F355 in an F40 Party Frock

To late Im afraid Robin, the 355 body is stripped and I already have the f40 panels.

I would love an original f40 but thats not a financial option , where as my project is which is why I have gone down this route as the next best option for me.

Other people would just purchase a 360 or 430 but they just dont do it for me.

Back to the real world now, will try to answer any other questions next time I log on

 

I do not understand why you created another account? when you signed up to ferrarichat on the original account (this month) you agreed to abide by the rules and terms of the forum, creating an alias/bogus account is against those rules.

The original account that was started this month and has less than 50 post would still have been able to start this thread with no problems, why create the alias?

 

I think it would be cooler if you did your own custom design on the 355.

 

Paul, a couple more naming options

Faux40
F Faux-ty

Too bad UK restricts license plates.

 

How can you insure it if it (F35) does not exist on the books anywhere?

 

Your other ID was PAUL. S ???
Well,... isn't that a coincidence.

 

Subscribed...

+1

Totally agree. Take some extra time and effort and make something truly unique. But then again, judging by the countless replicas on ebay, custom car design isn't an easy job...

 

Think your first step is to buy the drawings from both cars from the blueprints website then print then on something like clear acetate and overlay them over each other and check whether its doable - theres certain things like the roof, buttresses, windscreen etc you wont want to alter and whether the car doesnt "look odd" or not if you F40 it

http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/cars/ferrari/page/7/

I quite like the idea but TBH its a very expensive donor you'll be using!!!

Bit of interesting reading you might like.....

www.f40.co.nz

 

Paul, don't let the thread die...

 

Paul s.
your starting with the wrong car. the f40 is very similar to a 308 gtb under the skin.

 

Oh boy, few days away from the forum and I see someone has been telling tales to the teacher.

The whole point of setting up another account just for this specific topic was so that it would not muddy any other posts past present or future that I make on the forum outside of this project, given the fervant negative responses of some users to anything other than factory conversions. I was straight up about this from post 1, but it seems that mischief makers with obvious hidden agendas set about spoiling that desire straight away.

I wont therefore be making any further comments on here regarding the project. I had nothing to gain by sharing the process with other ferrari enthusiasts, but thought it would be of general interest. I will though continue to participate on other topics on the forum so they dont get rid of me that easily !

To answer 348 Jeff and Rock. Before selecting the base car we thoroughly measured up all options, these being 308/328 and 348/355 examples.

The 308/328 route was too much of a compromise, sure the base f40 dna was there but it would have required engineering stretches both length and width wise which would have produced a physically correct looking car far easier, but a poorly engineered one, based on mechanicals far older than those of the f40.

The key thing with the 348/355 was it was the next car in design after the f40. When you compare base measurements, wheelbase, cabin location etc it becomes very obvious the designers used the basics from the tried and tested formula of the f40.

When you strip away the clothes of the 348/355 you then start with a superbly engineered modern baseline to apply the skin of the f40 without compromising the future abilities of the finalised car.

Being an evolution of the 348, the 355 became the obvious candidate for the project. In addition there are far more 355s being parted out than 308/328 if that helps calm the purists, as we have at least saved one from oblivion.

To answer those that said why not build a unique car based on a 355, that was not the point of the project in this instance. I love the look of the f40, but owning one is not an option for me, I will enjoy carrying out the project and will end up with a car I like the looks of, which will also be well engineered and practical to use, which in the case of the real deal is becoming less of an option even for current owners given the lack of spare components and increasing values.

Nothing beats the howl of that 5 valve engine on full chat.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qtd2yxvVR0[/ame]

Thanks for all the interest so far, this will be my last reply on the thread. If it gets dragged back up to the top at any point in the future and anyone has any questions then best to drop me a pm

cheers

 

I don't understand why you would want to make a replica F40 that will only be scorned at Ferrari events when you have the opportunity, finances and know-how to create your own one-off Ferrari design. That is a car that could be appreciated by the masses and set yourself apart as a visionary instead of a copycat.

Too bad your skills will be wasted on a car that, in the end will be looked at as residing somewhere in between a Fiero F40 replica and the lowest Ferrari on the food chain (whichever model that is).

 

Personally speaking, saving a 355 from the scrap pile is pretty noble. If you know how to do this, I think it could be cool. I just have no idea how this would work. I also like the idea of making your own version. An f40 body on a 355 is sort of falling short of what you might be capable of doing. Just my opinion. I think that you should make some sort of wide body 355 with f40 cues. It's not like if you're destroying a good car to make it and that way, not one thinks it's something it's not. If it were me, I would make it into some sort of rally car tribute.

Also, I guess I just assumed your name was Paul since other people started calling you Paul, but I don't see why you can't post here because your name is actually Paul. There are lots of us who would like to see how this can work, especially on that budget. It could be inspiring. Then again, I don't see where this whole "I'm taking my bat and ball and going home" thing seems to be coming from as I don't see where anyone has been especially mean or vitriolic.

 

I'd love to see the end result posted here. And maybe some pictures of the build itself. Just to see what kind of things you encountered and how you solved it.

 

I think it would be a great project and have to admit that I am pretty bummed that there will not be a build thread.

What about the engine? Wearing the F40 panels, will the 355 need a little more oomph?

 

i love the concept of turning one ferrari into another ala p4/5. my dream is a 430 spider into a 333sp. good luck with this one

 

Kudo's for the F40 build, I commend you for your initiative, it is great to see someone break out from the herd mentality. Opinions are free that is why they are given so fast. A lot of members condem Zahir for his tuning mods to his and others cars. Norwood and Koenig started out the same way and they were also flogged for their efforts in the beginning. Do what you want with your vision, your car, your money, your time and effort, enjoy every minute of the build. I wish you all the success, others have left the forum due the the opionated only to appear on other forums where their builds are welcome. Keep in touch in your endeavors with a PM and we can exchange ideas.
My $0.02

PS God gave you 2 ears and one mouth, use them proportionally

 

http://www.madmechanics.com/forum/general-kitcar-chat/13764-any-photo-f40-enzodesigns.html

this kit company had done it a while ago, they are no longer in business

 

Many people are suggesting he create his own personal design. Even a seasoned, highly trained designer could fail at such a project. Not to mention that it would cost substantially more, and take substantially longer. It would be cheaper to buy an F40. Think how much was spent on P4/5. Imagine how P4/5 would have come out for half the money, then half it again and again and again and again!! It would have ended up as a new set of wheels.

 

Completely agree- it's a nice idea, but the truth is that when you don't have a five-axis CNC machine or an industrial sized autoclave it's going to end up looking like a really bad kit car.

We've had too many cool projects disappear from FChat because (IMHO) people are just way too uptight about modifications around here. Personally I'd love to see this come together!

 

I think it would be an awesome project! Very different from the Fiero makeovers. I am sorry to see you pull the plug on coverage...

CC

 

You got my full support. As I have been working on projects myself, let me know if you need any physical or moral support in your build. Lenghtening of axels, A arms etc. I should have a jig ready soon as I am shortening my 355 A-arms to fit in my Alfa GTV6 and it will be adjustable to make longer or shorter ones. If you happen to be in the area of Los Angeles, get in touch we'll talk more.

In any case, good luck to you:

Steve

 

I like the idea, especially if everything lines up cabin/wheelbase/track wise. Throw a couple of hairdryers on it and you have an F40 evo of sorts...

 

Mischief makers? You announced you had another ID. Setting up a duplicate ID is against TOS. Pretty clear that you are the mischief maker with a hidden agenda...

Check the times of posts to see how long until I figured out who you were... you think no one else would have put your post history together? selling 355 body panels,... inquiring about f40 panels... not exactly hard to put 1+1 together to get 40.

What was my hidden agenda? I was supportive of your project.

Hope you reconsider. Would be fun to watch the build.

Good luck, regardless.

 

kudos to you paul
i have been working up a similar idea for last 2 years (or so), including locating OEM parts from other sources (less $)....there are the good basics, but also some hurdles
chassis weight is not insignificant, then add a roll cage to frame roof + add tortional strength (and since likely to see track time)....front screen location relative to front axle line....contrary to some thoughts, fiberglass body panels can end up weighing as much as the thin steel OEM parts....if wanting to replicate F40 dimensions of track and footwear, either new frt a-arms will be needed, or (worse) significant negative offset....rear also, but as you change wheel offset, you affect more then frt scrub, the wheel bearing loads can change, affecting that potentially....replicating the rear plexi screen is complex for a one-off and OEM is $$
cheers