348 tail light conversions: Tell your story

And when you did the upgrade did you go to a challenge grill? Pics much appreciated.

 

I have seen 348s with the kit from www.GaRedCars.com and they looked factory original. I would use them if I were looking for such a conversion.

 

Hey Andy HLS - can you give us a run down on your conversion?

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30858&page=2

 

so much for the lights....

..... what has to be done to get the sides 355-like? Just remove strakes, or is some more conversion work necessary?

 

355 parts can be bolted dirrectly to 348. You can put any 355 body part right on a 348, minus the deck lid. Well you can put the deck lid on, but it won't look right because the rear quarter pannels aren't molded with the lip going up. Anyway just find a munched 355 and take what you need.

 

I've already exchanged eMails with SL Competition. You have to cut metal to do the conversion, but apparently the frames that are cut are replaceable.

But what's the deal on the challenge 355 conversion? Where does that 'negligée' look rear panel originate?

 

pics for you andy

If you ask for my opinion i would buy a ready made kit as this was one of those jobs you wish you never started, but once id seen it on the car after the first fitting i just had to finish it,although i did it in a way it could be replaced with original its never going to happen.

Andy

 

If I bought at 348, I would DEFINITELY put on a round tail light kit as soon as I was able if I didn't care about having a concours winner. I think it much improves the look from the rear.

 

Indeed, I've been pondering this conversion for a long time now. The four round lights are so-Ferrari. Then again, only Testa & 348 had the unique albeit dated tail ends. I've seen some people painting the rear strakes=red to match the body colour.

I think what Andy did was a "cool" job as it cools the engine and looks good, unfortuantely he doesn't make it on mass. Garedcars offers it in Carbon fibre & you can paint it. I would cut a few slits to let the hot air flow out. I've seen some who drilled it & it looked more like polka dots!

I think the 355 lights alone cost US$800? So, can anyone build the rear end piece for US$500? We can also consider using other round lamps that's much cheaper. Zagatto makes six! Too bad I can't post anymore pix now(used up my quota).

 

Hi Andy,

You are not alone in here.

 

Whoa... there are 2 cars there... somebody must be making those kits in a capacity greater than "one off". Any details?

 

They are 100% hand made started from zero. There are at least 3 of them here in Taiwan as far as I know.

 

The rear conversion on a 348 looks great, especially on those yellow cars, but I still prefer the original retro look

Surely when it came to designing the 348, Pinninfarina must have had a number of cars with different light combinations on the rear. Somewhere, there must be a secret Ferrari picture circa 1988/9 with a comparison of the prototypes. I owned an XK8 and had a book showing its development, including all the alternative designs - is there such a book for the 348?

Julian

 

Wouldn't do mine - not after getting my license place and all. However those yellow cars do look good.

One thing I have noticed is that the custom work starting with a 355 Challenge grille like Andy's and the two yellow cars put the taillamps at the proper angle vis-a-vis the grille. Notice that the lights are above the plane of the grille at the top and countersunk at the bottom.

I believe the GaRed fiberglass panel and some others I've seen mount the face of the taillamps parallel to the plane of the panel and it just don't look quite right to me, so "husker" if you're going to do the conversion you might want to look closely to see how you like your taillamps aligned.

Also, just looked at the GaRed cars site and I reckon that the "after" pic for the 348 panel also includes a 355 rear bumper, which may make that rear treatment look more "factory" than just changing the taillamps.

Cheers
Kevin

 

Is it me or does the bottom corner of the mesh panel on the red car look too square for the turn of the bumper?

 

To create a new panel plug for the 348 from scratch would be the best solution. Then, using the mould from this as a template, it should be possible to create the challenge style grill.

The important thing is to ensure the symmetry of the apertures (by using a micrometer) and that the lamp mounting surfaces are perpendicular to both the road and the fore & aft line of the car. This takes time; see http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33819&page=3&pp=20

I intend to replace the normal incandescent lamps and holders in the 355/360/550/575 that I have for the Mondial Z with custom made PCBs to create LED tail lights. Outwardly the lamps will look stock (except the amber tint will be removed from the indicator lens). When illuminated however, they will look much different. I may also add strobe lamps to the PCBs for that extra hazard effect

I think that it is a modified bumper as it is not identical to either the 348 or 355 bumper.

 

Andy HLS - THX for the pics - I would go to a kit but I really want the CH grill so it is better on the cooling - not just a cosmetic upgrade.

Any other 348 owners want to team up so we can use multiple purchace power to get an order together?

 

Might be a good way to keep my turbo engine compartment cool. I'd be interested.

 

Anyone making this? I'll take one. (Perforated grille)