[Tom from Silicon Valley]

So how hard are ferrari's to work on for the average home mechanic? I'm especially interested in the 550 and 355 models.

thanks!

 

[Magoo]

Well Tom, I am a collector. I just have a 308 GTS, Which is fairly easy to work on . Timing belts, tune ups, A/C repairs all done in the car. Now a 550 well if it is like the other 12 cyls you have to remove the engine to do about anything. Not much of a DIY car. JMO

 

[Pete04222]

I also have a 308 GTS and do all my own work. I disagree with Magoo when he says the 308 is easy to work on. I have a Jeep that when I want to change the oil I just slide a 5 gallon bucket under the car and pull the plug. Now that is easy. The 308 is another matter. If Magoo considers the 308 an easy car to work on, I can't imagine what the 550 or 355 would be like.

 

[Magoo]

Pete, I have been working on various cars including collector cars all my life. I seem to have grease in my veins. The 308 compared to other Ferraris such as the 550 is not difficult at all. Peter GT4 , on this chat line and Ed Gualt completely overhauled their 308s. My car is a low mileage car and knock on wood I haven't had any major problems yet. When it comes time to change timing belts, clutch replace, water pump and other service items I will do them myself. My point was that when it comes to most of the 12 cyls. the engine has to come out to do some of the service items which a 308 does not.

 

[F355 Challenge]

I think Magoo, Peter and Ed together could publish a service manual for the 308 series. I've seen their step-by-step photographs of various service procedures which are detailed and intuitive.

 

[Edward Gault]

Since I am a Professional Automotove Technician, I naturally do all repairs on my 82 308. I have had every nut and bolt out of my car in the last two years.

 

[BRUNO]

I do all my own on my 8 cylinders and 12. I also tackle major maintenances. I do not recommend this to any one who does not have a killer set of tools and mechanical ability.

 

[hogster40]

Are these 308's tweak machines? How reliable are they?

 

[BRUNO]

When you get one right. And it can take some doing.They run well.injected are a little more dependable than carbed. but carbs are where all the fun, hp and sound is. Once carbs are set they usually stay set.

 

['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

I would forget about the idea of working on a 355 or 550 at home, other than simple fluid changes.

These cars are equiped with diagnostic computers, some specialised and any running problem must be examined and/or fixed by one.

The 308 series are complex machines, but totally mechanical (with the exception of a few electrically-powered accessories, triggered/operated by simple relay/switch systems) and everything is exposed and was put together by hands. You need some skills and many metric tools, but patience and time is needed most.

 

[bretm]

Disclaimer (lol, who puts a disclaimer in there messages): Somewhat long winded, but probably worth reading if you're intrested in the topic.

Although I'm not as good a mechanic as Edward, Im working as a mechanic for Ferrari, more of an apprentice at this point, when I'm not at school. So under a watchful eye (the head mechanic, he's the man, and since there are only three mechanics including me it is very cool) I've replaced clutches, cleaned a lot of parts, done major services, etc. on just about every ferrari from the 1970s on.

I too have a jeep wrangler and it is in fact very easy to work on. It's such a pain in the ass though to tune the damn thing. I've swapped it to a weber carb and a DUI distributor, and then had everything else apart to replace/fix as it has 253K miles on it now. The original clutch was just replaced 15k miles ago actually (I didn't do that), nor did I rebuild the engine when that was done. But every other part on the car I have taken apart. The Ferrari is definitely not the jeep. How many Ferraris get 200K miles without doing any real maintenance other than oil changes? The Ferrari is a whole hell of a lot more fun to work on though. Going down to work on the Fcar is fun, I may curse alot and occasionally catch myself preparing to throw a wrench at it, but it is fun. Working on the jeep is simply work to keep it running. So even though a Ferrari is a lot more work than a jeep (no matter what anyone tells you, it is a hell of a lot more) it is enjoyable.

Another random point of mine on maintenance: people will tell you a Ferrari is reliable, these people are 1. mechanics that own a Ferrari. 2. someone that has there car serviced every year. Ferraris are not reliable if treated as a normal, disposable car.

Now as an answer to the question. (Now remember through the rambling I said that the jeep is an easy car to work on and the 308 is hard compared to it, so everything here is Ferrari terms): The 308s are easy to work on. They are simple and parts are cheap (if you don't get them from Ferrari). 308s can be a royal pain in the ass to tune though, especially carbed cars (carbs and mechanical distributors - do any two actually advance the same?). All and all though, 308 is a good car, especially when you get to the later models where it avoids some of the older mechanical calibrations and switches to digiplex.
The 355 is the best made Ferrari ever. 9 out of 10 (maybe even 10 out of 10) mechanics will tell you that if they had a Ferrari, the 355 would be it. Ferrari just though of everything when they designed it and the thing is near bombproof. If you're mechanically inclined you can do a lot. It is somewhat tricky though and you have to be near a full blown mechanic to do everything. At my level now I could do nearly everything on a 355 so it's not impossible. The more modern cars are alot of it works or it doesnt work, i.e. the computer is working. So when it doesnt work you go down to Ferrari, bend over, and leave with a new part that all you have to do is install and tada it's working like there was never a problem. General maintenance can be done though in a household garage. When something is totally f_ed up though to Ferrari the car would have to go for diagnostic check and for someone that works on them 50-60 hours a week to look at.
The 550 is like the 355, a little tougher though to work on, in particular trans related things. Also, parts on the 550 are more expensive. The 550 isn't quite as good as the 355 imo regarding reliability, close though.

So, if I had a 355 and 550, I'd be rich. But if I was rich and bored, then I would work on them except for crazy things related to the computers, where you need the diagnostic stuff and a lot of spare parts to swap in and out, etc to see what's gone haywire. Another point here is that very little goes wrong with the newer cars. We get a fair amount of computer stuff, convertible tops leaking (the pistons, not the top itself), but this amounts for maybe 40% of the day to day work that comes in. The rest could be done at home if the person was a mechanic and had a household garage with a lot of tools. For someone who is not a mechanic, the 355 is kind of bordering on being a car to work on and not, the 550 most of the time is a little too "interesting" though to do at home though. It would depend entirely on the owner's ability, neither the 355 or 550 is a car to learn on though.

 

[Dane]

Bretm,

Great post. I appreciate the perspective. When you refer to a 308 as a "disposable" car, are you referring to daily driver, weekend car that's hot-rodded, etc.?? Thanks.

Forza,

Dane

 

[bretm]

The 308 is best when driven everyday. When I was in High School and could use it everyday, by gosh I did rain or shine. The salty roads and snow I left to the jeep though. I was meaning more like how most people look at a car, not washing it, no maintenance except for when it breaks down, etc. I bet nowadays more than half the people never pop the hood of their car once. Especially with leasing where they know they're not keeping it. That type of mentality where a car will someday be destined for shipment to a lower country or the junkyard. They are simply using it until the next greatest thing comes out, and they don't ultimately care what comes of the car later in its life. Picture a 95 Toyota Camry, not that it's a bad car by any means, but people that own it don't think about having it 20 years from now, so it's disposable. Some people that own a 95 355 look at it that they might have it later on or at least want to protect the amount of money they spent. A lot though look at it just as though with a lesser financial capability look at the Camry. Same mentality, just one person has a lot of money.

 

[Dane]

Bretm,

Got it and understand. Well said. Thanks very much.

Forza,

Dane

 

[Bart]

My first new car was a 1970 Hornet. It had two extras, heavy duty cooling and 4 doors. Other than those, nothing. It was a straight six with a three-speed column. Well, I put in my radio, air conditioning, and tweak the engine somewhat. My next new car was a 1980 Eagle. It had the same engine. When I opened the hood, all I saw were tubes, lines, wires, & etc. I said the heck with this noise. I quit changing my own oil when the thrash man refused to take it.

Now, I let the young bucks do the work on my cars. My question is:

does washing your own car count as maintaining it?

LMAO


:green:

 

[Glassman]

Bart,
I was reading your slogan, never drive less than 12. Unless you can drive both, like a 12 and an 8, or a 12 and an 8 and a 4.
Thats it I think a 12 an 8 and a 4 is the way to go.