456 fixer-upper - parts sources?

I'm also a handy DIYer. My 456 developed valve guide problems, and after much research - including the need for some exceptionally expensive and specialized tools to insert/remove the guides - I concluded this is a job best left for the experts and shipped my car to Ferrari of Denver for an $11k repair job.

Just as one example: inserting the new guides calls for 1) heating the head in an oven and 2) cooling the guides in liquid nitrogen then inserting them via a special tool. This job is so complex, that the Ferrari dealer doesn't do it, but instead has contracted a local machinist to handle all guide removal/replacements using Ferrari-supplied tools.

Talk with Brian Crall or Dave Helms about this. They've developed their own procedures and tools for valve guides, in part because the Ferrari tools were crap (Dave's special tools are still used by Ferrari of Denver and on my car; he provided very valuable consultation when the guides were replaced).

Bottom line is 2 fold for me: 1) Valve guide replacement is beyond the DIY category, even for those of us who rebuild engines and are comfortable taking the heads on/off; and, 2) I would personally avoid the purchase of any Ferrari with an unfixxed and known valve guide problem. There's lots of 456s out there at great prices; no need to buy something that will most certainly become a time- and money-pit.

 

Jeff, you could pull the heads and ship them to someone.

-Peter

 

Jeff when the time comes I'll give you the # of the guy who does mine. There are a number of tricks that elude most machine shops to do them really well and it does not even really mean extra $$, It's more like serious headache avoidence.

For parts. When you balance price, service, getting the actual right parts and in a reasonable amount of time go to Ricambi America. He is one of 2 that get the lions share of my business for cars of that vintage because with almost anyone else you will get caught up in a circle jerk.