My Ferrari 550 dream... | FerrariChat

My Ferrari 550 dream...

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by bagarospo, Jun 7, 2005.

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  1. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    A couple of months ago I've buyed a number of "EVO" car english magazine in which compared an article about the completed awesome Ferrari 550 LM Replica made by english ES Motorsport.
    The article says that they saved, only with body parts, seats and exhaust, something like 165 kgs... something that made me crazy and wondering if this could be done by myself on a normal F550, which weight is the ONLY but VERY BIG defect of the car: 1690 in dry conditions are too many for a car that you want to squeeze on track or on special roads! This is a huge obstacle expecially for tyres and brakes... as the 485 bph are "enough" to make you fly on 4 wheels :D

    Anyway, I've tried to imaging what could I get by making a custom heavy diet to the wonderful Ferrari 550, and I've started to write an Excel table in which I've putted all the weights saved and the costs of each part.

    This file, that you can find here:
    http://www.oltreilimiti.com/varie/Ferrari550mrd_eng.xls
    is not made by senseless fantasies, but it's been realized talking with some friends (engineers and expert people) that could gave me real values, and also with the effective values of ES Motorsport compared on EVO article.
    With kat-bypasses, sport air filters and ECU remapping I've supposed to reach AT LEAST 515bhp... a jump of 30hp is not impossible in a 500hp engine with theese modifies.


    Ending how and why this crazy dream came out, I want to ask you this question:
    Can you imagine a 515bph Ferrari 550 Maranello with only 1400kg weight that scream as any car else can't do?

    Ok, MAYBE (but absolutely NOT SURE) you can find faster cars on track... but how can they reach the same performance at the same price?


    Well, there's only one answer.... THEY CAN'T!!!!!



    I really hope that my dream will be true, one day!

    I also hope someone of you can appreciate this solution, even if it sacrifies comfort for performance and driving experience.
     
  2. CodeRed

    CodeRed Formula Junior

    Nov 8, 2003
    368
    LALA LAND
    Thanks for posting! it will make for interesting reading.
     
  3. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa

    Feb 13, 2004
    4,647
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    Stephen S
    Fromwhat I understtand they are targetting a weight loss in the order 250kg, but struggling in the pre-production cars to get to 200kg, so I don't know how accurate their figures really are. I am tossing up between buying a360CH at the moment or applying the "weight loss" programme and big brakes tomy car.
     
  4. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

    Sep 28, 2002
    9,193
    Weight loss in a 550 is not that difficult. You will save more than 150 lbs in seats alone. Take out all of the sound deadening, etc. and this is exactly what will happen. I am considering this for my other 550 right now.

    --Dan
     
  5. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    Dan... if you dont care to the comfort, then do it!!!
    You'll simply transform your car in a MONSTER...


    Stephens: what do you mean?
    In the EVO article they've annunced a 270kg weight loss, but they aimed to a 300kg weight loss, thus they're thinking about lexan glasses to increase the value.
    Of course, they can get it by a TOTAL carbon-fiber bodywork, a thing that would be very expensive for a custom project like mine...
     
  6. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

    Apr 26, 2003
    13,477
    Never home
    Full Name:
    Dr. Dumb Ass
    I might be able to get you in touch with the Prodrive people if you want some of the race bits...
     
  7. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
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    Feb 13, 2004
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    Stephen S
    There have been numerous followup articles in other magazines, along with EVO. They have yet to come close to their claimed weight savings,from what I have read.
    I am pulling a seat out tomorrow and will compare it to a Sparco carbon Evo, toseehow close their claims on the seat savings are.
     
  8. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    ah, ok... I understand. :)

    Anyway I've just added in the file the SILLS' weight loss that I've forgotten before... I've estimated about 8-12kg for them ;)
     
  9. gougoul

    gougoul Formula 3

    Nov 25, 2004
    1,305
    Geneva, Switzerland
    I guess we all dream of a lighter 550, but i would wish to have it lighter with all the comfort features the car actually has. It's a GT after all.

    Does anyone know how much the engine weights ?
     
  10. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
    25,863
    Las Vegas, NV
    Full Name:
    Ryan Alexander
    Alberto, I have had a similar dream for the 550. I have been working to make this happen with Dan (bobafett) and Stephen; I think there is a ton of weight to be saved with carbon fiber components, and for only a fraction of the price of the 550LM kit in the UK (except without a widebody).

    Please visit my website, www.ryalexdesign.com for details. If you are interested in cooperating with the project as well, I would be curious to review your investigation notes on your 550 and potential weight savings.
     
  11. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    Hi Ryan,
    I've seen your website and I have to admit you're doing a very very nice job!

    I just squeezed my eyes when I looked at the price... as I thought to spent about 8000 euros (10000 $) for front and rear bumpers and hoods, with side skirts ecc (in carbon fiber)

    Anyway, as you can see in my file, if one day I'll get a 550 and I'll start this operation... well, I'm sure I'll use the glass fiber for the front and rear bumpers, as it's much cheaper and, most of all, repairable!
    Many other pieces will be in carbon fiber, but not the bumpers.


    Anyway, I'd really like to know if you can give me the real weights of original and carbon parts... are my values correct? I absolutely dont know how the rear hood can weight.

    Otherwise, my project aim to keep the original 550 line, or even the 575 front (that is nicer than 550's one)... but I think that the front 550 LM bumpers isnt adapt for a road going 550, which isnt so large and so "racing" in the lines.


    I hope to read your answer about the weight!

    Best regards,
    Alberto
     
  12. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    Of course everyone wants something from his car, and we're not all equal!

    From a sport car I want performance and, most of all, huge driving feelings... which I can get from a 550 by this diet.
    I think I'd be bored for that absurde original weight that cant let me appreciate at 100% that incredible engine! ;)
     
  13. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
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    Feb 13, 2004
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    I pulled a seat out today, 29kg each. A Sparco EVO 2 (I have a fat arse) weighs 7kg, the carbon version is 2-3kg less apparently, so the weight loss is between 22kg and 25kg per seat, or 100-110lb's total. The Ferrari leather Sparco with recliner is heavier than the Sparco EVO, so would result in smaller weight savings.
    I'm going to weigh the bonnet on Saturday and compare that to the EVO numbers (The magazine, not model of Sparco seat). A carbon fibre guy I have spoken to, says his bonnets weigh 5.5-6.5kg depending on the car. With paint this would be 6.5-7.5, being a 10kg weight loss if the 17kg figure quoted in EVO is correct. Potentially the 17kg weight does not include the sound deadening clipped to the inside of the bonnet though.
    At this stage, my feeling is that 1550kg is a more realistic goal, without stripping the interior of the car, but i will have a better idea after actually weighing some of the original panels.
     
  14. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

    Sep 28, 2002
    9,193
    Well, since the other one in my case is a second car that has some accident history, I really don't mind stripping out the car.

    Can you imagine pulling *all* of that sound deadening, all of the useless lining, trunk, etc? There's serious weight gains there, enough to pull it under 1500kg for sure.

    --Dan
     
  15. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
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    Feb 13, 2004
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    I think there are some big gains(losses) to be made changing the undertray to CF as an example. There is no doubt you can get under 1450kg, just not the way the ES are suggesting, as their numbers just don't add up IMO.
     
  16. gougoul

    gougoul Formula 3

    Nov 25, 2004
    1,305
    Geneva, Switzerland
    It's true, it's really a great engine !
     
  17. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    Nice Steph, with your help we could make a perfect and complete Excel bill ;)
    If you dont have problems, I'd really like to know how the bumpers and the back hood weights ;)

    I'll stay tuned!
     
  18. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto

    what material is it made of?
    my friend (an engineer) told me it's in fiber too.. and I couldnt loss much weight from it!
     
  19. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
    Lifetime Rossa

    Feb 13, 2004
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    Stephen S
    Fitted Sparco "EVO" seats today. Had a close look and the Sparco manufactured Ferrari sport seats, as used by ES Motorsport, but discovered they are well over twice the weight of the EVO seats, only providing 1/3 of the weight loss attributed to them by ES in their magazine articles.
    I am having a carbon, front and rear bar, bonnet, boot, sills and undertray along with a big brake kit being made up next week, so should be able to report real weight savings data.
     
  20. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 17, 2001
    34,326
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    Joe Mansion

    DO IT DO IT !!!!
     
  21. bagarospo

    bagarospo Rookie

    Dec 19, 2004
    18
    Rimini, ITALY
    Full Name:
    Alberto
    OH MY GOD!!!

    I'll wait your reports!!!
     
  22. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
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    John
    wow, ambitious weight loss plan! can you take some pics? and do you mind sharing the cost of the cf pieces? I would imagine a cf undertray would be pretty pricey judging by prices of even small pieces. Maybe your labor charges are much less down under though....
     
  23. frefan

    frefan F1 Veteran

    Apr 21, 2004
    7,370
    Dan if you're wanting to kick my 575's a$$ then you better hurry up, as soon as the 600 is out I'm on it! :)
     
  24. stephens

    stephens F1 Rookie
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    Feb 13, 2004
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    Stephen S
    No problems with the pics, I have been quoted less than $20K USD for the whole job. The brakes for example with 380mm rotors and 6 pot AP racing calipers are only $5K compared to double that amount for a Movit kit.
     
  25. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
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    John
    Wow, thats a great price for bbk ANd all that cf stuff. Can't wait to see the project pics. Is the cf just clearcoated of will you paint it too and is that incl in the price?
     

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