348 SS with Speedline Challenge Wheels Questions | FerrariChat
Buy

348 SS with Speedline Challenge Wheels Questions

Discussion in '348/355' started by 2000C43, Jun 18, 2013.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. 2000C43

    2000C43 Rookie

    Nov 28, 2009
    36
    Sacramento, CA
    Full Name:
    Dean Sioukas
    #1 2000C43, Jun 18, 2013
    I am getting close to purchasing a 1993 348 Speciale and have located a set of White Speedline Challenge Wheels to go with the car. I have been reading up on the various threads regarding wheel offsets, tire sizes, Challenge Wheels, etc. but still have a few questions. I was wondering if someone could help me determine the following:

    1. Wheel Offsets vs 348 Speciale Factory Wheels. I am aware that the 348 SS rear wheels have a built in 25mm spacer to widen the rear track and, therefore, come with longer factory rear bolts. If I wanted to have the same (or very similar) look and overall rear track with the Speedline Challenge Wheels, would I need a spacer on the rear? From my research, it sounds like a 15mm spacer on the rear would put the outer edge of the rear wheels in a similar position as the factory 348 SS wheels. Didn't find too much information regarding spacers on the front with Speedline Challenge Wheels, so I assume they are not necessary on the front.

    2. Wheel Bolt Head Size. Can I use the factory wheel bolts that are on my car to bolt on the Speedline Challenge Wheels? I don't have the wheels yet, otherwise I would have already tried it. I am not sure if 17mm head bolts are needed or if the stock 22mm head bolts work.

    3. Wheel Bolt Length. I don't know if my factory 348 SS wheel bolts will be too long or too short to work with Speedline Challenge Wheels. Are spacers needed in order to use them? I have read forum posts on the subject but haven't found a consistent answer.

    4. Tire Size. In order to keep the factory diameters of the 17" wheels and tires, my research is that I would need to go with 235/40 18 front and 285/35 18 rear tires. I am not 100% sure however since TireRack and My348.com show sizes for 18" 355 wheels on a 348 as 225/40 18 front and 275/35 18. I've played with the tire size calculators and it seems that 235/40 18 front and 285/35 18 are closer to stock diameter for the 348.

    I hope these questions aren't too basic. If I had the wheels already I could have done some trial and error. The seller is willing to get all the parts together ahead of time so that the car is all put together with correct new tires on the 18" Speedlines when I pick it up. Getting some clarity on these questions in advance would certainly help my transaction with the seller. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. MBFerrari

    MBFerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2008
    6,057
    NoVA
    Full Name:
    Matt B
    #2 MBFerrari, Jun 18, 2013
    Vince Vassallo or one of the other guys should be able to answer this. I had a 348SS but even though I bought the challenge wheels I sold them to another chatter who may also chime in on the wheel bolts...
     
  3. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,789
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #3 AceMaster, Jun 19, 2013
    I don't believe the spacer is on the wheel itself. That means the bolts may not be longer (but I could be wrong).

    It is 25mm per side, not 15mm.

    Daniel at Ricambi probably knows.....
     
  4. dahveedem

    dahveedem Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2012
    1,603
    Maryland
    Full Name:
    David
    #4 dahveedem, Jun 19, 2013
    My 93 speciale doesn't have spacers on the OEM wheels. The bolts for the OEM wheels are, however, longer than the ones I run with my 360 wheels on the car.
     
  5. mdsassaman

    mdsassaman Karting

    Nov 4, 2006
    246
    Reading, PA
    Full Name:
    Mike Sassaman
    #5 mdsassaman, Jun 19, 2013
    The 348 SS had a wider rear track. I was told by a reputable source who was involved in the SS Conversions that Ferrari first sent a batch of spacers to be installed on the SS rear wheels but the Ferrari USA people thought that was not up to Ferrari standards so Ferrari came back with special rear wheels for the 348 SS conversions. I have longer rear bolts on my car to accomodate the SS wheels.
    In case you are not aware the 348 SS cars were originally regular 348s (at least most of them were in the beginning of 1993) the Factory came up with the idea of making the SS models to get stock of 348s sold. It worked because people were willing to buy a Series Speciale over a regular 348 TS. The factory sent special parts for the dealers to convert the TS cars into TS SS cars with special wider rear wheels, front spoiler lip, colored lower side panels, rear light assembly, SS badges for the dashboard, Number plates on the passenger door jambs, Kevlar seats, etc. I own one of the last 15 made in 1994, #6 of 15, and they seem to be made up of the last of the 348 TS chassis and parts that Ferrari had on hand. I was told that is why there was the last run of 15 additional 348 TS SS cars.
     
  6. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,476
    Winston Salem, NC
    #6 Ricambi America, Jun 19, 2013
    If you run Speedline Challenge wheels, whether on a standard 348, Spider, or SS, the bolts are:

    Front: 55mm under the head with 27mm head.
    Rear: 55mm under the head with 54mm head. (This is an oddball size in Ferrari-land)
     
  7. Saint Bastage

    Saint Bastage F1 Rookie

    Jun 1, 2007
    2,548
    Connecticut
    Full Name:
    Lane
    #7 Saint Bastage, Jun 19, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  8. 2000C43

    2000C43 Rookie

    Nov 28, 2009
    36
    Sacramento, CA
    Full Name:
    Dean Sioukas
    #8 2000C43, Sep 30, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thank you all for the help and advice. This forum has been an incredible resource. As an update, I mounted the Speedline wheels to the "new to me" 348ss using 15mm spacers and 70mm bolts on both the front and rear. The front and rear spacers are not necessary since the Speedline wheels bolted up just fine with 55mm bolts, but I liked the look of the wider track front and rear. I went with 225/40/18" front and 265/40/18" rear Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The car has been amazing so far!
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  9. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,792
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    #9 plugzit, Sep 30, 2013
    Great looking SS! Be sure to "register" your car with vvassallo. Looks very clean with strakes removed from door, nicer than the shape of the 355 side scoop. Be sure to fill out your profile, so we know who you are!
     
  10. ghardt

    ghardt Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2004
    1,260
    Texas
    Full Name:
    Jerry
    #10 ghardt, Sep 30, 2013
  11. nismodrifter

    nismodrifter Formula Junior

    Jun 11, 2008
    546
    YYC/YVR
    Full Name:
    Navdeep
    #11 nismodrifter, Sep 30, 2013
    looks deadly! Agree that the doors look better than 355 doors, the scoops look really aggressive!
     
  12. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,789
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #12 AceMaster, Oct 1, 2013
    What # SS is this?
     
  13. 2000C43

    2000C43 Rookie

    Nov 28, 2009
    36
    Sacramento, CA
    Full Name:
    Dean Sioukas
    #13 2000C43, Oct 1, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thank you plugzit! I'll add the car to the registry. ghardt...the titanium bolts would be amazing and certainly lighter. The 15mm spacers I bought came with the 70mm bolts, so I used them. It makes sense the way you did it since it sounds like you do not have spacers and have the titanium bolts, so the whole setup is as light as possible. The spacers do add a little weight. Thank you nismodrifter...I am really happy with the car! Acemaster...this is 348SS #44...red/tan. Here is a picture of the inside. The car had the 4 point harnesses and harness bar in it when I purchased it. I have the original 17" wheels, wheel bolts, and strakes with the car.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  14. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,329
    Palos Verdes
    Full Name:
    Vince V
    #14 vvassallo, Oct 1, 2013
    I like tose harnesses and I need to do that with my car. Hate those mice.
     
  15. margarita

    margarita Formula 3

    Mar 20, 2011
    1,618
    usa
    #15 margarita, Oct 6, 2013
    Beautifull car
     
  16. dahveedem

    dahveedem Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2012
    1,603
    Maryland
    Full Name:
    David
    #16 dahveedem, Oct 6, 2013
    Meant to ask before. .. did you take 348 strakes and just remove them and refinish... how are you attaching the side panels?

    Mobilized reply by David
     
  17. 2000C43

    2000C43 Rookie

    Nov 28, 2009
    36
    Sacramento, CA
    Full Name:
    Dean Sioukas
    #17 2000C43, Oct 7, 2013
    Thank you margarita! dahveedem...I found a set of slightly damaged 348 strakes in red (it didn't feel right to cut up a nice pair of strakes so I found a set of not so perfect strakes). I had a body shop remove the strakes and refinish them. Since they were already red, it made the process slightly less labor intensive I suppose. Also, since they are from a 348, they bolted in the same way as the originals with the factory hardware. The body shop painted some plastic plugs red to cover the holes for the 4 factory bolts in the side. I have the original strakes that came with my car bubble wrapped in storage.
     
  18. dahveedem

    dahveedem Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2012
    1,603
    Maryland
    Full Name:
    David
    #18 dahveedem, Oct 7, 2013
    thanks!
    I like the look.. but the pics looked as though there was no center connector.
    Wondered how they were connected.
     

Share This Page