NS F355 Project (Page 39/73)
Yarmouth Fiero MAY 04, 03:02 PM
Thank you everyone for your condolences. My mom was one of my first passengers the day I brought my new Fiero home in 85. She had such a smile because it reminded her of when she toured Europe in her red MG while teaching english in the 60's. She had always been a supporter of my project car and she smiled and nodded approval as I described my plans during her many visits to my garage. She left it to my dad to point out the large quantity of rocks I must surely have inside my head...ha-ha-ha.

I got to spend my 50th birthday with her in the Palliative Care Unit. She passed away the next morning with all our family by her side. I will find some appropriate way to include a tribute to her as the project developes.

Again, thank you for your support.

[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 05-04-2014).]

Yarmouth Fiero MAY 04, 03:41 PM
With everything else going on in life, I still try to find some time to lapse into a project state of mind. I suspect like most of us on this forum, our project cars are a place of solitude to escape to when we feel the need to relax and unwind from our hectic lives.

I have been focusing on the rear suspension lately as it will be an important aspect which requires resolution not only get the chassis rolling but also find an acceptable compromise between the requirements of the widened track of the 355 body, the lowered and limited suspension travel available and still utilize off the shelf components that will provide some measureable increase in performance over the stock 85 suspension.

As always, I start by drawing the known components I have, in 3D so I have a starting point to build on. The wheels are done and next are the new wheel bearings. I also included a sample 13" rotor with hat that I suspect willl be similar to the pieces I will use.





The next part that I am currently working on is the rear spindle. Those castings and complex to measure and draw accurately but worth the effort as they will allow me to get a good idea of the control arm requirements.
Bloozberry MAY 05, 03:57 PM
Simply amazing 3D drawings Graham. Have you decided whether you're going to buy custom length Arraut Motorsports arms yet or is the jury still out?
Yarmouth Fiero MAY 05, 08:13 PM
Thanks Blooz. I am still thinking the Arraut bump steer corrected rear control arms. Once I have the spindle drawn, I will put it all together and match your track width and see what I come up with for arm length.
BlackThunderGT MAY 05, 11:35 PM
My condolences for the loss of your mother.
Yarmouth Fiero JUN 06, 09:35 AM
Well, this project is now in service and carrying passengers in Halifax as of last night. Been a long couple months with work and personal matters. Now its time to get back to the NS 355 project. Thanks for your patience.
Bloozberry JUN 06, 12:04 PM
Who are you trying to kid... we read in the newspaper that your company won the contract to make another three(?) of these ferries. There's a pool out on the streets where people are betting to see how long it will be before the car gets listed on eBay.
Yarmouth Fiero JUN 06, 03:00 PM
Really?? Ouch. Are you kidding? Do you see that SS exhaust system on the ferry? I've been honing my skills for my future 180 degree headers and I have a tonne of 8 inch diameter SS pipe squirreled away for the exhaust on my car.
Yarmouth Fiero JUN 18, 12:43 PM
Lately it seems progress has been slow with regards to actual fabrication. I have been spending lots of time researching and trying a few new design ideas for the project. I have been focused on the rear end and specifiaclly the brakes and suspension. Its amazing how much time it takes to draw cast parts like the rear spindle/ knuckle in 3D. With regards to researching for suitable brake components, I think its even more difficult than selecting wheels.

I also added a SBC 350 to my 3D model and started dabbling in 180 header designs. With the 6" + track width increase, I am considering moving my strut towers outward 3" per side. Here are three screen shots showing the SBC in place with the stock and modified strut towers as well as an intial start on 180 degree headers.

SBC with stock strut towers


SBC with modified strut towers


SBC with initial styling of 180 degree headers


Clearly I don't have the engine located in the exact spot but its close enough to give me an idea of how it will all fit. Moving the strut towers outward really opens up the engine bay and may allow me to run half of the headers around the passenger side of the engine bay. I am also prepared to remove most or all of the trunk and make the space available for the 180 headers and exhaust components and make them a feature of the engine bay.

[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 06-21-2014).]

fieroguru JUN 18, 02:20 PM
From the looks of things, the engine is around 3" too far to the driver side in your drawing. Final side to side placement depends on which adapter plate you use (Archie = 1" or Zumalt knockoff = 1/2 to 5/8") and if you are willing to notch the driver side or passenger side frame rails. Here is a SBC swap that used an Archie adapter plate. The rear bolt on the valve cover is almost dead center to the chassis.