Why the 2.7 355 cars are more coveted.

The 2.7 early 355's hold a special place in 355 specialist collector hearts and a lot of newer members always ask why the 94/95 cars are the holy grail of std production 355's (after the limited edition Fioranos and Challenge cars).

Those that have later cars tend to downplay the 2.7s positives for obvious reasons, but this subject always seems to rear its head so best to outline whats its all about.

The info below attempts to explain the passion of the 2.7 94/95 cars for those that don't know. Here is the good and the bad!

2.7 Motronic differences
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• 2.7 is OBDI (94/95) vs 5.2’s OBDII (96 onwards)
• All 2.7s Manual
• All 2.7s GTB and GTS only
• There is no stupid engine immobilizer/alarm to strand you in the middle of no-where
• 2.7 has only 2 O2 sensors in your exhaust. M5.2 has 4 O2 sensors.
• Some 94/95 models have two fuel filters, then they changed to the single one.
• The 94s had the large type power steering cap, then later changed to smaller type
• 2.7 has two airflow meters. 5.2s only have one thats the same size. Mas Air Flow Meter (MAFF) area for a 5.2 is 5.1 square vs 9.0 square inches area for a 2.7. This should probably signal a greater HP increase than 5hp that the factory had stated
• So 95 has a few more horsepower. Its apparently only 5bhp more, but it breaths better.
• The 2.7 is supposed to have better torque for the same reason (more noticeable than the bhp difference)
• The 2.7 will sound better (rawer and little louder) than the 5.2 with the same exhaust (whether standard or Capristo etc) because there's a different y pipe structure.
• 2.7 will run less refined than the 5.2
• 2.7 euro cars had harmonic resonators.
• Air ducts in the c-pillaron 2.7
• Cats can be bypassed without throwing a CEL light on 2.7, you can remove cat convertors easily because the o2 sensors are before the CAT unlike on 5.2.
• 2.7 is a symetrical system. Two of everything (one for each side of your engine).Therefore - 2x Ecus, 1 or 2x fuel pumps, 2x MAFFs ,2x lambdas
• 2.7 is OBDI. OBDI means that the fuel maps and programming are stored on a chip. Chip programmable (i.e. you physically swap chips to change the fuel maps or programs). It also means that you don't need a special tool to "scan" or read the error codes like OBDII. Instead of using a scan tool on OBDI you press a button connected to the ECU and the error codes slowly flash your Check Engine Light (CEL) on your dash. With OBDI, erasing your error codes is as easy as disconnecting your car battery. OBDII means that the fuel maps and programming are stored in flash memory. Download-programmable (i.e. you connect to the ECU and download code). Error codes remain in OBDII even if you disconnect your car battery. You need a scan tool to delete error codes. You need a scan tool to read error codes (scan tools are cheap...about $30 on Amazon.com).
• ECU-Also the 2.7s respond better to any engine tuning one may do and they are easier to program for more power
• ECU- 2.7 fundamentals and "secrets" are somewhat known in the tuner community whereas with the 5.2, Ferrari has managed to keep most of its internals proprietary and secret.
• 2.7 steering has No airbag and therefore steering wheel is generally agreed to be cooler and better looking, but obviously less safe.
• All the 355 Challenge cars have the 2.7 system, there must be a reason they stayed with it. More power? No worries about passing emmisions? Or just the need for consistency in the challenge series to keep things on a level footing? Maybe all of these!
• The 2.7 is a much easier system to work with for a DIY’er.
• It was U.S. legislation that changed it. 1996 cars and on had to have air bags and OBDII. Ferrari sometimes gets complete exemptions from U.S. legislation based on its small production volume, but didn't win one with the 355. So Ferrari couldn't keep the impressive 2.7 systems. 5.2 is a good OBDII (2) system, though. But 2.7 is a fantastic OBDI (1) system.
• Subjectively speaking, most Ferrari mechanics agree that the 2.7 is the better system for the 355, mostly for the same reasons mentioned above.
• If emissions controls are what impresses you, then 5.2 is your go-to system...but if being competitive at Le Mans or blasting around a track in a F50 or 512M is more your game, then 2.7 is the preferred system.
• 5.2 is more consistent in emission compliance and runs smoother. Its OBD2 has more sensors and it will actually help you trouble shoot your car easier.

So the 5.2 was a system forced on Ferrari to aid in better emissions and ensured entry into stricter markets.

 

Sorry guys, 2.7s did come In spiders and with airbags towards the end...there are discussions of a different head and slightly larger injectors used but nothing has been verified.

 

Dastek will do it via a unichip but obd1 requires you go into the wiring harness, it's not quite plug and play. They are doing this to a obd1 Maserati ghibli gt for me at the moment.