Ferrari engine

I am making a modern incarnation of an Italian GT car, I would like to install a Ferrari engine but I am not sure what to use. I was thinking about an engine from either a 360 or 550. Is this a good idea and what sort of price are these engines?

 

Go for it mate,there would be plenty of 360/550 wrecks out there to get the donor engine and gearbox.But......you may receive a heart attack at the price of them! Engine,gearbox,ecu's,wriring harness................ big bucks$$$$$$. You maybe be better off,going the normal routine and putting in a poxy Ford or Chev V8?? Have fun and good luck bud!!

 

I don't want to sound negative but you might need to figure out if your GT is going to be front or rear engine - 550 is a large front engine with a rear gearbox whereas 360 is a smaller mid engine & gearbox package - either will be expensive but one more so - I'd guess you certainly do not want to mess with changing transmissions - so your design will dictate your engine - if you want a rear V12 you'll need a wrecked Lambo

 

My first thoughts are "are you crazy" the price is going to be astronomical, but if money is no object, go for it. Engine/tranny $$$$$,
Many, many other ways to go and make it a driver with no thoughts about it.

Either way you go, Good luck!

 

Any recommendations from anyone of what combination to use?

 

Take a look at how the Pantera's did it. Why reinvent the wheel?

Bob Wassam

 

I bought a brand new 365 GTC4 complete and had to pay over $20,000 for it so thats just the state of the F-engine Market. V-12's will always bring the highest prices. A 550 motor in good shape should probably cost $28,000-$30,000 or more.

 

There’s a lot of stuff you need to decide. Is the engine going in the front or the back? Longitudinal or transverse?

Just because you pick a Ferrari engine, doesn’t lock you into their transmission or transaxle, you may find something else that works better for you.

The general rule in specing an engine for a sports car is use the biggest, highest hp engine that will fit and you’ll have a winner. So if a 12 will fit, I’d use that. You can also add a turbo or supercharger to it it it won’t make the numbers you’re looking for.

 

I am looking to use an engine longitudinal with a transaxle, mid-engined

 

Will the car be long enough for a 12?

I'm sure a 550 engine could be made to work with a 360 gear box, a porsche G50 or there may be others.

I guess its easier to just buy an engine/trany already together and have one less thing to think about, but that means 360 engine if you’re going mid-engine.

I guess its easier to just buy an engine/trany already together and have one less thing to think about, but that means 360 engine if you’re going mid-engine.

I will point out the elephant in the room here and say that building a car is an awful lot of work. I built a couple small racecars from a pile of tubing on the floor to a running car in college and I’d guess about 3000 hours was the final total. To build a street car from scratch would be 2-5 times that depending on the materials and level of finish. There’s a reason it isn’t done often.

On a stupider note, I have toyed with the idea of pulling molds of my 308 (which I really like) and using them and molds I build to make a carbon fiber monoque version. Same look, but ultra stiff, a little more cabin room and very light. I’ve also considered a version using a space-frame which is easier of me to build, but can be just as rigid covered with ultra-light foam core body panels…..but them I remember how much work it is and I just add a little more boost to the engine and call it a day.

 

So Mike,

How long have you had this car problem???

chris

 

I've been pondering for about 22 psi now

 

Yes go for the 22lbs. building is satisfying but also emotionally draining.

 

LOL, very funny Mark, I feel your pain.

 

You've gotta begin with writing down your goals for the performance, styling, cost, and a profile of the prospetive owner/buyer. Only then can you begin specifying hard parts. Everything is driven by cost.

If this is just mental masturbation, then go for it... why not use both a 550 and 360 drivetrain... ???

Best regards,

Rob

 

Post some pictures of what you have done so far.....if you plan on buying an engine from a 360 or 550 by the time your done you could have bought yourself a nice 328.

 

I've been working on a similar project and watching ads. Lyle Tanner salvage in California has a complete 360 engine, trans. and ecu for sale under "used parts" for $25,000. Let us know how it goes.