Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Ferrari Maintenance

[Robert W. Garven Jr. (rgarven]

What you mean everyone does not take a toothpick brush and rake to  
their radiator once a year!!! :-)  Ckyde please bring back a podium  
finish from GB!


Robert W. Garven Jr.
rgarven [at] gmail.com


 "The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special  
vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for  
those lucky few". Enzo Ferrari






On Jun 12, 2009, at 11:40 AM, clyde romero wrote:

> Guys most of you know that I have been a Ferrari owner and  
> maintainer for a
> long time.
>
> Since 1986.
>
> I am giving the list my observations with regards to maintenance  
> schedules
> that I have implemented on my own cars.
>
> I had a 308 GTB QV 84 which I put over 130K on it (bought it with  
> 10k in
> 1986) sold in 96
>
> And I currently own a 93 512 TR with 86K on it (bought it with 10K  
> on as
> well)
>
>
>
> The biggest issue with the cars always seems to be the timing belts,  
> here is
> my observation having changed more than most on both 8 cyl and 12  
> cyl cars.
>
> The book says 40k and 5 yrs on the 8 cyl cars and 52.5 k on the 12  
> cyl cars
> and 5 yrs as well.
>
> I just removed the belts and did the complete service and having  
> said that,
> those belts on the 512 TR were on the car for 8 yrs! The belts were  
> fine
> along with the bearings.
>
> The same goes for the 8 cyl cars.
>
> I never saw a wear issue with the 308 as well.
>
> Now the caveat is that I drive my cars around 6k a year which  
> exercises the
> entire platform, which in my opinion is extremely important.
>
> One of the biggest issues with cars is the cooling system. Having  
> lived in
> the deep south with both of these cars I can attest that they have  
> had the
> greatest of challenges with regards to how well the cooling system was
> designed.
>
> I can say without a doubt that the 308 and 512 can withstand stop  
> and go
> traffic in New Orleans and Atlanta on a August day without a problem.
>
> All that being said how many of you take a water hose and go from  
> the back
> of your radiator and push water ever so gently from back to front to  
> clean
> the cooling fins every spring? (spray the front with 409 and let it  
> sit for
> a while, like a glass of wine maybe!)
>
> You will be surprised to see what comes out the front side of your
> radiator.
>
> I use Mobil 1 and change it every 7 K.
>
> Never had front wheel bearing issues, I have had to replace all the  
> shock
> bushing thoughand one steering rack on the 308 @ 90K.
>
> I have never had a major issue with the cars to include clutches.  
> The 308
> had the original clutch in it when I sold it.
>
> How you check a clutch on a Ferrari is put it in 3 rd gear drive it  
> at speed
> 60 mph plus and get off the gas, if the revs jump you have issues!
>
> Like I said I never replaced a clutch on a Ferrari!
>
> With regards to catastrophic failures with Ferrari's I can say that  
> I have
> never experienced a failure of any kind. I have found that the cars  
> are very
> reliable and having had them for close to 200K miles I think that I  
> know the
> cars.
>
> In my opinion the 328 last year I think it's a 89 model is the best  
> 3 series
> car they ever made.
>
> It's cheap and easy to maintain and parts are plentiful and the A/C  
> works!
>
>
>
> I find the 355 a compromise, this car in my opinion is thermally  
> challenged
> at best, and the 348 a dismal failure across the board. (space shuttle
> challenger car!)
>
> The 360 is a dealer maintained car as well as the 430. You need deep  
> pockets
> to own these cars.
>
>
>
> The 550/575 are the same as well but with less issues as there 3  
> Series
> brothers.
>
>
>
> These are my observations.
>
>
>
> Enjoy the summer.
>
>
>
> I leave for the UK on the 17th for the British GP.
>
>
>
> As for the Brawn Car it looks like a white dish towel on the track!
>
> It has no panache what so ever, but it is winning!
>
> However image is everything in F-1 so go figure.
>
>
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>
> Clyde
>
>
>
> Capt. Clyde Romero Jr.
>
> Manpad SME
>
> Clyderomero [at] worldnet.att.net
>
> Mobile 678 641 9932
>
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