mods for the 355

i think i am getting another step closer to the 355 now. here are some questions

1. who make the carbon fiber intake box ?? any hp gain from it at all
2. where to get the exhaust system ?? anyone selling one ??
3. chg the car to straight test pipe would it creat CE light ?
4. i am thinking about adding aftermarket carbo seats as well. but what type of seat rail should i used (momo, sparco or recaro or ??)
5. header upgrade - which is a good header and who makes it. where can i get it ?
6. offset of the rims - does the car share same offset as the 360 ?? would 360 rims fit on the 355??

thank you all for you expertise.

 

1. GruppeM - yes it makes more power
2. Many different exhausts to choose from, Tubi, Capristo, X-OST, Kreisseg, etc..Priced from $2,800 - $10,000
3. 1996 cars and newer will throw a CEL going to test/straight pipes
4. Buy the seats and deal with the rails for that specific seat--different seats require different applications
5. Fabspeed, Tubi, Remanufactored stock ones - Take your pick
6. Yes, 360 rims will bolt right on, but don't know why you would--they are UGLY

Hope that helps..

 

Seanlee:


While I am certainly am NO expert, I will try to answer your questions to the best of my ability and, hopefully, some more knowledgeable FChatters will take pity on us and pipe-in with any corrections.

1a) There were several manufacturers that made CF airboxes (Tubi, Gruppe, etc.). Currently, to the best of my knowledge, there are currently only two: BMC and the Gruppe M system. The later is THE system for the 5.2 (i.e., 1996-on) F355. I am not sure if there are any systems which can be used on the 2.7 Motronic ECU cars available.
1b) I think the jury is still out on that. The Gruppe M system has been installed by one or more FChat members (do a search). Of course, all manufacturers claim that it will increase hp/torque, but someone needs to actually do a dyno run(s) before and after installation on the same dyno, in order to say anything definitive.
2a) There is the OEM F355 Challenge system and there are MANY aftermarket systems. Do a search, listen to the soundbytes on YouTube.
2b) Check FerrariAds.com and eBay.
3a) As I remember - 2.7 No. The 5.2 Yes, but I think there is a work-around. Again, do a search.
4) The OEM F355 CF seats are $$$$, if you can locate a pair. Aftermarket CF seats are $$, look cool, are very light, etc.. But, IMO, they are quite uncomfortable for use on street cars. They lack adjustment and make it quite hard to get in-and-out of the vehicle. Sit/ride in a car with a pair before you buy. As far as seat rails, you should know that it would be dependent upon which seat you purchase.
5) By header, I assume you mean a non-OEM-type replacement designed to increase flow and reduce backpressure. Tubi, for example, makes a nice OEM-type, insulated exhaust header replacement. FabSpeed makes a true header. Here is the link: http://www.fabspeed.com/ferrari_355.html There are other ones, too. Do a search.
6a) I am not sure what the actual lug offset is on the F355. Again, if you do a search on FChat. I'm sure someone has posted these dimensions.
6b) The wheels/tires from the 348/F355/F360 are all interchangeable.

I hope I have not provided you with any incorrect information. Good luck.

 

(1) GruppeM - Yes dyno you'll see about an 11-17rwhp gain.
(2) Preference, exhaust rarely increases hp so get the one you like the sound of the best.
(3) Yeah, but unless you're anal and the CE light bothers you, who cares? And if it's really that bad just pull the CE bulb out and use an OBD2 scanner every 500 miles or so just to make sure it's the only code you're throwing.
(4) Sparco is my preference
(5) - I would go with Tubi if you can get your hands on a set, call a Ferrari dealer or Tubi dealer.
(6) Yes, 360 rims look like crap though. Stock wheels look fine as it is. If you want a race look you can powdercoat stock wheels or get some Speedline. If you want more of the "baller" look HRE's look amazing on the car.

Good luck,

Kevin

 

so kev

how do u rate the naperformance headers u supplied a while back.......i see you're not listing this as a replacement part now......how cum?????

 

Because they are discontinued?

At the time they were a solid solution for the money, there were fitment issues in the beginning that were solved down the road in production and we had 4 complaints on alternator failures. However Fabspeed now offers a better design for less money, just like anything else in life the early versions are never the best. In 2004 they were good headers, today I would still use them but I would ceramic coat them and protect the alternator.

I would still go with the Tubi over any aftermarket manifold period, I have said this from day one but not everyone wants to spend $6,000 on a set of manifolds.

 

The simple question should be this: What simple modifications can we do to our F355 to make the car do 0-60 in 4 seconds and top speed above 195mph, basicaly bring it up to F430 level. My opinion is to supercharge the engine.

 

Cheaper and better to twin turbo.... I've never even heard of anyone SC'ing an F355

 

Kevin:

I don't know if I'd agree with that completely. A lot of companies, for example Imola racing, seem to be moving away from turbos in favor of supercharging, citing less heat-related issues, no turbo lag, smaller size, less complexity, etc.. They did an F430 recently. I realize that with SC, you're using engine power to drive the blower rather than scavenging exhaust gas, in the case of TC. Either way, I very happy with the 375 hp of the U.S. F355. Any real "motor heads" (Bruce???), care to comment....

Best,

Scott

 

Well, not a mod in the sence the OP intended but one that is not original to the car and will be standard pratice on all the 355, 348, TR... I am doing!
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One has to have a proper connection before any mod will work effectively. Cant get much better than Gold for this purpose. Testing done with excellant results and a good supplier for Mil-Spec parts found. Really not much more expensive than the OE terminals.

Dave
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PS,

Bruce it going to do it with snorkels, spectators will have to lash themselves to the track side fence. No darn hair dryers on his car!

 

Dave:

So, you're saying Bruce is into S&M or self-flagellation? Also, your hands are dirty again, what's going on???

P.S. Can I purchase a set of those terminals from you??

 

Can you please explain what kind of modification this is?

 

Let me see now...red wire goes to pin #2 and the green one goes to pin #4, or is it red to pin #4 and green to pin #2??? NEVER NEVER NEVER do this without writing everything down first...do it the Niki way, right Dave???.... lol

BTW, do you have a bucket of used motor oil sitting next to your desk that you dip your hands into before each photo shoot?


Well, I must say,"GREAT FIND" there Mr. Sherlock Holmes...I mean Helms.

If this mod doesn't fix ALL of your electrical gremlins you need to sell your car.

I can't wait for Dave to put a kit together!!!!!!!! His kit will most likely include a trick tool for rapid easy install of the top secret bullit-proof boots.....maybe he will also include wireing color codes for each connector....yippeeeeeeee zippeeeee!!!!
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What the heck are you doing up? Its before noon your time!

I knew that would come back to haunt me many times over, you and Niki! Do what I say, not what I do!!! You want MY list of wire colors or Niki's? Takes so much extra time to dirty those hands before photo's but I guess that's part of the job.

Yes, I will have a kit together in a very short time. I wanted to test them on a customers car that has proven a problem child for a good while before offering them and suggesting them as an alternative. Testing showed perfect results and all Gremlins have been purged from the car.
The procedure required some special tools be designed and prototyped but after a few attempts a simple and cost effective method has been identified and I have a few machine shops bidding the tools now.
I have also identified and located new boots that look near identical to those on the car as supplied OEM yet in a material that appears far superior to what was used.
The last step before I make this available is to have it 'owner installation tested' and with that feedback I will make it all available. A well respected FChat member has offered to do this test for me, I will see how quickly he is able to do this and can loan him my prototype tooling to verify the design.
The procedure is not difficult but does require a good deal of patience and attention to the smallest details (OK Bruce, oops. Niki bailed me out on that one!) and surely isn't a job everyone will want to take on themselves. If not done at home, have a TRUSTED mechanic do it for you. This is not an area to try new short cuts or to set time records on but when done correctly should be the end all fix to many issues.

Dave

 

I was refering to keeping ones children from being sucked over the fence at the track due to the suck created by Bruces snorkels and ground effects.

Based on some of our design discussions / brain storming I have had with Bruce over morning coffee.... I cant rule out the possibilty what you suggest might have merit. One has to remember he did play with Panzers at one point, now he is blinded by the Red Haze created by Italian engineers.

Dave

 

Gold plated electrical connectors have a far higher conductivity and are far less susceptible to corrosion in the harsh environment of the cars engine bay.

Niki calls it "Mo Bettda Connection" on sensors that require no variance to operate properly.

Dave

 

There are advantages and disadvantages to both but from a custom route, turbocharging will almost always be far more efficient in terms of cost and power. Plus, I myself have already seen half a dozen twin turbo F355's and they make amazing power at the low boost levels they are set at and the owners I've talked to have haven't had many reliability issues. Why reinvent the wheel when you can go with a proven method of forced induction and go with companies like Classic Coach in NJ who have done the process numerous times?

I'm not saying supercharging is a dumb idea, if someone steps up to the plate and does it great, but so far to my knowledge nobody has.

 

No offense, but I would want to see an independant dyno sheet before believing that number. That is a BIG percentage claim for any air intake on any car.


Jay

 

A few years ago when GruppeM made an appearance at a large Ferrari dyno meet, dozens of Ferrari owners in So Cal witnessed the before and after dyno first hand, there are many products to be skeptical about in the aftermarket Ferrari world but GruppeM was proven years ago. I'm on my way out the door but a simple search should pull up old threads about the event, if not I'll try to dig them up tonight.

 

It flows probably 5 times the amount of air as a stock box... More air, more fuel burned = more power..

 

FYI
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There is one power mod that has not been exploited for the 355......this one is sold but can have a twin set-up ready for your 355 in less than a week...just think, NO MORE failed tensioners or valve guides.

Who said us Georgia red necks were stupid???

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5U-grFuXZ9U&feature=related

 

PICs of ebay also else where pics if the 5.2
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