New Ferrari weightsaving trick in the 488gtb

Kinja'd!!! "Bluecold" (Bluecold)
02/04/2015 at 07:03 • Filed to: None

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Ferrari didn't tell anyone, but clear as day in the 488 GTB engine picture, the valvecover doubles as an 'integrated camshaft bearing cap'! Saving not only weight, but increasing stiffness of the head as well. As far as my limited google search has told me, this is the first engine that does that. Bravo Ferrari!


DISCUSSION (21)


Kinja'd!!! Wheelerguy > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 07:49

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Is this the thing?


Kinja'd!!! MikeP3 > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 08:00

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That is amazballs! It's like it's been shrink-wrapped! Of course, underneath there are the steel bearing surface inserts. Also, now that the cover is torqued on based on the needs of the camshafts, the cam cover gaskets must be designed in such a way that they don't get over squeezed or don't make a tight seal. I predict cam cover oil leaks as the engine ages!


Kinja'd!!! MikeP3 > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 08:01

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That is amazballs! It's like it's been shrink-wrapped! Of course, underneath there are the steel bearing surface inserts. Also, now that the cover is torqued on based on the needs of the camshafts, the cam cover gaskets must be designed in such a way that they don't get over squeezed or don't make a tight seal. I predict cam cover oil leaks as the engine ages!


Kinja'd!!! E. Julius > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 08:13

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I thought those valve covers looked interesting…


Kinja'd!!! SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 08:22

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I see it. I wonder what the benefit is though.

Doesn't that make doing valve cover deals more difficult because now you need to consider camshaft fastening procedure?


Kinja'd!!! Snuze: Needs another Swede > Wheelerguy
02/04/2015 at 09:24

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Looks like timing is run off the back of the engine. That's probably a variable came timing actuator, or maybe high pressure fuel pump for direct injection?


Kinja'd!!! AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 09:35

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Nope. Mercedes M272 and M273 released in '05 for '06 model year. Not sure if there are others before that.


Kinja'd!!! AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Snuze: Needs another Swede
02/04/2015 at 09:36

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Vacuum pump for the brakes.


Kinja'd!!! AMGtech - now with more recalls! > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/04/2015 at 09:38

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Mercedes has been doing this for 10 years. It is only marginally more difficult. Ours use little half-caps that don't do anything when everything is fully assembled and torqued but keep the cams from jumping out when assembling/disassembling.


Kinja'd!!! AMGtech - now with more recalls! > MikeP3
02/04/2015 at 09:39

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Mercedes has been doing this for ten years. They don't leak ever, seriously. They use a very small bead of sealant instead of a gasket.


Kinja'd!!! Snuze: Needs another Swede > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/04/2015 at 10:06

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Good call! Should have noticed the hose barb on it. Interesting that they have 2 of them. Guess with a car that fast, and brakes as big as it has, you need a whole lot of vacuum.


Kinja'd!!! AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Snuze: Needs another Swede
02/04/2015 at 10:08

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Yeah no kidding. But seeing now that there are two I'm doubting myself... But it didn't have the right kind of connections for anything else I can think of.


Kinja'd!!! Snuze: Needs another Swede > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/04/2015 at 10:17

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I think it has to be vacuum. I can see part of the fuel hard line near the turbo, so that's definitely out. Also, the one highlighted is driven off the intake cam, but the other one appears to be driven off the opposite bank exhaust cam. Aside from the fact that most cam phasing is done in the cam-drive sprockets, I doubt this is for variable cam timing.

I just wonder what all the vacuum is for... Maybe vacuum windshield wipers? Another weight savings strategy...


Kinja'd!!! AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Snuze: Needs another Swede
02/04/2015 at 10:29

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The intake one appears to have a hose going to the air injection valves. These little pumps might serve double duty, one doing pressure and the other doing vacuum. If the exhaust cams are driven by the intakes via gears then they would turn the opposite direction. That would make it easy to have one doing pressure and one doing vacuum, potentially without even changing the pump itself.


Kinja'd!!! Snuze: Needs another Swede > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/04/2015 at 10:34

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The pumps appear to be completely identical, so I think you may very well be right.


Kinja'd!!! Bluecold > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/04/2015 at 11:22

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Ah, I did search for 'valve cover bearing caps' and similar terms before I made the claim that Ferrari was first.

It seems Ferrari lags behind Mercedes once again.


Kinja'd!!! briannutter1 > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 11:42

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I wonder if the intake is still aluminum versus lighter plastic....the very top looks aluminum with the script.


Kinja'd!!! AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 11:43

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It's a weird thing to search for, doesn't really get much attention.


Kinja'd!!! MikeP3 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/04/2015 at 13:29

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Ferrari will find a way to not only make it leak, but create an inferno as well.


Kinja'd!!! brianbrannon > Bluecold
02/04/2015 at 18:57

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All Volvo 5 cylinders also, so from about 94 on


Kinja'd!!! Bluecold > brianbrannon
02/05/2015 at 03:03

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That's so cool! I couldn't find anything when searching for 'integrated valve cover bearing caps' and similar terms, so I figured Ferrari was first.