I'm sure you know better than the guys that originally built the engine and then raced it at Le Mans. From their website..... "Simpson Motorsport was founded in 1986 by Robin Smith and has been committed to the preparation and maintenance of race cars, together with engineering and running race teams. Our team has prepared ten Le Mans entries and can boast a class win in the great event. Robin Smith is an accomplished driver with international driving experience covering Formula 5000, Le Mans, Formula 1, Group C, World Prototype and Global GTs. The team has also prepared cars for Formula Renault, British GT, Dutch Supercars, Britcar and many more." They also specialise in F40's and have built one with aa V12.
Met up with Raj today and we discussed what we are going to do. We are probably going to replace the engine lid with a custom designed glass hatch. Similar to teh 360 spider engine lid. We also considered the possibility of creating an F40 rear hatch as well with a vent in the roof to pump cold air into the engine. Aerodynamics may be a problem, but the Koenig 348's had a similar configuration. If we go down this route, we'll mock up some pieces out of plywood and put the car in a smoke/wind room to see the effect. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I wouldn't say you'd want to modify it too much Sy, or it might look a bit contrived... like a kit car? You still want people to know it's a 348, right? All the best, Andrew.
Agree with that. The 348 is a great Ferrari.....well, er, ok i will stand by that leave it as is mate. When you ring me again i will make it clear as to what i think Sy.
I'm going to frame the aboev quote. Will call you tommorow if I remember. Need to sort out the spare 348 engine cradle you're looking after for me.
Angelis, I think I still have a few spare rear engine loovered sections if that helps. Seems I remember one in Black as well
If you are doing the koenig f40 style then wouldn't it be better to have side induction from those super ginormous scoops off the side? Your intake will get air with higher velocity.
Jezz! Where's this sensitivity coming from? I'm no expert but my guess is that if you limit a race engine capable of producing 480 bhp at 9400 rpm to 8500 rpm the very most one can expect would be 430 bhp. Now factor in that the power curve is most unlikely to be linear and that the original engine was running on custom-tuned headers, no silencing, minimal or no air filters, variable fuel and ignition mapping and race fuel of 105+ octane. My guess is 380 bhp max in a road going car with some attention given to air filters, silencing, regular road-side fuel etc. High revving race engines tend to be over square with a short throw and a wide cylinder bore. This allows them to rev higher easier and produce a higher ultimate performance in terms of horsepower. The trade-off for short throw engines is low torque throughout the rev range and a narrow powerband only at highest revs. Trying to install this engine in a road going 348 is, I feel, likely to be an exercise in futility and will I suspect deliver a frustrating result at considerable expense. I'll be happy and interested to follow the project but I'm just not at all sure about the wisdom. Sorry!
No, I don't suppose I do. Have you dyno run charts for the engine? What does she produce at 8500 rpm?
Greg, at the end of the day no one really knows what will happen once the engine is in and mapped. We could have 450bhp, 350bhp, 300bhp, it could be completly undrivable on the road or it could self destruct 5 minutes after we start it for the first time. Nothing is guranteed in life and somtimes you just have to go for it.
My .02 on the rear deck engine cover, Sy F40 it! Don't go nuts just make a nice polycarbonate cover with F40 style outlets. Have it cover from the roof line down to the end of the hatch were the current louvers end. I wouldn't do anything else, but I bet it looks good and it will give you the room and view of the engine. --Mike
We're going to check it when we swap it over. As mines a later one it's supposed to be stronger than the earlier ones (????). I have put the word out for a 355 gearbox though. Thanks Still early days yet. Anything could happen.
Wiser words could not be spoken. It's your car Sy, so please do with it as YOU please, but I would really like to see you keep it as close to the original 348 configuration as possible. It should be relatively easy to research the original Le Mans set-up and duplicate the air filter/intake configuration within the confines of a street car.
If you absolutely must hack the engine lid, then i think this is quality looking. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Still sorting out bits and pieces we need for the forthcoming work. Everything has progressed significantly from what we were originally going to do. ie: do a few mods and stick the engine in. We've now decided to replace all the electrical componenets with state of the art equipement. It's going to be a bigger project, more $$$ spent but hopefully with a bigger reward at the end. We may now be looking at over 500bhp from the engine in it's raw state. Raj and I visited DC electronics today (www.wiringlooms.com) and discussed the project with the owner David. He'll be supplying the Motec and other items for the engine and is a mine of information. It's great to have someone with such knowledge on board. I'm also going to be installing a power steering system as well. Had a test of it at David's workshop and it's a fantastic bit of kit.
To make life a little easier since you are going with a really wild setup why not run wo setups? One milder one to safely punch out roughly 380-400bhp on pump gas, and 450-480bhp on race gas. That would give you more life out of the engine, and keep you happier.
