My 30K major is coming up... I see there are some hoses to be replaced based on the Ricambi kit. Does it make sense to order a full silicone hose kit including the three required to replace and re-do the car in that way? I see this kit here: http://www.superformance.co.uk/parts/355SHSB.jpg Has the 3 hoses required (2 L-shaped and 1 S-shaped) and which are part of the 30K kit, and it also has additional silicone hoses that could be replaced during the major. Any thoughts or comments from anybody?
Those three hoses are the ones you really need. You need a few feet of 5/8 inch, 5/16 inch coolant hoses. Now is the time to change the radiator short hoses.... (1 1/4 I think) That is all.
Waste of money and have been know to leak as reported here on Chat. Amounts to nothing more than fixing something that isn't broken.
Ricambi also sells some high quality silicone hose sets that are made by SFS......reasonably priced and don't leak. https://www.ricambiamerica.com/sfs-355-m-f355-silicone-hose-set.html
You want to replace them every major anyway. The standard hose is just fine. You will find that by the time a major comes around, usually the hoses are cut to assist removal and any stress on the associated pipework as a result is lessened.
Have you priced the OEM standard rubber hose? You will pay hundreds for just one hose. I'm going on 8 years with the SFS silicone hoses and currently in the middle of another (third) engine out......looking at the silicone SFS hoses.....still look like new ..... still soft and pliable as when new (and did not have to be cut off) . Can't understand why anyone would use ordinary rubber hoses.
You can walk into any Oreily's store, hand them a set of those hoses, match up the ones they have in the back, for less than $100. If you are lucky, you can find one hose that can be cut to fit 2 right angle hoses for the Ferrari.
Thanks guys, ordering a set of SFS hoses and will also get some additional silicone hose different thicknesses when the engine is out to replace the ones mentioned by Mitchell: " 5/8 inch, 5/16 inch coolant hoses. Now is the time to change the radiator short hoses.... (1 1/4 I think)"
One is just the return heater hose, and the smaller ones are for the bleed hoses from the radiator pipe and the thermostat housing. Really, anything will do there. You end up cutting them off on the way out so every five years or so they get replaced. Anything will last 5 years and 10k miles (which is the average miles for most of us).
Any decent quality hose lasts much longer than 5 years, certainly the OE hoses do. Never cut one of those off in my life. Removing them correctly is far faster and easier. Some of the hoses to the coolant tank are junk and should be replaced at the service but it absurd to think the ones at the front of the motor are disposable quality. People complain how expensive the cars cost to maintain and throw away a couple of hundred dollars replacing perfectly good parts.
No joke, I did this for a 90° elbow that burst. Was able to find a hose at auto zone for $10 from which I was able to cut in half and get 2 perfectly good hoses :-D It was somethign shaped like this: https://images.rallysportdirect.com/image/private/s--W0lKsP7N--/f_auto,t_auto_rsd_product/v1/product_images/gat_22886_1 Having said that, on my next major, I did upgrade to the silicone hoses. That was just a cheap temporary fix.
Given the cost to get into the engine at that level, it makes sense to replace the things that are due for a replacement...probably not throw away good parts but if there's a 'kit' that can improve long term reliability why not do it? $250 on hoses is not a big deal when doing a $5K (or more?) major...
Metal clamps on and off do more damage to the hose then time. I'm partner of an industrial hose company, seen all the issues and cures. One day I may make a kit for our cars but just not worth it, plenty stuff out there
Following that philosophy I can easily turn it into a $7k major. The difference between a mechanic and a parts changing monkey is the ability to make good judgment calls. Need some bananas?
That's 5%. Being retired, I'd love to be able to buy 5 (currently 1.93%) or 10 (2.4%) year bonds yielding 5%, even 30 years. 100k in a 5% bond is 5k a year income. Even current yield on a 30 year is only 3%. At 5% I could put 100% of my retirement into it never have to worry about the market again. You can send me a check for $250 any time.
John, I had the upper 90° elbow split on me going down the straight leading to Turn 8 at Watkins Glen three years ago. I accepted a point-by from the car ahead of me and checking my rear view mirror for traffic and a safe pass, the view through the rear window was like looking through a steamed up shower door. I refused the point-by and had my hand on the fire suppression handle. I was certain that it was vapor and not smoke I was seeing. I pitted in and the corner worker said they were about to show me the meatball flag as I was trailing vapor. Opening the rear deck, we saw same coolant spray coming from the area in front of the engine. Fortunately we had a spare elbow and my technician was able to replace the hose over lunch. I was out again on the next session. I also saw another F355 Challenge lose its oil due to a ruptured oil line and another F355 Challenge burst a fuel line with a resultant engine fire. My car was due for a major service. I told them to change all the coolant hoses, oil lines and fuel lines while they were at it. Barry
