I was sent this this by a Ferrari friend. He said the following .......................................................................................... Obviously money-no-object as the then owner paid NZ$700k!!!!!!! ($US 500k) "This 355 GTB got a V12 Testa Rossa engine implanted. The rear hood was modified and the interior underwent also some modifications as Porsche racing seats etc.! All this was invoiced for almost (incredible!!) Euro 350,000 about 6 years ago! The car is owned by an architect from Neuss/Germany and is currently for sale as he bought a Gallardo Superleggera!" .......................................................................................................................................................... Love the flared rear guards. Red and manual of course!!!! JP Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
You already asked Walter for this in the other thread mate!!! http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=136994165&postcount=20
I really don't understand the point of this car. If it's just a standard TR engine, it only has a 5BHP gain over a 355. Also, why would you want to mess with the beautiful balance of a 355 by putting more weight back there? IMO, a tremendous waste of money. Also, the fender flairs are overdone, the stock design is perfect.
If I had more money than brains, I'd at least put an F40 engine back there. Somebody probably had an engineless 355 & an old TR engine sitting around... did the swap themselves.
Why not just twin-turbocharge the standard 355 engine? The weight balance wouldn't be affected all that much, and I am sure you would get more power than the F40's engine. Now that would be interesting!
You may enjoy reading through this mate. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29754&page=37
Interesting title, but there are 37 pages in that thread! Can you summarize.............power and torque they got out of that thing?
I have to admit, I don't really understand either, but I will say the HP alone does not tell the whole story. Having gone from a 355 to a 512TR, which have - on paper - almost indistinguishable performance, I find the torque is a huge difference. Despite the 500 extra pounds, the 512 feels so much more powerful in regular driving. So I would say the torque would be attractive. But like you, I find the 355 a perfect balance, and I would have a hard time removing such a great engine. Though the 12 cylinder is a symphony, the flat crank V8 in the 355 is a different pinnacle of exhaust note nirvana.
Also, 5-valves per cylinder is pretty unique as well. Not much sounds and feels better than a 355 with a Tubi on it!
Maybe he was a 355 owner who didn't want to worry over the valve guides or the exhaust headers anymore. Or, maybe he was a frustrated TR owner who desperately wanted light power steering.
It's a nice mod, however, for my money a solid turbo system would have been the better (and cheaper) choice. Which remionds me, Novitech, baby!
Bah, I couldnt be bothered reading through it again. Power by memory was 550KW or 737HP. I forget the torque it produced sorry, but was big numbers also if I recall correctly. I forget all the paticulars now, but it was a twin turbo intercooled Nizpro kit bolted to a stock 355 engine/internals. Stock 355 clutch also and I am sure it is still in the car. The turbo kit was custom made here in Melbourne Australia by the guys at Nizpro. Car starts and drives perfectly and reliably. No issues once the car was finished. By memory, the cars runs 10.1sec 1/4mile times on slicks.
Thats it!! A really awesome machine!! I have a magazine here somewhere and it says the fastest time at the strip he accomplished was 10.1 secs with slicks. I also remember he wants to pass the car down to his baby son.
You getting old PAP? Memory starting to fade? That Aussie heat getting to you? J/K 737bhp?!?!?!?!? Are you freaking kidding me? That is absolute insanity! And with a stock clutch? Wow! Did it mention cost to do install them? I might have a new dream car!
No sh*t man! Check it out! Stock engine and gearbox/clutch too. Cost of this project............trust me, you dont wanna know.