The 355 piece has 3 studs... my 348 has 5, but only 3 actually mount thru the bonnet... bolts #2 & #4 on the 348 piece use "U" clips underneath. The 2 outer studs on the 355 piece do not lineup with the outer mounting points on the 348 bonnet... the studs are further out. SO, on the right side, I used the "U" clip from the 348 piece to attach it, but on the left side, the inner air baffle is too close to the underside of the bonnet to fit the "U" clip in there, so I had to drill thru it, and put the nut on the back (outside) of the air baffle. Ideally, the best way to have done this would have been to remove the air baffle, but its friggin pop-riveted on! So removing the 348 piece and installing this one, poses a very frustrating and perplexing challenge!! Hence my earlier comment... it was a MAJOR pain in the ass to swap!!! To do this absolutely "by the book", you would also need to replace the air baffle with one from a 355... they are ever so slightly different on the left side. I assumed that the 355 piece was just thin sheet metal... its not, its VERY thick and stout solid cast aluminum... virtually indestructible. Anyway, Mike, I dont have a price to tell you... I know the part lists new for just over $400, but this one was used, and I had to have it repainted. Russ from ferrparts just sent it out to me to make sure I could make it work, and i'm going to settle up with him on my next purchase... so honestly I dont even know how much he's going to charge me for it at this point.... but I'n not concerned, I assume it'll be a smokin deal, like everything else I have bought from him so far.
Strictly cosmetic... my original cowl was lookin pretty dull and faded... I was gonna replace it, and this idea came to mind. For such a small piece, the change in appearance is quite dramatic! Here's another pic I just took... Image Unavailable, Please Login
I think it looks especially good on 348s which have red valances, and not black. However, I plan to keep mine stock red/black with black top, and so I'd probably just clean and refinish mine if needed. Looks nice on yours!
I think that's why the change is so dramatic... that was the only thing black on the entire front of the body (except the front grill). And my roof panel is painted too. Thinking back to the way it was, the original black cowl kinda stuck out like a sore thumb... Now that the original one is off, its actually in good shape.. not dry rotted or anything... it could easily be cleaned and painted with that nifty textured plastic paint and look like new (or better) again.
Looks great Steve! I wish I had the time to do some of these things. BTW the major is all done with fresh guides and the car sounds killer with the test pipes and X-OST!! You need to make this your next project. Steve
I have a black 95 spider and my panel was faded, so I ordered one from Damiel. He told me it might not fit correctly, and if not just toss it in the trash. Well, he was right, the new piece was too short by about a quarter of an inch. To do it right that pop-riveted air box has to come off. (just takes some time) Your part looks VERY nice and I think I will check into it. What color is the original part? Do you know if it was flat black? Thanks again for posting, Scott
Thanks guys, i'm glad you like it... hopefully ive added a new option for some to consider. Not sure I understand your question... the "original part" is black plastic. If your asking the original color of the 355 piece, it was Rosso Corsa, but it was pretty scratched up and had to be redone... it was a used part.
Tjeck this one. http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?id=35896663&tabNumber=2&scopeId=C&sortOption.sortBy=price.consumerGrossEuro&sortOption.sortOrder=ASCENDING&makeModelVariant1.makeId=8600&makeModelVariant1.modelId=12&makeModelVariant1.searchInFreetext=false&makeModelVariant2.searchInFreetext=false&makeModelVariant3.searchInFreetext=false&vehicleCategory=Car&segment=Car&negativeFeatures=EXPORT&damageUnrepaired=NO_DAMAGE_UNREPAIRED&customerIdsAsString=&lang=de&pageNumber=2 I think it is the closest to a 348/355 you can get.
Well there's nothing wrong with mods on Fcars or changing some things like grills but that car is dumb. He should have just saved up and bought f355.
Certainly the most complete 348 to 355 body conversion ive ever seen! I have no intention of doing all this, but I see no fault in doing so. This is a gorgeous car in my opinion... beats the hell out of a Fiero conversion... at least this car is 100% Ferrari!
Wow!! Would not have been cheap cutting/welding in those rear 355 quarter panels. Amongst fitting all the other 355 parts. Should have just got a 355 alright!!
Sortof... Mike's car doesnt have 355 side mirrors, front bonnet, or wheels. I think he also once stated that some of the "355 style" parts on his car were hand fabricated... like the door vents & rear bonnet I think? BTW, If I had the rear flip-up lip pieces, and had them welded to my quarters and repainted... the body shop I use could do that for about $400. I think alot of you guys think that would cost ALOT more to have done than it really would. If you added that to the cost of 355 front and rear bumper covers, door vents, and rear bonnet from a salvage yard... it would cost less than half the difference in price between a 348 and a 355. In other words, you can buy a 348 on average for $45K. You could update all the major body components of the 348, to look like a 355 for about $6000.00, including labor and paint. Thats tops out at about $51K. From what ive seen, its rare that a 355 sells for much less than $60K. Then you can sell all your 348 body parts and recoup a big chunk of your $6000.00 investment. I'll admit, if I end up changing over to some version of a round taillight setup.... I will probably end up changing to the 355 door vents. I will never change the 348 front bumper cover, I like it MUCH more than the 355 front bumper.... yes, I have xpel on my fogs!
Wow! Thats VERY cheap! I have a friend that owns a paintshop and I dont reckon he would cut and shut those rear quarter panels in for me for that price. Plus painting on top of that.
Jeepers! When I first pulled the site up, I thought I was looking at my car... but Steve is right, my mirrors are the original 348 mirrors, and like the car on the German site, I have the push button door openers...but that is a really well-done conversion (as I think mine was mostly)... So, now I know there's someone else out there with a near twin to mine... I'm no longer alone in the world, betwixt and between 348 and 355... ! Nice! Mike in Kuwait
Mike, you're definitely NOT alone buddy... ive seen at LEAST a dozen 348's that have most of the 355 panels on them... and those are just the ones that have come up for sale! Theres no telling how many others there are, that havn't come up for sale in the last year or so.
