How did Ferrari reduce the weight in 355s compared to earlier V8s?

A different set of scales I suspect that Ferrari's quoted weights, like horsepower, may be a gentle shade of rose.....

Over time however the chassis became less of a chassis and more of a monocoque and the early cars had super heavy exhausts and bumpers - just compare US weights to Euro weights for the 308s.

The 355 also has some aluminium panels - the engine cover on a 355 can be carried literally with one finger. The hood is also Al.

FWIW my old GT4 had almost no flex when jacked up.

Dave

 

I just weighed my 1997 F355 spider with a full tank of gas, it came in at 3360 lbs. The scale rounds to the nearest 10lbs.

 

My 348 that went on a diet plan weighs in at 2950 with 1/2 tank of gas.......and 30 more hp!

 

I think the Spider weighs more due to the build up for support of the structure. No roof - more metal underneath.

 

That is fabulous! If I could get my 355 down to 3200lbs with a full tank...I would be very happy. I think I may have to start with the exhaust. I think there is around 40lbs to be saved there?

I am also getting the brembo GT brake kit in about a month. It is my understanding that the kit weighs less than stock.

I also heard that the CS steering wheel is a few lbs. lighter too.

NAPerformance headers have to be lighter without the shielding?

 

Wow! I was just talking about this very thing on the 348 v 355 purchase thread.

My 348 Spider weighs in at 3252 pounds with full gas.

Frankly, I have trouble believing that the 355, with its larger 6 speed or F1 tranny, larger engine, dual air bags, power steering, power-adjustable-shocks, power seats, and power hydraulic convertible top is somehow **lighter** than the 348 which has none of the above.

They share the same steel frame and subframe, and the 348 *grates* simply aren't that heavy!

The 355 engine has more hp, granted, but it also has more parasitic drag (e.g. the power-robbing power steering pulley on the accessory belts).

 

Yah, the 355 Spiders have to have power seats because the seats have to automatically move forward to give enough room for the power top to go up.

355 Spider and 348 Spider chassis support is probably equal, but the 348 Spider top is manual so it doesn't have dual hydraulic motors, hydraulic pump, hydraulic fluid, etc.

It's good to know that the 355 models other than the Spider may have a non-power-seat option, though. I didn't realize that fact even after sitting in a 355 TB as recently as a month ago.

 

Ferrari dropped the 348 grates from the 355, and a few of the panels/bumpers may be a bit lighter, though if you've carried any around you'll realize that there isn't too much weight to be saved there.

Same interior (weight wise). Same steel frame. Same steel sub-frame. Same axle half-shafts on the 1994 and 95 348's as on the 1995 355, for sure.

But the 355 has larger wheels that carry more rubber (i.e. adds weight), power steering, power shocks, larger engine, larger tranny, dual airbags, power exhaust cutout...

I don't see how the 355 could possibly be lighter than the 348.

 

That's a good question. What do 355's carry for fluids wet?

20 gallons or so fuel?
4 gallons or so coolant?
11 liters or so of oil?
4 liters or so of tranny fluid?
Hydraulics?
Wiper fluid?

I'd guess 180 pounds for fluids, offhand.

 

Right. No spare tire for the 348, either. Just 4.25 liters of tranny fluid. No power steering fluid. No power top hydraulics in the 348.

Similar size fuel tanks between 348 and 355 models, surely.

The 355 manual tranny uses solid push rods; the 348 uses lighter weight cables.

 

I think the 355 wheels are lighter than the 348. The exhaust is lighter, as well as the doors, quarter panels, and likely the bumpers. Perhaps thinner glass?

BT

 

The 355 wheels are 18 inch, so even if they are a bit lighter (questionable), their larger tires are going to weigh more (rubber is heavy).

The 355 exhaust is lighter than the early 348's, but the later 348 Spider/GTC/GTB/GTS/Challenge/Speciale models should be lighter (1 can instead of 2).

355 doors/bumpers *are* lighter (except 348 Competizione) than most 348 models, granted.

Windshield is the same for 348 and 355.

 

Are the 348's wheels magnesium?

Also, from the look of the engines the 355 motor looks like it has had someone think seriously hard about its design compared with the 348. I know the block is extremely light for a "road car".

 

There were 3 different wheel designs on 348 models. 1 Challenge/Competizione wheel design was shared identically with some 355 models. 1 Competizione wheel design was exclusive to the 348 and may have been magnesium, and the most common 348 wheel design was 17 inch diameter by 7.5 inch width in front, 9 inch width in rear.

The 355's most common wheel was 18 inch diameter by 8 inch width in front, 10 inch width in rear...tough to make that lighter than a 17 inch by 7.5 or 9" wheel...and near impossible to do when the larger 355 rubber is mounted.

 

The 355's engine block is aluminum, as is the 348's...but the 355 engine is larger (which is tough to make lighter).

355's also have extra top cover protection in the engine compartment that's not on 348's...as well as heavier cams to cover the 5 valve per cylinder 355 V8.

 

Someone stop this train wreck before it gets worse....bigger = heavier?????

Did you notice the bore is the same but the stroke is different? You can re-crank a 348 to get the same displacement and not change the weight. Heck, if you bore it theorhetically it would be lighter and BIGGER b/c you removed material.

 

It's not as easy as that. Different (bigger?) block. Heavier cams with more lobes. Different emmissions air pumping. 8 throttle bodies instead of 2. More engine pulleys. More engine belts (extra timing belt and power steering accessory belt routing). Extra power steering pump on the block.

Different intake plenum. Additional engine covers.

 

Keep in mind that the 348 likewise has an aluminum rear deck lid.

The 348 uses a composite underbody panel between the front and mid sections, while the 355 has more underbody armor, and the 348 frame is like the 355's (monocoque)...but not laser-welded as the 355's...though how much weight you save from a precision laser weld versus a traditional weld is a good question.

The 348 uses bucket tappets for the valves compared to the 355's hydraulic tappets.

FNA says that the 355 engine weighs 370 pounds, so if we can find the weight on the 348 motor we'll be a long way toward solving this, by the way!