Hello everyone I have a unique problem as the title indicates. My brother who owned the F355 had a crash about 5 years ago in the car. It was written off but he bought it back from the insurance company for dirt. He was going to break it for parts which he started but never finished. He sold the engine and gearbox about 4 years ago. Recently he moved to the UAE and left the car to me[emoji7] so now it’s mine. I had a friend who works as a body repair guy fix the damage with a bit of jigging as well. But now I’m left without an engine or box. Please no one take offence by my idea. And please no cursing me. I’m not about to spent £20k minimum on the project. And I’m not selling it as it is or when it’s finished. I can’t afford to buy a 355 engine or box. My plan was to by a suitable donor car and to a transplant. But what in hells name would be a suitable donor small V8ish Located in the U.K. and RHD Any help or advise welcome[emoji869] Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I’d part it out or sell the chassis / whole. That does not answer your question but the heart of the F355 is the 5 valve per cylinder engine and it’s one of the most satisfying manual gearboxes that Ferrari has made. Maybe find some other way to work off getting the correct engine and gearbox you need with sweat equity. Then you would have a complete proper car you could enjoy, and at least sell later with what you put into it. I would imagine trying to swap to a different engine and box would cost you mostly the same because of all the “fitting”... Robb
Thanks Robb for your reply. I know what you mean. I drove this car on its glory days and can say I’ve not had as much fun since. I get so much stick from people when I ask for advice on many forums and chats. I’m all new to this. I can understand peoples anger at what I’m trying to achieve with this but what I want people to understand is that I never went out of my way to find a cheap Ferrari that I can fix for peanuts and then blag my way into the Ferrari club. I got stuck with it when my brother left it in my garden and moved to the UAE. now with this damn lock down and pure Boredom me and a mate started to fix the body work and I just fell in love with it from then on. I don’t want to get read of it due to sentimental reasons Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
Perhaps you can consider Audi R8 4.2 Lit. V8 engine/gearbox, if you can find a good low mileage one from a written-off car. The concept is very similar to the 348/355's except that you disconnect/plug the output for the drive to the front wheels. After all, the R8 platform is based on Lamborghini Gallardo. Whether 355 has enough space for the Audi powertrain is something to be checked. The picture shows the later V10 R8 but I believe the V8 is similar, just shorter. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I would put something away each month, if possible, until you can get the correct engine and box, even if it takes years. It would be pointless putting something cheap in there, just to make it driveable. It will have no soul.
You could probably save a little money by fitting a 348 engine and box, at least it should be easy to fit! £6k engine - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1994-FERRARI-348-TS-3-4-F119-ENGINE/132929728784?epid=4028425871&hash=item1ef33ab110:g:LVMAAOSwhYJcSxAa
The hard part will be the engine to gearbox adapter plate I think, no one makes it yet that I know of. Not too hard to have xnc'd though but shaft length and spline count and what not are the next hurdle I suspect. Mounts and stuff are straight forward. Sent using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I've often fantasized about this. Doing it "turnkey" could be very expensive, but if someone was ready to put in the work to experiment, it could be very do-able.
My 1999 F355B was totaled by a minor engine-compartment fire back in 2018; the guy who bought the car from insurance company is doing this swap. Seems like you could engineer the modification so that permanent alterations to body/structure wouldn't be required, and revert it to stock "someday" when the proper Ferrari engine is available.
Maserati v8 has similar dna as ferrari LS engines are very tunable/powerful bmw/audi v10 would be so cool electric would also be a great option all much cheaper options than the ferrari v8 although by the time you've adapted everything and found a gearbox the savings wouldn't be that great
There's always great input here on FChat...all you need to do is figure out which way to go, since, in the end, it's YOUR CAR.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.334261416672912.71590.313304648768589&type=1 https://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/videos/a33536/ferrari-f355-hillclimb-lmp1/ https://engineswapdepot.com/?p=13316 https://engineswapdepot.com/?p=9738 360 and 355 is essentially the same minus valves I think, here is an LS in a 360 https://www.lsxmag.com/news/swap-insanity-ferrari-360-gt-powered-by-1000-horsepower-ls-engine/
There is a new show on MotorTrend called Vintage Voltage. An outfit in Wales has converted a pair of 308’s to electric. Both had issues with lack of drive lines IIRC. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
There's a company called Zero EV converting an mx5 to electric at the moment, some good info on there if its something you're considering
I’ve looked at this since before the first one was done a couple of years ago. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/motorsport/electric-ferrari-308-intl-supercharged-spt/index.html
(opinion) This has disaster/mistake written all over it. You'll end up paying a small fortune to get something in there (and may fail dismally), and when you're done you'll end up with something worth no more than what you have now - and other than moving the wheels it won't be anything like what you remember. Ferrari's are all about the engines IMHO, especially in these older cars. If I were you I'd either find a proper engine (bearing in mind an engine swap will make it less desirable to the next buyer) or just part it out. You'll probably get decent coin for it if it's otherwise complete. 355 parts aren't cheap.
I personally think that it’s a disaster in the making as well, also financially. after taking my engine out multiple times over the course of its 20 year life there is no easy way to install another engine and gearbox. None nada electric would be by far the easiest and cheapest. the problem from the OP is that you will f(nd that you will spend more. instead to get a loan and buy an engine and a transmission/ I bought a spare transmission for 5k from phrogs on here and have seen them numerous times for similar money. brian sold some as well. buy a working transmission, and an engine. take your time Will likely cost you 20k. in 5 years you will own a ferrari and the best part is the sound of that engine. You will thank us all then. start right away. just my opinion, but you will be nickel and dimed into the same price range very quickly.
Audr r/s4 v6 twin turbo engine to a boxter gear box https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=&t=1571615 https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1695359
even if he put another 355 engine and box in people would slate/ devalue it for not having the original unit from the car, an engine swap makes more sense and an electric conversion would guarantee a future for the foreseeable
That's true (the devalue part, not the guarantee part), but a 355 with an engine conversion would just be a sad, frankensteined car that would be worth no more than it is now, and would offer no advantage that similar money in another platform would have gotten you. These things don't handle that well compared to other modern cars/platforms, and a butchered Ferrari is just unimaginable. It would be like watching "Weekend at Bernies" but on an automotive level. My personal opinion is that unless you restore it to what it was originally, the life of this car is (sadly) over. That car died, both in soul and in value when the engine came out of it.
