F355 manual to F1 converison | FerrariChat

F355 manual to F1 converison

Discussion in '348/355' started by B123, Aug 9, 2025 at 9:18 AM.

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  1. B123

    B123 Rookie

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    Bee Singh
    #1 B123, Aug 9, 2025 at 9:18 AM
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2025 at 9:25 AM
    Hi all!

    I’ve read many threads regarding manual conversions on the f355.

    I’ve put a deposit on the perfect F355, 1999 with carbon seats and series Fiorano handling package. However it’s a F1 car so I will be converting it as it’s the complete package otherwise. Verdi green, cream interior, capristo exhaust, 20k miles plus a major overhaul just completed.

    Now I’m no stranger to resto mods however the Ferrari isn’t something I’ve looked into in great detail. I know the manual conversion is relatively straight forward……

    HOWEVER

    I’ve sourced a 1999 spider with a manual box. My plan is to buy this as well and swap the manual parts over. My main question is how hard is it to install the F1 box into that car as I’ll be reselling it with the f1 box to recoup some funds.

    How hard is it to mount the F1 pumps/actuators etc onto the manual car and is the wiring/ecu for the box simple to swap over?

    I want the conversion to be as OEM as possible hence purchasing a second car to make sure I have all the parts.

    I have access to mechanics that work on the f355 and a colleague that’s a Bentley trained mechanic so getting the work done isn’t the issue, just need to make sure the retrofit off the F1 is viable.
     
  2. Targatime

    Targatime Formula 3

    Feb 22, 2014
    1,453
    Los Angeles
    Anything is possible with enough time and money, but it would be very complicated and labor-intensive to install an F1 system on a 355 that came as a manual, and at the end of the day a spider converted to F1 is about the least valuable 355 imaginable, making the investment in the conversion probably unwise as a financial matter. As for the actual job, you'd have to weld mounting studs and brackets on the subframe. You'd need an F1 oil sump which has the four mounting studs for the actuator. Installing all the F1 wiring, TCU, and relays would be a serious job involving the need to fabricate brackets, mounting studs, etc. And I'm not sure how you would install the clutch position sensor in the gearbox bellhousing on a manual car (the gearboxes are almost identical, but when you convert an F1 to manual you can just unplug the sensor, whereas going the other way around you'd have to install it, so you would probably have to swap entire gearboxes).

    Overall the reason converting to manual is so easy is because F1 355's basically start life as manual 355 and the F1 stuff is grafted on, so removing it is simple. Not the case if you want to convert in the other direction....
     
  3. B123

    B123 Rookie

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    Bee Singh
    thank you for your reply with such valuable info. I had a feeling this maybe the case so before pulling my trigger on the spider I thought let me come check my options on here.

    The parts here in the UK are near impossible to source. In the past with previous resto mods I ended up buying a running car and take all the bits I needed.

    May have to go back to the drawing board and start acquiring parts.
     
  4. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 3, 2007
    19,918
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Nostradamus
    Got pics of this car? Interesting spec!
     

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