Dave Helms Gold Plated Connector Kit for 348

http://scuderiarampanteinnovations.com/

Dave Helm's company.

Contact him via email, he'll respond.

Several of us have installed his brilliant solution.


Kai

 

The Gold connector kit is an excellent investment should run about $800.00 and comes with everything you need, The best way to reach Dave is by email, I did the kit on my 348 Spider although I did not have any issues before, my car has never run better
The kit comes with everything and has top notch tools

 

Mark,

I was one of the beta testors on the 550. There are two levels of kit for some cars (engine connectors and ECU connectors). Each level makes a huge difference. This is the best mod I have ever done for a ferrari and my car was perfect before the kit but just freaking awesome after the kit install. In the years to come I bet that cars with the SRI gold connector kit will command a premium at resale. There are skeptics out there and that's fine. I'll just drive by them when their Ferrari is stranded on the side of the road.

 

You are way off in the pricing.

 

Yepp. Mine was almost double that with shipping & tax. I got the 355 supremo.

 

+1. Don't let the cost stop you from doing it though. It is the best money you can spend on your Ferrari without exception.

 

I'm doing mine literally right now. My hands ache from stretching the boots over the stretching tool. I'd say I'm 1/3rd way through it. I've decided to solder every single crimp. I will be here for a while!!

 

The FBB2 tool supplied in the kit wouldn't be named after you would it??

 

Yes, but I have never held one in my hand. How do you like that tool? Is it doing the job well?

 

the concept and quality is great, but the prongs could do with being just a couple of mm longer. The tool itself sometimes bottoms out before the prongs fully disengage the locking tangs. Works like a charm the majority of times. As I say, the concept is great

 

My mechanic is doing mine now with the engine out. Yes, can't wait.

 

In say a 3 wire plug if this problem is happening on the 1st or 2nd wire? With the old tool I found that sometimes the lock tangs were disengaged but I could not feel them and all I need to do was wiggle the wire and it fell out but I thought I needed to go deeper. Where I really fought with the old tool was doing the fuel injector plugs. I'm not sure why they were that much different on the 550 but they were. I think the FBB2 design is supposed to make that job easier.

 

This is the kind of feedback Dave needs to hear. Little tweaks like this to make the kit better. If you haven't informed him of this yet I would suggesting sending him an email at your earliest convenience. The installed kit will literally transform your car. The difference in my 348 was simply amazing.

 

Just to pile on the changes in my 348 are remarkable. Engine is far more tractable, no errant codes, and it just sounds smoother and more responsive. I agree the best modification you can do to these cars to really make them perform like they were originally designed. Love it.

 

I bought mine about 2 years ago. I heard that what I bought has been upgraded so I guess thats why the extra cost. Like they said, well worth the price.

 

Hi Guys does anyone know if Dave has completed the FULL 355 kit for the 5.2 ie ECU connector and Engine connectors?
Im gagging to put it in my car..

 

They are "done", FINALLY, but will continue to evolve until I see a point where any additional system upgrades offer little to no realized benefit.

In a perfect world I would have held back offering the entire system until every minute detail was addressed. In this case that would have delayed the kit beyond any reasonable time frame. As it was I held it back 3 years beyond what most considered reasonable just to collect, compile and analyze data so to make sure what we offered gave good value. Some of the earlier components were dropped, many added, tools redesigned and changed based on feedback from those test installing the kits. I am convinced this is a system that will never really be "Done", it will constantly evolve as I identify new problem areas and new/better components. In the end the 6 year "Beta" period, conservative beyond most rational, proved valuable because the quality of the kit increased exponentially. That happened only due to the feedback of those involved in the testing process. Those folks took a gamble on a wild idea of mine and stuck it out.... there is no way "Thanks" conveys my feelings to that group.

We have kept endless amounts of data on who received what from the onset of this program and I am now in the process of making sure some of the earlier installs have the latest upgrades available to them. This will be the only time I will supply components separately or the logistics would be a nightmare. It's a Total System and if I supplied it piece meal the Gold Connector Kit would get a bad name in no time, simple as that. We found two reasonable break points and called them the Supremeo and Normale kits. Yes the upgrade is WELL worth it but I wanted to offer a base kit for those on a limited budget as we found it resolved a good many issues. We also found the Supremo was beyond justified for those wanting to experience all this system can offer. Heck, just last week I identified and located components I have been searching for for 5 years to upgrade the TR Gold Connector Kits. This is why it comes as a total kit, I can then offer these componets to earlier installers and they have everything required on hand to install these and continue the upgrade process. The Gold Connector Kit wont fix a flat tire but what it does, it does VERY well.

We just finished the 456/550 systems based on what we learned from FBB's install as well as 4 other test mules. Many new problems were identified on those models and it would have been incorrect to offer those until we had proven solutions for those issues.

If boots are not falling onto the install tool, something is being done incorrectly. I am currently in the process of the first complete test install on a 3.2 Mondial at this time. A little (!) of the supplied grease on a Qtip, rotated through the shank of the boot and the thinnest film of grease on the shaft of the tool and they will go on with one finger... just finished doing it for 2 days. If ANYTHING in the install is not smooth as silk, something is being done incorrectly. Using the pin release tool required finesse, not brawn. The harder one pushes, the more difficult the process becomes. Snap a quick photo of the tool pins and email it to me and I should be able to get the problem resolved via one email.

DC, make sure your tech takes his time on the install and follows the instructions to the letter! Results of the install are directly proportional to the effort and attention to the smallest details. Done correctly ONCE, the results will last many trouble free decades. Rushed or any deviation from the instructions will result in a plethora of unknowns being introduced into the equation.... the one thing we are attempting to resolve with this install!

 

Excellent who do i contact to purchase the 355 supremo kit..?

regards pk

 

See Post #2 above

 

ECUs discussed here, right? You didn't change the other 456 connectors did you?

 

Dave,

I can't speak for the group but I feel that I got the better deal! You just let me know when you get your next "wild idea" and I'll fight off all the other guys to try it first!

 

WHAT!?!? and not use Google for your iResearch or Alibabba for tech supplies...geesch, ya' just don't respect the series of tubes and wires that solves it all.

 

No question about it!

Dave's a 348 man at heart and I suspect his next wild idea involves a 348... just a suspicion. Hey, you already had a tool named after you, wait your turn!

 

Yup, all of them including the ECU's, one without the other is a patch fix when it comes to Beta testing. There is a reason I was happy in the end it took so long to get the ECU plugs released to me. It forced seperate circuit testing to be done and defined a clear point where we could break it into two kits at different price levels yet still have the installers realize a benefit with either.

We also identified the need for a new injection harness loom on the 456/550/575 as the plastic sheathing is coming apart. The plastic is getting brittle from the heat, cracking and actually cutting through the wire insulation. Ferrari's harness was so reasonably priced we just started replacing them with new with Gold connectors installed.... right up until they went NLA and the supply dried up. What seemed like a simple thing to fabricate proved quite a challenge. On about the 7th version of the fab we were finally pleased enough to send one to FBB for his review and critique..... on to the 8th, 9th, 10th... somewhere about the 13th version we popped it in the toaster for over for a week and let it bake 24/7. Just when all seemed well Niki stuck her nose in and we had to start over making it respectable in appearance.........

This one 2 foot long harness took well over a year and a half to perfect but I believe we covered ALL the bases on version 15. That said, I have yet to send one back to Fatso for recertification. This guy is TOUGH, he just nixed the 456/550 coolant hose and said we have to start over again and build new tooling for that! It's always the things that seem so simple.........

Thanks guys for the kind words. All things considered yesterday I came to the conclusion I should just take a break and get back to trying to make a living and leave this parts designing thing for the real smart people. A few dozen emails in my in box this AM convinced me I should stick with it and keep prodding forward. The next addition will fit both the 348 and 550 and both of you own the mules they will be tested on.