Report- my car finally sorted to my liking- hyperflows installed!

Well, I just picked up my car from Auto Elite- took her in because the CEL came on and the stock cats were simply shot. I put new hyperflows on- the car sounds great with the tubi they put on in the spring! I love it- they used the O2 extenders and cycled the car, then I drove it home the 20 or so highway miles- runs like a top and the sound with the top down- just what I was looking for! No CELs- hope to keep it that way

In a prior e-mail I wrote of how going to a "less capable/more crude" F355 spider from my 360 coupe was something I had the urge to do still holds. I missed top down driving from other sports cars I had and the 355 spider provides that along with the classic 90's Ferrari experience. I don't feel I need to go as fast as I did in the 360 to have fun- the car sounds like an Formula 1 car without needing to go all that fast Don't get me wrong- I still love the 360, but I guess I was ready for a little change with the experience (and didn't have the need to "go faster" nor desire or funds to step up to a 430 spider)

As with all used cars, I always like to get the car set up the way I like and maintenance up to date. I wanted to remind prospective buyers the importance of not just looking at a car's purchase price without looking at the condition and some typical items that should be addressed, or you may want addressed that are kind of costly. In other words don't walk away from a perfect 355 for $70K to buy one for $65K that needs $10K+ worth of work.

I went into this 355 knowing I had a lot of expensive things I wanted to do to get it up to snuff. I started with an example that had the valve guides and belt service recently completed. But I then had to do the following to either fix items or do things I elected to bring up to my spec- for a total cost of a little over $10K:

* PPI, and as part of purchase the place that did the PPI installed a rebuilt steering rack (pain in the butt job) to repair cracked joints, new CV joints in the rear, fix a radiator plug and shifter seal of some sort
Then when I got the car to Auto Elite had the following done:
* Purchased a used Tubi and new Challenge rear grill that they installed
* Repaired interior stickies
* Purchased hyperflow cats and had them installed
* I installed a new shifter knob, new floor mats, had to buy new window switch plates for both doors
* Had 1 remote fob cloned by Gobble
* Installed the I-ventura metal fender scuderia shields
* I replaced all the snaps on the convertible top boot
* New center caps for the wheels
* Annual fluid flush

I think the car is finally where I want it- still need new tires next year due to age vs wear.

I hope she holds up for a while without other expenses- I depleted my car budget for the year- ha! When the dust settled the 355 cost me a little more than I got for the 360 (had to pay sales tax and ship the car from California, plus all the aforementioned work and upgrades)- but not that bad. I love driving her! Note: the picture has the old rim caps on- now I have the slightly darker yellow upgraded caps from Ricambi...I attached a photo comparing the original faded caps from my 360 before getting the upgraded parts (they fade and sometimes even start to get hairline cracks as they age). Basically the same upgraded part for the 355.
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The code I had was p1115- O2 sensor per the Internet, however my mechanic likely had more detailed info from the SD2. I knew the cats were going and in fact when they removed them the insides were in bad shape, rattling around. I was going to see if I could go to next spring with them but when the cel came on figured just get them fixed once and for all. The O2 sensors were cleaned up and all seem to be fine. No CELs with the new cats- the code was on the old cats. Regarding the extenders I didn't want to chance more cels and the car seems to be set up good now..I've heard some people had success without them but the mechanic suggested them.

Regarding hyperflow, I know sometimes they run low on stock and need to have another production run, but they had the 355 hyperflows in stock- I bought the. Just a couple of weeks ago- they arrived in 2 business days. You can call hyperflow directly, or I also see them on eBay for sale from dealers...

 

I do smell some more- But I think more so at certain speeds with the top down and windows up due to the airflow- not that I usually drive like that, but my wife wanted them up the other night since we were going on the highway and it got a little cooler at night after dinner.

I haven't noticed more tailpipe soot yet, but that wouldn't surprise me if there is some more.

I really like this set up with the top down- the motor has different distinct sounds at different rpms, and for the full blast to 8k the tubi emits a smooth yet racy sound with a multitude of sounds including that "tearing fabric" sound like the old v12s, vs a capristo which I think would be more of a primal scream- both sounds are great, just different.

Funny my wife asked if the car was supposed to make those mini backfire sounds she occasionally heard, and I said yes- that is part of the goodness of a tubi (or other aftermarket exhaust) and hyperflows- that the car is running fine and in fact our old 360 made the same sounds but she didn't notice as much due to it being a coupe. I'm not sure she fully understands, or merely thinks I (and all of you) are a little nuts to want that noise- ha!

 

I believe so- I don't think it's the really early 355 tubi, but it's not the latest design on their website- each side is one splitting to two outlets.

 

Got them from a fellow f-chatter- "i-velocita"-

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-parts-collectibles/455497-ferrari-scuderia-fender-shields-badges-enamel-carbon-fiber-6.html

(he also sells them on ebay)

Quality is excellent, they are held on by good 3M tape (if you wanted to remove probably could use a little heat from a hairdrier and pull off, but I'm leaving them on). I had this sort of shield on my 360 for years- loved them on both cars. In both cases, I installed them the first day or so I had the car!

 

Same here drbob- I try to make the north NJ C&Cs when I can (they are usually in the Chatham area) so if you are there please say hello! But you seem to be further south in the state..

-Andrew

 

Definitely Alex- I can't wait until spring! Will be nice to get your yellow 360 and my yellow 355 next to one another!

 

Cool- with the black interior and black challenge grill, my 355 will still match a black garrardo

Congrats on the lambo- a nice addition to your stable!