348 wheels are 17" whilst 355 standard wheels are 18". Plus the 355 wheels are magnesium and a lot lighter. The 355CH wheels are even lighter than the standard wheels. The centre lock wheels are 1" wider than the 355CH wheels.
I guess that would come in handy if you wanted to run larger brake discs. Which ones are you running? The 355 or 335CH? It seems like the extra width would be worth it for the tyre contact.... What keeps a centrelock wheel from spinning off? Is that what makes it difficult to switch to that setup? All the best, Andrew.
Well, it's on Video cassette so I'll try to have to find a way to burn it to a DVD. I actually haven't even watched it myself!!!!
First of all, let me say Sy you are one heck of a Brother and I am proud to be in your company. And you are made of better stuff than I for cancelling the 458 order. I am not sure I would have. As all the Stooges, I am trembling with anticipation at your project. Yes, I agree that this is a piece of Ferrari history, not just 348 history, that you need to make sure survives your, ahem, eager ministrations, shall we say? As for PAP, Steve is a crazy-azzed nut job I believe I met a few years back who built a 348 for the Silver State Challenge or so. He purports to be a Ferrari mechanic, but I think he is a mad scientist living on the fringe, maybe even madder than, dare I say it, our own gothspeed. His silver 348 is an earlier model stripped for speed, festooned with decals and fabbed up like a high speed track car, although it appears pretty stock from the outside. He has a race inspired removable steering wheel, I recall and a roll cage. Okay, now for the engine. As I remember it, it was a twin turbo semi-stock motor (probably stuffed with all sorts of special innards) with a no cat (no sheit, griswall) straight pipe exhaust. He said it makes 700 HP on the street with pump gas and much more with racing fuel. He quoted a number near 1000, but who knows for sure? I do have some pictures somewhere of his car in Monterey I will dig up. We drove in a FCA event up to Monterey with the Lambo guys and he easily kept up with them, blowing past me several times like I was standing still at 125 mph (my gut limit on the 101 freeway). I followed him for awhile at speed (don't ask, I was too chicken to look at the speedo) and noticed that my car was getting peppered by unburned HC's that covered the front like oily soot. So, I moved over and let him go on his way. I did witness huge bellows of flame out of his pipes when he stomped it, then shifted. Stock trans I think too. I have not seen him around lately so I lost track of the car. I do believe he is from San Diego.
^^ Vince ........ it is not a problem going big HP numbers ...... turbo systems can be made in the lab 'on demand' .......... for 'off road use only' ....................
Take a look at the Forgeline offerings. Lighter than the CH wheels and no need to worry about age or hub design. I am quite pleased with them on the IMSA car albeit they need to go silver or white in color
Very interesting thread gentlemen, I'm very intrigued by The story of Steve Maxwell's modified 348. Any pictures or better yet video would be appreciated by all, I'm sure.
Seconded. Actually, where do I officially second the nomination? Is there a voting process on this once all the nominees are in? All the best, Andrew.
LOL, Don't say stuff like this to me, I might get some evil wishes and dreams... Do you think Santa would bring me a gothspeed turbo system for Christmas?! I will be getting those pictures as soon as I can find them.
I can't remember teh name of teh company, but they have outlets in chemists across the country that will do it for you. Costs £20 per cassette. Thanks Dave. Had a look around... but have changed my mind about those centre lock wheels. Should have them soon from Bertocchi who is selling them. The guys from QV London are going to help with sorting out a solution to install them. I figure they belong on the car, being LM and all. May not get an opportunity later. Thanks mate. UPDATE Picked up a cambelt and oil filter from the local Ferrari dealer (HR OWEN) Simpson engineering who originally built the engine and who are also selling it, will start work on it end of this week. Should have it with me in the next few weeks. Also have the Hill Engineering tensioners on their way to them as well. Only problem at the moment is getting hold of a waterpump. Two years ago when my mate George and I did an engine out, I purchased a new OEM water pump for £650. It's now gone up to £1,030, even though it's the same stock!!! Looking at alternatives including having it rebuilt. Yesterday I ordered the quantum racing suspension system. It's the same one that Andy (andyhls) has on his 348. Picture Andy posted up elsewhere of his set up Image Unavailable, Please Login
No, it's a different company. Thanks for letting me know it's Jessops as it's easier for me to go there.
Cool man!! He sounds like a bit of a legend!! Thanks mate, would love to see pics if you can find some.
Sy - not 100% sure but think I have a 348 water pump lying around somewhere, no problems with it, not new of course but just replaced as a matter of course when Mototechnique did the major on my GTC. If you're interested let me know and I'll have a look for it and send it to you with the DVD. Hopefully I haven't binned it!
I understand the want of the CL's, I have them on other race cars of mine and they do make a statement. Lets me know if you need photo's or spec's on the hubs...I use one for a paperweight on my desk. There were problems with those so do research before chosing a design. My engine had a custom bearing used for the tensioner side that was larger in diameter than the OEM. The belt would only go on when teeth were lined up and it was pushed in place onto the gears. It would be interesting to see what Simpson used in their design. In the end I found it had to be set at its full adjustment. It was at the 36 second mark of the initial start up that I found my first belt setting was not tight enough for the cam design we used. My one freeby in this lifetime...it jumped a crank tooth, not a cam tooth. Near a month setting up Cosworth lash cap valve train on 32 new Cosworth valves and nothing touched.... I took the rest of the day off to have a quite moment to myself after finding that. RE the waterpump. Used at reasonable RPM's the OEM impeller works fine but I found I needed closer tolerances and a finer scroll cut design to eliminate cavitation at extreme RPM. I had a batch of them made up and that seemed to solve the problem. I would be interested in the original builders thoughts and how they dealt with that issue or if they ever had a problem in that area. Something tells me that engine will not be seeing the stock redline used all that often...
Change of plan. Just purchased the centre lock wheels from a fellow fchatter. Couldn't resist it. Decided not to get the 355CH rear spoiler on ebay as it's fibreglass. Trying to source the same design as found on the original Simpson 348. Thanks Dave. May need your input for the CL wheels. Do you think Testarossa hubs would work?
