Hi Guys, I had the car out for the first time this year over the weekend. I wanted to replace the headers, but I discovered a camshaft seal leak and its leaking pretty good. Unfortunately the engine is going to need to be pulled after I had it pulled about two years ago. It's the way it goes sometimes with old cars and this is part of the journey. I am looking at getting the Hill Engineering 355 Camshaft Seal Kit SK355 https://www.hillengineering.co.uk/other-parts/seals-seal-kits/sk355 Has anyone used it before? Are they any good? I know they make great tensioners and I might as well change the belts and tensioners to Hill while I am at it. Anything else I should do while I am in there as well?
In general its not part of the journey if you had it addressed it simple means it was done wrong. You can not reuse belts once taken off, to that end, why not get the whole service kit and do it all, it comes with the tensioners etc you'll need lots more seals and gaskets or you'll risk pulling it a third time if you reuse.
You are correct, I am going to buy the whole kit for the belts and the cam seals. The cam seals weren't done when I had the major so it wasn't done wrong, just... they weren't leaking at the time...
Always replace it all, while the patient is i]open and all that. I think you will find the cam seals do not typically leak, they can yes but it usually the o-ring behind it at least on the 348 and the 355 has the same type set up. A valve cover gasket touching the o-ring can cut it, it then leaks, runs down and appears to weep front the cam shaft seals. Same if the valve cover to cam seal junction is not treated properly. I just mention that so you take care in those areas. In any event good your on it so best of luck!
This is really useful information as I did have the valve cover gaskets replaced as those were leaking but not the cam seals. Perhaps those replacement seals caused the cam ones to tear and leak? Unfortunately it will be a while before the dealer can get it in and looked at. Between you and me I'd rather pull the engine myself but I have never done anything this big before and am worried of screwing it up.
Take a look at the parts diagrams. If you look at the parts diagram the cam seals are in a housing, the o-rings are behind the cam seal housing. Those o-rings can be pinched real easy, not seal real easy, tear from valve cover gasket touching it real easy, oil gets past the o-rings and collects at the bottom of the cam shaft seal housing on the other side of the o-ring and just weeps out. The o-ring is "usually" the issue. I have the same problem on both banks. I fabbed an alternator shield to protect the alternator since it was getting oil all over it and that will kill the alternator too. as a bonus it protects from heat. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/alternator-shield-diy.604393/. The place I bought my car from did Ferrari service but they were not a Ferrari service place. Simple things not obvious come from experience, I will probably do it myself too. Google this "Ferrari 348 cam shaft seal leak site"ferrarichat.com" you can find lot of threads about this, I know its a 355 but still.
Eric, thank you! I've never done an engine out before and my friend has a lift that I can use. I just don't want to occupy it too long and I have never done anything like this before so I am a little... hesitant.
If your replacing belts it's not too bad. If your replacing cam seals then the cams have to come out its more involved than a belt change. Lots and lots of 348 engine out threads and videos, essentially the same process just 2 belts instead of 1 so you can do 1 side at a time. DO not reuse the belts. Good luck!
Nope, not going to reuse the old belts, that's for sure. I'd love to do the fuel lines while I am in there. These are quite old. Thank you Eric so much for your help! I have been talking to him about it. I know its an engine out. Not sure how much it will cost but this isn't a Chevy. Frankly though, I really want to do the work myself. How else am I going to learn? It's just that this is a bit of an advanced job to learn on... We can talk more about it during dinner.
