When are headers NOT a prob? 1999?

They never fixed the problem...all years are at risk. They made a minor change sometime in 1996 to the air injection rails on the exhaust manifolds, so from 1996 forward they have the improved air injection rails.

 

How much is it, on average, to have them replaced?

 

Has anyone with a later 98 or 99 car had them fail???

 

The entire production run has the manifold issue. Its also popping up on 360's and 430's as well but not as frequently (yet). The only mod Ferrari made was to the injection tubes. The metal and the manufacturing process is still the same. Ansa is the maker of the parts, not Ferrari.

 

"When are headers not a problem?"

After they've been replaced with aftermarket headers.

 

This may be stating the obvious, but headers failing is directly related to how much time you spend at WOT (getting them really hot). So a car that was not pushed hard should see quite a bit longer header life. As far as I can tell my car never had them replaced, and it's at 37k miles now. At my next major (maybe next year) I plan on inspecting them and if they're good, having them ceramic coated inside and out. For a few hundred $ in coatings I'm sure I'll buy thousands more miles in life.

 

You would replace them with a good aftermarket header.
Still cost ya a few $K!! Not cheap at all.

 

x2!

 

+3

 

Please take pictures of them during the service...I would suspect that while yours have not cracked or failed completely, that a visual inspection either by removal of the heat shields or looking inside from the intake flange, might show the tubes begining to collapse...just seems to be the "nature of the beast" with these things.

 

Note to get too off-track from the original question, but I am looking into a later model 348: were the headers and valve guides a problem on these cars as well?

 

I have done some asking around and you should only replace your OEM headers with OEM headers or the Tubi headers.......Tubi is the best by far but OEM is still second simply becuase they are insulated and shielded. The Tubi also is insulated and shielded and will last the duration of the vehicle. The open pipes even if they are ceramic coated inside and out are causing problems to parts that are being exposed to great heat. Some will tell you to wrap your alternator and other exposed parts but I think NOT and will just stay away from them.

 

when they are on a 348

 

Your point on heat is well known...look at the stock engine compartment and you will see that all the rubber boots on each Bosch/Amp connector gets rotted and cracked from all the heat. Same for the cam cover paint, and any other rubber bits. But, one of the better alternatives to oem exhaust manifolds are rebuilt exhaust manifolds from QV London. They take the stock ones, cut off the heatshields, remove the tubes (reusing the original mounting flange and collector), install new thicker stainless steel tubes of a higher grade stainless steel, weld new CO test ports on, then reinstall the original heat shields and insulation. When complete, they look completely stock, save for some very small cut marks from the cut of wheel used to remove the shields. http://www.hamletcg.co.uk/qv/qvimenu.htm

Crappy website, but Phil will return your calls or emails. You can send your manifolds in, or they have exchange units available as well.

If you do a search on this site for "QV London" you will find several thread on these rebuilt manifolds.

 

Nope, not a single issue. That's why the Brotherhood swears by these fine cars!

QV London is a good source for reparing the stock car and keeping the stock look. I think I was quoted about $3200 for the pair.

 

QV does an excellent job in refurbishing OEM headers, and yes the TUBI has a heat shield.
For those owners who are not immediatley in need of headers(cracked)...please hold off in your purchase until we release our headers.

We are in the process of developing and testing headers for the 355, which will be offered in the coming months.

We are not doing the QV/TUBI thing i.e. copying the same OEM design.

The design and construction team is one of the best. I am heavily involved, along with engineers from IRL/CART, and the same engineers who's car just won its' class and finished 2nd overall at the Nurburgring 24hr endurance race.

These headers will be the absolute best we can construct using the latest precision computer mandrel bender. 100% TIG welded with Argon purging, and heat shielded. We are searching for the lightest SS alloy that can provide years of abuse without the added weight associated with QV/TUBI.
Even our heat shielding will be the latest greatest, providing the right amount of heat retention for optimum exhaust gas velocity, while lowering underhood temps. All of this at a very affordable price when compared to TUBI and Factory OEM.

The Ferrari OEM design will not work on our 10,500rpm 355 project engine, so we are developing a full-race version that will be offered to owners who wish to modify over stock OEM setup.

Please do not ask when the headers will be available. This is the busiest time of the year for all who are involved in competition motorsports. We are in no rush just to produce something, we want to make sure the 355 headers are designed,developed,and constructed in the best way possible.
All of this is taking alot more time than was originally expected.

 

Nice post Bruce. You get everyone drooling then tell them not to hold their breath. Sadist!!!

 

Sorry.....I just want owners to know there will be another option available soon. Our heat shield prototype will be in next week and the 1st prototype of the headers will be dyno'd at that time.
My favorite motto is..."The faster I go, The behinder I get".........lol

P.S. How about quality control????????? Our 1st prototype? Equal lenght primaries: all 4 primaries were within .0003" of each other. I dare you to measure OEM,QV, or TUBI....you will find theirs are no where even close to that on just 2 of the primaries.

 

Well I just replaced my headers but these sound incredible. That combined with the "very affordable" price and dyno numbers to back them up means that I will be waiting patiently for your results.

 

When I bought my 98 355 F1 spider last year, the PPI came back with both of them cracked. I negotiated $5k down at the price. I went with the QV of London route and it cost me $4600 total, including labor (of about 8 hours). The car had 21 miles on it. It now has close to 25k miles and I have been driving it hard. 0 problems to report.

Theo

 

Tubis can be had now for $4000 and a bit and I believe they have a lifetime warranty.That will be tough to beat Bruce but Im looking forward to your product.

 

Yup, '99... They blew wide open at about 26k miles, but I think they were slightly cracked well before then. I have pics somewhere of the holes. Replaced with Tubi headers, problem solved.

-R

 

Yes on the QV...IMO it was a good choice on your part. I respect QV's work....they do a great job on the existing OEM header refurbishing.

 

I am not trying to bad mouth anyones product, including Tubi.

I was unaware that a pair of NEW Tubi headers could be bought for $4,000....may I ask where you can purchase for that amount?

We are taking a different approach with the header design/build. It hasn't been easy to say the least. All I am saying is to wait if you don't need headers immediately. When this header is released, it will give another option/source for replacement. The decision,as always, is up to you, the consumer.