(flame suit on) Hi people, First of all, some background on why I am asking this. I am currently in the process of fitting an F355 trans to my 348. Among the many things in the to-do list, one is to modify the console to fit the 6 speed gear lever + gate from the F355. Since the 6 speed gate is wider than the 5 speed gate, a straight fit is not possible. At first, I thought of simply designing a custom part for that section of the console. But after giving it more thought, I thought about simply using the F355 console, including all its buttons and switches. That would mean replacing the buttons from the top-end of the console in the 348 (hazards, defroster, fog light, etc.) by switches sitting next to the gear lever, as seen in the F355. Since doing that would imply modifying the top-end trim of the console to delete the buttons, I started toying with the idea of going one step further and just installing the whole bottom-end of the center console from the F355. That means, gearbox lever trim with buttons/switches + relocating HVAC controls to the bottom. With that in mind, the top-end of the console would end up with no instruments (save for the temperature and fuel gauges). This would in turn allow me to implement a project I've always longed for: installing a big center screen to act as media center (play music, radio, navigation, etc.) While this sounds very far fetched, my idea is to retain as much as possible the stock look of things, hence the re-using of trim parts from the F355, rather than going 100% aftermarket/custom. Ideally, I'd like my project to draw inspiration from the Steve Maxwell's 348 twin turbo, who also had a custom/modified centre console. So my question for the community is: do you think it is somewhat feasible to make the HVAC controls from a F355 to work on a 348? I have checked the schematics at eurospares, and it seems that hardware-wise, both systems are very much the same. Unfortunately, I have seen that the F355 has a control unit, while the 348 has no such thing. F355 (part 46): https://www.eurospares.co.uk/parts/ferrari/355-52-motronic/cooling-heating/evaporator-unit-and-passengers-compartment-aeration-41150/64324800 348: https://www.eurospares.co.uk/parts/ferrari/348-1993-tb-ts/cooling-heating/evaporator-unit-and-passengers-compartment-aerating-23736 What's your opinion? I already count on it not being exactly cheap to execute... so at this stage, I am mostly concerned about (reasonable) feasibility for the moment. What steps, parts, modifications, etc. you think it will be involved. Numbers will come at a later time. Thanks beforehand for your support & help!
The F355 has two main components, the dash controller and the ECU. Shown are the top and bottom of the dash controller, and the separate ECU. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The 348 has an all-in-one. Show is the top and bottom of the single unit. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Sounds hideously expensive and complicated. The F355 HVAC ECU is in the forward luggage compartment. You would need to find a place in your F348 cabin to put the F355 ECU (i.e. near the location of the old 348 HVAC control panel), so that you wouldn't have to put in large new wiring harnesses. Is the plug on the 348 HVAC unit the same as the plug on the 355 ECU? (and do the pin numbers correspond). In the photos above, the yellow plug does look similar. Irrespective, you'll have to find male (?) connector plugs to construct a wiring harness between the F355 ECU to the F355 HVAC Control Panel. I'm not sure how readily available the plugs on these old Italian electronic components are. I don't think new F355 control panels (P/N 64310500 in Celcius) and ECU units (P/N 64324800) are still available (except on the second-hand market). Prices for second-hand ECUs range from U$500 (with broken bits) to Euro 2,700. Second hand F355 control panels are over Euro 1000. Are all sensors identical (internally)? e.g. the external air temperature sensor on the wing mirror.
The systems (Ventilation, AC, Heating, etc) are similar so it can be done for sure But I doubt it will be easy I am thinking myself of replacing the ECU by an Arduino microcontroller Just wonder why you want a 355 gearbox in the 348 Just buy one of each and enjoy both
I would get the gearbox in first then tackle the console/electric swap. One thing at a time may be a good bet.
So it seems to me that it can be done. A matter of sourcing the ECU, controls and possibly the correct temperature sensor. The parts don't come cheap, but I am sure I can make the money back by selling the 348 control unit. Those are horribly expensive too. Regarding buying a F355... I wish I could afford another stablemate! still, even then, I'd keep on thinking how cool it would be to have 6 speeds in the 348. And yeah, replacing the whole HVAC brain with an Arduino/rPi would be incredible. Considering that I would like to install a big screen in the upper part of the console, it would be even cooler to integrate digital controls for the HVAC on it. However, that requires a lot of knowledge in electrics, which I simply lack. I can do programming (I do that for a living), but I have two left hands when it comes to using an multimeter and designing circuits. Thanks a lot for the feedback, people. You really are very helpful!
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There is a series of youtube videos and some posts out here with a guy who made his own hvac panel. May be worth checking out. here is one swap https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/my-fix-for-the-348-climate-control-problem-with-pictures.478776/ Video, 3 parts if I recall Lineage
Ferrari people (aka potential buyers) really dont like stuff thats not supposed to be there. There are some that dont mind but are a very small minority. Just keep that in mind as down the road resale will be an issue.
I had one of those cars... almost too perfect to drive. My current 348 is all mine now. Original parts go in the bin (i.e. storage).
Great Idea I may steal it !!! The HVAC system is monkey buutt simple in the car, only the contrioller is a mess in the 348 and 355, a PI controller with a few sensors would easily run it. Go for it, use a couple switches until your ready to do it
I really like the 348 center console and hvac controls, but better than a 355. That being said, the only part that would need to be changed is a single plastic part to take the wider gate correct? The yellow twin turbo 348 Challenge car had a 6-speed and kept a very 348 stock looking interior. There’s also a red 348 on youtube in a driving video that has a 6-speed in it, so it has been done before. Doing that would be much better than doing an entire 355 hvac control setup I would think.
Exactly, the plastic trim piece to take a wider gate would be needed. That can be pulled straight from the F355. The thing is that the gate, being that wide, wouldn't allow to place the four buttons next to it, like in the original arrangement. The 4-button cluster next to the gate, as far as I remember from the last time I took that piece off, comes as a single piece and is connected with a single wiring loom. That would need to be separated into single buttons potentially relocated under the gate, rather than on the side. The wiring loom would also need to be modified. That's where keeping the stock configuration starts getting complicated. I think that's what has been done in the yellow 348 TT project. Instead, I thought it would be simpler to replace this button cluster with the button cluster from the F355, as I would be using the trim piece from the F355 too. And once you think about this, then the question is: why not freeing up space on the top part? Anyway, right now I am entertaining different options. This is more brainstorming about feasibility. Also, the idea of using a rPi/arduino to control the whole HVAC is really compelling. Those videos show that it can and has been done. I imagine a similar setup, where the stock looks are respected and everything is driven from a single computer in the background. The finicky plastic buttons that control the HVAC could be replaced by tactile buttons using the same graphics (but still arranged in a matrix like now). Old school throwback with new technology I appreciate the flow of ideas. You guys are very helpful! Ah and btw, resale value is not a concern. My car has 135,000 km in the clock and has had an accident. No one would buy a "lemon" like this one, so all hopes of speculation are lost. This one is a keeper, so it gives me the freedom to make it unique without fears of losing value Again, thanks a lot!
