Modified Ferrari 348
Discussion
snotrag said:
I've always wondered how those wheels work - I'm guessing there is a large diameter threaded boss on the hub, and then a whopping big wheel nut - and I presume a left hand thread on one side of the car to stop them unwinding (unless you drive backwards of course...?)
How do the discs attach to the hub?
There are pegs that extend from the hub, through the disc, and into the back of the wheel for location. The brake disc will be held to the hub, and located on a spigot, by a small allen screw as normal. Then, exactly as you say, the large wheel nut in the centre holds the wheel to the hub with the brake disc sandwiched in between. The wheel nut will have a deep taper to match the taper in the wheel to ensure that it is centrally located, and maximise the mating surface.How do the discs attach to the hub?
Threads different on opposite sides to ensure that the wheel will be trying to tighten itself rather than undo.
In a rare modern (ignoring wire wheel "knock offs") application, the Porshce Carrera GT had different colour wheel nuts on each side of the car to ensure that they did not get mixed up and cross threaded.
Here's some pics from the back to metal respray I had done earlier this year.
It was originally mettalic black, but I decided to chnage it to plain black so that the colour looked deeper. The mettalic tended to make it look grey. The job was done by my friend Al at www.alsaautomotive.co.uk.
Turned out that the car had been resprayed before for cosmetic reasons, but they did a crap job.
The windscreen recently got cracked when another Ferrari picked up a stone and it hit the screen. The rear screen was also cracked due to delamination. Total cost for both screens was around £3,500. No... that's not a typ... it cost £3,500 to replace. Fortunatly I was covered by insurance so I only paid £40.
There was rust under the windscreen and the paint was bubbling on the front and rear bonnets.
It was originally mettalic black, but I decided to chnage it to plain black so that the colour looked deeper. The mettalic tended to make it look grey. The job was done by my friend Al at www.alsaautomotive.co.uk.
Turned out that the car had been resprayed before for cosmetic reasons, but they did a crap job.
The windscreen recently got cracked when another Ferrari picked up a stone and it hit the screen. The rear screen was also cracked due to delamination. Total cost for both screens was around £3,500. No... that's not a typ... it cost £3,500 to replace. Fortunatly I was covered by insurance so I only paid £40.
There was rust under the windscreen and the paint was bubbling on the front and rear bonnets.
I don't get where this "worst Ferrari ever" thing comes from. I think people just change their minds based on Clarkson. Who in fact changed his mind on the 348.
I've got one of his early books of collected newspaper columns, where he is singing the praises of the 348, saying it's the best thing to come out of Maranello since the Dino etc. etc.
Then today I was watching one of his videos where he's banging on about the 355, how the 348 was crap and almost bankrupted Ferrari, and the 355 was a "welcome return to form" etc.
To be honest, even though I'm not a fan of Ferrari (mainly due to their F1 escapades) even seeing one brightens up my day. Owning one must be amazing, and being able to do all this work to it must just be heaven.
I've got one of his early books of collected newspaper columns, where he is singing the praises of the 348, saying it's the best thing to come out of Maranello since the Dino etc. etc.
Then today I was watching one of his videos where he's banging on about the 355, how the 348 was crap and almost bankrupted Ferrari, and the 355 was a "welcome return to form" etc.
To be honest, even though I'm not a fan of Ferrari (mainly due to their F1 escapades) even seeing one brightens up my day. Owning one must be amazing, and being able to do all this work to it must just be heaven.
I was going to mention the back light conversion..and got sucked into reading some looong winded threads on Club Scuderia about them. I thought some people on this site are a bit over the top/pathetic, etc. But they are like angels here compared to there
With a black car(new paint looks fantastic), the lights blend in and are not an issue IMHO.
Angelis said:
The job was done by my friend Al at www.alsaautomotive.co.uk.
I've come across all green eyed after seeing the pictures after the machine polish, and had a quick click around on the paint shops site. Obviously it's not reflection on them, as they were presumably just doing what the customer asked for, but what's with the 355 convertible respray? Taking a gorgeous looking black 355 with tan leather, and having it returned in red??? Why not just buy a red one? They're not exactly rare. More to the point, why would you want to lose the "Guiness" colour scheme that looks sooooooooo great.Angelis said:
Video of the the 348 going around Northe Weald Airfield. It did a lap in the exact same time as a Lous Elise 111R. Both driven by Andy Walsh. Whilst the Elise has a snappy oversteer, this particular 348 has a lot of understeer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Cxmt8y8_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2Cxmt8y8_o
I had to stop watching that video, because the sound that thing makes was producing a reaction in me that was unsuitable for the office! Absolutely superb.
Is the understeer a normal 348 trait? Never driven one, but I was always lead to believe they were quite tricky cars to drive on the limit.
JoePublic said:
Is the understeer a normal 348 trait? Never driven one, but I was always lead to believe they were quite tricky cars to drive on the limit.
Depends on the way the car is set up, but most understeer. Mine certainly does.As for being tricky, all mid engined cars can be a handful on the limit. Depends a lot on the driver as well.
I found this quote on another forum.
"I remember there was an article in Forza or Cavalino magazine that had legendary racer Brian Redman drive the 348 and he responded to all those "tricky to handle" comments and said clearly its a matter of how good a driver you are, theres nothing wrong with the car."
HereBeMonsters said:
I don't get where this "worst Ferrari ever" thing comes from.
It doesn't help when at the reecent launch of the 458, the President of Ferrari (knob) said it was one of the worse Ferrari's ever made. It's at the start of this video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Kc9rdYxQA&fea...
deviant said:
Is that chin spoiler on the front an aftermarket thing?
Yes. Cost £125 and it's made of fibreglass. It's suposed to help with high speed stability, but I haven't noticed any difference. It's still scary as hell over 130mph. 
Going to take it off and put one of those 2" race splitter on when it goes back to the paintshop.
HereBeMonsters said:
Owning one must be amazing
Oh yes!!! It's great.I got it when I was 39 and had always wanted one. Most people think that all Ferrari owners are millionaires, but most of us aren't. I had to get it on finance and a lot of sacrifices were made along the way. Including my ex-wife. Unfortunatly, it wasn't a literal sacrifice in her case.
In just over 4 years I've only had 1 person give me the finger as I drove past. Everyone else gives the thumbs up and ask me to rev it or take pictures. I even leave it parked in public places and never had as much of a scratch so far. Everyone, including little kids recognise it as a Ferrari, but 90% of them don't know what it is as they rarely see one on the road. In London, there are countless 360's and 430's driving around... but I very rarely see a 348. It gets mistaken for a Testarossa quite often as well because of the side strakes.
When i first got it though, i was constantly nervous when i drove it. I kept listening for a mettalic sound in case teh engine went bacg or the gearbox broke. I think that happens with most first time owners.
If you have the chance to get a Ferrari do it. Beg, borrow or steal the £££ to get. Evo's, scoobys and BMW diesels will keep up or beat the early Ferrari's, but Fezza's just have that magical aura.
Libertine said:
I was going to mention the back light conversion..and got sucked into reading some looong winded threads on Club Scuderia about them. I thought some people on this site are a bit over the top/pathetic, etc. But they are like angels here compared to there
It can be a bit scary on that forum. Slightly off topic, but does anyone want to hear the story about how I had a nutcase (another ferrari owner) stalk me on various forums and tried to intimidate me? I don't think many people outside the Ferrari community know about it. it's quite... errr.... interesting.
Edited by Angelis on Thursday 15th October 14:32
Angelis said:
Libertine said:
I was going to mention the back light conversion..and got sucked into reading some looong winded threads on Club Scuderia about them. I thought some people on this site are a bit over the top/pathetic, etc. But they are like angels here compared to there
It can be a bit scary on that forum. Slightly off topic, but does anyone want to hear the story about how I had a nutcase (another ferrari owner) stalk me on various forums and tried to intimidate me? I don't think many people outside the Ferrari community know about it. it's quite... errr.... interesting.
Angelis said:
Slightly off topic, but does anyone want to hear the story about how I had a nutcase (another ferrari owner) stalk me on various forums and tried to intimidate me? I don't think many people outside the Ferrari community know about it. it's quite... errr.... interesting.
I want to hear the story! Sounds interesting...Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff