Power Steering in a 348

Yes, there is a company that does this. It's Ferrari and their offering is the F355.

Seriously, this is hard. You have to find room for the 355 rack, mounting for the pump and associated plumbing.

 

Since the beginning, the 348 has received raves about its steering.

But it's a fair question considering the amount of urban/suburban traffic nowadays.

There's a company in Holland who offers a well-engineered electric-steering system for antiques and classics.

EZ Electric Power Steering

And they offer a solution for the 348 as well.

Ferrari 348TB

 

I considered this at one stage. EZ was what I was enquiring about. Easy install also. Brochure for 348 attached
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Mel, would you please share with us as to why you want to modify to PS? Is it the extra force needed during parking lot maneuvers?

 

I thought the EZ was about 2-3k (not sure if that's fitted), from old posts. Not sure what the parts for used 355 pieces would be.

Given the commonality between them, I wonder if it would fit. Similarly, not sure what the mondialT parts are, or there Bosch stock equivalents.... and if the Tsystem would fit in the space.

As someone with a shoulder injury I appreciate the low speed issue. But I found wheel/tyre combos and geometry set up make a huge difference too (appreciate mines a mondial, not a 348).


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If you pump up the front tires to 40lbs or so, it'll help a lot.
A pump and bracketry from a Mondialt and a 355 rack should do the trick as well, but expensive installation. If done along with belt service, not so bad, tho.

 

i installed EZ Steering for my 92 348 TS. And am very glad that I did. However, i should add that i use the car mainly in an urban environment where there is a lot of parallel parking involved. So, it's godsend for me.

Before installing, it was all huff and puff for me to park my car and to get out of the parking lot.

 

As an F355 owner who thinks the F355 steering is over-boosted and a bit numb, I advise you not to.

 

I know we talked about the issue you have.

One thing I would consider is going slightly smaller on the front tires and increase the air pressure a bit. It may be enough to make it comfortable for you.

I know your not driving that at 160 MPH through the canyons as much as you did last week

 

I had no idea this existed. As a 348 owner, one of the reasons I like it is the simplicity of the mechanicals...and to me the power steering is just something else to break...or leak.

But interesting that people make this conversion!

 

CM,
Does the EZ steering assist at all speeds or only during slow speeds?

 

I have a 2 '69 Alfa Spiders and an '87 Porsche Carrera. All manual steering. My 348 has the lightest steering of them all.

 

Power assist is supposed to totally cut off above 30 km/h (I recall) but I don't think it does totally. So, it still feels a little lighter than if it was not powered at all. The system was supposed to come with a potentiometer which you can supposedly adjust the amount of assistance required but mine does not come with it. Long story.

So, if you fit one from EZ steering, make sure you get one with the potentiometer.

 

FWIW, an acquaintance has the EZ setup on an XK150, and loves it.

 

Don't do it. Just deal with the parking issues

 

This. Live with it. If it's that big of a deal sell the car. The 348 has perhaps the best steering feel of any Ferrari built since.

 

Some motoring journalists have actually suggested that the 348 has the best steering feel of any production Ferrari ever made!

For example, according to EVO magazine (From: Ferrari 458 Italia meets 308, 348, F355, 360 and F430 | Evo ):

"Vipul Dave, who has kindly brought this 348 along, suggests that I don’t bother with second gear while the car’s cold, saying, ‘It’s simply not worth it.’ Of course, I forget this completely as I move the lever out of the dog-leg first on the way down the hill and try to push it forwards for second. Nothing. It simply won’t go in. So I pull back for third, which is a little less reluctant, and the low revs chunter as I let the clutch up and we head down towards the village.

As we gather pace like the rolling stone, however, I forget all about the gearshift, because the simple, unairbagged, Momo Corse wheel is coming alive in my hands. It literally starts wriggling around, talking excitedly about all the bumps in the road and sometimes making a bigger gesture as a camber attracts its attention. Despite the lack of assistance and the wheel’s relatively small diameter, it’s not heavy in any way, there’s just perfect weight and no slack to add to the constant communication.

The 348, if I’m honest, was probably the car I was least excited about driving, assuming it would just be a poorer, slower first stab at the 355. But now I’m excited because it’s instantly obvious this car has some of the best steering, possibly the best, that I have ever sat behind."

And:

"There are similarities and differences from first to last but each has its own distinct personality and you could find multiple perfectly rational and perfectly irrational reasons for being excited by any one of them. For example, my highlight was probably the 348’s steering, and that’s not something I’d expected at the beginning of the day. The point is that they all do justice to the small rectangular badge they share on their noses. And that’s a huge relief to the small boy in me."

 

If you are able to install a power steering kit that would cut off all power assistance at speeds exceeding 30 km/h, that would work perfectly.

 

I do have the black sheep F348ts, driving without power steering is like walking into a gym and trying to have a bicep of 16 inches. I stand 5' 4" for those 6' footer, it would be peanuts for you guys.


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That's exactly what the ezpowersteering electric kit does, although I thought it was 15 km/h cut off if I recall. I actually found a pictorial install out on the web once not sure of it was a 348 or 328 but same thing. Was pretty straight forward.

I roll even the slightest the steering lightens up. When parking on curbs and what not I work the clutch to keep rolling even the slightest and it is not an issue, same as older porches. Not sit still and try and crank and yes it sucks. Don't do that, work the pedals.

 

Is there anyone else with this system fitted or does anyone know pricing?

 

Check 308 forum think some there have it. Cost is 3Kish.