*98673 & 98674 have Feb 94 build dates, not Oct 93. The first F355 ever was built in Oct. 93. According to some records, 98673 & 98674 are the 6th & 7th 355’s ever produced (world wide).
I see mine on the 5th page I see a lot of discussion as to which cars had the dual pumps vs single, but not a lot of discussion as to why or the advantages/disadvantages
My guess for the switch would be simplification. Perhaps the single pump is a higher spec pump and adequate eliminating the need for 2.
100498 here. It's a nero/nero GTB. I had no idea it was in the first hundred made and on the second page of this recall list. I think it is a September or October 1994 build date but I'll need to check. It's a dual pump but it has a two piece undertray, not a one piece.
It appears this car is now in Lithuania. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
We know at some point in Sept 94, the switch was made from single-piece center undertray to the new 2-piece design. We just don’t know which VIN is the last single-piece. The good news is your car is a Nero/Nero 95, which is incredibly rare. 355Registry only shows 11 (worldwide) at the moment, but keep in mind the registry has already captured 45% of 355’s produced. Perhaps @Matthias Urban can give us a better idea. The second good news is you made the cutoff for the early engine goodies .
Very early cars are also supposed to have the first clutch cover/cooler design. I see most people no longer have it. Either destroyed or removed and misplaced as it was unsightly. One of the first things I removed when I received my car. It is no longer available from Ferrari. Wonder how many are interested in obtaining this? I am also not exactly sure at what stage Ferrari stopped including it. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very early 95’s are supposed to come with a tall toolbox, which is no longer available. Some are specifically looking for one for their early 95’s. 099902 - came with a tall toolbox. My other 355, 100594, which is an OCT 94 build came with a short toolbox. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Barry’s car is #100330 and has the single-piece tray and a Sept. 94 build. Perhaps we’re getting closer to an answer.
That is cool! And the cutoff might explain why it runs so strong. I know my heads are the 2154014 castings from June/July 1994 so I guess those are the supposed "good ones." I could weigh my pistons and rods when they are taken out to see if they are lighter ones. Otherwise I don't know what else is different on the really early cars. Maybe cams? Image Unavailable, Please Login
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/cool-find-f129-engine-for-360modena-transmission-test.696408/ Cams should be same imo. Perhaps different porting, but we kinda need a side by side to a non-early engine to really confirm the differences. My car runs strong as well. Probably the reason Fchatters look at me like I have 2 heads when I’ve been telling them the past decade a 355 is a decently quick street car. It still feels heavier than what I’m used to, but if one can remove 400lbs … watch out!
Biggest drawback of the early engines is the softer bronze guides imo. But that’s an easy fix once engine is out. #100594’s guides were replaced by a previous owner with factory steel guides and the car feels pretty damn good. Better than 99902, which still has original guides.
@Buckets This is early car #099948 Nero/Nero vs. 458 Speciale just in case you didn’t catch it. Decent acceleration given the weight (3200 lbs).
And mine has the two piece tray, so the cutoff would appear to be right around our cars - 100330 (single piece) and 100329 (2 piece).
If Barry is the last 355 to receive it, we have roughly 45 U.S cars that came equipped with the single-piece tray. Unless of course one of the employees found a single-piece in the back corner somewhere and shop boss said, “just put it on the challenge car.”
@Buckets @INTMD8 has the early engine goodies as well. Perhaps some clues here on the porting. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/95-berlinetta-weight-reduction-and-modifications.548376/page-26
100594 - ShineKen 100606 - INTMD8 100607- ??? 100608 - mclaudio. F355 Challenge. A small clutter of N/A Red/Black 355’s. Quadruplet siblings. Image Unavailable, Please Login
In Nero 1240 DS I show about 40 units worldwide. There are as well examples in Nero Carbonio (metallizzato, that became Daytona later) and as well examples simply being discribed as being Black/Nero because "Black" was not specified with a Factory colour code already
You’re referring to 2.7’s specifically correct? Any pre-airbag Nero/Nero cars? Don’t think I’ve come across one yet. You also have 100607 as Nero/Nero, but the 355Registry shows that as Red/Black. It is surrounded by Red/Black cars as shown above.
Yes, the single piece tray could have been put on my car which was destined to be a Challenge car. Another possibility is the cut-off point is based on Assembly Number. Pete, my car is S/N is 100330 It's Assembly Number is 17280 Your car is S/N 100329 What's its Assembly Number?
This thread is making me dizzy. All I know is that my car has the ugly rear bumper to add to its five or six shades of yellow, sandblasted fender walls, road-rashed front bumper, yellowing Challenge badge, sagging driver's side view mirror secondary to its roll onto its roof at Lime Rock Park in 1996, rubbed Challenge wheels, peeling/patinaed cam covers and jack-dinged doors. If I continue reading threads like this, I'm sure I'll discover more things wrong about my car. Still, it remains a great race car... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
^ Uh-Oh! It looks like I've lost a fastener or two on my driver's side lower underbody guard. Something else that has to be fixed. My undertray, lateral guards and diffusers have several varieties of fasteners holding them in place. Tracking the car shakes them loose periodically, especial Sebring. I'll never know what the OEM fasteners looked like. But that's okay.
I believe mine has the tall toolbox - has a huge can of fix a flat in the bottom exactly as you've pictured.
