348 - Bit of an intro to the forum | FerrariChat

348 Bit of an intro to the forum

Discussion in '348/355' started by KevZep, Mar 20, 2020.

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  1. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    Hi guys,
    I joined up a few weeks ago after I bought my 1992-3 348TB, I have been dreaming of Ferrari's since I was about 8 years old, and a month ago it all turned into a reality when the right car for the right money presented itself.
    I always thought I'd end up with a 308 as they tend to be the most accessible and practical Ferrari's to own, I dreamed of a 365 GT4/BB which there is a story. A friend of my parents owned this beautiful example, one Sunday morning when I was 18, back in 1984, he took me for a drive, and it was everything I dreamed it would be, ever since then I was addicted.
    The noise, speed, braking, the look....the smell!! Thats a very young me in the drivers seat (RHD) Damn I still just love the lines of these Boxers, they are a damn fine looking specimen.
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    Anyway, the reality of a cackling, growling, screaming 365 Boxer was slipping further and further away from me as time marched on, and the prices went up!!

    Fast forward to 1989, and I remember waiting with baited breath for the release of the new 348, well, when I saw one, I just loved it, a fine balance between classic and modern(for the time) lines of which Pininfarina was so good at...and they configured it like a F1 car, longitudinal engine with the gearbox and suspension behind in its own sub frame, I was/am very attracted to this layout......
    Fast forward to 1997, my bosses son had a job at the local Ferrari dealer here in Auckland NZ, and he arranged for me on my birthday to accompany the head mechanic on a test drive in a 348TS. So we went for an extended test drive and you know, I just loved it, since then I have wanted a 348 and all the time thinking it was something that would always be out of my reach.
    Well, it was until a few weeks ago when one came up for sale.
    Here it is!! I got it for a very good price, its a fine example, everything works!! Its tight, it drives very well!!
    Its a LHD Euro spec.
    I have tried to limit the driving, its done 48,000km so really needs to get in for its major which is happening next week.
    But I have got out there and gone for a few decent drives in it, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!!

    But of course there is always something that comes up, and since this one had been sitting for the last 5 years, and traveling only 150km in that time, it was no surprise to find the Thrust bearing decided to start leaking, and of course the triple seals were also toast and there was some oil which leaked onto the clutch plate.
    Interesting, it looked like the clutch had been done recently, it has the single plate AP clutch.
    I ordered all the seals from Ricambi, pulled the clutch out, replaced all the seals, and to my delight, I could see the clutch plate had very little wear on it, the flywheel and pressure plate show signs of slipping because of the oil, but no damage, so I de-glazed, used the Brake Clean product on the plate, and de-glazed that, popped the clutch back in and bled her up, job done!!
    I now have a nice grabby clutch, and no leaks!!
    A very cheap fix!! couple of hundred bucks and we're on the road again....I considered the Hills engineering thrust bearing, but I think I will wait until I need to replace the clutch, at which time I'll re-pack the flywheel.

    I was a Auto Mechanic in a previous life, so I like to do as much work as practical on my cars, I have found so far, that the 348 is pretty nice to work on, although, I do not have the room to do the Major engine out service here at home, so I'll get the Ferrari Service place to do it....they are a bunch of pretty decent guys.

    This car has these nice BBS wheels which I really like, I think they really suit the car, they are 18"...
    It also has a KSG Exhaust which sounds fantastic, local to me is a tunnel, so of course, it has become tradition to tunnel blast for maximum effect!! Nothing like the sound of a Ferrari Flat Plane V8 at over 7,000 in a tunnel!!

    Here's a few pictures...
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    paulchua, Allen S., allandwf and 9 others like this.
  2. m.stojanovic

    m.stojanovic F1 Rookie
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    Dec 22, 2011
    2,743
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    Miroljub Stojanovic
    Those wheels look great, something I would like to have on my 348.

    I think you should have replaced the clutch disc. The leaking oil (and/or brake fluid) will soak deep into the friction material and, no matter how well you degrease the plate, the oil deep inside will bleed-out to the surface after some time. I once tried to salvage a contaminated ("wet" looking surface) clutch disc by cleaning, and even immersing, it in solvents. Initially, the surface would look "dry" but, after a few hours, I could see wet (oily) patches appearing on the disc surface and it would eventually become "wet" again. Tried the degreasing cycle a number of times but the plate kept "weeping" again.
     
  3. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    I am not really a fan of the factory wheels, I have a friend who has a 348TS with similar BBS, I think its a great look....
    Yes indeed that is the case when there is oil on clutch linings, I would normally replace, but luckily I caught it in time, it really wasn't bad, the linings were not soaked, there had been minimal amount on there, just enough for it to not immediately grab after changing gear, I think I caught it just in time.
    I cleaned the plate up, and there was no oil rising to the surface like I have seen before, I had it sitting in the sun all day, it was as dry as a bone.....Worth a shot, the clutch is so easy to change on these cars I thought it was worth the effort.
     
  4. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    11,484
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    I didn't realise Kiwi's were allowed to drive LHD cars. Does it depend on the age of the car?

    Anyway, looks amazing. Good luck with the major!
     
  5. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    Yes, its an age thing, I believe they have to be more than 25 years old.
     
    Qavion likes this.
  6. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,562
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
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    Tim Dee
    New Zealand, great place wanted to visit this summer to do some motorbiking, had to cancel

    :)
     
  7. jferrante

    jferrante Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2016
    498
    Nice and welcome, wheels are cool, I'd maybe run some spacers to fill them out a bit. Enjoy it!

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
     
  8. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    It is a great place to love, some of the best driving roads in the world, great scenery, you don't have to go far to get to breathtaking views.....hopefully when this C19 shenanigans is over you can make it down this way.
     
    SoCal1 likes this.
  9. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
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    Kevin Bennett
    Thanks, yes I am glad you mentioned the spacers, I was thinking the same thing....
     
  10. m.stojanovic

    m.stojanovic F1 Rookie
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    Dec 22, 2011
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    Miroljub Stojanovic
    Just be careful with adding spacers to the front wheels. This is what happened to my wheel arch with 10 mm spacers to the standard wheels while very slowly going over a speed bump with the steering turned somewhat to one side. This happened twice until I removed the spacers. At least one more member here experienced the same issue.

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  11. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
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    Kevin Bennett
    Right, thanks for that, and this damage was with the factory rims too.....
    Hmmmm....I might just leave them if that's the case....
     
  12. jferrante

    jferrante Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2016
    498
    If you can gently roll the fenders you'll have zero issues. I'm lower with fenders rolled and zero rubbing lock to lock Image Unavailable, Please Login

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
     
  13. m.stojanovic

    m.stojanovic F1 Rookie
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    Dec 22, 2011
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    Miroljub Stojanovic
    With the 10 mm spacers at the front, I had no rubbing lock to lock either. It was only when the left wheels was on top of the speed bump, and the right already over the bump, and I had the steering turned to the left somewhat. The bump pushed the left wheel up sufficiently to contact the lip of the arch. I did roll the arch lip somewhat further up/in after the first incident but it happened again (and my suspension is not set to the lowest, probably about mid). So, I removed the 10 mm spacer at the front and kept the 25 mm at the back. The reason why, after the second incident, I did go for rolling the lips of the front arches further was, according to what I have read, the fact that 25 mm at the back and no spacers at the front provide the best high speed stability. 10 mm spacers at the front just give you better look at the expense of some high speed stability.
     
  14. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    26,288
    socal
    Heavier springs can help too because they dial down the wheel travel for some bumps. I found heavier front spring made my 348 racecar faster too. Some more negative camber dials out the poke too, also good for racecars.
     
  15. bjwhite

    bjwhite F1 Rookie

    Mar 17, 2006
    4,675
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Brian White
    My wife will be there for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Lake Tapuo. I'm probably not going to go with her, but maybe I'll get to NZ someday.
     
  16. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    When is the Ironman happening? Our borders are closed at present, only returning residents admitted.

    Hopefully this all doesn't last too long and our lives can get back to normal...
     
  17. bjwhite

    bjwhite F1 Rookie

    Mar 17, 2006
    4,675
    Seattle, WA
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    Brian White
    November 28-29. Hah. I sure hope things are back to normal by then.
     
  18. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 14, 2011
    8,562
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
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    Tim Dee

    You can count on it

    I canceled my China, Italy vacation and looks like China and New Zealand are the short list. I have a connection at Courtesy Motorcycles in Manawatu to get a proper bike to ride. :)
     
  19. Yassa

    Yassa Formula 3
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    May 23, 2011
    1,266
    London
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    Dr Yassa Hughes
    Love the BBS LMs in gold. Beautiful car and welcome.
     
  20. Chippa

    Chippa Rookie

    Nov 8, 2018
    15
    Full Name:
    Colin
    Kia ora, Kev! Ran across your thread by chance. Congrats on your purchase. I looked at ROSSO1 when it was located in Penrose. It's a beautiful specimen. That car + this forum will be a match made in heaven for you!
     
  21. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    Thanks man, yeah its a pretty nice example, I have the engine out of it at the moment, doing the major service plus a few other bits and pieces to it....
    Wont be long before its back on the road, at which time it will get used, I didn't buy it to keep it locked up in the garage, so some great cruising times ahead!!
     
  22. Ferrarimondial348

    Ferrarimondial348 Formula Junior

    Nov 29, 2012
    503
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Stephen
    Lovely car mate...Did you know you’ve got yourself one of only 252 348GTB’s ever made?

    Drive her in good health and keep her nice, she’s a rare and appreciating piece of rolling art.
     
    bjwhite likes this.
  23. Ferrarium

    Ferrarium F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2018
    5,624
    Central NJ
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    Eric
    Fantastic welcome and enjoy!
     
  24. KevZep

    KevZep Formula Junior

    Feb 17, 2020
    563
    New Zealand
    Full Name:
    Kevin Bennett
    Unfortunately its not a GTB despite the badge on the back, not sure why or how that is there.
    The manufacturing date on the F119G engine is October 1992. I think its in the system here in NZ as a 1993 as that was when it was first registered, not when it was manufactured.
    It doesn't have a F119H engine.
    But its all good, its still a very nice car and its getting the love it deserves right now...
     
  25. Ferrarimondial348

    Ferrarimondial348 Formula Junior

    Nov 29, 2012
    503
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Full Name:
    Stephen
    A lovely example all the same mate.
    Enjoy the miles....
     

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