355 Fiorano Handling Package Vs Challenge Suspension ECU.

I can’t find the product number for the 355 Challenge suspension ECU for the life of me, but I have a product number for the Fiorano Handling Package Ecu. Are these 2 items the same?

I also noticed 355 challenge dampers are $128 each, while a standard damper is $1000 each. What am I missing?

 

If it’s the same, the product number isn’t the same. Challenge uses the same damper all 4 corners.


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From my understanding, under no circumstance does the setting ever go full soft or full hard. It is normally actively adjusting somewhere in the middle.

I am wondering what the Fiorano Ecu does as well. No one has ever documented the mapping differences. I’ve only read from driver feedback that the difference is noticeable.

 

My understanding is the challenge dampers and standard dampers are different enough. So it doesn’t make sense to me the Fiorano suspension ECU would be the same as the Challenge suspension ECU.

Someone needs to post a Challenge Suspension ECU product number so we can get to the bottom of this.

 

The standard damper also has a new product number from original. Not sure if there are any actual new changes or simply new product numbers for the same exact damper.

 

I imagine the challenge dampers are damped in the stiffer range of the spectrum. In the same token, since all 4 dampers are the same, but the front springs are 2200lbs while the rears are 900lbs, it makes me wonder how well matched challenge dampers really are to their springs.

For $128 each, maybe worth a try to pair up with softer springs.

 

Going through numerous threads there seems to be a general assumption the FHP ecu is the same as the Challenge Ecu. That can’t be right.

 

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1709634

 

Figured I should follow up with an answer to this thread in case anyone in the future does a search. The ECU mappings are not the same.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/1995-f355-gts-restoration-and-major-service.493751/page-119

 

I was casually browsing through some 355 posts on Facebook. A gentleman from France posted 1 picture of his engine out service. Having recently deep dived into the whole FHP thing, I noticed some features that strongly indicated it was an FHP car.

Asked him if it was an FHP car. He responded it wasn’t. I decided to message him privately to tell him why I think his car is and it was important he recognized it lol. His curiosity peaked. I asked him to check/verify a few things and he did almost immediately. Everything checked out. The icing on the cake was confirming the damper ECU indicated FHP.

His car is a November 98 build. I believe FHP was introduced late 98-99. His car is a manual coupe. A very rare spec I told him. He seems ecstatic about his newfound knowledge. Especially, very randomly from a stranger across the globe .


I guess I now know someone who has an FHP car, so if there’s anything anyone wants to verify, now would be the time to ask.



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When I searched, I believe at one point the FHP 355 and 512 TR shared the same rear spring part no. Then I guess later MY 512 TR’s changed to a different rear spring part no/spec. Would be nice if someone could verify this.

 

Looking at the part numbers for 512 TR and 355, there seems to be an interesting dynamic in spring choice selection by Ferrari. Would be nice if a 512 TR specialist can chime in.


First batch of 512 TR:

Front springs (linear) - 148786 (same as 348 front)

Rear springs (progressive) - 150415 (*same used on Fiorano 355 rear)

Second (later) batch of 512 TR:

Front springs (linear) - 151881
Rear springs (linear) - 151882 (same as standard 355 rear)



Standard F355:

Front springs (linear) - 124982
Rear Springs (linear) - 151882 (same as later 512TR rear)


Fiorano F355:

Front Springs (linear) - 176027
Rear Springs (progressive) - 150415 (*same used on early 512TR rear)


*Fiorano 355 specific part numbers usually start with a “17.”


Fiorano 355 spring rates are said to be roughly 20% stiffer than standard 355 spring rates. If this is correct, then the later 512TR batch moved to a softer and linear spring rate for the rear.

 

I find Ferrari’s spring selection choices interesting. Was the 355 FHP spring setup the inspiration for the 360 and F430?


Most people don’t know the FHP 355 was set up with linear springs up front and progressive springs in the rear. It was never brought up here on Fchat (trust me- I searched). Only reason I know is because I saw a pic and noticed it was progressive. This pic to be exact.

https://www.ferraripartsexchange.com/products/rear-road-spring-p002


Some might even find it odd since the popular H&R springs are progressive front and rear. Until you hop over to the 360/F430 camp do you realize those cars run linear front/progressive rear.


What really got me looking into all of this was me trying to piece together a setup I thought might be better than Delta Vee’s “Fiorano-Inspired” damper kit for the 355. I was thinking about finding used 430 Scuderia light-weight titanium springs (they feel like they weigh 1-2 lbs each) to pair up with the 355 damper and revalving to match those rates. I like the Scud setup very much for the road and figured it was worth trying to mimic. My main concern was the linear/progressive spring rate front/rear setup and wasn’t sure how the 355 would behave. Now that I know the FHP ran that setup, I feel much more confident it would work. But unfortunately, I never found a used titanium spring set and brand new is $4-5k! I gave up and decided to go with Delta Vee.


BTW. Delta Vee’s “Fiorano Inspired” kit runs linear springs front and rear. I asked Rob about that and he said the helper springs in his setup sort of help mimic a progressive feel.

 

I’ll be following Rob’s alignment and height specs to go along with his damper setup. He’s given me solid advice so far.


I would like to get the challenge sway bars, but I can’t find the front at the moment. I’d need front and rear together. I actually sent Jim a pm here to see if he had any leads, but not sure how often he checks Fchat.

 

Curious to know the spring lengths once you get them. I’m guessing rear is about 10 inch. Not sure about fronts. 430 Scuderia runs 10 inch springs rear / 8 inches in the front.