lemans grill 348

Thanks. Wrote them e-mail - just waiting for reply. I'm allmost sure that I'll be buying from 'Ricambi America', unless someone suggests set of lamps for even better price. Anyone? Anythere?

 

Not sure how much Ricambis are, but mine were $450 for the whole set from Ferrari of Atlanta. I just asked the parts dept and that was the price. It is the dealership in Atlanta.

 

i'm amazed at how these have come down. I used to supply them with the Grill for a $800 add-on if I remember correctly and that was my COST! Maybe it was $600 can't remember, but either way they've really come down!!!

 

Ricambi's price is about $485, so it's almost the same as from dealers from Atlanta. So, I'll decide then I'll get answers about shipment possibilities to East Europe. Thanks for your help!

 

My bad, I just realized you were in Europe. I imagine Ricambi might be easier to get them from in your case. The website for the place I got mine is www.ferrarimaseratiofatlanta.com

 

My search shows Ricambi at $867?

 

You're off by a pretty large amount, so I suspect you're working with incorrect part numbers or maybe the non-USA lamps.

US lamps, are $484.16 for the set.

 

Sorry, I'd buy a set for that price. What's the number? I've thought about the Husker grill, but don't like the idea of cutting the rear panel to make room for the lights so i'd like to try to convert a set to LED lights.

 

I can't see how you'd possibly mount rear F355 lamps without cutting sheet metal.

 

Ditto the 355 lights extend too far back not to cut, however if there is an alternative that looks good I'd luv to see it. Not having to make any cuts is a plus IMHO.

 

you can't. I tried.

Here's why: You can't fit a round peg in a square hole, or in this case a rectangular hole, when said "peg" (i.e. taillight) is bigger than the rectangular hole. Thus, the rectangular hole has to be made bigger to receive the round lights.

That said, it IS possible to make the conversion without trimming anything: You would have to make the panel so that it bowed out significantly from the rear of the car so that the lights are not intruding into the rectangular frame. But that's a severe compromise, as the shape of the grill then conflicts with the shape of the bumper.

Trimming the frame that holds the taillights isn't any big deal. It's just thin sheet metal, and it can be put back like you had it in about 30 minutes with a few strips of sheet metal and a welder.

True story, I had one guy that wanted to do the conversion but worried that the trimming would actually hurt his car value.

Well, I guess if you have a prospective buyer that's going to be poking around at something as obscure as a piece of sheet metal that isn't even seen, then you've got a real pistol of a buyer on your hands!

 

Cutting out the material is no big deal at all. I used a bi-metal blade on my super sawsall and carefully cut out both sides. Both of the pieces I cut out could easily be tack welded back into place (like Collin said, totally hidden - you would have to disassemble the whole assembly to find where you tacked them back in). I carefully packed the grille, lights, covers and cut-out pieces into the packing crate the new grill came in just in case the next guy wanted to return the car to a stock rear tail light assembly.

 

I was thinking more like surface mount LED's mounted on a printed circuit board. Maybe all you actually need are the lenses.

 

I am sure you could make that work, but seems more work than trimming the holes out. Try it out. You might even find some non Ferrari lights that would fit the holes to try. The more I think about it the more I am sure you could make it work!

 

I think the ol' Chicago bondo did this kind of deal with a much smaller rear light. I'd search it and repost it here but I've reached my photo posting quota as I am now a lowly non-subcribed member here. Maybe someone else here can help out? Do a "Chicago bondo" search and it should come up

 

t29...

Is this the concept you are after?

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=20072&postcount=4

 

Lol - pure bondo!

 

howdy gang. The last grill was sold over the weekend. I will try to get a few made this summer.

Enjoy your spring everyone !!!

 

In case anyone is looking, I still have one I never installed (and 360 lights). Since I have a Speciale I decided not to put the Lemans grill in after all.