Fix ideas needed for warped 355 instrument pod | FerrariChat
Buy

Fix ideas needed for warped 355 instrument pod

Discussion in '348/355' started by ketel, May 13, 2013.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Page 1 of 2
  1. ketel

    ketel Formula 3

    Aug 6, 2007
    1,355
    Sausalito, CA
    #1 ketel, May 13, 2013
    Gang,

    "Francesca" is in the ER getting a few things tended to. In the process of other work, the tech removed the instrument binnacle (aka "pod"). As long as I've had her, the pod had been slighlty warped such that it does not sit flush with the dash. As such there is a roughly one inch gap between the front lip of the pod and the dash. I thought this had something to do with the leather shrinkage so common on these 90s era Ferraris, but it turns out that upon inspection the pod itself seems to have become misshapen. Re-covering the pod with new leather won't solve the problem.

    The tech seems to believe that the pod is made of a kind of foam or polyurethane that has hardened into the current misshapen shape. He doesn't believe heating it will allow it to become malleable so that it can be reformed into its earlier config.

    Has anyone else experienced this and is there a fix, short of buying a new OEM pod from Ferrari and assuming the bent-over position?

    thanks all.

    ketel
     
  2. Smyrna355Spider

    Smyrna355Spider F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 9, 2008
    3,763
    In my Garage
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #2 Smyrna355Spider, May 13, 2013
  3. phrogs

    phrogs F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 13, 2004
    7,356
    Kzoo Michigan
    #3 phrogs, May 13, 2013
    well there are a few on ebay for sale. One is for $100. Problem is you wont really know if its warped until you put it in the car for a test fit.

    I also do not know what it is made from I will know in about a week as I need to have my leather redone as well.

    I know the dash is fiberglass not sure if the pod is as well.
     
  4. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #4 Nosevi, May 13, 2013
    Ketel, are they the same as 348 ones or a slightly different shape? A close up of a 348 one is on the thread I threw up yesterday. Think you can get a new one through these guys, just put the part number (62139900) in the quick search box. They could well be different, I have no idea, so obviously check that first.

    https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/Default.aspx
     
  5. treedee3d

    treedee3d F1 Rookie

    Apr 1, 2011
    3,726
    Montreal
    Full Name:
    Fab
    #5 treedee3d, May 13, 2013
    Seems bizzare that something like that would be warped. Isn't it made in the same fiberglass mold? You have any pictures? curious to see what you're talking about here...
     
  6. ketel

    ketel Formula 3

    Aug 6, 2007
    1,355
    Sausalito, CA
    #6 ketel, May 13, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Here is what it looks like through the front glass
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,899
    WI
    #7 WATSON, May 13, 2013
    Wow. Is that positioned properly? It sitting far higher up than mine.
     
  8. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,636
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Tim Dee
    #8 SoCal1, May 13, 2013
    Yes that looks funky for sure

    Almost looks like the dash was done at one time with too much padding causing it not to fit correct. See if you can take it to get looked at. Its really hard to tell by the picture
     
  9. LmnsBlu355

    LmnsBlu355 Formula Junior

    Dec 28, 2009
    284
    NY
    Full Name:
    Jordan S.
    #9 LmnsBlu355, May 13, 2013
    Just a guess but maybe a 348 binnacle installed in a 355? Never seen them side by side to know the differences.
     
  10. k wright

    k wright F1 Rookie

    Feb 4, 2004
    2,544
    North East TN
    Full Name:
    Kent Wright
    #10 k wright, May 13, 2013
    Someone removed the pod and didn't position the front clips correctly upon installation. Add heat and time and the deformation is the result.

    I replaced mine after getting the vendor to take detailed photos. There are plenty of warped ones to be bought so be careful.

    After you get the new one experiment with a heat gun and see if localized heating will allow reshaping.
     
  11. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,741
    #11 Mitch Alsup, May 13, 2013
    Take the leather off-- but you might just be able to get away with leaving the leather on.

    Then epoxy a piece of metal under the pod to hold it <back> in the original shape. Presto, just a leather redo.
     
  12. roadracer311

    roadracer311 Formula 3

    May 6, 2009
    2,398
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #12 roadracer311, May 14, 2013
    Haven't heard of this problem before. I went down to the garage and shot a photo of mine just now, for reference.
     
  13. roadracer311

    roadracer311 Formula 3

    May 6, 2009
    2,398
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #13 roadracer311, May 14, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #14 Nosevi, May 14, 2013
    Got to say, pretty sure my 348 one looks like that. The OPs one doesn't look warped to my eye, looks to be the wrong part. Could be wrong but I can't see how that could happen to that part.
     
  15. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #15 Nosevi, May 14, 2013
    Ketel, what does it look like from the front, showing the stitching if possible.
     
  16. roadracer311

    roadracer311 Formula 3

    May 6, 2009
    2,398
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #16 roadracer311, May 14, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  17. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #17 Nosevi, May 14, 2013
    Given that the corners stick out further than the middle, I can't see how Ketels would ever fit on a straight surface. It's also pretty symetrical. My money is it's from a different car entirely. Still doesn't help him, mind you.
     
  18. ketel

    ketel Formula 3

    Aug 6, 2007
    1,355
    Sausalito, CA
    #18 ketel, May 14, 2013
    OK. I'll try to get a shot in the next day or so.
     
  19. Extreme

    Extreme F1 Rookie

    May 26, 2010
    2,515
    Northern Utah
    Full Name:
    Erick
    #19 Extreme, May 15, 2013
    Mine is starting to warp just the one in the above picture of ketels. Maybe it has something to do with the year of car, mine is a 99.
     
  20. pnicholasen

    pnicholasen Formula 3

    Jan 14, 2011
    1,364
    South of Philly
    Full Name:
    Paul Nicholasen
    #20 pnicholasen, May 15, 2013
    Hard to tell the exact 3D shape problem from a 2D photo, but instead of trying to extend the top portion to meet the dash, could you just trim the sides of the pod, allowing the warped top portion to get close enough to the dash?
     
  21. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #21 Nosevi, May 15, 2013
    I stand corrected then. That's really weird though, isn't it? It's not so much warped as totally changed shape, gone from a flattened u shape along the leading edge to kind of a flatted m. Seriosly strange. There's not even that much heat behind there. You both live in hot parts though?
     
  22. ketel

    ketel Formula 3

    Aug 6, 2007
    1,355
    Sausalito, CA
    #22 ketel, May 15, 2013
    Well, I live in SF which is not particularly hot but I bought my 355 out of South Carolina which gets very hot and muggy....Not sure it had an effect but.

    In my detective work I found old ads online for my Spider a few years ago when she had been for sale. Although the shots are from somewhat far away, there does appear to be a gap in the dash pod in one of the shots of the front of the vehicle. This leads me to suspect that this had been an issue for some time and is leading me to believe that this is NOT the right 355 dash pod part.

    Another factoid: When I bought the Spider I traveled to drive her in the SC/GA area. At the time, the dash pod was so loose that it would fall onto the steering column while driving, making the car almost undriveable. In retrospect that seems odd. Bad warping is one thing but not even being able to re-attach the pod to the dash is another. The mechanic ultimately found a way to jerry-rig a solution which kept the dash pod in place while driving but it was not a real fix (obviously).

    One last question for you all: If this part is indeed a pod for another car, what would it be and are there parts numbers somewhere on the pod that would give up its origin? Someone suggested it might be a 348 pod, but would a 348 pod even fit a 355? Would not the instruments and instrument facia by ill-fitting at best?

    thoughts?

    ketel
     
  23. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #23 Nosevi, May 15, 2013
    Ketel, don't think it's a 348 pod, a 348 one is as near as damnit the same as a 355 one along the leading edge. Standby and I'll have a browse.......
     
  24. Nosevi

    Nosevi Formula 3

    Jul 8, 2011
    1,990
    Lincoln
    Full Name:
    Pete
    #24 Nosevi, May 15, 2013
    Ketel, a view of the front would be really handy, don't see many through the glass on shots due to the reflection, but is there an outside chance it's from something like a 308 GTB QV? The dash was more sloping away from the driver so the leading edge would touch the dash on the one you have. Also the outside bits slope out a bit more as they go down on a 308 pod, as yours apear to do. Just a real stab in the dark, a shot from the front would really help tell if it's a 355 pod or something else. If you can get one of the whole pod from the front and a close up of the stitching we could give a good guess as to whether it's a 355 one or something else.

    If it is a 355 one though, I just can't see how fibreglass can sort of reform into a different shape like that. got me baffled, mate.
     
  25. ketel

    ketel Formula 3

    Aug 6, 2007
    1,355
    Sausalito, CA
    #25 ketel, May 15, 2013
    Thanks, I've come to the conclusion now that I do not have a 355 pod. 308 QV makes a lot of sense. Notice how tapered my pod is at the front (hence the gap).

    So, I've gone ahead and bought a used one online from another 355 owner (gotta support the community) for 200 clams. Not a bad deal, and the unit looks good. I figure that even if I am wrong and the pod I have is actually a genuine 355 pod that is just badly misshapen, the cost of reshaping and re-leathering the pod would exceed $200 and not look nearly as good as a near-new pod.

    Hopefully, the process for swapping out the pods is not that complicated, but expect to see my posts in a week or two asking for help unplugging everthing, removing all the gauges, and setting them into the new pod.

    ketel
     
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page