Ferrari F430 Spider
Discussion
Thank you all 
The 16M wheels are exactly as you describe, but for me they were a bit too dark against the grey paint. Maybe when I've made some other changes to the exterior they may look right.
I bet they look great against Giallo!
schaeffs said:
Awesome read! Took PH to bring it to my attention! You look like you really ENJOY the car and that's brilliant - they are meant to be driven and enjoyed as much as possible IMO.
On the wheeels - we have the 16M rims on our Scud and love them (but my car is Giallo Modena) They really set the car off brilliantly and I would find it hard to go back to the OEM rims. The colour is like a "bronzed titanium" and changes colour in different lights (which you simply cannot catch with a camera) so I think they are the same as yours - did it really not go with your car colour??
Thanks, yes - I do use the car and enjoy it. It's definitely not a 'garage queen' On the wheeels - we have the 16M rims on our Scud and love them (but my car is Giallo Modena) They really set the car off brilliantly and I would find it hard to go back to the OEM rims. The colour is like a "bronzed titanium" and changes colour in different lights (which you simply cannot catch with a camera) so I think they are the same as yours - did it really not go with your car colour??
The 16M wheels are exactly as you describe, but for me they were a bit too dark against the grey paint. Maybe when I've made some other changes to the exterior they may look right.
I bet they look great against Giallo!
Osinjak said:
Where was that farmhouse in Tuscany? It looks loooovely!
It's an Agriturismo near Pancrazio in Val di Pesa.I gave more thought to the weight loss project and soon realised that however much I like the stock rear bumper it would be silly to keep it and the heavy F430 exhaust & undertray arrangement, so I shall replace the lot.
For those not familiar with the exhaust system differences I've uploaded a couple of photos. First the stock F430 tailpipes: the green arrow shows the silencer mating flange, and the blue arrow points to the rear of the car.
The 16/Scuderia in comparison makes do without the long pipes and has a much more direct path between the car and tailpipes, which now exit through the centre of the rear bumper. The simpler route sheds weight as the F430 tailpipes are quite heavy, but it also improves aerodynamics due to Base Bleed.
Given that I was now changing the skirts and both bumpers, I decided it would make sense to go full 16M spec but with a few expections:
1) Manual gearbox (obviously) to remain with regular F430 ratios;
2) Sound deadening to remain;
3) Leather door panels to remain (for now).
There is such a gulf in value between mine and a 16M that the man mathsfor this undertaking make perfect sense, and although the end result won't have the Superfast 2 transmission with its lower Scuderia/16M ratios, or the cams and compression ratio increase, I do have a few planned changes to the engine culminating in a remap which I hope will result in performance close to a stock 16M.
I have sourced an OEM carbon fibre 'challenge' grille for a Spider model (they are different to the Berlinetta).
More importantly a very nice 16M/Scuderia rear bumper.
I will instruct my painter to remove all of the black paint including overspray on the rear, so that the only base coat on the bumper is Grigio Silverstone - including the overspray on the back - as it would come from the factory. Anal, I know, but it has to be 'right'!
For those not familiar with the exhaust system differences I've uploaded a couple of photos. First the stock F430 tailpipes: the green arrow shows the silencer mating flange, and the blue arrow points to the rear of the car.
The 16/Scuderia in comparison makes do without the long pipes and has a much more direct path between the car and tailpipes, which now exit through the centre of the rear bumper. The simpler route sheds weight as the F430 tailpipes are quite heavy, but it also improves aerodynamics due to Base Bleed.
Given that I was now changing the skirts and both bumpers, I decided it would make sense to go full 16M spec but with a few expections:
1) Manual gearbox (obviously) to remain with regular F430 ratios;
2) Sound deadening to remain;
3) Leather door panels to remain (for now).
There is such a gulf in value between mine and a 16M that the man mathsfor this undertaking make perfect sense, and although the end result won't have the Superfast 2 transmission with its lower Scuderia/16M ratios, or the cams and compression ratio increase, I do have a few planned changes to the engine culminating in a remap which I hope will result in performance close to a stock 16M.
I have sourced an OEM carbon fibre 'challenge' grille for a Spider model (they are different to the Berlinetta).
More importantly a very nice 16M/Scuderia rear bumper.
I will instruct my painter to remove all of the black paint including overspray on the rear, so that the only base coat on the bumper is Grigio Silverstone - including the overspray on the back - as it would come from the factory. Anal, I know, but it has to be 'right'!
Edited by mwstewart on Tuesday 15th March 11:12
I have been silently following all your build threads now for a few years... the fiesta, the golf, the m3 and now this.
I love the way you think so precisely about every single modification you make, your attention to detail is ridiculous and your knowledge and skill superb. So all I can say is keep up the great work and keep on posting.
Also, can I just draw your attention to post #1 when you wrote:
"This thread won't be updated frequently like my others as I'm not planning to modify it in any way"
I love the way you think so precisely about every single modification you make, your attention to detail is ridiculous and your knowledge and skill superb. So all I can say is keep up the great work and keep on posting.
Also, can I just draw your attention to post #1 when you wrote:
"This thread won't be updated frequently like my others as I'm not planning to modify it in any way"
Janosh said:
We all silently hoped that you would quickly ignore the sentiment of keeping it stock!
Keep up the good work, great updates as always
Keep up the good work, great updates as always
W00DY said:
I love this thread (And its non-Golf siblings)
Keep up the good work!
Cheers!Keep up the good work!
dom9 said:
Have you followed the thread on F-Chat with the manual 360 that goes on a diet above and beyond a CS? That's a cracking read and a lot of the info will be relevant to you, no doubt!
I haven't - I will check it out, thanks.A day away from work today and the afternoon was spent with my Dad on a road trip to collect the new rear bumper & grille. I’ve been on many parts trips to date and found it’s not unusual to go find something else I wasn’t looking for at the time, and today was no exception; I came away agreeing to buy a part I didn't expect to source for the project:
A 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
A 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
Edited by mwstewart on Tuesday 15th March 11:36
mwstewart said:
A day away from work today and the afternoon was spent with my Dad on a road trip to collect the new rear bumper & grille. I’ve been on many parts trips to date and found it’s not unusual to go find something else I wasn’t looking for at the time, and today was no exception; I came away agreeing to buy a part I didn't expect to source for the project:
A 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
I'd have the Ferrari logo and raised stripes highlighted in Rosso just on the top surface. That will look the nutsA 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
Beefmeister said:
mwstewart said:
A day away from work today and the afternoon was spent with my Dad on a road trip to collect the new rear bumper & grille. I’ve been on many parts trips to date and found it’s not unusual to go find something else I wasn’t looking for at the time, and today was no exception; I came away agreeing to buy a part I didn't expect to source for the project:
A 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
I'd have the Ferrari logo and raised stripes highlighted in Rosso just on the top surface. That will look the nutsA 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
mwstewart said:
A day away from work today and the afternoon was spent with my Dad on a road trip to collect the new rear bumper & grille. I’ve been on many parts trips to date and found it’s not unusual to go find something else I wasn’t looking for at the time, and today was no exception; I came away agreeing to buy a part I didn't expect to source for the project:
A 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
That looks amazing.A 16M carbon fibre inlet plenum.
The stock plenum is case aluminium powder coated in crackle finish red, and both My Dad and I both think it will be a shame to loose the red accent under the engine bay window, so I'm going to have a custom paint job on the new plenum that will add a hint of Rosso red on top of each plenum chamber.
mwstewart said:
Logos will be removed, and the area around the ridges painted. The ridges will be left carbon and the badges chrome
Can you just stop now 
My jealousy just seems to be stratospherically increasing by the day reading your updates I must admit I think one of my favourite changes was the 16m front and the lights as I think DRL make a massive difference to the look of a car!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff