What to do with my 348....

I had a perfect example of a 348, mint condition. 32,000kms on it. Drove it on special days only. It was my dream car when I was younger. I've now had it for 12 years and its one car I will never let go. I just couldn't. Over the years my personal situation became much better and I have had and have some very special cars and my 348 was pushed to the back of my garage. Not because of the lack of love, but because of what the car has become.

There are a few things that have stopped me driving it, first, its the ever so soft leather seats. Now they are truly soft, but scratches came so easily on the leather due to the softness where it came to the point I would inspect whoever would sit in the passenger seat as I was worried the damage they would cause by having any metal on their jeans or belt. The interior is old and fragile....

The plastic going all sticky..... okay, you know, I don't need to comment on this one....

The electronic's..... slowdown lights, etc.... because of sensors, nothing more. Two computers controlling a bank each, to me its just wrong. One computer should control everything. In a way its really two 4 cylinder engines connected with one crankshaft

Then the power, while it would have been a handful back in its time, and it scared the crap out of me the first time I drove it...... I must say I own cars now with twice the power....

So........ was it time to sell it?

HELL NO!!!!

The car to me is still one of the best looking Ferrari's made. I just love it. So I made a choice. I know a lot of people say dont modify these cars, but I dont want it in the back of my garage, I love the look, I need more power and I want to make all the interior modern and take the leather out and have alcantara instead, I owned a Scuderia for 5 years and noticed how good this material is and resistant it is.

So I will update this thread as things move forward, for the non modifiers, please dont look, because not much will be standard in this car when its finished. Ive already started doing a lot of mod's but there is so much more to happen. This is my plan:

Engine
(full rebuild, new everything)
Brakes upgrade
Lighter wheels
Full new interior
(but Scuderia style)
Carbon parts to make it lighter
(bonnet, bumper, rear bumper, targa roof, mirrors, Engine cover, also remove trunk covers)
Lexan front and rear windscreen
Then.... a full repaint.

When the car is finished, it will look just like a 348, I dont want to change the look. Only the engine cover will be a bit different. Maybe I keep the mirrors in carbon finish, I dont know yet. But when you open the door, it will look like a Scud/Speciale.

Will I destroy the value of the car? no..... as I will never sell it, nor need to. The value to me is worth much more then the car is unmodified....

Some pics for now and much more to come
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The airbox:
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Intakes:
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Airbox mold:
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Wholeheartedly behind you and can't wait to see how the project progresses. Good luck, Henry

 

good luck my friend.....

 

The finished airbox:
(work of art.........)
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Airbox fitted:
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The current state at the moment is, engine is full rebuilt and back in the car. I went with a DTA Fast ECU, as I wanted to get rid of all the old electronics and sensors and start totally fresh. While I am Australian and of course MoTec would be my choice, we went with DTA Fast as the people working on my car have been using it for years on their race engines they do, so, experience first. They have done a bit of turning already on the dyno, without the airbox, as this took a while to get right(the first airbox was 8mm to high, bonnet didnt close). So in the next week or so with the airbox fitted they will do another tune with the airbox installed, so I will be able to run the motor in for a while. Then the final tune will come later.

I am also going to remove the tachometer system and install a DTA Fast SX-Dash.

SX-Dash ? DTAFast

Its already connected and works well. Just sitting on the passenger seat for now(on a towel to not scratch the leather :/)

No beautiful, but, it will make things more simple. Thats how I want the car, simple as possible. Like a race car. I will also remove the aircon system and replace it with a far lighter system. This will be the only thing that I will add/leave in the car that will be an extra weight. My goal is to have the lightest 348.

So when the next tune is done and I get the car back in my hands, then I will start with the interior and exterior carbon parts.

 

cool project

 

very nice

 

People on this side of the pond are working on an airbox also. Not nearly as pretty as yours however. Now the you have the mold how hard would it be to duplicate ? Andy

 

Are you or the people you are working with planning to make any of the CF parts availible for sale?

 

A 348 resto-mod, I love it!

Congrats to you (and I'm following as well).

And thanks for the link to the digital dash. If my speedo ever acts up again that's where I'm going.

 

Great project.

 

YES!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE IT!!!!

THAT IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT !

OUTSTANDING WORK!

I am REALLY looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

Zaken,

I guess you are vacum bag prepreg layup? Notice the smooth interior texture on the runners but rough exterior. I'm guessing the interior of the airbox is rough while exterior is like glass. Is there any issue with turbulence from the rough airbox interior or is there a way to get the interior smooth? Well done by the way!

 

I knew that was coming the second I saw a pic of his CF work...LOL

 

Awesome project! Superb work on the intake, looking forward to watching your progress

 

Awesome!!!!

 

oh. nice !

 

Duplicates would not be a problem. However I don't know the exact modifications that were made to where it connects to the engine. I can ask and find out. The engine is not my work and I don't know the fine details. I'm not an expect on this so I won't say what I don't know. But yes I own the molds for the airbox.

 

Very very cool man!! Thanks for sharing and I hope all has been well mate.

 

Thanks BillyBob

I have another pic somewhere, I'm on my phone now. But it's smooth on the inside.

Every change or modification will be done to maximum, some steps might take some time or be put off. But I'm really trying to do every change in the best way.

 

Once I get the car back and start on the CF parts I will have all the molds. So yes I could make more. I never really planned on this. But I could, just depends on the time I have.