Make a 355 top become manual | FerrariChat
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Make a 355 top become manual

Discussion in '348/355' started by Mick Merivel-Dixon, Jan 4, 2006.

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  1. Mick Merivel-Dixon

    Mick Merivel-Dixon Rookie

    Jan 2, 2006
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    Beverly Hills, CA
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    Mick Merivel
    #1 Mick Merivel-Dixon, Jan 4, 2006
    Read tons and tons on top problems--How do you make a 355's top into manual--someone tell me! I can't stand dealing with it and repairing it anymore. I've heard people talk about it, but no specifics.
     
  2. k wright

    k wright F1 Rookie
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    Feb 4, 2004
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    Kent Wright
    #2 k wright, Jan 4, 2006
    Looking at the parts CD there are 4 hydralic cylinders that will need to be removed and the plumbing for these will need to be plugged. You will need the parts manual to get it done. After that you should have a manual top. I have no idea how this will affect the rest of the car (seat adjustment, etc.).

    There has to be someone that has done this. Didn't the 348 come sith a manual top?

    When you get this done please post your results. I have driven with someone that didn't put his top down on a glorious day, made me wonder if it would go down.

    ken
     
  3. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 ernie, Jan 5, 2006
    Yup, the 348's have a manual top.
     
  4. Mick Merivel-Dixon

    Mick Merivel-Dixon Rookie

    Jan 2, 2006
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    Beverly Hills, CA
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    Mick Merivel
    #4 Mick Merivel-Dixon, Jan 5, 2006
    The 348 & 355 topsare so much alike, I only wonder if the 355 were made manual, would the top stay tight and frim when up? Currently if use is made of the emergency kit for down & up when the switch doesn't work, you have to ratchet the srew bolt till the top is firm and up all the way---wonder if all tools can be cast aside once top were made manual?

    Of course I still don't see how you go about removing any of the hardware or which pieces can be left in place ---- Need a "how to advice" that is a little more in-depth.
     
  5. ActionFigure

    ActionFigure Formula Junior

    Sep 2, 2005
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    Matt
    #5 ActionFigure, Jan 5, 2006
    I had my top made manual and it was done by my mechanic, so I have no idea about the specifics. I just got the car, and the receipts from the history showed a lot of work done to get the top right. When I received the car, the top only went halfway. A long story about trying to get compensation from the seller on that one. Anyway, the procedure to make the top manual seems pretty minor, just disconnecting the rams and releasing pressure from the pump (in the console between the seats). I believe that was all that was done. The seats still work with the top up or down, but the windows do not. Apparently there is a microswitch in the back of the car where the top collapses that needs to be closed so the windows always believe the top to be fully up (or down). I am going to be checking that out. Wish I could give you more specifics but did not do the work myself. The guy who did it services Porsches, and he said they are pretty much all the same with the microswitches and rams. The top when fully closed and fully open seems fine, nice and snug for both. You just don't look as graceful doing the top manually as when it is automatic, but I know that if a sudden storm comes up, the top WILL go back up.
     
  6. Mick Merivel-Dixon

    Mick Merivel-Dixon Rookie

    Jan 2, 2006
    37
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    #6 Mick Merivel-Dixon, Jan 5, 2006
    Good point about the top going up if there's a storm... I'll keep checking around --post it if you get any more info. Thanks.
     

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