F355 Spider top manual conversion snag! (new owner)

Why not just take a chainsaw and cut the top right off.

 

I have a 348 Spider and I think I’ve read that the 355 top, when converted to manual, folds like a 348 top. On the 348 top there is a center bar which must be manually moved or the top won’t fold. The awesome website, my348.com, has photos of how to fold the top and includes a photo showing the bar which must be manually moved.

Hopefully this information helps. I’ve owned my 348 less than a year and I know how frustrated I was trying to fold the top until I followed the instructions on my348.com.

Thank you, No Doubt who created the my348.com website!

 

That's a good idea. Also search for a video of a F355's top going down automatically. That'll show its expected movement.

 

Assume you've followed all the directions per this wonderful video? The top Rams must be disconnected too.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ijdng8r9Xw8

Make sure the first cross bar is being pulled "up" and not down. There are normally elastics that pull and they wear out.

 

Mine is exactly the same: the driver's seat lever doesn't seem to engage, and won't budge. I've gotten it to work to fold the seat only one time. I just put the seat all the way forward to use the top, which thankfully has only been once.

On a related note, I've concluded that here in Vegas I could daily drive a 550 Barchetta or Murci Roadster, even with their lack of a real top.

 

The roof canvas is not hard to replace. Note that the rear butress of the hood slides out, so take care.
My top advice to you is get the best replacement roof you can, read reviews ect. Because not all roof canvas fit the same, some roofs are just a tad to small and this messes up instalment at the rear and or the top of the door window.
Or just have a custum one made at a trimmer.

 

I personally will not convert my top to manual. While I continue to trouble shoot my issues, I have moved the emergency switch leads to the top switch and move the seats / windows manually and raise and lower the top with the switch.

Replacement canvas is next on my to-do list.

Does not sound easy. If you decide to replace the canvas top, please add to this thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/441033-f355-spider-top-replacement-pictures.html

 

Take it from some one who has acuallly done the job, its not hard just a little time consuming while aligning and glueing. I would rate this job a 5 out of 10.
As i have said and what was apparent in the link you posted, a quality hood canvas is key to a smooth job. Thats why the guy in the link found it a pain in the backside. I initially bought what i thought was a great prive canvas and man what a bugger it was to streatch and align. I then took it of and bought an original canvas at 3x the price, and it all went smoothly and fit perfect. A canvas only has to be a couple of millimeters to small and its no good.
If the OP has any questions, just ask.

 

Mate it was a remade one from eurospares uk. I think it was a german made one.
I was at the same point of no return as yourself, i now had to buy another one.
Fortunate for me eurospares had a brand new original one that i paid the difference for.
One thing about eurospares, they stand by there custumers.
There are however some good new aftermarket ones out there, its finding out which.
As it happens with the money i spent on the new canvas, my local trimer would have made and fitted for much less

 

Check out this Mondial video at 2:27, you can see the bar being pushed up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ093V5xycQ

And another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq_vyfBeMfo
Alden

 

It is the second bar you need to push up that I think is the same.
Alden

 

whoa whoa whoa...are you the guy selling the F355 on ebay...

 

look at my video i made at 2.20 i think thats Your problem.

 

go to post 5 of this thread. MICHAEL