Installing new Challenge grill on 360

I just thought I would share my experience good and bad with installing the new challenge grill on my 360.
First, I used the directions from this thread, http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104614

The occassion was a "lifts and lunch" meet at a local Mid-Atlantic owners garage's, holy cow, what a set up!!!! Having a family room in garage, how cool!!! I should have just come to the event to google and awe and left the work to the pros!!

The old grill came off easy enough, by following the directions in the thread above, the problems occured with the new grill. The big problem, there were spacers mounted to the bolts on the OEM grill and I did not see these, nor did they come with the new grill. I encountered huge problems with alignment with the new grill and the locking mechanism as a result of no washers. With out the engine cover closing no driving!!!! On a side note, if you have a bad back this job is not for you. Alot of ackward back bending.
Also instead of removing the tail lights then the gril, simply disconnect the tail lights and bring them out with the OEm grill and remove them on the ground, a lot easier!!
We were able to reach Fernando at Competizione and Sports Cars, a local indy service facility(top notch) and he agreed to meet me on Sunday to fix the car. WOW!!! Thats customer service!!!!!! Fernando came and applied some special cut washers to apply without removing the grill. With some minor re-alignment the engine cover closes!! He spent about 45 minutes manipulating things to get the lid to close, WOW and THANK YOU is all I can say!!!!
I also learned that if you hold the "up" or + paddle back while applying throttle the car will move and go into gear, just keep holding back until car is rolling, other wise it will pop out of gear.
Well, here are some pics of the before and after. Also, some pics from the event itself. Check out the Shelby Cobra, signed by the man himself!!
I think that covers it, bottom line, I will pay next time to have it done!! LOL!!!
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Now you are talking!

That looks great.

Nice going.

 

Wow. I love the new Challenge Grill! I like the details the grill gave to the car.

 

Now that is the type of garage I need! Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

Huge difference with the challenge grill. A completely different car. Looks great. I think it's the best upgrade anyone can do to a 360.

 

Must admit... it really works well with the yellow exterior... in fact it looks great!! I wonder if anyone has similar before/after photos on a TDF blue 360 coupe (NOT spider) as I am now considering doing it on mine... just not so sure that the darker colour will come off as well as this.

 

Believe me, it will . Someone will post a picture of a TDF 360 with a challenge grill and you'll see the difference.

 

Here's a picture I have of a tdf coupe with challenge grille. Hope the owner doesn't mind. I felt the same way before I installed mine because just wasn't sure. But once it was on, I would never be able to go back!
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me too! thanks for sharing the pics. I'll use this when we build our next house.

 

Can you run me through this? Sounds like a good way to screw the clutch?

 

Not sure what it did to the clutch, but when you are sitting in a very,very busy intersection in a $100k+ car and it ain't moving you will try anything!!!!!!
I was sitting there freaking out and a thought popped into my head. "Hold the "up" or right paddle back while applying throttle. The car began moving and as long as I held back for about 10 seconds long enough for the clutch to hook up the car moved. It quickly went into 2nd gear. It was an emergency and I am glad it worked!!!


Robert

 

Car looks great with the Grille the garage is what I would love to do congratulations on both.

 

Thanks for posting the pic.... It is certainly a more aggressive look... but to my mind not an elegant clean one.... But reality is usually different from pictures... I guess what I am reading is that the VAST MAJORITY here think a CS grill looks better... sooooo.... who am I to argue...lol... has to be done I guess and hope I will like it when it's on... If anything it is also a functional upgrade to help cooling.

Thanks again.

 

was that Carol Shelby cobra at Goodwood last year ????

 

Robert,

I was wondering how your install went... Sorry that I had to leave early. The garages are awesome!!! The Shop in MD is all about service... house call!!!!!! Wow.

 

I've tried to search and scan for this in other posts but didn't manage to find anything, although I'm SURE it's got to be there somewhere. Can anyone give me an approximate cost to purchase the Challenge grill and for installation by a dealer on a 360? Thank you and sorry for what I'm SURE is a duplicate...

 

The grill from Daniel at Ricambi was $1035 as I remember, he is Fchat sponsor. Others sell for $1300, not sure of the differences, but I liked dealing with Ricambi, very prompt.
Should cost about 1hr labor, maybe 1.5 hours labor.

Go for it, its the best addition to the 360 imo!!!


Robert

 

Who the heck is Carol Shelby that she'd sign a car???? Is she some hot actress or singing diva? I'd think it would destroy a cars value having some chick scrall her name across the dash board!!!!














j/k

Nice car collection...looks like fun!!!!

 

Strange....Your CS didn't come with one from the factory??

 

It looks great! That looks like a nice little get-together you're having there.

 

Wow ! what a nice garage and private car shows ! Love to join , if there were chance !

 

I have a black spider and I'm not sure as well. However after some of the pics I'm warming up to the idea.
Anyone have a picture of a black one?

 

Ask and ye shall receive!!!!! The black looks the best in my opinion, I really wanted a black 360, yellow second choice.


Robert
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If you really want that grille to look good have it powder coated.

I saw Chris Lee's Saturday and it looks fantastic. I know Softwaredrone did it as well, but I did not see his.

Mine will be done this week.

It looks dynamite that way!

 

Thanks Robert,
That looks fantastic. Looks like It's my next mod.
Cheers
Robert