400 series

I seem to remember you asking this on an 'auto to man' conversion thread with no response.
Consider starting this thread on the 365/400/412 section, there are a few guys that have mentioned the swap to the Tremec 5 or Tremec 6 tranny's (Godspeed, Flinch, Aparte, 180out, and some others).
Alos, do an advanced search for Tremec 5, Tremec 6 in the 365/400/412 section specific for more details, & PM the guys to touch base. I just happened to go over into the tech section here cause I had some extra time but it's not like I go here all the time. Plus, people come & go on this site so you have to bring the thread back from the dead once in a while

 

Anything is possible. The fact that the 400 series cars have a torque tube driveshaft adds a few things to the "to-do list" when making the switch to an aftermarket tranny.

 

+1 to the above. I don't think a transmission swap to a non model specific swap has ever been done. I'm not going to say it can't be, just hasn't been done due to the torque tube issue. Other problem is diff ratios. Auto cars have 3.00 gears while manuals have 4.30 gears. I wish it would be easy but It is not.

 

I believe Martin MS is wanting to trash the TH400 slush box for a Tremec 5 or Tremec 6 auto trans, not to go with a 5 or 6 speed manual. & I believe swapping the rear diff. is prohibitively expensive Nothing really wrong with the GM boxes except they only have 3 gears. I'm thinking that the Tremec units would give a lot more umph in the 'go' department, quite possible making it a little quicker than the 'in house' 5-speeds.

Step in here anytime martinmotorsports to clarify

 

I think you will find most cars with the tremec 5 or 6 speed is they usually come with ratios around 3.73. If you combine these manuals with 3.00 gears you are looking more at diesel engine operating rpms.

 

I'd be worried about having someone who says Tremec makes a 5 or 6 speed auto trans "clarfy" things for me.

I have a car with a Tremec TKO600 5-speed (0.64 5th gear) and it mates perfectly with a 3.73 rear ratio. Anything numerically lower than that makes 5th gear useless.

 

Boy, I'm really out of the loop on the new manual trans, I thought these were auto boxes. I'd also think a manual diff would be difficult to locate & prohibitively expensive.

 

Just popped up on eBay, an auto. to manual conversion kit posted on the 400 section.

Ferrari 400 I Automatic to Manuel Transmission Conversion Kit | eBay

 

Here's a thought, in changing the enclosed driveshaft. I own and restore vintage race cars some of which had enclosed drive shaft systems. Over the years modifacations have taken place.

With the drive shaft removed from the diffy, you could machine the mounting flange off and then modify the pinion shaft to allow you to put a mounting flange for an open driveshaft. This would require some engineering but thats what life is all about.

The new transmission will have a standard drive shaft flange and with the modifacation and addtion of the diffy flange will make an open drive shaft instalation rather easy.

I also own a 400 and happened to be under it the other day while testing a new hoist. Looking at the drive shaft assy I'm convinced an open shaft conversion could be done.

Usually an enclosed driveshaft is part of the strength of the chassis. The 400 has 2 rather stout frame rails running from back to front so i don't think the driveshaft is necessary to strenghthen the chassis.

just sayin'

howard musolf
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
1994 348 spyder