NickT

I was at Ferrari in Maranello last week and took this pictures of one of their mid-engines. Interesting timing belt setup.

hacker-pschorr

I wish the 928 / 944S & S2 setup was duel cam gears vs one gear with the internal chain. Has anyone ever tried to convert a 32V head to duel cam gears like this?

928drvr86.5

The water pump looks like our 928's power steering but bigger. Two 944 look-a-like eccentric tensioners. Two timing belts!

928drvr86.5

Would the dual cam gears wear the belt twice as fast?

Flint

Is this a V8? I've heard that these belts go on the inside of the engine, necessitating pulling the whole thing for a change.

[edit] I saw where you wrote "mid engine" so yes.

FlyingDog

That is way too complex.

docmirror

Actually, the timing belts are done in the car. The job is not too dissimilar to the 928, but there are two of everything. You have to sit in the pass rear wheel well for most of the job, so your back suffers. The hardest part of the job is getting the AC pump off the front bank and out of the way to get the front belt off.

Doc

90GT in resto
83 Ferrari Mondial QV Cabrio

Thom

Interesting.

Aren't the two lower gears (from which both TBs are operated) related to the crankshaft through some internal pinions cascade or chain ?
Sounds like fun ...

ErnestSw

Looks like there is one drive gear on the front of the crank that drives one secondary cam drive gear on each side. I wonder why they designed it that way.

the flyin' scotsman

The 'Galleria de Ferrari".........what a place. for those who haven't been the lower area is dedicated to their Formula cars and the upper level is for the production cars with complete engines on display as well as engines with 'cut-a-ways' so you can see inside.

If making a trip to Europe and car museums are on your 'to do' list then the Porsche museum in Stuggart, the Le Mans racing museum in Le Mans, France and the Galleria de Ferrari.........all very very memorable!

Vilhuer

That same belt setup has been in use in V8 Ferraris since '73 308 GT4. If I had to choose between Ferrari style and 928, Ferrari would win easily. Having one belt for each back means only half of the engine is affected (normally) when belt breaks and thightening mechanism is much simpler spring loaded system. There's no need for special tools in adjustment. We did belt change to friends (now sold) '84 308 GTS Qv and job took about 1/2 the time what it takes on 928.





Sure it's tight in there but still easier than in our cars. On 348, Mondial T and later models engine is mounted longitudinally. It's easiest to take down entire rear subframe including suspension, engine anf gearbox. Easier than it sounds as it's designed to be taken out 'quickly'.

Funny how Ferraris are regarded as these hugely complex monsters of which no one can service themselves. They are similar to 928 in a way that once you study them they can be serviced in your own garage as well or better than 928.

Maranello pics taken in lobby next to main gate? Cameras were not allowed past that room 7-8 years ago.

Vilhuer

Probably to be able to use similar parts on both heads etc. It's sort of two 4 cylinder engines put together even though cylinder stroke and bore in 308 series is same as 4.4L V12 used in 365 cars.

bshaw

Yes, but the parts are 5 times as expensive :-)

I just got this one stripped down, time to call in the cleaning crew.

docmirror

See that AC pump in Vilhuer's pic? That's right where your head needs to be. I bungee corded mine out of the way, but still got bashed plenty while doing the job. I agree, the Ferrari system is better. Also note that the Ferrari timing system ONLY touches the timing gears, and a tensioner. No WP, oil pump, idle pully. BTW, I've done a 348 in the car from below. It's a sum-bitch of a job, but I didn't want to pull the cradle.

Where Porsche and Ferrari really fall down is their early ignition systems. Porsche used Bosch(I think?) for the EZK, and Ferrari used Marelli for the 'Digiplex'. What a P.O.S. The earliest 308GT4s had the most robust setup with points, condenser, one dist and one coil. Bulletproof. If you need a Digiplex today, it's +$1500 each. Ask me how I know.......

Doc