Yikes! Airbox Nightmare! | FerrariChat

Yikes! Airbox Nightmare!

Discussion in '348/355' started by pyroguy, Jan 6, 2010.

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  1. pyroguy

    pyroguy Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 20, 2006
    669
    Minnesota
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Finally getting to those winter projects for the car during the long winter downtime. Over the summer I noticed some of the black paint flaking off the top of one of my airboxes. Touched them up and made a mental note to give them the once over this winter.

    So winter is here and I have my list of Ferrari "To Dos". I want to start in on the gold connector kit from Dave H so i decide it will be easier if I remove the airboxes first. Imagine my horror as I see the paint on the inside of the boxes has separated from the inside surface on the drivers side airbox. Fortunately none was flaked off at this point.

    However I remove the passenger side and sure as &%$t, some has flaked off and is gone.
    Removing the Y tube I find flakes of paint up against the MAF intake grill. The flakes appear to be most if not all of the paint that flaked off but I'm sure some probably got into the intake.

    Now I need to decide if:
    1) I should just strip the airboxes and leave them as bare aluminum
    2) Repaint just the outside of the boxes
    3) get them prepped properly and powder coated or anodized
    4) go for the Goth boxes? (are they available?)or Gruppe M carbon boxes

    The moral of the story is:
    If you have the stock boxes carefully inspect the paint on the inside of the boxes periodically.

    Hope this helps someone avoid this problem in the future.

    Have photos but having problems with my photo manager. I'll try to post them tomorrow.
     
  2. Vegas-Guy

    Vegas-Guy Formula 3

    Nov 25, 2007
    1,828
    Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Reg
    Go with the CF boxes from Fab-speed, or Gruppe M and get more power and less weight...:D
     
  3. captglen

    captglen Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 25, 2007
    1,790
    West Palm Beach, Fl
    Full Name:
    Glenn L.
    You can't beat the stuff from FabSpeed
     
  4. f355jimv

    f355jimv Formula Junior

    Jan 21, 2008
    685
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Went with the Fabspeed CF airboxes....
     
  5. FUNRARI

    FUNRARI Formula Junior

    Nov 5, 2008
    463
    Washington D.C.
    Full Name:
    Z
    Did you notice any difference in sound or performance? (I've seen pics of them and they look like very nice pieces).
     
  6. pyroguy

    pyroguy Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 20, 2006
    669
    Minnesota
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #6 pyroguy, Jan 7, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Finally able to resize on my other computer so here are some photos.

    Photo 1 - you can see the paint has separated from the airbox as a "blister"

    Photo 2 - the extent of the separation (blistering)

    Photo 3 - paint chips stopped by the MAF grill (screen)

    I have looked at both the Gruppe M and FabSpeeds Carbon Fibre replacements.
    Point of information - are the FabSpeed replacements the tops only or the entire box?
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
    Full Name:
    Bill Tracy
    I would just strip them and leave it bare aluminum.
    Why anyone would paint the inside of the airbox is a mystery to me.
    BT
     
  8. f355jimv

    f355jimv Formula Junior

    Jan 21, 2008
    685
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Jim
    Perhaps a small difference in sound. My car runs with new Hyperflow cats and Tubi as well.

    The CF airboxes are well made.
     
  9. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    Yup ......... my factory tops have a few of those 'blisters' on the inside as well .......... :eek: .......... a good powdercoat shop can strip them and create a good surface for new powdercoat for a meager fee ...... ;)
     
  10. pyroguy

    pyroguy Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 20, 2006
    669
    Minnesota
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Hey Goth,

    I do have a good Powder coating company I have dealt with in the past. Redid my door sills for me last Summer. I think if I paint or powdercoat them I will omit painting the inside of the top covers. The bottoms would be on the prefilter side and are exposed to higher moisture levels. Coating the inside of the bottoms would help with the Aluminum corrosion issue.
     
  11. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    It may not be a bad preventive idea to only coat the outside of the top covers ...... but most modern powdercoats will adhere a lot better than the factory coating on a well prepared surface ........ and as you said, doing full surface coating on the air box bottom halves will indeed prevent corrosion. That said I would feel very comfortable doing all surfaces on both halves with todays powder :).
     
  12. f355jimv

    f355jimv Formula Junior

    Jan 21, 2008
    685
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Jim
    The Fabspeed CF airboxes are top only.
     
  13. pyroguy

    pyroguy Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 20, 2006
    669
    Minnesota
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #13 pyroguy, Jan 7, 2010
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2010
    After I asked the question I got up off my lazy cyber A$$ and looked it up on their website.
    Thanks for the reply though!
     
  14. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,787
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I agree
     
  15. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,976
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    If your going to replace them--I'd get the Goth ones----I have had them in my hand and the fit finish and quality is stunning!!
     

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