355 Grill Question | FerrariChat

355 Grill Question

Discussion in '348/355' started by 355dreamer, Apr 2, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2006
    10,476
    DC Metro
    Full Name:
    L.C.
    I am looking at a 355 in which the front bumper has been resprayed. Common, I know. The issue is that the portion behind the front grill is painted the color of the car, where on most every other 355 I have seen, the portion behind the grill is black.
    Does anyone know if the black area is painted or if it is some insert or plastic piece that this car is missing? I searched for pictures, but I have not been able to find anything up close. Please post pictures of you have any... Thanks for your help guys!
     
  2. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,973
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    #2 285ferrari, Apr 2, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2006
    10,476
    DC Metro
    Full Name:
    L.C.
    That's it!!! Is that some sort of insert? Does the front grill of a 355 actually serve any purpose?
     
  4. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    It should be 'satin' black up to the face of the grill, then the color of the car should pick up from there. Easy fix. Remove the grill, mask off the area, then use Duplicolor 'trim paint' (rattle can). It leaves a "just right" sheen to it with excellent element durability :) .
     
  5. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    On the outermost portions of the grill are ducts, to cool the brake rotors :) .
     
  6. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
    5,234
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    +1
     
  7. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
    5,234
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    Goth I think he is talking about the metal grille...its' only purpose is to serve as a mounting place for the little horse...lol
     
  8. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    Oh :eek: . What bca said :eek: . It is for apearance and horsie mounting :).
     
  9. Gershwin

    Gershwin F1 Veteran

    Feb 21, 2005
    6,415
    Kentucky

    I think Goth was on it...."behind" the grill.
     
  10. group77racing

    group77racing Formula Junior

    Sep 5, 2006
    453
    Often Imitated
    Full Name:
    Never Duplicated
    #10 group77racing, Apr 2, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I opted to leave mine the body color. The black background gets chipped and the bugs get glued to that area. The smooth clear coat is easier to clean off and less prone to chips. Plus the grill area looks black from any angle except from the low staight on view.

    Also, take note of the clean tight body line between the front nose panel and the top of the bumper. I spent a few hours perfecting that line. I didn't like the wide uneven gap before, then started looking at all the 348/355 fronts I could find, they are all messed up. So. the next time your bumper goes in for respray clean up that uneven gap.

    Now I have to move the front hood over a bit to get even gaps around the headlamp lids :)
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  11. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,973
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    So all 355's are supposed to be painted car color behind the grill insert like yours??? I have never seen that before..
     
  12. group77racing

    group77racing Formula Junior

    Sep 5, 2006
    453
    Often Imitated
    Full Name:
    Never Duplicated
    Nope, I just like it that way

    Oh, 285Ferrari, thanks again for the corner lamp harness', but I had to cut off the rework you did to them so I could put on the ITT Cannon round 348 style connectors to fit the 348 factory harness. thanks
     
  13. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,973
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    Keep it like that---I think it looks awesome!!!! Wonder what mine would look lke painted to match...Are those metal skid plates poking out from under the bumper??
     
  14. group77racing

    group77racing Formula Junior

    Sep 5, 2006
    453
    Often Imitated
    Full Name:
    Never Duplicated
    No, the silver paint yet. I had skid plates on the 348 bumper, but that little bit of added material got caught on a driveway concrete seam backing out and tore it right off. If the skid plate was not there it would have not hung up. So, Im undecided about plates for this bumper. Maybe a lower lip spoiler instead...
     
  15. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
    5,234
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    Looks great.....amen on trying to get the bugs off the black
     
  16. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,973
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    So does the rear have a 355 conversion? tail lights?
     
  17. group77racing

    group77racing Formula Junior

    Sep 5, 2006
    453
    Often Imitated
    Full Name:
    Never Duplicated
    #17 group77racing, Apr 2, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Keeping the 348 rear grill, matches the 348 door strakes. Thought about it but the more I see the taillight conversions the less I like them.

    The 355 rear bumper vents really go well with the 348 grill panel. Also, its a euro bumper, front and rear. No ugly side markers to break up the flow of the body.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  18. 355dreamer

    355dreamer F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2006
    10,476
    DC Metro
    Full Name:
    L.C.
    Thanks for the help guys. I was referring to the area behind the horsey. If this car works out for me, I will be painting it black on day one!
     
  19. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    #19 gothspeed, Apr 3, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    'Black to the future' :cool: !!!
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  20. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
    5,234
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    You need some spacers..especially at the rear...but don't start that project until you get that 360 mega exhaust finished.
     
  21. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
    5,234
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    Sorry, my mistake....thought you were talking about the expensive worthless metal grill...lol
     
  22. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    Your not kidding :eek: , I am trying to find a 15mm set that have a larger diameter than the 'standard' hill eng. versions. Those do not meet up with the rubber seal that protects the 'magnesium' alloy wheel interface from water intrusion, causing premature corrosion.
     
  23. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
    5,234
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    Never really understood this.....if wheel is coated properly there shouldn't be a problem.....the only part that is not coated is the wheel mounting pad area..could this not also be coated with something that would not(under heat) cause the wheel to bond to the hub.....I don't think 355CH cars ran this gasket....but considering the wheels were removed frequently that was a non issue.
     
  24. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    Exactly! The wheel mounting pad area is almost never coated, for 'trueness' reasons. I have seen some challenge wheels with really bad corrosion on that 'uncoated' interface. I think Ferrari wanted to minimize liability in their street cars. Imagine if wheels started fracturing because of a 'known' corrosion posibility :eek: . They would be up the river. The newer 360/430 wheels are aluminum which is much more resistant to the elements :eek: .
     
  25. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

    Jul 8, 2006
    5,234
    Georgia
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    FYI....360(forged al) wheels are LIGHTER and more durable than 355CH(Mag) wheels.......was thinking about running the 360CH wheels...at least they give ample room for the bigger brakes.
     

Share This Page