Anyone built a 550/575 track car?

Or, you could buy this:

http://www.ferrariportal.com/search/siteviewer/index.cfm?fuseaction=urlforward&site=156&parent=23&filteritem=&returnfuseaction=first10sites&keywords=

 

i think you meant this:

http://www.ferraris-online.com/cars/FE-550XL-108536/main.shtml

doody.

 

Heres my 512TR I converted to a track car. It has a serious full roll cage, fuel cell, Motec ignition & digital instruments, Zero muffler, Race trans, F50 brakes, fire suppression system, Koenig fenders

Penske shocks & race springs coming over the winter

so far its set me back over $150 including buying the wrecked 512TR which cost $40k

As for value, I think history will settle that subject. Mine will never race at LeMans but she will race at Watkins Glen, Pocono, Lime Rock, Sebring

That should be worth something down the road

 

I think the 550 probably has good balance, Any imbalance can be resolved with a rollcage & adding or subtracting weight from an area to balance the car

The Motronic system alone costs $25k

Race trans $14k

Suspension $10k min

Cage & paint $15k +

$50k is gone in an eyeblink

 

Do you have a race class in mind or do you just mean you want a car that will be fun to drive at track events? If your plan is to race, things can get expensive fast. If it is just to be a fun track day car, well it's fine the way you get it. A cage and harnesses make it a LOT safer, personally I won't get near a track without them. Stripping the interior costs nothing, but will save some weight. Slicks will make it go much faster. Race shocks/springs. You could make it safe and a lot of fun for maybe $20k....the money really starts to flow if you decide to touch the engine.

 

I just happened to think, if it's only running at the track octane is not a problem. You could call norwood and have a low boost turbo system put on for maybe 15-30k. With race gas, I'd think 5-10 psi would work without opening the engine, that would add 30-60% more hp...that might be fun. My lowly 308 is putting out about 500 hp @ 18 psi

 

Correct, No Muffler. I may be running her at Sebring in Nov

 

Fun though, sounds like it would be a great project! A project almost always only makes sense to the person doing it....my 308 is just a street car with occasional autocross intensions, but I think I've spent as much on bringing the engine up to speed as the whole rest of the car is worth....But I just absolutely love driving it now, words almost can't describe, so to me it was worth every cent.

 

Thanks, I may have her down in Fl this winter, not sure yet

I plan on racing her in EMRA & HSR & anywhere else Maybe the NV open road race 1 day

 

I'm at Sebring quite often, shoot me a PM when you come up. I have a schedule on my site that has all of the track days occuring at the track this year (http://www.suneal.net/sched_sebring.html).

 

If I remember correctly, the Prodrive Ferrari team offer a customer conversion of a street 550. No idea on pricing though. Here's a good starting point:
http://www.care-racing.com/main/techspecs.html

- Brian

 

Interesting idea and a fun car to see at the track. I suggest that if you've not already done so that you find a way to drive a stock 550 on the track. The 550 is a GT, not a sports car, and it shows on the track. The weight and set up of the car have it prone to understeer and it can consume brakes like it does fuel. When I had my 550 on the track I recall thinking that it was remarkably competent and fun for a big GT, but not as much fun as Modena or GT3, or Z06 for that matter.

For sure the car can be made better with track mods, but this will be expensive and there aren't a lot of people out there with good experience in setting these cars up for the track.

For the price point you are considering, what about a used 360 Challenge? Many have not been raced and it is a proper and sorted track car that most Fcar dealers and qualified mechanics will be able to support.

Best of luck.