Ferrari 360 Replica

[dads360]

Hello All!,

I'm new to the forum and would just like to introduced myself. My name is Ben and I live in the county of Yorkshire in England.

I've been working on cars and bikes since I was a young lad and everything I know I have learned from my Dad, Steve.

My Dad is tackling a monster of a kit car build at the moment and thought it may be of interest to you guys and girls on the forum.

He's working on an Extreme 360 Ferrari kit... With a difference. Using the Ferrari 360 Stradale kit, this is being fitted to the standard Peugeot 406 coupe shell... The rest is being binned.

My Dad is using a late model Lotus V8 Esprit chassis and a Corvette Chevy V8 power plant. Fitted with fuel injection and a bespoke electronic ignition system. We have managed to get our hands on many of the original Ferrari parts such as fuel tanks, air filter boxes and intakes etc. We're currently trying to get a deal together on an original 360 tailgate at the moment to fingers crossed!

I have set up a website dedicated to the build and it's online now at www.dads360.co.uk

The latest pictures have been updated onto the site. And you can now follow developments via Twitter, just check out the twitter link for details.

The build is going well so far. We have just managed to get the engineering completed for the front suspension mods. This will increase the track of the original Lotus suspension and will also help to give us the correct ride height as per the original Ferrari 360.

We are well on with making a bespoke front subframe / chassis assembly to fit the Extreme Kit front wings.

I will be putting some pictures of the Chevy V8 powerplant on the site soon so keep your eyes peeled! We're just on with sorting out the electronic ignition system - its been sent away for mapping. We have some modifications to make to the trigger wheel etc... It's all go!

We hope you like the site - Don't forget any suggestions and comments are appreciated.

Looking forward to reading the content on this forum

Ben.



ETA

Sorry signatures are not allowed.

Edited by Big Al. on Monday 18th July 16:41

[D1bram]

Sounds like a fair project.

What are your plans for the interior? IMO this is usually a big let down on Ferrari reps.

[dads360]

Indeed the interior usually look poor. That's why we're having a moulding taken from the original.. yeah! It will be trimmed as per the Ferrari and I'm on with sourcing some original dials. You'd be surprised and the number being broken for parts at the moment.

Already managed to get two complete fuel cells, pumps etc. Lights, Tailgate, Rear engine grille, Air-boxes...

[RobCrezz]

Why bother trying to replicate a Ferrari? that sounds like it would be a more interesting car in its own right!

[StottyZr]

How much are you expecting the entire project to cost? It looks like a great engineering challenge, but I can't help but look at the classifieds and see genuine Ferrari 360s advertised for less than 40k. I'm most probably missing the point tbh.

I'll be following the build and will hopefully learn a thing or two about the mechanics of cars! The website looks great btw

[Or888t]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Readers cars sections might be a good idea... /\

[dads360]

We we're going to use the Twin Turbo Lotus V8 lump - but we were unhappy with it's performance. The reason for using the Ferrari air boxes is that they are designed for mid-engined application unlike most of the Chevy V8 stuff. It will also help with the overall look of the car.

The reason for using and original tailgate is that a kit car base solely on the Pug 406 coupe' mean it's basically a FWD car. Because our project is mid-engined the fiberglass / perpex affair would melt!!! hence the reason for using the original :0)

[dads360]

Or888t said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Readers cars sections might be a good idea... /\

Cheers, I'm new to the forum. I'll pop a topic on there.

[Baffled Spoon]

Sounds like a very involved project. Site looks decent too. However, won't the final build cost be as much as a genuine 360?

Best of luck with the project in any case. Just don't go sticking Ferrari badges on it when it's finshed

[dads360]

Or888t said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Readers cars sections might be a good idea... /\

Cheers,

I'm new to the forum, I'll pop details on there.

[Or888t]

tbh. sounds good this. Not your usual 360 Replica. Twin Turbo you say... Tweaked?

[dads360]

StottyZr said:

How much are you expecting the entire project to cost? It looks like a great engineering challenge, but I can't help but look at the classifieds and see genuine Ferrari 360s advertised for less than 40k. I'm most probably missing the point tbh.

I'll be following the build and will hopefully learn a thing or two about the mechanics of cars! The website looks great btw

The cost will be around 10 - 15k by the end based on current costings. All of the bits so far barring the kit have been superb deals which has really helped. And made it possible.

[Twincam16]

Usually I'd scoff at 360 replicas, but this sounds like it may end up considerably faster than the 'real thing', for a lot less by way of outlay, and possibly be more reliable too.

If I was building such a project I'd think about sticking a unique bodyshell on it rather than a replica, but each to their own.

It'll be interesting to see how this evolves.

[dads360]

Or888t said:

tbh. sounds good this. Not your usual 360 Replica. Twin Turbo you say... Tweaked?

It's using a small block Chevy V8, megasquirt fuel injected yoked up to the original Lotus V8 Box.

The box has been uprated and 5th gear has been tweaked to give it long legs on the motorway and better fuel economy.

[dads360]

Twincam16 said:

Usually I'd scoff at 360 replicas, but this sounds like it may end up considerably faster than the 'real thing', for a lot less by way of outlay, and possibly be more reliable too.

If I was building such a project I'd think about sticking a unique bodyshell on it rather than a replica, but each to their own.

It'll be interesting to see how this evolves.

My Dad just likes the 360. He was going down all sorts of routes at first but he's always liked the 360. The guys a Extreme Kits did us a great deal, and to be honest I think it's more the engineering challenge, rather than the "oohhh look at me, I drive a Ferrari" nonsense that you usually goes with it.

[Jayho]

Or888t said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Readers cars sections might be a good idea... /\

Great, now we have two crossing threads... Shoulda just left it up to the mods to decide to move or not?

[steelej]

Twincam16 said:

Usually I'd scoff at 360 replicas, but this sounds like it may end up considerably faster than the 'real thing', for a lot less by way of outlay, and possibly be more reliable too.

If I was building such a project I'd think about sticking a unique bodyshell on it rather than a replica, but each to their own.

It'll be interesting to see how this evolves.

There are a lot of cars that are considerably faster than the real thing for a lot less, but that's not the point, the point is that it's a Ferrari and I really don't see the point in making a 406 look like one. Sorry not a replica guy at all, I'd rather go without than drive around in something trying to be something it's not, regardless of how fast it goes.

John.

[AndrewW-G]

£10-15k would buy a Mondial 3.4T, to waste the same amount of money on a 406 based fake with the engine in the wrong place, is IMHO a great real world example of the old adage "a fool and his money are easily parted"

[anonymous-user]

How is the espirit chassis attached to the 406 shell?

Are you building a sub frame for the engine, and how will you combat chassis flex?

Will you integrate a roll cage for rigidity?

[dads360]

The kit is molded off the original car and because we're using the Lotus Esprit chassis it ride and sit correctly.

I agree with you. You're right regarding the original 406 coupe' the ride height is wrong, and the wheelbase is wrong and the track is wrong. So apart from that it's spot on!

With our project we've gone to great lengths to make sure it's RIGHT. The chassis has been raised to lower the ride height. The Peugeot shell has be SERIOUSLY modded to allow this to happen (Check out the bodywork section on our site)

We are on with modding the Lotus suspension arms to make sure that the track is exactly the same as the Ferrari, so when the jobs done it will look spot on... and go like stink to boot. Not your usual 'Ferrari' kit ;0)