My 355 mini-Restoration story

I actually tried to warm it up and peel it off so I could save it but it's made in a way that it won't allow you to do that.

So I have no vin sticker and I don't really care. I mean the vin number is right there on the plaque so I have no vin sticker at all.

 

I just have to congratulate you on your project completion. Its an inspiration as I myself is embarking on a similar project on my 355. I just hope I can emulate your success. Good Job!

 

For those of you who want the short version of this restoration, you can see it all here only in pictures:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369210

 

Great job and congrats on doing the car exactly the way you wanted. It takes some balls to restore a modern Ferrari. This was a great thread to follow.

 

Look great!



Lemme know if you wanna sell it

 

Received a really tremendous gift from Scott (Fchatter Saw1998) who sent me a new airbag and cover for my steering wheel.

I had previously posted that the cracked and faded Cavallino was bugging me so he offered it to me as a gift and even refused to let me pay for shipping.

You can see in the pictures that the top one was not only cracked but also faded.

Scott, I am eternally grateful, you're a wonderful generous person and I enjoy my 355 so much more now because of you.
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Fab, do you still have the original 2.7 factory exhaust manifolds? If so, what do you plan on doing with them? Great car transformation by the way.




Jimmy

 

I sold them to another fchatter so I no longer have them.

 

Thanks for the reply Fab. Are you happy with the Fabspeeds?




Jimmy

 

Great job and congrats on doing the vehicle precisely the way you desired. It will require a couple balls to restore a modern Ferrari. This was actually a great thread to adhere to.

 

Wow, just found the thread! Fantastic job!

I was a little bit shocked to see the red paint job because in my eyes that green
is rare, amazing and beautifull but red looks nice too.

Greetings Christian

 

I'm curious how the fabspeed headers and cats have been holding up and working up till? Still debating if Fabspeed cats are the way to go or Hyperflow cats....

Rob

 

The biggest advantage of Fabspeed products is the low cost of the headers compared to other suppliers. Some say they´re from Taiwan and the steel is not as good but mine looked great and I also had them ceramic coated. While I was at it, I also purchased the y-pipe and catless bypass pipes from them.

However, the y-pipe and pipes are relatively simple designs and are available from other suppliers for even cheaper (Larini, Bradan, eBay, etc...) You can even get a local shop to make them and it will probably be cheaper.

Hyperflows are probably better if you have to pass emissions...

 

great thread!

 

Robert, another alternative to those cats that you mentioned is prospeed prestige or evoflow. I have purchased a set of these, but haven't installed them yet. I purchased them on a few good recommendations from other FChat members and the owner of the company does run some sales on them. Check out the parts section. I believe there is a sale going on now.

 

It's been a while since I posted.

My first summer in a Ferrari has been fabulous and I had a great time. Was able avoid major disasters but I did have a few failures.

Coming home from a long trip, my right side radiator went but I was able to drive her back to my shop without the car heating up despite having lost all the coolant.

I ended up ordering a replacement from Saldana racing and it's quite a superb looking aluminium piece.

I also had a terrible time putting in the gears so I had no choice to install a new Clutch Bearing. I ordered the piece from Hill and the car is running great again.

Between parts and labor, I'm at about 2500$ this summer. Can't complain, it's all been worth it!!!!
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Superb radiator!!! I'd love to change my old left radiator for an aluminium one like yours someday.

I am totally agree about avoiding major disasters; Last track day, a friend of mine lost his high revving Honda engine (a new one Toda Racing $16K stroked engine) just by loosing all the coolant by a cooling hose. It happened so fast that today I'm still scared about the risk of an old radiator explodes.

Congratulations for your nice restoration proyect.

Best regards.

 

How much was that rad?

 

About 1k including shipping.

Pretty much same price as Oem but much much better all-aluminium build as opposed to plastic

 

Read the entire thread today. Great and informational read. Those who say it can't be done are often interrupted by others doing it! (a favorite quote of mine).

 

Awesome thread! I am supposed to be sleeping right now but instead here I am reading your wonderful thread which is full of admiration and motivation! It is truely a Patrick Swayze roundhouse kick to the head to anybody saying it can't be done!

 

Thanks but I would say it's more of a Jet Li kick, lol!

There are a couple of other guys with threads far more challenging than this, user Evgeny and the other one being a burned spider. I hope those guys make it....you really have to be committed and put in lots of hours...

 

What year was it that the factory replaced your headers for free? Old thread, but still hoping for a response...I am guessing this was done when the car was still under the warranty? Did you put a lot of miles on the car as the 1st owner?

 

That rad looks like a super nice quality part!

 

It is indeed, ended up needing to change the other one this past summer so now I have both sides done and I'm super happy about not having to worry about those crappy plastic OEM rads anymore.

They are made by Saldana in California but they just don't sell to the public so their retailer is Euroquipe in Illinois (Not sure if they are a sponsor here?) but the service is quick and friendly. I don't see other alternatives to a busted Rad than these all-aluminium ones.