131983 - My First Ferrari

Thanks Terry, I have noticed the jerky start. Glad to hear clean injectors might improve that.

 

I’d like to know also.

 

My 2003, 131995 had the original 183960 shock ECU. I replaced it with 205619 from Maranello Classic in the UK, I think they are the only ones with any stock left.

 

Walker- If yours does have 183960, too, that is one of the first things I would change. Either 205618 or 205619 would work fine.

 

I will check on that. Are ECUs as easy as pulling old one and plugging in replacement? Any special equipment required? That’s one thing I have zero experience with.

 

The Skunkworks steering one is an easy swap right in the drivers footwell.

The suspension one you pry the passenger side right wall footwell open and you can see which number you have, it’s like a 3x5 box. Swapping isn’t much harder, but it’s not as simple as the Skunkworks one.

 

Still in stock but $$$....happy with my early FHP set up, not sure worth cost of swap.

 

I've seen the Skunkworks products mentioned frequently. Do they have a website? A quick search didn't return anything useful. Where do you learn about/shop their products?

 

The skunkworks crew are members here that have built improvements to our cars (usually for themselves) and then have productized them with the help of Ricambi. The steering ECU has its own thread here (and can be purchased at Ricambi) and they recently began offering a rear sway bar upgrade that you can also buy at Ricambi. I did both (and the suspension ECU that Taz recommends), but did not have enough seat-time before/after to fully compare/contrast, but the shop I used services a lot of 575s and he was impressed with the handling of the car after the upgrades.

 

Very helpful, Thanks Matt!

 

The steering ECU is available here: https://www.ricambiamerica.com/175891-steering-ecu-fiorano.html

The rear swaybar is available here: https://www.ricambiamerica.com/210888m-rear-anti-roll-bar-msw.html

Thank you!

 

Perfect, Thanks!

 

When I was seriously hunting 550’s I was deep digging for the list of cars with MSW mods in addition to the founders cars there are a small handful with a handful of cool MSW mods including the cruise control.

I’m not sure where John’s red 550 went.

I think FBB’s silver rocket went to Canada and had some goodies plus his existing 550.

i think @F456M has some serious MSW goodies as well.

Evolved-modified 550’s are/were the dream.

 

205619 just received and will be installed sometime this week. Maranello Classic Parts in the UK. No core charge required.


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Lucky you. Ordering from the same place, I had to pay the core charge, ship back my old part for hundreds of dollars, and they’ve been so far unsuccessful in sending me my money back via wire after 3 months. A lot of pain, but at least a valuable part.

 

Matt- I thought that was Eurospares that wanted a core charge?

 

Nope it was Maranello Classics. I asked if they reflashed them and he said no, they would eventually run out of stock and keeping cars on the road meant that 183960 would be better than not driving at all. Made sense, I just wish it wasn’t such a pain.

 

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that. What a pain. My purchase was pretty uneventful. Wired them money, paid a duty fee to DHL, part showed up a week later. I'll reserve full judgement until I get the part installed and make sure it works.

 

On my 550 I assembled my own Fiorano pack of sorts. MCS 1-way coilovers along with Maranello Skunk Works rear way bar and steering module. This totally transformed the car, along with Fabio's headers and exhaust. The coilovers have 24 damper settings, and I find I want it tighter for higher speeds and softer for around town. So I just ordered a remote control unit from Fortune Auto. I'm going into the wheel wells soon to replace all the bushings and ball joints, so that's the time to install that unit...I'm in no rush to go back in there again

 

Installed the new shock ECU today and took it for about an hour drive. It changed the car more than I expected. Huge improvement. Definitely worth the money.

 

I love a happy ending.

 

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Congrats - you are going to LOVE it.

 

Has anyone done an install themselves? I don't have the headers yet, everything back from the cats. Wondering how difficult it is.

 

One of our German Fchatters did it on his Maranello or 599, forget which.