1995 F355 GTS: Restoration and Major Service | Page 6 | FerrariChat

1995 F355 GTS: Restoration and Major Service

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

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  1. MAD828

    MAD828 F1 Rookie
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    #126 MAD828, Jul 18, 2015
    One post above will answer this Andy! I like the idea of a film as they will get wrecked again.

    I'd love to see your car, sounds like you have done the job on it too. There aren't many gems around.
     
  2. Andy 355

    Andy 355 Formula Junior

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    #127 Andy 355, Jul 18, 2015
    Sweet mate. I have been following your thread and have basically identical photos on my camera of all you have done, i have to my car including the rear window mould while engine out. Also been through the interior resto aswell. 2years to do thats all.... Agree, not many concourse 355s in Aus!
     
  3. MAD828

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    #128 MAD828, Jul 18, 2015
    Awesome we have to meet up. My friend just bought a 98 355 Berlinetta, manual, red on tan. He is doing the job on it too.

    Who did the work for you?
     
  4. Andy 355

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    #129 Andy 355, Jul 18, 2015
    Ha Ha! yes we must meet!! I did all my own work as i own a european car workshop and have had 25 years on exotics. I also pulled the heads on mine while out,guides,valves,degree cams etc. Also I did full pumpkin rebuild aswell as flywheel and concourse engine bay and underside prep. Same as you,rims,bolts,centres,bolt inserts,valves and i went for pirelli tyres... As i say glad its all cheap!!!!!
     
  5. 355dreamer

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    #130 355dreamer, Jul 18, 2015
    Thread of the month candidate! Awesome work!
     
  6. MAD828

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    #131 MAD828, Jul 18, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thanks 355dreamer. I took inspiration from your white GTS and managed to find a spare targa panel. Its currently giallo, and going in for paint on Tuesday. That way I can have the berlinetta look and keep the original numbered black top as it come from factory.

    I do like the look of the black top on certain angles though. But I required the pouch and roof cover which came as a nice package with the roof, and they wouldn't be coming up for sale too often.
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  7. 8500rpm

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    #132 8500rpm, Jul 18, 2015
    Impressively thorough work here. Love this thread. I am sure you will also love the faux-Berlinetta look with your new painted top. Very nice for you to find a spare unit!

    -A Berlinetta owner
     
  8. MAD828

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    #133 MAD828, Jul 18, 2015
    Thanks very much, I look forward to seeing the result of the paint work and the new top. I will have it custom reupholstered on the inside in tan leather. I have never seen this option on an Australian delivered car, but the inside of the yellow top has a blue hue to the fabric unlike the tan hue that the black original one has.

    Does anyone have a pic of a Targa panel optioned with leather from factory?
     
  9. MAD828

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    #134 MAD828, Jul 18, 2015
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  10. BRDC

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    #135 BRDC, Jul 19, 2015
    Screws lined up, too! Nice detail. :)
     
  11. darrenliu

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    #136 darrenliu, Jul 20, 2015
    hey Mad, where did you get those clear lens, i need to get a set too. How much were they?
     
  12. MAD828

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    #137 MAD828, Jul 20, 2015
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    With the Tubi test pipes in place and Tubi Evolution exhaust the sound is very loud and truly epic.

    I'm missing the valve changeover sound that the stock system emits (I think its one of the best attributes of the 355's note) now its loud at idle, very loud before 4000rpm and F1 screaming at the top end.

    I have what seem to be great condition OEM catalysts, in storage so I decided while waiting for the car to have its bumper and roof painted I would set about making them look like new on the outside again.

    Once I have the car back, as an experiment I will reinstall the cats and see if that tones the sound down a touch before the bypass opens. I know I won't miss the cold start fumes!

    Also interested to see if there is any performance change or loss of response. We don't have emissions testing here and being a 2.7 it doesn't get any CELs from test pipes, it is however illegal and abit testing on longer drives.

    Here are some pics of the progress with polishing up the catalytic convertors. I got them a bit better after these pics were taken, and will follow up with the process I used to get them shiny.

    I also ordered new donut gaskets, bolts, springs and nuts to clean up the exhaust area and will likely treat the Y-Pipe with a similar treatment to get it looking like new- for the time being.
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  13. MAD828

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    #138 MAD828, Jul 20, 2015
    Hey Darren, they were from Eurospares, cant recall the price though. Not too expensive in the scheme of things.
     
  14. MAD828

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    #139 MAD828, Jul 20, 2015
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    One of my best friends got caught up in how good the F355 is and managed to score himself a F355 Berlinetta 98 Manual. We are applying what I have learned from my car to his and eventually it will get the full treatment too. I now have quite a few friends with an F355, and thankfully this one actually drives his!

    I always wanted a Berlinetta, but its slim pickings in Australia. I'm more then happy with my GTS and enjoy the roof off experience. I can indeed tell the Berlinetta is stiff and the turn in is sharper. But seeing as I prefer a 2.7 and the no airbag wheel id say we are about even.

    Both cars are almost identical spec, and with almost identical mileage. A challenge grill is on route for him too.
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  15. darrenliu

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    #140 darrenliu, Jul 20, 2015
    Thanks Mad, this is easily the best 355 post i have ever seen and most informative (and i had been on Fchat for nearly 8 years)
     
  16. darrenliu

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    #141 darrenliu, Jul 20, 2015
    im interested to hear how your car sounds with the oem cats back on. I have hyper flow cats and tubi muffler (original/old style). I was thinking of putting an oem muffler on to quieten it down a bit on long drives.
     
  17. MAD828

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    #142 MAD828, Jul 20, 2015
    Thanks for the props Darren.
     
  18. MAD828

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    #143 MAD828, Jul 20, 2015
    I will report back in about a week or so when I make the swap. I think it will be just right. I know on my friends car we put hyperflows with the old style Tubi and mostly noticed it was louder at idle.
     
  19. darrenliu

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    #144 darrenliu, Jul 20, 2015
    before the hyper flows, i had the oem cats on, until the LHS totally burnt out and the slow down light came on. When we took the cat off, it was totally hollow, all of the core had broken up and went into the tubi muffler. when i put the hyper flows on, it sounded a lot louder at idle, but also much louder at full throttle. All round, the car is a lot louder, except when cruising when its actually not too bad. The scream at full throttle is amazing.
     
  20. MAD828

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    #145 MAD828, Jul 20, 2015
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    Here is the Giallo targa top. I dropped the car off today for bumper paint, skid plate install and the front metal valence cover to be repainted.
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  21. MAD828

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    #146 MAD828, Jul 20, 2015
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  22. ///Mike

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    #147 ///Mike, Jul 20, 2015
    Just wanted to chime in & tell you how much I've enjoyed following this thread. Nice way to document your work.
     
  23. MAD828

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    #148 MAD828, Jul 21, 2015
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  24. MAD828

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    #149 MAD828, Jul 21, 2015
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  25. MAD828

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    #150 MAD828, Jul 23, 2015
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