Thinking of building a 456M rebody to a 375MM PF Tribute

Okay Guys, I bought this 456M GTA with a plan of breaking it to build a project car, and to be honest I am not sure I can do it. I only paid $47k and I was thinking that I could get enough back for parts to make it a good way to get an engine and a title. I drove it across the country from Atlanta to Grand Junction, CO and it needs some love, but it is nice. I'm getting engine errors because they only replaced one of O2 sensors. There is a small leak from the water pump. The rear dampers are leaking. The front disks and pads are shot. The gearbox is leaking and has thrown a couple of errors. I have also seen a couple of suspension errors. The headlamps are winking at every girl that goes by. The interior trim need to be cleaned up. The colors don't match and the top dash trim around the airbag looks like it was fitted by a five-year-old. The wiper hits the hood and passenger mirror is hanging off.

The gearbox is not good by today's standards. I could possibly do a manual conversion, but I think that there is a lot of cost to that and I would just be better off buying a manual or a 599 for conversion. Is there a gearbox control unit and can it be tuned or some way to make it behave better?

The brakes suck, maybe I can fit bigger disks and space out the calipers.

I guess the real question is, should I fix it up and sell it or stick with plan A?

 

I guess that I should spill the beans on plan A. I am thinking of fitting the engine into a Mk5 Factory Five Roadster and modifying the body to be a 375MM tribute.
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Hi Guys,

I looking for some opinions and advice on a project that I am planning. I have always loved the yearly 50's Ferraris ever since I was an apprentice mechanic at a Ferrari garage back in the late 70's. I have recently picked up a 456M GTA with the plan of rebodying it to be a tribute to the 375MM Spyder by Pinin Farina. I want something to drive, not to just keep in the garage, so I want a tribute with modern touches, not a replica. One of the things that made me chose this project is that the 375 is very similar to the most replicated sports car, the Shelby Cobra. The Cobra is also based off of a 50's roadster, the AC Ace.

This makes the project reality easy as Factory Five Racing have recently release a space framed MK5 version that supposedly has all the ride and handling sorted with modem running gear. Comparing the bodies, the 375 width would need to be stretched about 20%, but the wheelbase is almost the same. The biggest difference is at the rear end. I could not believe how big the Cobra is compared to the 375. I will have to move the gas tank and probably loose all trunk space.

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Here it is marked up on my MK2 FFR Roadster.
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Just throwing a tape measure over the two cars, I will be able to get the engine in there, I am just not sure how low I can get it at the moment. I am trying to get a scan of the engine to send off to factory five, they won't release the CAD of their frame; which I understand. David did say he will pull them together to see what can be done.

QUESTIONS
1) Where in the US can I see one, and possibly take some dimensions?
2) Is there someone out there that I should contact for advice, or are you all here?
3) Is this sacrilege? I do know that there is a fiberglass 375 out there. I could always get an aluminum body build off of my modified body later.
4) Would I be able to keep the title? I believe as long as I keep all the VIN plates off of my 456 and I add them to the FFR chassis I should be fine.
5) Should I replicate the rear fender vents? I'm thinking just the top one. I have seen them without any, as well.
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6) Has anyone got an idea about getting a windshield setup? I do like the one-piece wrapped jobs, but I think that the two individuals would be easier as they are not width dependent.

That should be enough to start with, I will add more if you guys get involved and make this a valuable and enjoyable source of information for me and anyone else mad enough to try this.

Ricky

 

Well, you need a good engine whatever you do.

 

Thanks Aerosurfer,

I counted about $10k just to get a grown-up to tidy up the interior and at least $5k on other parts. I have no problem putting in the labor for the mechanical work. That is what this is all about. Work for 45 year until I can retire and spend my time doing what I was doing at 17 but, on my own car The issue it I will be throwing money away as it will probably never be worth more than $65k, unless I do a manual conversion and as you said that will be braking new ground and at least another $10k in parts. I do believe that just driving it until I need the engine is the best way to go and then break it.

Sure I will service the engine myself, regularly. I was looking into an after market ECU as the 456M ECU's are more difficult to pay with than the earlier models. Do you have any recommendations?

I was thinking of using the same Termec 5 or 6 speed gearbox as they use in the FFR and everything back from there so it will be modern and easy to maintain. I have just got to figure out how to mate them. I may even make up a gate for fun.

 

So... I am hearing a clear BREAK IT, right?

 

I never wanted a GTA. I am not a fan of that gearbox. So, I'm not going make it nice. It was just a cheap way to get a title and an engine. I have a daily driver that is better in almost every way. I'll drive it until I need the engine and then break it. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I don't think I have the caps and I'm guessing I want to keep engine trim. If there is anything else you guys need please let me know.

Also can anyone please answer my question from above?

 

Thanks John, I will give that a read.

I guess that the one thing that I could do that might help you all out, and give this car another stay of execution, is try and figure out if I can make that Tremec 6-speed mate to the engine. https://tremec.com/aftermarket/products/magnum/ This unit allows the shifter to move around. If I can't get an engine scan, I will need to pull my engine anyway and at that point I will want something to do waiting to move the 375 project car on.

If I get that going, I will need is to figure out a pedal box, I was thinking the Wilwood for the 375 project, https://www.wilwood.com/Pedals/Index maybe they have something to fit the 456. Obviously I could go factory, but that could be spendy and at this point, I see no value if chasing factory parts. They are rarer, worn out and older technology.

I will need a traditional limited slip differential again, I was thinking to follow FFR and use a 2015 onward Mustang unit. I would imagine there are a few wrecked Mustangs out there. https://www.ebay.com/itm/187083678945?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&_ul=US&amdata=enc%3A1M6qJdsU0SRKL_zWCnALnQQ24

Finally, I just go down to a local drive line shop and build a couple of drive shafts to the rear wheels. You won't need any control systems and you have a reasonably priced manual conversion that makes the 456 more of a car that everyone wants today. Will it be worth the same as a factory manual; obviously not. But, it will be worth more than the cost of the conversion.