.............. it looks so good ............ I hope you will still drive it and not put it in a glass box ......
I'm planning on taking it on track at Silverstone in April. Haven't had the chance to test out the Ap brakes yet.
Sy, I know it's been said before, and will be said again... but... WOW! What great work and attention to detail...! She looks great... Mike in Kuwait
Fantastic Sy !!!! ............... though I was looking at the huge size of your brake calipers and couldn't help but wonder ...... if they need a set of calipers of their own to slow them down ...................
Day 39 The bumpers are done and I've just been informed that the front splitter I got from Pro-Sport doesn't fit without some minor modification. Takes about two hours to do. Not happy about that as i purchased two of them. The other problem is the Hill Engineering Skid plates won't fit when the splitter goes on. So it's either the splitter or teh skid plates. I've decided to go for the splitter. If I smash it, I'll take the car back to Al and remove the splitter and put the skid plates on. Dave's going to start work on the car on the 9th February. Which means I should be picking Rocky up the following weekend (unless the baby decides to come around that time ). Small confession... I've been thinking about putting a 348 Challenge badge on the back of the car rather than the 348GTB badge. Al says............. "Hi Sy, some pics from yesterday & today. O/s door built up. Mirror mountings painted. Front & rear bumpers prepared & painted." Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
with regard to the splitter vs skid plates, if this isn't too off beam. I have a similar issue with my 348 Spider and have thought a solution could be to fit the skid plates and then fit the splitter over the top, obviously making a slot to accommodate the plates. The splitter can be attached using something like a dzus fastener. not sure if it is a workable solution. My main issue is when boarding channel ferries, the splitter takes a right bashing and you don't need the splinter in the port. this is untried and only a suggestion.
Thanks for the input. I'll forward it on to Al, although I have a feeling the splitter has already been attached.
Day 40 Al says.......... "Just realised that I'm only going to overrun by a week on what I originally said as well, which is always a bonus Engine lid blocked down & machine polished. Rear bumper blocked down & machine polished. Engine lid fitted & aligned. Tail lights cleaned (they were stinking - an absolute disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) & fitted, rear grille cleaned & fitted. Rear bumper fitted & aligned. Front bumper blocked down & polished. Front lamp assy's fitted to bumper. Front spoiler LOOSELY fitted - reason below. Front bumper fitted & aligned. Are you absolutely sure you want the front spoiler painted body colour? It is still Satin black at the moment & I think it looks very sharp, just wanted to give you the option." I've decided to do the front spolier/splitter in body colour. Thinking perhaps that teh satin look may make it look unfinished. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Al replies.... "With the suggestion on Fchat regarding fitting the skid plates & the spoiler, the problem is that the pre-drilled holes in the spoiler are rather too close to the inner radius of the bumper, if I cut a section out of the spoiler to accommodate the skid plates then this really doesn't leave a lot of material between the mounting holes & the edge of the spoiler, I will do it if you REALLY want me to, but I would strenuously advise against it." .
I check up on your post every now and then...i just can't wait til it's done. You better put a video on here when everything's done!
Sy, What was the problem with the front splitter? I ordered 2 of them from pro sport ferrari like you did and they were just delievered. Did your body guy tell you what the problem was? I havent had time to go and test fit them on my car yet but hearing your problems dosent make me happy.
To be "correct" the interior side is supposed to be a satin or more flat black finish. The rubber piece is glued inside. It is a pain, as mine the rubber keeps getting unglued and slipping off. Seems a common problem on 348's and 355's, as I rarely see a perfect one with the rubber correctly in place.
Looks great Sy, will be good to see it in the flesh as the pics I'm sure don't do it justice. I need to get my 60's Elan sprayed so was thinking of using Al.
That's one of teh first things I'm going to do. Going to to get Philip Barton-Brown to drive it through London while I film him. I got it from Pro Sport who are in the UK. Cost was £120. I purchased two as well. I'm actually quite embarressed about the whole thing as I organised it for everyone else to purchase. I also got two splitters as well. One to be used as a back up. I'll be calling Pro_Sport up tomoorow and see what they have to say. Will keep everyone posted. Go for it mate!!!
in my 355 the rubber insert for the door window rear support piece is held in place with 2 screws not glue
Hi Sy, it seems to be the best 348Tb on the net. congratulations. I make the same job on my red 348.... I'll put some pics tomorrow all the best for you, my friend
Day 41 Last year I got a set of 6 pot 355mm AP Racing brakes for the front. It was the best performance modification I had done to the 348. The brakes are phenomenal and there's no fade after continuous use. However, my existing calipers at the time were yellow and AP Racing would only do them in either red or black, so I get them in red. I then had to get another set of calipers (ended up with some 355 ones) and have them painted red, ready for the fitting. Unfortunatly, the reds of the calipers were were different shades and I ended up with bright red AP calipers at the front and dark red 355 calipers on the rear. Also, the AP calipers had the logo recessed into the body of the calipers which meant that it couldn't be replaced with the Ferrari logo. Clever people the AP racing lot!!! So I asked Al to paint the rear calipers for me again and to match the colour shade with the AP fronts. Did he listen????? Yes he did. He also listened when I slagged off AP Racing for being the worse automotive company I have ever dealt with. So what did he do....??? Well... he out did himself on this one. He somehow got rid of the AP Racing logo and put the Ferrari logo on it instead. Here's what they looked like before..... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here's what they look like now. Awesome!!! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
He's also repainted the rears to match the new fronts. I could have done the calipers in yellow, but the red matches the seat harnesses and the red stripe on the challenge steering wheel. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Day 42 Al says..... "Wheels repainted. Door mirrors built & connected." I did have the wheels done 6 months ago, but wasn't 100% satisfied with them. Al said he could do them for me so I thought why not. It's all looking really good now. I feel like I'm going to be picking up a brand new car. I've decided to put a 348 GTB badge on the back instead of the 348 Challenge one. PS. Al's now sent me 360 pictures of the respray. As he's 200 miles away, I haven't had the chance to see the car in person so I'm very grateful for the photo's he sends me. He does that for all his clients. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looking VERY smart there Sy! That is awesome that he has sent you 360 pics! Very nice of him to take the time to do so. It certainly looks like is always a busy man!
Wow that is looking so good I am so jealous this guy is top notch you couldn't of found a better man for the job if you tried.