After 8 years I thought it was time to tart up the beast and give it a thorough makeover. So on goes the BBS LM forged modular wheels with Michilin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. New front wheels have offsets that widens the track equivalent to 18.65mm per side. New rear wheel offset widens track by only 2mm, but I added 13mm hub centric spacer to give it 15mm wider rear track per side. Stiffer springs were installed and the ride height was reduced by 10mm. Ride quality is now actually better AND with less dive or roll. Brembo 355mm front and 345mm rear big brake kits were installed. No change in feel for normal street driving, but they should be much better for trackdays. Retro fitted HID lights to both high & low beam. Custom made harnesses plug directly to OEM wiring without splicing or cutting. Car currently has rear straight through Tubi rear pipes. New silenced center X-pipes will go in by the weekend. Can't wait to hear it. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks great! Wheels are 18"s or 19"s ? I thought I was over the Maranello Fever but you just jump-started it again!!!!
Thanks. Wheels are 18". More tire choices this way. And for trackdays I can also use Hoosier R6 tires from the 360C. Incidentally the car just came back from the shop today with the new center cross pipes installed. It now has a nice crisp sound that's proportional to engine speed/load. I'm very happy with all the changes, so it's going take over the daily driver duty for the next couple of weeks.
How loud is it with the straight tubi rear pipes and centre )( pipe..? Can you use your phone/talk to passengers/hear the radio? (should you HAVE to of course)
Phil: It's louder than a normal 550 for sure, but not obnoxiously so. Cruising around part throttle is actually pretty tame. So phone or radio is not a problem at all. However I'm probably already partially deaf from 360C and Formula Renaults so my reference point is not quite average. When you punch it then watch out..... very cool sound quality. Thanks for sending it my way. I love it and it's putting the excitement back into the 550 for me, but don't you start on any engine mod ideas though. I'll send you a sound clip, when I get a chance to record it.
thanks... too late I have a spare 550 inlet manifold complete with injectors and fuel rail and wiring looms etc, that I'm porting, flowing, changing to larger throttle bodies and repainting to look nice and pretty.... it'll be a 3 hour swap job... just FYI
Ha, ha, ha. You call that sorry excuse of a mod a temptation? I expected from you at least 580hp with hi comp pistons and race cams.
580BHP... that's possibly achievable without opening the engine.... search the notorious user "stephens" posts for his edumacated guess work.... with extractors, inlet/air boxes, big diameter full exhaust, de cat, lightweight flywheel, good quality fuel, bit of mapping.... He thought 600 might be doable... ....... But I do have race cams and Hi comp pistons available for immediate delivery!!... Mark Coffey has all the team Rafanelli spares from the ex Olive Garden car... there's cams and pistons (multiple sets of differing spec) you'll soil yourself over.... ......or you could just buy the whole car.... hows THAT for instant gratification????? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Now that's what I call temptation. I've been lusting after that car for two years. If I stop p-ssing my money away on 360C I could have bought that car by now. Unfortuntely buying the car is just half the cost of racing it. Too rich for my blood.
Could you race it anywhere really...? It's just a toy now.. and used as such it wouldn't be TOO bad/expensive to run... it's all fresh and REALLY fast... There's EVERYTHING you could need for many many fun track days.... You COULD race it in FIA or Maybe JGTC.... but that would be a good way of burning $$.... mega promotional tool for sponsor rides!!
I see that the Red Cooper 550 is now for sale through M. Sheehan http://www.ferraris-online.com/pages/carintro.php?reqcardir=FE-550GT-107633
That car is a GREAT (and cheaper) alternative for somebody looking at a DBRS9. /OP, do you have your video yet? I want to hear your car...
By the way you have an awesome site. It was a pleasure to see. You are truly living your dream. Congrats!
Moi? I'm going to make a head rest camera mount first, then I'll record some video clips. It will probably take about two weeks to have the brackets made by local machine shop.
cwwhk was kind enough to meet me today and let me take a look at the mods he made to his 550. The exhaust sounds great! Much louder than stock, but not boomy at all, and the car pulls very well all the way to redline. The installation of the HIDs was very clean - gotta do that with mine. Thanks again! RH
