348 SS 078/100 Update

Just finished the wheel installation along with the new carpets (thanks to GCalo) and pedals I wrote about 2 weeks back. Here's the latest pix.

Big THANK YOU to Daniel Pass of Ricambi! The replacement bolts were perfect and the Hill spacers are without equal.
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Looks perfect !!

\Enjoy !!!

 

Looks really, really good! Good job!

 

Looks great! Now you need to lower the suspension!

 

Aw man, this thing barely clears speed bumps and driveways now. As an aside, the 355 wheels and tires are smaller in diameter than the 348's contrary to what profile sites have said. I think it's the difference between the SO1 and Pirelli Directiziones tires.

The next step is to find some more performance - after I get those crazy cracked carbon fiber seats repaired. The repair, BTW involves fabricating new seat uppers out of similar material lined with aluminum sheeting. Hopefully they will not be detectable.

As for performance, well, let's say that stoogeville is not too far away since I am trying to come up with an intake solution like Hills, plugz, group77. I'm convinced that the 348 engine has all sorts of extra ponies lying around once u find a way to get more fuel and air through the upper end.

 

That looks fantastic!

 

Carpet looks awsome!!! GCalo makes those??

 

Weel, I htink his "people" make them. Pretty decent quality and all osrts of embroidery options. The also come with grip material on the backside to prevent slippage. The pattern seems a bit different for my car, but it's too close to criticise.

 

Looks great Vince!!!!
Ten thumbs up for you man!

 

Oh yeah!

 

It really looks awsome Vince. The next step, if I may suggest, should be the dead pedal.

 

Nice wheels Vince!!!

 

You know Dean, I wrestled with that one and the jury's still out. I do not want anymore aluminum down there, but maybe new metal. Ooh, I got it - black anodized aluminum! Now how to do it...

 

You need an aluminum shift knob before anything !!!

 

Beautiful car!

I did the 3 pedals and didn't like the look so I added the dead pedal and it looks better IMO. Leaving the dead pedal in rubber looks like you forgot to do part of the job.

 

Ok, I give, I'll do it.

 

Bump, you guys shamed me to finally do it. Actually, I didn't have a car project this week, so this was it.
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Sweet vince, the dead pedal is the clincher!

 

Let me know when you find those extra ponies. I'm going to need a new project next year.

 

If you are looking for some extra hp, I may be able to help. Check out my company www.veloceperformance.com. We found some nice punch and lots of mid range in my 348.

 

I see nothing listed for the 348 on your web page? What type of gains should one expect using your product?

 

I mainly listed the newer stuff on the web. I have a tubi, test pipes and the ECU work in my car, and it is +-350hp. I am also about 200 pounds lighter than stock. As a result I have no problems staying with 355s and 360s on straights, and with the other mods I can outbrake and out handle them through the corners. It definitely gives them fits!

Where you will really notice the improvement is in the middle of the power band. I designed this set up to improve the drivability as well as broaden the power band.

 

Curious to know where you lightened it up.

 

Our plans for now are to actually leave the ECU chips alone and modify intake and exhaust for better (higher) flow. The stock system is way too restrictive, especially if you compare it to the 355. Stuff like larger throttle bodies, MAPs, injectors, runners, and all exhaust plumbing should do the trick. My goal is to leave everything as stock appearing as possible. For example, those header pipes can be hidden by the heat shield. On top, well, you can use stock appearing parts, although the air inlet piping is going to give things away. That's unavoidable since you cannot really bore out the stock intake piping, but have to replace it. TB's will be bored, MAPs will be replaced with larger units as will the injectors. For now, I am relying on the stock ECU to handle FA.

After these mods, then I will undertake some custom ECU programming, but only to the extent that I can meet smog certification for this car in CA. Wish me luck! We are going to do this in stepwise fashion and not all at once to see if any of this really makes a difference, starting with the least costly items.

 

Please keep us in the loop. Sounds like a great project.