Well we are about to do something no one has done before. And that is to install REAL Ferrari brakes on a replica.
These are REAL 355 calipers, not covers. This is going to be very interesting. HT motorsports did all the leg work and engineering on these, so it should be a fairly straight forward install.
Nice ! Looks like 4-piston calipers..considering these calipers are made by Brembo, is there a possibility HT motorsports is going to offer brackets for other Brembo brakes ? I have a set of 996 carrera (brembo) calipers laying for 3 years now and still havent got into figureing out brackets for these
Today, we installed the driver side brakes. We replaced the spindle with the one provided by HT motorsports, then installed the hub. After that was done we assembled a rotor and installed it along with a 355 caliper. Finally we installed a braided steel brake line. We had one small problem with the brake line but we will have that resolved next weekend.
Going smoothly so far, and I think it made a big difference in how the car looks. What do you think?
(note, the suspension is not settled that is why its sitting high.)
Nice ! Looks like 4-piston calipers..considering these calipers are made by Brembo, is there a possibility HT motorsports is going to offer brackets for other Brembo brakes ? I have a set of 996 carrera (brembo) calipers laying for 3 years now and still havent got into figureing out brackets for these
You could contact Erik and see if would be able to help you. This kit is very nice!!
Am I looking at that wrong, or are the rotors turning the wrong way?
I don't think that it matters which way the spirals go. regardless of the direction of the spiral, the hot gasses will be released from between the pad and rotor when the groove passes by.
which way the spirals go is likely just aesthetics. I totally know where you're coming from though.
I would put them so that it rotated Clockwise as opposed to CCW. Subconsciously I want them rotating the other way regardless of any real advantage. kind of like these GA wheels:
[This message has been edited by JCUOIT (edited 04-02-2010).]
I thought the same thing. However the arrows on the rotor say that is correct mounting. Because originally I was going to mount them the other way around.
Well, i got curious and found out that it has nothing to do with the slots, a little to do with the drilled holes, and Just about EVERYTHING to do with the internal vanes of the rotor itself.
Directional vs. Straight Vane Rotors (smooth surface)
Most "normal" cars come with straight vane rotors, with internal cooling vanes that extend straight from the center of the rotor outward, like spokes on a wagon wheel. (See drawing on lower right) These rotors are not as efficient at cooling, but they are less expensive to manufacture and car dealers only have to stock a single part for both sides of the car.
Some higher performance cars come with "directional rotors", which have curved or tilted internal cooling vanes. These curved vanes pump more air through the rotors, resulting in improved cooling efficiency. Thus, there is a left and a right rotor. When the directional rotors are properly installed, these internal vanes should lean toward the back of the car - as shown in the diagram on the lower left.
Main Factor of Proper Rotation: VAIN DIRECTION.
Slotted Rotors
As with the plain rotors discussed above, the internal vanes should lean toward the back of the car. The direction of the slots on the outside of the rotor do not dictate whether the rotor is a left or a right. For rotors with slots machined in the same direction as the internal cooling vanes, the slots should lean toward the back of the car. For rotors with slots machined in the opposite direction as the internal cooling vanes, the slots should lean toward the front of the car. Bottom line - don't use the slots to decide which side to mount the rotor. Pay attention to the internal cooling vanes. For slotted rotors with straight internal cooling vanes, the direction of the slots is totally up to you and what you think looks best. In this case, there is no wrong answer.
Main Factor of Proper Rotation: VAIN DIRECTION, regardless of direction the slots are cut.
Drilled Rotors
It is not possible to tell if a drilled rotor is installed properly, simply by observing the drill pattern. Different manufacturers use different patterns with spiral "arms" that appear to lean in either direction, regardless of the internal cooling fin orientation. For example, StopTech AeroRotors, used on their big brake kits, have a drill pattern that appears to lean to the front of the car. Porsche OEM rotors have a drill pattern that appears to lean to the back of the car. In both cases, the internal cooling fins are properly oriented, leaning backwards. But the drill pattern is opposite. This is why Porsche mechanics often install StopTech big brake kit rotors backwards, despite the big "L" and "R" stickers on the rotors! They're relying on the drill pattern, rather than the direction of the internal cooling vanes.
As with slotted rotors, one must check the direction of the internal cooling vanes in order to determine the proper orientation of drilled rotors. Main Factor of Proper Rotation: VAIN DIRECTION, regardless of direction the spiral "arms".
Well we are about to do something no one has done before. And that is to install REAL Ferrari brakes on a replica.
These are REAL 355 calipers, not covers. This is going to be very interesting. HT motorsports did all the leg work and engineering on these, so it should be a fairly straight forward install.
They look awesome. At first I thought you found a great way to repaint Wilwood calipers. (like the Fieroaddiction kit https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/092567.html) I have to say, that real Ferrari brakes look so much better. Are those still Corvette rotors?
Below: Fieroaddiction 13" Wilwood brakes. (unfortunately he stopped selling them. - for now )
[This message has been edited by Austrian Import (edited 04-12-2010).]
Sorry guys for not being around much. My home life has been a bit difficult.
However we are getting there. I have been putting some test miles on it. Man this thing gets a lot of attention. Ferrari brakes stop a Fiero like you would not believe.
Not a kit. There is no such thing as a 355 kit. He bought the very best body from John Watson and assembled it in his own way with his own parts. There are a few actual body kits out there like cobras. Just don't want anyone thinking they can buy a kit with all the parts and a complete assembly manual. This is a testament to the skills of Chris.
Not a kit. There is no such thing as a 355 kit. He bought the very best body from John Watson and assembled it in his own way with his own parts. There are a few actual body kits out there like cobras. Just don't want anyone thinking they can buy a kit with all the parts and a complete assembly manual. This is a testament to the skills of Chris.
Please if you are going to call me out have YOUR facts straight. It is most definantly a kit.
The owner, Chris, said this on page 2 of this thread. "Thank You!
Also here is a quote from the AD355.com homepage. "(This car WAS built from the ACTUAL John Watson kit; it is NOT the ORIGINAL!)"
I feel it is in bad taste that you 1. Did not check your facts before you called me a liar on the forum and 2. Did not contact me via pm to discuss this before making a post for all to see.
Wow! I am so sorry. I did not mean to call you a liar. I don't care whether chis called it a john watson kit or not. I have a john watson ad355 body too. No way is it a "kit". My definition of a kit is a package with everything you need to put it together. John sold only the body. I have a cartuning kit for my car. it is a "kit". If I just bought the turbo it would not be a "kit". When I said it is not a "kit" I was not implying that it is a real Ferrari. When you buy a John Watson body (now Bartman), You do not get anything but the body. Please accept my apology for what I believe is a missunderstanding. both of my replicas are not "kits". I always resist people asking me if it is a kit car as I believe when they say this they think they can send for a "kit" and assemble it. There is a ton of work and material to buy after you get the "body" I hope this clears it up. Were you implying that Chris bought a complete "kit" or only that it is not a Ferrari? Again not calling you a liar. I was at John Watson place in Tennga Georgia with Chris and Shane (brastic) when we all bought our bodys, so I am not uninformed. I believe we are misscommunicating here and it is a matter of semantics. I'm very very sorry that you took my statement the way you did.
[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 03-06-2011).]
Ok lets clear things up. Dratts is right. We all bought our bodies together.
However I may have fueled the confusion by calling it a kit. It simply is not a kit, its only a body. A very nicely shaped body, but only a body. There are no brackets, lights, glass, instructions, hinges, bolts, etc. Its just fiberglass that you have to fit yourself. Every detail you see added to this car was added by me through countless hours of research and fabrication.
Point taken however most Kits do not come with everything either. You usually have to buy all the brackets bolt and stuff extra. All I was trying to say it is an excellent car!
Agreed. excellent car is probably an understatement. I'm not aware of a 355 of this caliber and I've seen some very nice 355s. Someone can chime in if they know different, but I think there are kits for cobras that are all inclusive like Archies master 350 kit which eliminate a lot of time sourcing parts and figuring out solutions. I finally looked in on your build. Gonna look real nice!
Mine has a longgggg way to go! Getting there though. I figure it will take another 6 months of work for me to be happy. Then I can take it apart and clean it up again. So it might be done for next Daytona.
It outa be able to stop on a dime. 
