A friend asked me to make a post asking if anyone is still making a F355 Kit? Also - are there any sites dedicated to these kits?

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Webpage

[This message has been edited by Dewie (edited 04-11-2007).]

I don't know if there's people still making 355 kits or not. But a good place to start looking is kitcar.ca

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Whade' "The Duck Formerly Known As Wade" Duck
'87 GT Auto
'88 Ferrario
'84 Indy

someone give em the link to arie's kit car forum


from what I have heard, stay away from B and B spyder kits. and the owner in general.

www.kitcar.ca is Ari's kitcar forum. Great site with lots of knowledge.

John Watson's Air Dynamics still makes 355 kits. They're the hands down best. Cool Custom's also does a good variation of the 355.

Bob

quote Originally posted by RCR: www.kitcar.ca is Ari's kitcar forum. Great site with lots of knowledge. John Watson's Air Dynamics still makes 355 kits. They're the hands down best. Cool Custom's also does a good variation of the 355. Bob

The only thing on air dynamics web site is the 360 spyder kit. It does look good though, uses oem bumpers and rockers.

quote Originally posted by RCR: www.kitcar.ca is Ari's kitcar forum. Great site with lots of knowledge. John Watson's Air Dynamics still makes 355 kits. They're the hands down best. Cool Custom's also does a good variation of the 355. Bob

Isn't John Watson the X Chevy Corvette engineer up in GA? If so he pulled the mold right off the real thing. It will even use the original F355 rear window, tail lights and etc...

... oops double post

[This message has been edited by fieroluv (edited 04-11-2007).]

Here is another one...
http://www.b-bspyder.com/

Go with John Watson's kit, it top quality from the pictures I saw several years ago. I don't recall the price. I think he also sells the metal mounts to secure the kit to the Fieros body. I have not heard good things about the other 355 kits out there except the Mirage 355 which is very, very hard to find and I thing it had an issue that you could not open the door all the way... but nice kit too(Mirage 355).

quote Originally posted by fieroluv: Yeah, that's the guy one and the same. Yeah even his fenders will bolt right to the real thing. here's the website http://www.air-dynamics.ws/

he also did the car in the movie "The Wraith"

he has the best 355 kit out there. IMHO...
there was a guy on here who was going to start selling the Mirage 355 kit.
which is the 2nd best kit out there but i believe he got fed up and said he was going to destory the molds.

Air dynamics requires a 9" stretch. B&B spyders doesn't. The choice is yours.

Here is another one 3" stretch. They also have a nice Carrera.

oops: Guess I'll give you the link. http://www.usedfieroparts.com/bodyk/

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 04-11-2007).]

Actually your wrong Air Dynamics does not require a stretch..He offers two different types both are still the same length of the real 355. I have an AD 355 non stretch in my garage right now it isnt finished but it looks damn good. All i have to say is go with the Air Dynamics it is by far the best 355 kit out there. It is even better than the mirage. -Austin

quote Originally posted by Fieroseverywhere: Here is another one... http://www.b-bspyder.com/

Avoid them like the PLAGUE!!

Their poor quality is legendary.

I have a list of most of the available kits on my page:

http://www.fierocountry.us/kits.html

I guess I did read it wrong. Air dynamics says you have to relocate the cradle and remove the trunk.
quote:
The first version of the 360-COR will be based off of a Pontiac Fiero platform. The engine cradle of the Fiero will have to be relocated nine inches rearward to achieve the correct wheelbase. The frame itself will NOT be cut as the extra space will come from the trunk area. At this time the Fiero-based 360-COR will ONLY be produced as a Spider model.

Probably is the best kit but I don't like the sound of that. Plus you only have the spyder option available that I can tell. What no hardtop or coupe?

If it were me I would ask myself if I can use the 2500 dollars to make the rest of the car better by correcting the problems with the cheaper kit. I would tweak mine anyways. Maybe I'm wrong, but that is what I would do.

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 04-12-2007).]

Actually there are tons of other reasons to at least consider the other kits. Stretching changes the handeling of the car, requires a lot more work, and the kits themselvs are at least a thousand more to buy.

You could keep 2500 dollars of your own money (at least) and save lots of the most precious of all...your time.

If its going to be a show car the by all means get the best you can. I prefer to drive my cars and this is all about the appearence. The question is how much do you want to spend for a car you can't park anywhere without somone messing with it?

Again just my opinion. Its a tough desicion.

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 04-12-2007).]

Im talking about 355.. im not sure about the 360 kit. I like my 88 Gt fiero better than the kit because one its unique and its faster than the kit car. haha -Austin

Fieroseverywhere: The Airdynamics 360 kit requires the 9" stretch, not the 355. John has the 355 in two flavors, no stretch and 3" stretch. There are several methods of doing the 3" stretch, one involves cutting the back half off the car and moving it back 3". The other involves moving the cradle back 3". Depending on your skills and engine/trans combination will determine the stretch you can do.

Last I heard, prices for the AD 355 ranged from $6500 for the spider and $7500 for the coupe. You better requote the prices because it's been a while since I last looked.

The mirage kits were pretty good, but they are no longer available. If someone is selling them, be sure he's using the original molds, not splashing copies from an old kit.

Lot's of issues with the BB spyder. Just looking at the pictures on the site and you will see cars of different makes. I think there is a splashed Warlock, a mirage and an AD355 (splashed or original).

Bob

quote Originally posted by Fieroseverywhere: Air dynamics requires a 9" stretch. B&B spyders doesn't. The choice is yours. Here is another one 3" stretch. They also have a nice Carrera. oops: Guess I'll give you the link. http://www.usedfieroparts.com/bodyk/

quote Originally posted by Vendetta: Actually your wrong Air Dynamics does not require a stretch..He offers two different types both are still the same length of the real 355. I have an AD 355 non stretch in my garage right now it isnt finished but it looks damn good. All i have to say is go with the Air Dynamics it is by far the best 355 kit out there. It is even better than the mirage. -Austin

Ditto. Does not require stretch...

quote Originally posted by Formula88: Avoid them like the PLAGUE!! Their poor quality is legendary.

Ditto.

There was some guy in Tampa you did the Mirage 355 kit and made it to convertible (note: does not have the molds). It looked very nice but can't remember who it was. I did LOTS of research on this 355 kit years ago. Those two are the only way to go... John Watson or Mirage 355 if you can locate them.

quote Originally posted by FierociousGT: John Watson or Mirage 355 if you can locate them.

John Watson


* PO Box 223
* Tennga, GA 30751
* Phone: (706) 328-3311
* Email: Info@Air-Dynamics.WS

My mistake, I was under the impression that we were all talking about the same thing. Where do I find pics of the John Watson kit?

I have the stock wheel base spider. John mounted the body on an '86 chassis for me. The stock wheelbase just moves the rear wheel well forward three inches. If you want the 3" longer wheel base there are two cradle methods. One stretches the cradle 3"s, the other moves the front cradle mounts 3"s rearward. I believe that his coupe uses the MR2 rear window.

quote Originally posted by RCR: Fieroseverywhere: The Airdynamics 360 kit requires the 9" stretch, not the 355. John has the 355 in two flavors, no stretch and 3" stretch. There are several methods of doing the 3" stretch, one involves cutting the back half off the car and moving it back 3". The other involves moving the cradle back 3". Depending on your skills and engine/trans combination will determine the stretch you can do. Last I heard, prices for the AD 355 ranged from $6500 for the spider and $7500 for the coupe. You better requote the prices because it's been a while since I last looked. The mirage kits were pretty good, but they are no longer available. If someone is selling them, be sure he's using the original molds, not splashing copies from an old kit. Lot's of issues with the BB spyder. Just looking at the pictures on the site and you will see cars of different makes. I think there is a splashed Warlock, a mirage and an AD355 (splashed or original). Bob

+!
properly explained, good on you Bob...
Sandy

quote Originally posted by Fieroseverywhere: My mistake, I was under the impression that we were all talking about the same thing. Where do I find pics of the John Watson kit?

here is a build thread on the coup: http://www.kitcarsforum.com/index.php?topic=4769.0
here is a build thread on the spyder: http://www.kitcarsforum.com/index.php?topic=1228.0

You need to register with the forum in order to view pictures though.

If anybody should be talking beautiful kitcars, it should be Cowans....I still love your Koenig Competition. It's my desktop wallpaper here at work.

Bob