How many hours do you save by changing the belts/tensioner with the engine in ?
You know what it takes maybe 3-4 hours all in from start to end to do the belt with the engine in. But is not necessarily about just saving time. An engine out is not a necessary straight forward process. And yes i know that the argument is that one can check and clean every thing with the engine out and yes that is correct of course, but the same can be said about the 360 engine that have the belts done while the engines in situ
. But the question is just about changing the belts on the 355 and tensioners and noting else.
But on the flip side there is an argument that taking the engine out can disturb wiring looms that can cause running problems. Also i have also heard that some are blaming some of the 355 fires on the fact that the fuel tank is disconnected from the car so causing problems with the fuel lines once fitted back onto the car. Well the exact thing can be said when removing the engine and undoing the very same fuel lines.
Another cry that one usually hears is the "Engine designed to come out" cry.
Oh really, well its my opinion that anything bolted together is designed to come apart. And there are two of the 12 17mm bolts that hold the engine cradle to the monocope that are a pain in the arse to get to because of the angle and tightness of the location. So the designed to drop the engine out bit is not as straight forward as it seems.
Heres an interesting correlation regarding the "do it properly as the factory intended" chest nut. Take the F355s fly wheel. A Ferrari official dealer will just pump the flywheel grease into the flywheel with out removing/cleaning or stripping the wheel, via the two allen bolts at the rear of the flywheel. This is done with out weighing or measuring the amount of Kluber grease, just pump it in there
.
Were as the new current procedure developed by the home DIY servicers and now a lot of the indies is to strip down the flywheel and clean and measure the amount of grease that is put into the flywheel rplacing all 7 seals.......But hang on....this is not the official Ferrari method of re greasing the flywheel
But i don't hear anyone crying about "doing it the factory way" about this method, makes sense? I mean just you try ordering the large rubber flywheel sealing ring and the 6 smaller ones from your official Ferrari dealer and take a look at the WTF! face that they pull as they try to locate the part from there parts computer
Like i said i an totally neutral because i have done both methods more than once. And facts are facts as far as i am concerned.
Right then that should start the pissers moaning:jesus:
