Advice on restoration | FerrariChat

Advice on restoration

Discussion in '348/355' started by Lesplaces, Oct 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM.

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  1. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
    Would love some thoughts on any work I should do here to get this interior in top shape...I already have a new non airbag wheel to put in as it's a 2.7. what else could I do here to improve
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  2. ChoonHound

    ChoonHound Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 13, 2022
    2,271
    Saint Michaels, MD
    Full Name:
    Lucas
    Seems nice from those pics, but the pics are pretty low quality.
     
  3. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,862
    North Wiltshire, UK
    looks good! drive it and enjoy it !!!
     
  4. Timmo

    Timmo Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2017
    719
    Continental Europe
    Sounds more like you want to show off your car that seems in very good condition already :p

    I'd have a look at exhaust hangers as exhaust tips seem lower than they should. The pumpkin heatshield is missing.

    Enjoy in good health!
     
  5. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
    Thanks forthe info. Actually I am a bit OCD and want to get to top condition but all good. I will of course do the most important and drive it.
     
  6. Portofino

    Portofino Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    947
    Yorkshire UK / Switzerland/ Antibes France
    Full Name:
    Portofino
    Ex Itiala Autosport ?
    I would drive it get some seat time in it and check for any mechanical bugs .
    Regarding the interior you are on a hiding ( no pun intended) to nothing maintaining crema interior in every day use .
    It will drive you nuts and look shabby PDQ .

    For the none U K. Owners this crema interior and Ferrari thing is a U.K. “ Kings new suit “ phenomenon.
    There are so many in the U.K. that owners / dealers / traders all are forced to talk them up to keep the flow of cars changing hands .

    The European Ferrari community don’t understand why Brits love this .

    Door sils have some foreign plastic coating with a silly weave pattern . That wants returning to OEM mid Matt black . It’s isn’t carbon fibre obviously is a plastic substance. Why save weight there and no where else ? Makes no sense .As it adds weight.
     
  7. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
    Sounds good. Yes us Brits love the crema (me included) , can't help it. It's in our DNA so dealers don't need to talk then up -we seek it out. Calls us . Any advice where to source the doors sills ?
     
  8. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
    I will be doing around 2k miles a year so not every day use. Who uses a 355 every day ? Most sunny weekends though which is about 5 in the UK !
     
  9. Senshi458

    Senshi458 Formula Junior
    Sponsor Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 17, 2015
    915
    Norway
    Full Name:
    Reza
    Would look sick with carbon seats! If you interested let me know :)
     
  10. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
    Thanks but I actually prefer the original seats. Not a fan of the carbon seats. But I know they are sought after.
     
  11. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,756
    Leatherique !

    Paint (yes paint) on a thin layer of Leatherique rejuvenator oil and let it sit in 90ºF+ heat for a week*.
    Then wipe clean with Leatherique cleaning solution.

    (*) yes I did see that it is LHD and that natural 90ºF+ heat is going to be rare, but the heat allows the oil to fully penetrate the leathre.
     
    Lesplaces likes this.
  12. Portofino

    Portofino Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    947
    Yorkshire UK / Switzerland/ Antibes France
    Full Name:
    Portofino
    Have you had the wheel off and arch liners to waxoil ( or any other rust mitigation product of choice) the suspension and inner edges of the arches ? Done the fixations too ? Checked the brake pad thickness and cleaned the disk top hats .
    Opened up the battery compartment and checked the connections and fixation + rust proofed that cover and platform ?

    While the fwd rears are off eyeballed the the edges of the cam covers and cam seals to record what stage of weeping oil you have …if any ? Checked the alternator isn’t getting dripped upon ?

    These ^ are tasks you need to do to get a handle on its true condition and where you are going with it .
     
  13. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
    Super helpful advice. Will do all that.
     
  14. Timmo

    Timmo Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2017
    719
    Continental Europe
    Why the clamp on the PS tank cap?
     
  15. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
  16. phrogs

    phrogs F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 13, 2004
    7,366
    Kzoo Michigan
    That's not the power steering cap.


    Yet there is a clamp on the power steering cap which doesn't belong there.
     
  17. Lesplaces

    Lesplaces Rookie

    Sep 7, 2025
    45
    Full Name:
    Alex Charles
    I've since read threads here saying there is a known risk early models can fly off at high rpm. Probably a sensible precaution.
     

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