ls7 in a 355

here we go again....

If you like the LS7, drive a Zo6! IMO

 

why ruin the sound of a 355 with an ls7 engine??
Some people never learn IMHO

 

Jake- Unbeknownst to most, the LS7 only weighs about 450 lbs and likely less than a 355 engine. I would be worried about the transaxle taking 470 ft lbs of torque, though. Plus although the LS7 sounds great at 7000 rpm, it is nothing like the scream of a 355.

No sense criticizing something like this. Dedicated enthusiasts try and succeed with all kinds of combinations out of the normal mold, like Mark's outstanding DOHC V12 in a 308 project.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Old thread which discusses a twin-turbo 355 kit. "Stage 2" of this kit was supposedly 750hp... around double the stock 355. Not sure how it worked out, though... didn't take time to read much of the thread.

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42376

 

Jake- 375 hp to 505 hp is nowhere near double if it is a box stock LS7. Torque, though, is another whole ball of wax.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Years ago, there was a guy who made a 350 SBC conversion kit for the 348 series....FWIW.

Most people here on F-chat will ask the question pertaining to engine conversions....WTF?

Yet to some people out there the cost of maint/up keep and the overall hassel that is SOMETIMES associated with keeping a cars like these can be outweighed by the long term practicality of a conversion. By the same point, to most the appeal of a Ferrari is the engine and the sophistication of said engine which is a major reason a person buys a Ferrari to begin with....

All I am saying is there are (more or less) "valid" points on both sides of this issue whenever it comes up.

For me personally, I love driving my 308. I don't love having to send off my H2O pump for 6 weeks to get it rebuilt when my driving season is only 6 months long.... I don't love spending $100 for a part that should only cost $5. Some people just love the driving experience of a Ferrari and could care less how it's powered....as long as it's on the road, starts every time and gets you from point A to B. And some people love the fact that it is a complicated creature which requires love attention and money....

I find it ironic that a lot of people here were very interested in the TR turbine project, but throw theri nose in the air about a aluminum engine conversion....WTF

 

Wonder if anyone has made a kit to put a 348 engine in a Corvette....?

Now that WOULD be different a Corvette that sounds good....

 

How about the award winning street rods that have been powered by Ferrari engines.....???

Enzo said that you buy the engine and get the car for free...

Similarly people have said that a Ferrari without a Ferrari engine is not a Ferrari...by that logic anything WITH a Ferrari engine is therefore a Ferrari... AKA the streetrods built around Ferrari Engines are Ferraris'....you decide....

If Q then P... P therefore Q (for you Logic lovers out there)

Peace out.

 

I'd pay to see that

 

Just be careful not to use your real name ....or state....or country.... as you probaly have a visit from some "Good Ole Boys" want to do some lynchin...

 

I think the main problem is the length of the engine. You would have to do some interesting custom work to hide the engine sticking through the firewall. You would need one of those engine covers out of a van to install backwords! I can see the questions now - "What is the bulge between the seats? - Oh, that's just my car being happy to see you." haha!

I doubt the stock trans would last either. There arn't a lot of options in the transverse transaxle category (that I know of, please correct me if I am wrong) so that forces you to get a longitudinally orientated transaxle. The problem with that is, depending on how you have to adjust it to get the axles lined up, it would be close or even sticking out of the rear bumper.

A v12 355 was created with a Testarossa engine/trans but they had to redo the sheet metal on the car to get everything to fit. I believe what they did was cut the rear off of a Testarossa, weld it to the front of a 355 and then wrap an XXL version of the body work around it.

Here are a couple of options I think might be better:
1. A Twin turbo V6. There are a lot of engines like this out there. I know some of the 3000gt/stealth guys have gotten 700+ hp out of their cars with a built engine. One guy even dinoed 1000hp at the wheels but I think that car is destined to explode. The Ford engine in the Noble puts out over 400 hp stock and can be modded for more. Plus it is cheap.
2. There was a post a while ago about a guy installing a 4 cylinder into his 348. I am not sure if he ever got it done but a big turbo 4 could fit. The EVO guys get +500hp out of their cars.
3. Since you like Lotus, you could put an Esprit V8 engine (918) in there. That engine is so compact that it would look small in the engine bay. One engine mod and it will put out 450hp. A couple more mods and you could have 600hp. I personally would not consider this engine more reliable then a Ferrari's though, considering I just had to rebuild mine but it would fit and it is intended to be turbo'd. I don't know if anyone remembers the old GT2 races where Ferrari F40s battled McLaren F1s and Lotus Esprit V8s. The V8s could hold their own as long has they didn't start on fire. Or leak.

One of those options might make your car go faster but nothing sounds like a 355 engine. It has one of the best if not the best sounding exhaust notes (I am leaving room for the 348 guys, I don't want them pissed at me!). The stars aligned for that engine's exhaust note.

 

Hasnt this been done already with De Tomaso Pantera. Sexy italian body with amercian V8. Why ruin a perfectly fine 348 or 355?
I know of a De Tomaso with BMW 740 engine on staight pipes with only mod being lighter flywheel, sond GREAT. Youtube clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXQsvDrohHk

 

I have been on the track chasing a Noble in my V8. I kept pushing him till he let me pass and then he returned the favor Lots of bang for the buck!