348 rear tail light conversion...more pics

tonyh · Mar 9, 2004

Andy hls said:

To fit a challenge grill.
You need to reshape the whole thing, the ends need to be shortened by 5mm each side, the height needs to change at each end by 10mm and in the middle 15mm this may vary on individual cars, but this fits mine.
You need to cut off all the fixing brackets, and spotweld some new ones on where you can get a fixing into the rear of the car,You will then need to get some more of the material used to make the grill, I got a suspended ceiling tile with the same perforation patten powdercoated black, then you can spend 2 days trying to bend and shape the side infills,(a very shiiit job) then you get another tile made because you f--cked the first one up.
You need some black neoprean to stick around the sides of all the components.
If you get this far you are then ready to start cutting the rear of the f car to set the round lights in, (this is not for the faint hearted,) I managed to mount the lights using a bendy metle strap bolted to the steel framwork inside.
Then you just need to screw the side sections to the car and bolt the challenge grill inplace, then let people on this board tell you that you should of left it standard.(not something ever said by people that have seen the car up close.
In imho it changes the car to what it should of looked like.
Anybody wishing to try this, good luck and if you need any advice just ask.

If you wish the car could be made standard again in about half hour, I hade it wired so both sets of lights are on a plug you just swap them over.

davey-jones, yes you can see through the grill it is to sunny in the picture,

Andy.
Click to expand...

Andy ,
great write-up. I didn't realise the amount of work that went into this.I was one of the "keep it real" brigade but , on reflection, and having seen the conversion in the metal, i prefer the Challenge....
Bet that's made your day !?
Tony

Andy hls · Mar 9, 2004

Tony

To know that I have converted a purist like yourself has really made my day.

Andy

kenyon · Mar 9, 2004

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9979

Both cars look great.. I would love have a challange grill done. its growing on me...

kenyon · Mar 9, 2004

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9979

Both cars look great.. I would love to have a challange grill done. its growing on me...

kenyon · Mar 9, 2004

http://www.garedcars.com/default2.htm

kenyon · Mar 9, 2004

Nice cars
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-FROG- · Mar 9, 2004

Oh my that sure wakes the 348 up! Great job on the conversion! WOW!

Chiaro_Slag · Mar 9, 2004

Andy hls said:

To fit a challenge grill.
You need to reshape the whole thing, the ends need to be shortened by 5mm each side, the height needs to change at each end by 10mm and in the middle 15mm this may vary on individual cars, but this fits mine.
You need to cut off all the fixing brackets, and spotweld some new ones on where you can get a fixing into the rear of the car,You will then need to get some more of the material used to make the grill, I got a suspended ceiling tile with the same perforation patten powdercoated black, then you can spend 2 days trying to bend and shape the side infills,(a very shiiit job) then you get another tile made because you f--cked the first one up.
You need some black neoprean to stick around the sides of all the components.
If you get this far you are then ready to start cutting the rear of the f car to set the round lights in, (this is not for the faint hearted,) I managed to mount the lights using a bendy metle strap bolted to the steel framwork inside.
Then you just need to screw the side sections to the car and bolt the challenge grill inplace, then let people on this board tell you that you should of left it standard.(not something ever said by people that have seen the car up close.
In imho it changes the car to what it should of looked like.
Anybody wishing to try this, good luck and if you need any advice just ask.

If you wish the car could be made standard again in about half hour, I hade it wired so both sets of lights are on a plug you just swap them over.

davey-jones, yes you can see through the grill it is to sunny in the picture,

Andy.
Click to expand...

Awesome write-up. I love the look. Very, very nice work! Would have loved to see you fit the grill - Sounds like fun (and scary!).

davey_jones · Mar 9, 2004

The more I look at it, the more I like it....

albert328gts · Mar 9, 2004

Challenge panel is the way to go, now the hard question for those of us who would cut off a bit too much on one side of the Challenge grill and not enough on the other, does anyone know anyone that would mfg in limited amounts a challenge grill that bolts on easily like the carbon fiber one? Having seen how the original panel works on a 348, the center section really lets out quite a bit of heat, I would stay away from a panel that would block out the heat.

davey_jones · Mar 9, 2004

Andy,

You said " I got a suspended ceiling tile with the same perforation patten powdercoated black".

Where did you find that tile at? Home depot, Lowes.....?

Do you think it's possible to find that material large enough to make one from scratch?

Dave

Andy hls · Mar 10, 2004

davey_jones said:

Andy,

You said " I got a suspended ceiling tile with the same perforation patten powdercoated black".

Where did you find that tile at? Home depot, Lowes.....?

Do you think it's possible to find that material large enough to make one from scratch?

Dave
Click to expand...

Dave

You could get the material as a flat sheet but it needs to be pressed on a big mould to form the shape and cut the light holes, if you see a challenge grill prior to installation its a very good piece of enginering.
My company installs suspended ceilings ,and i got a supplier to make the tile for me .I would not attempt to make one from scratch.

Andy

davey_jones · Mar 10, 2004

A modified 355 grill is the way to go then I guess.
The other way would be too much time..which I don't have unfortunately!
Those 355 grills are about $850 right? Plus lights of course.

Andy hls · Mar 10, 2004

davey_jones said:

A modified 355 grill is the way to go then I guess.
The other way would be too much time..which I don't have unfortunately!
Those 355 grills are about $850 right? Plus lights of course.
Click to expand...

Prices are cheaper over there.

Challenge grill £690.00 inc tax
Lights £106.00 each inc tax

92_348ts · Mar 11, 2004

A professional photographer I am not, however here are some close-ups of the lights that were requested...

92_348ts · Mar 11, 2004

Andy hls-Great looking car and very nice work on the challenge grill.

kenyon · Mar 14, 2004

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11198

kenyon · Mar 14, 2004

Do you like this combination....
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