355 interior Spider boot fastener locations | FerrariChat

355 interior Spider boot fastener locations

Discussion in '348/355' started by hjp, Sep 28, 2014.

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  1. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    I'm having a new boot made for my "96 355 Spider. Besides the outer 2 fasteners near the doors, the '96 and earlier boots had a single fastener in the center of the boot behind the seats that snaps into the male post on the top of the convertible top hydraulic cover. All the boots from '97 and on replaced the single fastener with 2 fasteners in the boot behind the seats. I want my new boot to have the 2 fasteners like the later models. My question is exactly where are their male counterparts located? I am guessing they are screwed into the sloping top edges of the 2 ECU covers, one behind the passenger's seat and the other behind the driver's seat. Although I've never seen them in person, I don't think they are screwed into the vertical faces of these covers. I am guessing they are on the top sloping edges instead. Can anyone confirm this for me? Some photos of each cover to see exactly where they are would be very helpful.
     
  2. Enzojr

    Enzojr F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2013
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    Tomy
    #2 Enzojr, Sep 29, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. Enzojr

    Enzojr F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2013
    14,001
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    Tomy
    #3 Enzojr, Sep 29, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Cover in place and snapped, anybody have a source for the "Tenax" type snaps that break and are cheaper than $12 bucks apiece ... Lol
    3 snaps/fasteners behind the seats 1 by each door and one in the center, don't know if this is stock on a 1997 ... Or not ?
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  4. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    Nov 26, 2012
    3,821
    Tinton Falls, NJ
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    Bob Ferraris
    Jerry. my 97 looks like that picture as well. I have contemplated trying to get two other snaps right where you say they are on later mdels. I did not realize that they chnaged the locations as you say and if they did that was a good decision. Just yesterday driving on the highway my wife commented why is that flapping like that behind her seat? I shoved a small rool of paper towels i had in the car behind her seat and problem solved but not very elegant!!
     
  5. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    Nov 26, 2012
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    Bob Ferraris
    That source has been posted on here before. I'll look around for it and get it in the interchangable parts section.
     
  6. Enzojr

    Enzojr F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2013
    14,001
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    Tomy
    Still being "new" I sometimes play hell searching for something mentioned as "already posted here many times"
    Eagle day has them, but which one to pick/guess is a mystery.
    Just the first choice of made in Germany or England confuses me, then size and nickel plated or chrome or stainless steel ..... I am getting old and these things confuse me ;)
    I do better with a part number.
     
  7. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    Interesting Bob. I thought it was in '97 that Ferrari changed from 1 to 2 fasteners but clearly I'm wrong. Maybe '98's started this or, perhaps somewhere in the '97 model year, some came with 1 and some with 2 from then on.

    I've seen several boots with 2 fasteners instead of 1, just never a car's interior to see where on the ECU covers they actually go. I like the 2 much better because it holds the boot tighter and prevents it from flapping in the wind at highway speeds. This will be especially beneficial for me since I'm having my boot made with an access flap to get at the glove box when the boot's in place.

    You may already know this but there is also a single hidden snap on the exterior side located at the center of the engine bay. It is a regular snap as opposed to the Tenax fasteners used elsewhere. Its black instead of Chrome and, although its exposed with the boot off, its not very noticeable because of its low profile and black color. The boot has its female counterpart on the liner side fastened through a separate leather tab to conceal it from the exterior leather side. With the boot on, it can't be seen at all and you would never know its there.

    Rumor has it that Ferrari found that the boots started to lift and vibrate at high speeds. Pininferrina didn't want to see another exposed chrome fastener there so this was the solution. I had my boot made with this hidden snap. Works great and holds the boot in place better.

    As to the question Tom asked, Tenax fasteners are available from Eagle Day, their North American distributer. There are several types so be sure you pick the correct one to mate with the male posts (they are not all compatible). You want the German type with the large heads. They are available in both Chrome or black at about $5.00 each. Stock is chrome.

    So, anyone have pics of a '97 or later car with the 2 fastener locations in the ECU covers?
     
  8. ssnowball

    ssnowball Formula Junior
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    Oct 28, 2013
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    Scot
    I have a 99 and will take a quick photo tonight and provide measurements for placement.
     
  9. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
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    Mark
    [​IMG]
    My 1997 has two. One on either side right here.
     
  10. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
    1,083
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    Mark
    [​IMG]
    Here it is with a tape measure. Someone else might have a better shot with a Ferrari approved measuring device. My Stanley tape measure says it's close to 3 inches from the inside.
     
  11. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
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    Nov 26, 2012
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    Bob Ferraris
    That's great. SO they did change it. You don't have the center one as I and others do. The cover definitely buffets right behind the seats.

    Mark maybe you could take a pic of the inside of the ecu cover as to how they affixed that there? I would like to add one on each side in the center of those covers.

    Thank you
     
  12. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
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    Atlanta
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    Mark
    It's a threaded screw with a 10mm nut on the other end. Daniel has them at Ricambi, I replaced one once many years ago.
     
  13. TrojanFan

    TrojanFan F1 Veteran
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    Nov 17, 2008
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    Peter
    My '98 has 2 on each side. I can take a photo if helpful. On the center snap above the engine, mine fastens to the boot cover with Velcro which doesn't hold. I should get that sewn on.

    As for new covers there was a thread a while back about a company, Josephina's or something like that that was making good quality replacements at a reasonable price. I don't know if they came with the snaps.
     
  14. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,902
    WI
    Mine has two snaps behind the seats as well. My orginal boot does not have a snap in the back center section though I always thought it should.

    I own one of Josephina's boots. Had it all summer. It does not "conform" around the wings and the back side is made with a rise in the middle. It flutters quite a bit at speed as well.

    My intention was to call them this winter and see what we can change to make this better.
     
  15. hjp

    hjp Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2013
    591
    Kansas City, Mo.
    Full Name:
    Jerry Peterson
    Mark,

    Do the fasteners on your car hit the seats when they are all the way back? Wouldn't want to accidentally damage the leather on the seat backs. Also, with the boot in place, since its hemmed edge is below the Tenax fasteners, it appears as though this would make the boot bunch up as it goes over the top of the leather covered hydraulic cover. True? Could you take a photo of your boot in place to see how all this comes together?

    Not having seen anything, this is why I thought the fasteners would be on the sloped surface of the ECU covers instead of the vertical faces. It appears this wouldn't interfere with the seats and looks like it would allow the boot to pass over the top hydraulic cover with little or no bunching. But it might also make the boot fit too loose and still flap at speed. Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words....I think someone said that somewhere.
     

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