I know.. I know.. another key thread. So I was on eBay and noticed this key: New Uncut Remote Key Shell Case Fob 3 Butotn for Ferrari 458 Italia 2010 2014 | eBay It was really cheap so I bought it. Was very excited to see if I could convert it to a 360 key. I know.. I know.. 3 button remote.. I'd have to replace the whole system to get that working and am not at that point yet.. I got some ft46 key blanks that fit the 360. I had one cut to fit my 360 key. (have others) So it arrived yesterday. First I noticed that the square key blade was enbedded into the plastic. And it had an upper and lower cover. - I heated the blade with a gas burner and then pulled out the square key. - I then cut the ft46 key blank that I made into a straight key with some notches with my dremel. - Then I drilled into the black plastic key with a dremel to enlarge the opening. - I then heated my ft46 key blank and pressed it into the key. The plastic melted and held the key blade into the plastic. I put it into the fridge for a couple minutes to cool it. - Then I put some foam and a nickel in it for weight. Works and looks great. I ordered another for the red backing if I want in the future, or to just have another key as a spare. Total was about $40. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Curt, very Clever, inexpensive, and looks great. My question is, are top and bottom (cavallino rampante side and button side) interchangeable? If so how bout using 2 to make one key for now and hold the button for later if u decide to incorporate the remote. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You're always tinkering with *****. You're the best kind of person for this hobby plus you share your victories. Thanks for sharing.
Where do you buy the blank ? I was just about to buy one of the Japanese one for $249 . I bought a knock off some years back and it hasn't held up well . I'm ordering 3 today. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Nice. That said, though I thought I'd want something like this, I've come to appreciate the old key and its weathered patina as part of owning an older car. In 10 years it'll officially be a classic and the key will reflect that fact all the more.
When you get a key blank, first of course get it cut. In this case I just want a spare for the heck of it... so... Take a dremel with a cutting wheel or potentially a hack saw and cut down the key blank. this is a partial cut, you can see the key blank that comes with it on the table behind. It needs to be about that size. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Finish the cut until the blank is about the same size as the original key blank. Note the new key is a bit wider. I needed to file this one down a bit as you can see the top is a bit scraggly. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Heat the new key with a torch or heat source and pull the key blade out with a vice grips. Image Unavailable, Please Login
As you can see that the center piece has a key blank opening that is a bit narrower than the new key blank.. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Use a dril to open the back part of the pocket of the key blank. The drill can also be used to widen the pocket a bit for the new key. be careful with this.. the new plastic will have to melt to hold the new key blade in so you don't want to take out too much! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Heat up the key blank and push it into the black plastic. Be careful! it's hot.. You might have to align it just right to get it in nice and straight. The holes and slats in the metal will melt to the plastic and hold it in (note the hole I drilled into the top part of the key blank and the slats on the side of the new blank). Image Unavailable, Please Login
Put the hot key into the fridge or freezer to cool it, then trim off the plastic carefully on the outside with an X-acto or blade. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Weigh the key with some foam and change if you want. Then click on the outer plastic covers. If you have two red pieces with the cavallino they will fit on the key, one on each side. (An aside, if the blade ever pops out I'll probably drill a hole in the plastic through the blade and then put a post to hold it in with some super glue) Enjoy! Image Unavailable, Please Login