Anyone ever break a 308 cam timing belt?

1943 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by '75 308 GT4 (Peter), Nov 17, 2002

mcomstock

Discussion Starter · Nov 16, 2002

Hi, I am considering a 308 purchase and have been advised about the importance of changing the cam timing belts early and often. What I am curious about is the margin of safety in timing belt change intervals with respect to elapsed time (years).

I see a lot of cars that had the belts changed 5000 miles ago, but that was also 5 years ago - and I assume the belts degrade over time as well as over miles. How long can cam timing belts be "aged" but still be safe?

Also, has anyone ever had a timing belt actually break in normal use? What was the age and mileage of the failed belt? And did your engine recover?

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Dj Dirk

· #2 · Nov 16, 2002

Welcome to the board
mcomstock

I'm pretty sure that Peter ('78 308 GT4) can help you with all your questions, he recently had such a similar problem
here, you can read about it
http://www.ferrariforum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613

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'75 308 GT4 (Peter)

· #3 · Nov 17, 2002

When I bought my car in 2000, the timing belts hadn't been changed in 12 years - and I still drove the car hard. I took it off the road a few months later and did the full service plus more.

I wouldn't chance it. I know better now since a friend of mine in Seattle has a GT4 like mine and one of the belts snapped in his car. It broke several valves damaging the cylinder head and put a hole through one of the pistons. He's still in the midst of his rebuild, but it should be finished this December.

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