Hypothetical 599 Manual Conversion

Totally agree, specially the last bit. It's baffling how manual 599s went from being called POS (not by everyone but a lot of people) to collectible overnight. Just till last year they used to sit forever with no one willing to buy them and now they are quickly turning into a regular feature at RM auctions. The funniest thing is that people prefer manual gearboxes because of the driving involvement but these limited number manual 599s will rarely be driven because they are "collectible" now, oh the irony!

 

Common misconception that there is a different gearbox for the F1 599 and 3 pedal 599. They are exactly the same gearbox, clutch, and throw-out bearing, except the throw-out bearings use different seals, one for brake fluid, one for F1 fluid (synthetic ATF). F1 is just an electro-hydraulic system for shifting the manual gearbox and actuating the clutch. That is why conversions are realistically possible from F1 to 3 pedal. Or the other way around.

 

Absolutely spot on.

People think of F1 transmissions as some kind of automatic. An F1 is nothing more than a manual transmission without a clutch pedal.

The old Maserati Quattroportes from 2005 and 2006 were torched in the industry because of their "horrible" transmissions. They had F1 transmissions. What was horrible may have been Maserati's thinking here because most people driving a sedan don't want a manual sedan. But even worse, most people who criticize the old style single clutch F1 transmissions 1) don't know how to drive a manual transmission properly, and 2) don't understand what the F1 really is - e.g., a manual transmission.

My Dad who has been driving manuals since the 50s still criticizes the old F1 transmission. He simply cannot get it into his head that it's simply a manual transmission - not a lightning fast automatic that doubles as a manual. Give me any F1 transmission from the 355, Aston Martin Vanquish, Maserati Quattroporte , right through to the 599 and I'll drive it 200,000 miles on the same clutch because I will drive it like a manual.

An F1 transmission is not for your mother-in-law. It's for someone who is highly experienced in driving a manual!

:rant finished:

 

Ironic indeed!

 

Owner is on heavy drugs or out of his mind..

 

355 F1s have been around for "decades" now (well, two). Are they unsustainable or impossible to maintain?

 

Bingo, I had this conversation with a knowledgeable Auto Gallery Mechanic this morning. He said it was a fairly straight forward conversion, no magic etc. You just have to order the correct parts and its a bolt on procedure....no swapping of gear box because its the same gear box.

 

I'll believe it's straight forward when someone has actually done it and happily driving down the street. I think we all know the ECU's are all tied together talking to each other and comparing notes and have read, if not experienced the countless problems owners have had with weird anomalies caused by something as simple as a loose gas cap, etc., etc. What's going to happen when that ECU tries to tell the transmission to down shift because fifteen parameters have been met and there's no controller to talk to? It's not the mechanics, it's the computers that would be the overwhelming obstacle (unless, of course you're going to replace or reprogram them all which sounds overwhelming to me). *

*Of course I could be wrong!

 

Sent you a PM.

Thanks.

Adam

 

+1.

Not too long ago I asked Aston Martin about the cost and time of converting and old Vanquish into a manual. This was their reply:

" Thank you for your enquiry regarding the manual gear change conversion on a 2001 - 2007 Vanquish.

We are pleased to confirm the conversion is something we still offer from Aston Martin Works, subject to specification of the car prices start from £16350.00 + VAT.

If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely"

It is something they do, not sure how regularly but they do offer the service ( in an other email they told me it would take two weeks), whereas I have never heard of Ferrari doing the same to F1 cars.

It is a very interesting point to me since I would love to own and DRIVE a manual 599 but not willing to pay 682000$.

If any of you actually know of people doing the conversion and the cost of it, I would love to hear all about it.

Thank you

 

The Vanquish doesn't use anywhere near the same can-bus technology as that used in the Florence architecture system found on the 599. It's easy on the Aston because it's a basic bit of old technology (many components shared with the 355 F1) that was coupled onto a couple of old Jag engine ecu's, via an adapted dodge viper based gearbox. This makes it a very simple procedure to get rid of. In fact, that job should take no longer than a few days. Not so on the 599. It can be done, but it would be quite involved, electrically....

 

If that was the case why couldn't you just re-flash with the manual's ECU as well? If there was never a manual produced I would buy that argument however it does exist, as does the firmware

 

VR Surgeon,

Can you send me a list of the parts needed to convert a 599 to manual?

It would be much appreciated!

 

if you still have that list, may I kindly ask for a copy. Have an 1to1 599 that I want to convert since I miss the stick to much. Thanks!

 

Two Rookies asking for a parts list to convert 599 F1s to MT. Hmmmm....

 

Question: Has anyone done a 599 F1 to Manual conversion yet?

I'm seeing current parts pricing closer to $56,000 and labor to be close to 70 hours all in.

S

 

Fascinating. I would love to see pics of a converted car. Compared to the cost #s being thrown around for the 599 this is a bargain, and done by the factory no less.

 

I will PM you about this.

 

Wil Has actually converted a 575M, so knows what he is talkin about. 599 conversion is similar, just the parts are more difficult to find.

 

I would love to see this happen. Any info on how difficult that 575 job was?

I would look for a 599 spec of my liking (probably grigio/cuoio or black/cuoio HGTE) , install headers, exhaust and enjoy it. I wouldn't really concern about resale too much.

I would convert my LP640 to manual in a second if it was proven to work as well

 

I agree with this. Likely why many inexperienced guys roast their clutches so quickly on F1 cars They think it's get in and go like a double clutch

While I don't mind the engagement and operation of a single clutch F1 system like the LP640 / 599, the interaction, shifting to neutral at stops etc.. I still much prefer a traditional manual in most cases

There are some cars where I truly believe a MT would not fit at all, like the 458.

599 has always been on the want list..

 

I always tell people that an F1/E-gear transmission (single clutch) is just a manual transmission with a robot doing the shifting, clutching and throttle blipping. AND that if you put enough aids like that on a car, you will soon have an autonomous vehicle and you can just relax and not even look at the road...until a white trailer-truck crosses the road in front of you.

I also tell them that what kills the clutches on F1.E-gear systems is backing up (keep it to a minimum), sequential down-shifting and holding the car on a hill with the gas pedal.

 

How about a GTO? Can you do that to a GTO?

 

I assume you mean 599 GTO. It should work. I don't see why it would matter.

 

By the way: The new Forza magazine, (Issue #154 with a La Ferrari Aperta on the cover) has) Brian Crall commenting on the conversion process in his Shop Talk column on page 12.