OK guys...a lot of you were interested in my 348 challenge grill concept. But I believe this is the garedcars/SL comp variety. I believe some of you had a beef with this design. Before I go planning a design, can you tell me what is wrong with this one in particular? Image Unavailable, Please Login
On my car or should I say when it was Bushwhackers since he had the work done there were fitment issues. The person who did the work told me that they had to cut the panel and shorten it. Since it's carbon fibre it had to be painted to cover up the splice work and the carbon always showed through the paint. There was also fabrication required for mounting the lights. I was also told that the lights had to be on an angle to go back to stock. In order to set the lights the way they are on the 355 there is some cutting of sheet metal required and Thank God Bushwhacker didn't want to do that. I really like the idea of the round lights and how it makes the 348 look more like a family member but not at the cost of cutting metal and the overall price of the kit. Personally for me I really like the challenge grill look as long as the lights are set right and there is no cutting.
hmmm... whats wrong with it... Its outrageously overpriced, its not a challenge type grill, it provides no ventilation for the exhaust or engine heat. Guys like me and John need MORE venting, not less... we live in a 120 degree desert!
Must be kinda lonely defending the 355 all by yourself.. Her is your 355 song for you to make you feel better http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVKv6PdBR-I
If you have a 348 that ALREADY looks like a 355, you won't have any issues...! (ps....NO hair gel required!) Mike in Kuwait
...........yeah the 355 guys are a tad fragmented lately.... !!! As for that panel, IMO it needs some kind of ventilation/grill so it serves a functioanl purpose too !!
Husker, if you are going to get something custom fabricated, why not go for the F40 look. I think it is more period correct and ties in with the side slats better. Shouldn't be too hard to try and if you don't like it, you can keep the lights and have the modified 355 challenge grill fitted. Below is an idea of what I'm taking about. I think you need to make then end caps on the sides to cover where the strakes bolt on and if you could mount the round headlights angled so they are vertical and not pointing up, and put mesh behind the whole thing, it would look awesome and have all the ventilation you need. Just an idea, Image Unavailable, Please Login
That F40 look is 'similar' to what I did to mine on my 355....... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
If the panel was on the car one would notice that there are waves in it because it is only mounted near the lights and at the center.(not to mention the print-thru from the cf) This allows the panel to flex a lot. An aluminum stamping would be sweet and light with a a grill tigged in like the f-40 and goth-mobile. Probably too expensive to set up the tooling for what you could get for it. I'd much rather dump money into cf bumpers!! ;o) Plugz where ya at??????!!! Scott
Hey Goth - I really liked what you did with your grill, except that I felt the square frame behind showed through too much. Weren't you looking at possibly getting different mesh or something? Post pics if you do change anything
I'd echo these comments. I'd probably go for a 348 round light conversion kit that was bolt-on simple. If it involved cutting and fabricating or chasing after other parts I'd probably stick with my square lights. Most of the 348 round light conversions I've seen have looked great, but it seems like it's not an easy thing to get installed.
Well personally I like the round 355 style taillights (to each his own). Guess I'm not a purist but feel the cheesegrator lights date the car, just my opinion. When I got my kit it was one of the early models and did require a lot of fitment and fabrication, including mounts. I opted to have the lights at an angle as to avoid cutting sheet metal so I could return it them to stock later if need be. Would I have done it differently with what we know now, probably ,but I would still change them out and it's easy to look in hindsight after you stuck your neck out in the early days. I don't know if they have ever improved the kit or if they are even still made, but I thought the final result was cool and recieved tons of compliments. I think the cleanest looking of any of the tailight conversions was done by Brent Latchett, awesome job of fabrication and refinemen, correct angle, beautiful job, maybe Brent can post some pics. It's your car, you paid for it, do what makes YOU happy, do what you want with it and if someone doesn't like it you can tell them to stuff it where the tailights don't shine. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Only a true Ferraristi would photograph car parts on his Italian leather sofa! Obvious not the married kind either...
Damn Bush, I forgot how good they looked. Go ahead and say I told you so and kick me in the a$$ when you see me. Hindsight, isn't it wonderful?
I like how the lights are angled correctly, but I do NOT like the orange peel in the clearcoat. Go with the "F40 style" as suggested above!!!
I like the grill that Goth has.....Mesh so that the engine can breath and its lighter which means that is probably an easier install... Don't like the F40 lights, look too old. I thought the idea was to 'update' the look of our cars.... 355 lights look great... I would get one in a heartbeat if it was mesh like the challenge grill with the 355 lights and was bolt on.... Assuming it was priced fairly of course...
For 348 guys........ here is a set of inexpensive 355 'style' tail lights for your upcoming 348 rear panel conversion . Caviat..... looks like they need the bulb socket/holders.................... so they may or may not be inexpensive after all??? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-Style-355-360-Replica-Tail-Lights-for-Kit-Car_W0QQitemZ260227560561QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260227560561
About half the price...I think for another $400 I would get the real deals....if they were only $200....then hmmm....might be tempted...
I think you are right .............. I think I paid about $160 for a new complete replacement 'inner' for the 355 a while back from ricambi............ sorry for the false alarm..................... its a good thing I did not start a new thread over them....
