1995 F355 GTS: Restoration and Major Service | Page 51 | FerrariChat

1995 F355 GTS: Restoration and Major Service

Discussion in '348/355' started by MAD828, Jul 15, 2015.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,758
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    #1251 308 GTB, Oct 31, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2021
    Here are the baseline Challenge alignment specs...


    Image Unavailable, Please Login


    Caster: Factory spec 7 degrees 10' to 7 degrees 30'

    Ride height:

    F 90mm to frame aft of front wheel well
    R 95 mm to frame ahead of rear wheel opening (no undertray)

    Changes are made depending on the track I'm at.

    My car has 2200 lb/in Front and 900 lb/in Rear Challenge springs.

    The front anti-roll bar is 0.945 inch diameter, wheel rate of 131 lb/in.

    The rear anti-roll bar is 0.748 inch diameter, wheel rate of 54 lb/in.

    Rob Schermerhorn at Delta Vee posted this article on the F355 Challenge racing setup which gives further information: Set-Up F355 Challenge for Racing

    Remember that these specifications are for F355 Challenge cars. You can explore his website for other articles which relate to your own style of driving requirements in your street car.
     
    Targatime likes this.
  2. day355

    day355 F1 Rookie

    Jun 25, 2006
    2,724
    Glad you are satisfied with his changes !
    My best specification for the ground clearance was 135 mm for the front and 155 mm for the rear.
     
  3. ShineKen

    ShineKen Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 3, 2007
    20,037
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Nostradamus
    Never realized those were a perfect fit for the frunk. That’s pretty neat.
     
    MAD828 likes this.
  4. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    Yes now I understand the term ‘fitted luggage’ it’s millimeter perfect.
     
  5. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    308 GTB likes this.
  6. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    I had one part of the interior I hadn’t refinished that was the gauge cluster above the radio so I sent that off for refinishing with Carplastix. I also sourced a NOS bezel for the mirror adjustment as the one I had previous was a reproduced item and it was not exactly the right size so it wasn’t aligned with the ash tray. This was refinished to match the console and now it’s fully done.

    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    308 GTB likes this.
  7. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    I sourced a new replacement brake delay valve to solve my brake fluid leak and I also replaced the other valve to ensure I had the braking circuit fully functioning again.

    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    308 GTB and Qavion like this.
  8. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    I made an updated video slideshow to showcase all that’s been covered so far in this thread:

     
    day355, Oz-ATL, audi_328 and 3 others like this.
  9. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    Fuel tank overhaul performed yesterday. Still trying to get the smell of fuel out of my skin haha.

    Surprisingly the gaskets were in good serviceable condition so it wasn’t necessarily required -when out and left to dry the gaskets were starting to show signs of deterioration but not coming apart.

    We must have better fuel (No Ethanol) and the fact that my car is driven regularly and doesn’t sit often probably helped.

    I opted to update the fuel sender with the new designed one from Ricambi America. Hopefully that new item will be fool proof and it claims to be a lot more accurate than the original design.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    Qavion, INTMD8 and 308 GTB like this.
  10. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    308 GTB likes this.
  11. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,758
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    Hi Elliott,

    Brilliant video!! Especially that last photo. You worked hard and it shows.

    One suggestion I'd like to make; add Ricambi's oil pressure sender boot to your restoration. When John Cribb developed it, I was one of the first to order. I ordered two in 2013; one for my 550 where the sender is exposed to all elements, and one for my F355 Challenge. Though the F355's sender isn't as exposed, I put a boot on mine since I track my car in the rain and my engine bay can get quite filthy at times...


    Image Unavailable, Please Login


    The contacts stay clean and I haven't had to clean them or replace my senders over the past eight years.


    Barry
     
    MAD828 likes this.
  12. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    INTMD8 likes this.
  13. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,758
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
  14. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 20, 2015
    14,536
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    Some folks report that the new boots don't always fit too well (and put pressure on the terminals). The terminals seem quite fragile. As I'm sure I've mentioned before, mine was broken when I bought the car... with one end held on with a self-tapping screw :rolleyes:

    Many thanks to Brian (@Serious playtime) for developing these senders for a number of different cars...

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/147477229/
     
    MAD828 likes this.
  15. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,758
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    Mine were among the first batch produced, Ian. They fit perfectly on the oil pressure senders on my 550 and F355. Perhaps that was the case with batches somewhere down the line. A PM to Daniel should be helpful.

    Barry
     
    Qavion likes this.
  16. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,758
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    But back to your thread, Elliott. It's good that you fully photo documented your restoration. This thread and your video will serve as a fine reference for those wishing to restore their cars to original condition.

    Barry
     
    MAD828 likes this.
  17. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    Thanks Barry this was the intention from the start. I must say this project has gone beyond my own expectations and it’s pretty cool to see how it has progressed and also it documents for me how much I have learnt along the way and up skilled. The F355 really is a special car and is so fun to work on - most of the time!

    From my initial post of this thread: This thread will document the restoration process as many have done prior to me. It helps when people document their cars journeys and I have taken notes from many prior examples and developed a plan to get this car up to speed. I hope this will be informative and inspirational for those looking to do the same to their F355's.
     
    308 GTB likes this.
  18. Ferrarista98

    Ferrarista98 Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 7, 2018
    298
    Full Name:
    Jason L
    Excellent work and progress. Have really enjoyed reading through.

    Question: what does updating the carbon filter do?


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
    MAD828 likes this.
  19. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    The charcoal canister is an essential part of the cars emission control systems. It’s designed to absorb the excess gasoline fumes and vapors that accumulate in your gas tank.

    I was noticing more and more fumes venting from the tank when opening the filler.

    It’s never been changed I’m at 63000kms I think the service book states to change it at 50,000 miles or a certain number of years.
     
  20. Ferrarista98

    Ferrarista98 Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 7, 2018
    298
    Full Name:
    Jason L
    Fascinating so wonder if changing this improves the smell of older cars? My 355 doesn’t seem to have much of this problem but my 964 is somewhat effected but less so than other 964s
     
  21. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    My car has high flow cats and I still smell like gas after being near the car when on. So let’s see. I just fitted it right now.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  22. Targatime

    Targatime Formula 3

    Feb 22, 2014
    1,462
    Los Angeles
    Great job on your car, always enjoy reading the updates. What's the story on the radio delete? I just removed my head unit and will probably fab a delete plate. I just don't see the point of the stock stereo. My head unit works but the speakers aren't hooked up and I think I'll just bring a bluetooth speaker with me when I want music.
     
    MAD828 likes this.
  23. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie

    Oct 8, 2011
    2,639
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Elliott Caras
    Radio delete was how the car came in 1995, it’s a factory part. I have the OEM Sony radio but I don’t have it installed as I prefer it as it came and use my right foot for music.
     
    Targatime likes this.

Share This Page