.7s

As far as the change is concerned between 95 & 96, I suspect that the OBDII requirements in 96 as opposed to OBDI emissons in 95 had a lot to do with Ferrari changing its engine design. I don't see how or why they would do it to save money...I coud be wrong..not sure, just a theory.

 

Just winding you up. Lol!
I appreciate what you're saying but you should know there are hundreds of people all over the world who can rightly claim to be experts on these cars, and plenty of them will disagree with the opinions which you continually refer to as facts. That is the only issue I have with what you say. You are voicing opinions, NOT facts.
Regardless, thanks for the invite. If I'm ever in the States I may take you up on that.

Do the guys who did your chips also do them for the 5.2?
I am aware of your previously stated view that it is "impossible", but enough companies are offering chips for the 5.2 that I do not accept this is the case.
Do you have contact details for your guys in Italy or a web link?

 

I'm sorry but this is NOT a fact. If you can show me some actual evidence that it is true then I'll be happy to concede. Something being typed a lot of times on an internet forum does not make it a fact.

This, however, is real evidence and is good enough for me

Which also accords with what my mechanic (A Ferrari main dealer head mechanic for 20 years who now has his own shop) has told me.
He has seen no difference on the dyno between the 2.7 and 5.2.
In other words, the THEORY that the 2.7 SHOULD be fractionally more powerful is not borne out by the evidence.

 

Well said Steve, well said. And Gerry, the discussion here was related to guides as a design/ manufacturing flaw and not wear from many years of use. So, not every 355 will require guides to be done.

 

Not a problem. The 5.2 cant be chipped. It has to be remapped. I know there are guys here in the US that have tried to remap the 5.2 and they do it using a dyno. Thats all fine but they are just guessing on where to put the power in the curve. The guys who designed the 355 engine know exactly where the power goes. To remap your main cpu, they would have to have it in Italy. You would have to get hold of Daytona auto in Toronto and arrange it with them.
I know you have a 98 5.2 and whenever I say the 95 turns more horses it is not a slight to you or anyone else that owns a 5.2 model. All you have to do is look at the way the air intake was changed and it is only obvious that there was a big horsepower loss. What they did and many dont know it is change the heads(increased compression) slightly on the 5.2 to gain back some of the loss but they didnt make it all back. Ferrari would never advertise that they lost a few horses over a previous model as it would not do them any good. They also dont advertise the slightly higher compression on the 5.2 engine. An upgrade I may consider one day is putting a pair of 5.2 heads on my 2.7 engine and get even more juice out of it. Some challenge teams used to cheat and do this as it could not be detected.
Anyway there are so many things that can be done to these wonderful machines and thats what makes it fun for me. IMO these are facts

 

Guys,

Lets not turn this thread into a cat fight. We are all 355 owners, and these cars are awesome. The 5-10 hypothetical HP that the 2.7 cars bring are not why I've chosen this specific year for the 2 355s I've owned. For me, there are many other reasons why I believe the OBD1 cars are superior. No need to debate them here, as its been done 100 times before in 100 different threads.

This thread is about the OP, who is trying to purchase an awesome 355 GTB. Lets help him make the best decision based on the data he's supplied.

 

Well he is buying a 95

 

True. There's enough fighting between the 348 vs 355, 355 vs 360...we don't need more internal fights such as 95s vs other years!!! Lol

 

Ahh.... the old fashioned Italian tune up. It can do wonders.