355 Challenge Grill Installation

I replaced mine on my 355 Spider. It is very simple. Just a few bolts and two rubber dampers. I did it in about an hour and a half with numerous Beer breaks. It would probably be quicker if I had popped out the rear lights for better access to the mounting hardware. GO FOR IT

 

Just had mine done but it was fitted at a dealer's shop ;here's before and after pics.Hope you go for it as the Challenge totally changes the way car looks.
Tony
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After;
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It really is an hour Job and looks great. You will not regret. They cost about £600 here in the UK.

J

 

I also prefer the look with a Challenge Grill and if the look isn't enough to convince you think about the fact they it serves a purpose too which is to help move all that heat out of the engine bay. I am currently in the market for a 355 and if it does not have the grill I will be putting one on. I have heard from a good source that it is very simple to do. Please let us know your experiance if you go ahead with it both from the purchasing side and your installation of it, some before and after pictures just like the ones already posted here would be nice to.
/Carm

 

From what wfo900 said. Couple of hours, you should trying installing it yourself first. It does look easy to do. Black/Tan GTS with challenge grill is going to look awesome! Good luck and keep us posted.

 

From the comments above, it looks to me that replacing the grill should be a DIY job.

I haven't changed the grill on my 355 just yet as it is still freezing here, there is plenty of cold air. But I am inclined to change it and use the Challenge grill when it gets a little warmer here. It is not that much about its looks, instead I am more concerned about engine bay over-heating in the summer and the Challenge grill can improve the cooling effect.

As a car lover, I am always of the view that you should do the work yourself (as far as possible) instead of leaving it to the dealer. That way, you will get to know your car so much better (provided that you're a real car-lover); secondly, you could also save the money that would have been charged by the dealer for an apparently easy job.

If I had the tools and know-how, I would love to change the cam-belts myself. BUT I can't. So I had to pay a fair amount of $$$ to the dealer to have the belts done, etc.

Best of luck.

 

It really is that easy. Just look at the Challenge grill. That shows you where all the mounting attachments are. It is very easy plus you get to say "I did it"

 

I assume that if you are in the market for a 355B, but are not technically/mechanically inclined, you can buy one with a challenge grill (assuming you are satisfied with all the other aspects of the car), and then go the other way -- replacing the challenge with the uni-color from the dealer. Correct?

 

Yes you can. And if you happen to have a used Challenge grill available, please let me know. I will help you dispose of it.