3200 chain availability

Campoverde77

Junior Member
Messages
32
Hello guys,

Currently servicing my 3200 and ordered, amongst others @ eurospares:
- 578036700 shoe/sliding block x2
- 479034500 cam control chain x2

Unfortinately just got the response that above mentioned items are no longer suppliee by the factory. Eurospares is checking other specialists right now.

Is this information known in this group?
Are there alternative suppliers?
 

SteveM

Member
Messages
540
They have been unavailable for a long while now. I don't think Maserati had many on the shelf to start with as only recent years have cars been getting above 78,000 and almost immediately they were unavailable. General consensus is that if they aren't rattling don't worry. i believe some have looked for alternatives and I guess in time there may need to be a batch made if we can locate original source.
 

Campoverde77

Junior Member
Messages
32
Thanks for your response. At cold start there’s a minor rattle that might be from a chain. Once warm it’s only smooth engine sound you are hearing.
Now working on the fine tuning of the timing I observerd that the chain on the right block has some more slack than the chain on the left block.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Minor rattle on startup is probably just engine wear and the oil pressure taking a bit longer to get up to the heads.
 

spacecadet

Member
Messages
378
The original manufacturer is Regina chains, probably due to the Ducati connection in the Detomaso days.

First I've also noticed bigger slack on the right side on my Ghibli, but later I realized it changes depending where the timing sits.
 

SteveM

Member
Messages
540
Thanks - I wasn't aware of that - does anyone have any old guides to use as template to get new ones made or identify original source?
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
If anyone has an old chain for a pattern, I'm sure we could get some remanufactured, in fact I know just the company...

Regarding the guides, they could be re done in more modern materials

Dave
 

Campoverde77

Junior Member
Messages
32
Thanks for all the feedback. Had mutiple advices not to worry with just 116 kkm. Even minor slack should not be a an issue. And the earlier mentioned rattling is a big word, but in practice negligible in the case of my car.
So for now I will leave both chains and guides as they are. So I will continue the job to fine tune the timing now :).

For sure we will need pattern replacements sooner or later so very interested to follow that development.
 

spacecadet

Member
Messages
378
I think there would be demand for the remanufactured chain, but I only have a V6 chain I could send out as a pattern, unfortunately the V8 has a different part number. I will measure the important parameters of the V6 chain and try to match it with the V8 one.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
I think there would be demand for the remanufactured chain, but I only have a V6 chain I could send out as a pattern, unfortunately the V8 has a different part number. I will measure the important parameters of the V6 chain and try to match it with the V8 one.

May be its just the number of links, next time I'm over at David A's if he has any, I'll blag a couple of old chains

Dave
 

Campoverde77

Junior Member
Messages
32
Maybe a very blunt question, but isn’t it better to use an unused chain as a template?
A used one is worn and has slack which influences the characteristics of it.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
The original manufacturer is Regina chains, probably due to the Ducati connection in the Detomaso days.

First I've also noticed bigger slack on the right side on my Ghibli, but later I realized it changes depending where the timing sits.[/QUOTE

If there's any discernible slack in the chains the inlet valve timing will go out of sync..

It won't cause a problem short term, just a bit down on power maybe

Dave
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
Maybe a very blunt question, but isn’t it better to use an unused chain as a template?
A used one is worn and has slack which influences the characteristics of it.

You have to start somewhere with the roller sizes, etc... the wear is always in the link pins

Dave
 

tappets

Junior Member
Messages
123
I think DA is looking into this chain issue............he was trying to source a supplier at one stage when I was told chain kit now NLA.
 

mareksio

New Member
Messages
10
Reviving this thread to see if the situation had changed at all over the last year?

No chains nor guides available anywhere, remanufactured or otherwise?
 

Campoverde77

Junior Member
Messages
32
Hello all,

The engine of my GT now makes a bit more noise when idling. Also at warm start. sometimes irregular. Pretty sure it are the chains. And/or the guides.

parts still nla ...

So to come back on Alfa Two’s input; does anyone has a used chain available?

Sooner or later more of us will need them. If we can makes steps forward now we can prevent issues.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
Yes, I still have a used chain.. I tried everywhere last year to match the roller diameter and link lengths from various manufactures

I came to the conclusion it would be easier to get new sprockets made to match an existing chain.

Dave