WARNING: 348 Purists look away!!!

Well, after several years of trying to "embrace the grates" and getting no where. I finally decided to follow several members of the brotherhood and change the 348 tail lights. Here are some pics. I wanted a satin black finish like the challenge grill and I didn't want the lights to point up. It took me several nights last week including the weekend, but I'm very happy with the result. I have all the original parts to switch it back to stock if I ever want. Wanted to thank Ray at Raywheels for his help, Dennis aka Bushwhacker for answering several emails and Craig at Tillack's for his advice and being my backup in case it got to be too big of a job for me. Remember it's not supposed to look like a 355, but more like Ferrari's in general with the round tail lights. 308, 328, 355, 360 etc..
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I think it looks pretty clean!!! Nice job...

 

Looks fantastic Brent.

 

I really like your attention to detail in the way the tail lights aren't tilted upwards like all the other round light conversions I've seen. It looks like it came from the factory and not "kit carish" at all. Very nice.

 

It looks great!!! Anytime a 348 owner's car takes on the look of a 355 is OK in my book !!! What base 'grill' did you start with 355 or 360???

 

nice neat job and it looks good...but IMO part of the 348's character is in the 80s spec rear grille...

 

I changed my 348 to 355 bumpers because I like the way the bottom lip of the 355's are flared out and not sucked in like the 348 bumpers. And I had comments to change the door as well, but I had to keep the rear grille because it goes with the door vents. If I changed the rear grille to 4 rounds then I'd have to change the door vents to 355. But I can't do it, the horizontal lines of the rear grille and door vents "are" 348. The bumpers, not so much...

That does look nice though

Whats next on the list??

 

Looks like poo poo.
Sorry, don't like.
In the original design from Italy, the strakes on the back were meant to match the strakes on the sides.
Looks like someone kit bashed a 355 and a 348. So now it doesn't look like either.
Enzo must be screaming from the grave.
If you want a 355 why not just buy one ?

 

Looks like a nice install. Good job!

 

Interesting. Are you interested in making one of these for hire? Also, I noticed that the bottom portion of the tail lights is inset from the frame at least a half inch. I guess this is the only part that bugs me. Are there other representative examples of this in Ferraridom?

 

Can't say I'm gonna do it to mine but you've done it the right way Brent, you've got the tilt right on the taillamps that makes all the difference.

Nice work. Looks good with the Speedlines too.

Cheers
Kevin

 

I bought the kit from here. http://www.speedlinewheels-usa.com/Default2.htm It's their updated kit that has more adjusting brackets to get the lights at the correct angle. I did also add a couple brackets of my own for extra support. The lights are inset on purpose as I wanted it to look like the lights with other ferrari rear tail light panels. (see pic)
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I guess the main thing I like about the 355 is the tail lights or I guess you could say the only things that I don't like about the 348 are the wheels and the tail lights. Tried everything, including titrating up my Prozac dose, but couldn't get past those lights. That being said I agree about the strakes on the back matching the strakes on the side. The only 355 that I would consider would be a 1999 model and that is just out of my price range. I guess if I ever wake up one morning craving the grill I can switch it back in about two hours. Sorry for causing Enzo to scream in his grave.

 

Looks great Brent!, Fantastic fit and finish on your install. Very cool that Ray has a new mount kit for proper vertical alignment.WTG!

 

I have seen 348 doors with only the strakes off and IMO they look even better than the 355 versions. They have that square-ish apearance that look a bit more aggressive.

 

It's your car, do what makes you happy. Looks really good to me. I get some of the same flak on the Corvette forum. Zora and Enzo rolling in their graves is not likely, they both strove (strived?) to improve their creations regularly. Even Ferrari tried to do something about the 348 tailights on the SS. I especially like the fact that you kept it returnable to stock. But, hey, I'm not an owner yet. Give me a week. I plan to change the wheels and tailights.
Bee Jay

 

Nice work Brent. Especially with the way you angled the tails lights properly. That is one of my biggest gripes with people putting on the rond tail lights. I can't stand when they are sticking up. It looks so kit-car. But you did a nice job. Say, did you have to cut part of the rear metal out to get the lights to fit right?

 

Looks good, and not botched up like some others! Keep up the good work!

 

And you are sure that Enzo wasn't rolling in his grave over the original design of the 348 lights??

Doesn't look like a Ferrari??

Doesn't look like either a 348 or a 355??

Maybe he likes the side strakes and hates the stock lights (like me).....

Cripes Lenny...

 

Hi Ernie,

Yes there is some of the metal that needs to be cut. I cut it in such a way that I won't need to weld any pieces back when and if I put it back to stock. It would be hard to see as the rear of the lights are covered by those black pastic covers. Hope all is well.

Brent

 

The install came out great. Wheels are a nice addition also.


Darrell.

 

I guess I was going for that Enzo Mule look!
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Wouldn't that be *****en to own. Imagine that car at a track day. People wouldn't know what PASSED them. I forgot what it sold for at auction, but it wasn't very much.


Darrell.

 

Brent,

It looks geat! But them I'm certainly not a purist! Did you consider painting it red? The yellow car ontheir site is a bit much but I think red would be sweet. As for looking like the Enzo, you've got the tail, and the CF interior, now you just need that slight wheel base extension!

john

 

Wow, I think your 348 looks great with the 355-look !
Wished it was available here through someone when I had my 348.

Great improvement !