Documenting the Modena Lucerna manual swap on my Challenge Stradale

Actually a LOT. I just have not posted it here. Thanks for asking. I will.

 

Sorry. have not given any updates on this for a while. It has been me just trying to get the small things dialed in, and also just me finding time. Work and my friends and family come first before the car, so sometimes it'll be a week between working on it. No big deal, but it can make me slow. Anyways, here are my updates.

I got the cluster reprogrammed with a leonardo and the ECUs reflashed by 360Trev.

I also pulled both axel shafts and rebuilt them using a factory kit from Ricambi. Honestly it's easy and no better time to do it than now. Just time consuming and extremely dirty. Here is a link to a timelapse of me doing the rebuild. Of course I took the time to do everything as perfect as I could, and clean things up.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBGgK2YJ7wr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And a few pictures...

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Replaced the emergency engine catch cable, as mine was completely seized...

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Then really, just the slow assembly of putting everything back together. Triple checking the WSM and torque specs, and cleaning along the way.

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After all that up above, just more cleaning and reassembly. Back on the ground and the test driving has begun! I will need to get 2 customer metal heat shields made for the rear of the engine bay as I have so many things deleted, including the F1 system, that they don't make any sense. No rush though and I will get to those eventually.

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Last of 3 posts for the day.

Here is a video of the car first starting up after being done with the conversion...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBPLzwLv-bH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

My clutch block was leaking so I had to order and install a new one. Now it is no longer leaking.

Dialing in the shifter cables has honestly been a huge pain for me, but I just about have them dialed in now. Driving the car as a manual is freaking awesome. Not only is the car so much simpler, but you really are so much more connected with the car. With that said, YOU now have the responsibility to shift correctly and rev match. It's work driving the car now, but in some weird way I actually love it. Certainly not for everyone, but to me, this is what a sports car is supposed to feel like.

Here is a video of shifting through the gears with the cables dialed in correctly...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBfCYkvSiM3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Lastly, my 1 to 2 shifts with the F1 system were odd when the system was cold and now that it is a manual I can notice it even more. My second gear syncro does leave much to be desired, but once warmed up very well, it is nice enough. It just takes a good 20 miles of driving to get there! I feel that it is probably because the car (before I got it) drove about 2,000 miles with 1/2 quart of black tar inside of the transmission after a full service at Cauley Ferrari. Ouch! All good. I have known about this problem for nearly 3 years now so I will enjoy it as is for now and will just plan on doing a full rebuild of my transmission at the best reputable shop for the job in the next couple years. It is something I have been expecting anyways, and fitting it in during my next major service would be ideal. We shall see.

Also, converting an extra F1 steering column cover to be a manual version without the holes for the paddles.

All of the parts I have changed out on the car, are bagged up, bubble wrapped, and labeled, and all inside a huge bin in my garage. The last modification I will be doing is a Kline Inconel exhaust system The OBX system was just to fill in for the time being, and as much as I love the factory system, I do prefer the sound of an inconel X pipe. I also don't like that the factory muffler falls apart after a while and sprays fiberglass all over the engine bay. I have been told that the system is also very quiet when the vales are closed, and it has zero drone. So my car will have Tubi headers, factory cats, and Kline cat back exhaust. Sounds like the perfect setup for me! The bumper will stay off for now until the exhaust shows up in a week or two. After that, I'll install the exhaust system, make sure everything is good to go, install the rear bumper, give the car a much need wash, and freaking BE DONE.

2.5 years of working on, fixing so many things wrong on this car, and lastly modifying this car, and to think that (Hopefully) I can just drive and enjoy it in a few short weeks is very exciting to even think about. Thanks for following along in my journey, and I'll update again soon!

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Thank you. It is OEM Ferrari F430.

Mike

 

Thanks. So you have the top one with the threads up and the bottom one with the threads down?

 

Thanks a lot. Yes, this kit is wonderful and very well put together! By far the best kit on the market. I made sure to talk to 3 different shops that do these conversions about what kits they use, and all 3 have switched to using only Modena Lucerna kits for their conversions now. It means something when the actual professionals are using a certain brand. The materials used, the quality, and the fact it is a complete kit with clutch sensors, titanium clutch and brake pedals, magnesium shift towers, frictionless shift cables, the little plug you just plug in so you don't have to splice wires, etc. Very pleased with this kit!

Anyways, I feel like I have not given an update since being done, so I need to do that. I've honestly just been enjoying the car.

-Because of my shot syncros in the car, I switched the transmission fluid out for Redline Lightweight Shockproof gear oil. I know it is not the standard oil to use in these cars, and I'm well aware of the supposed risks, but since I have a transmission rebuild coming in my future anyways, I just wanted to put whatever I could in the car to hold it over until the next major service. I don't mind being a guinea pig. I also spoke to a 360 owner that has used it for over 70,000 miles and also 1 shop that has used it for years in customer's cars that have sycro issues, and both said it was great stuff. One has also sent it out for Blackstone tests with good results. Anyways, good enough for me to just hold my transmission over, and I have to say, the stuff is like magic. Before using this, 2nd gear was BAD when cold, and 3rd was also a little bad. Now, 2nd gear feels perfect even when cold, and 3rd gear only has a slight detent feel when trying to shift really fast. Good enough to hold it over so I'm good with it. Will report back if this change. I'm also still obviously looking forward to the transmission being rebuilt during it's next major service, but I am pleased with this for now.

-I was a dummy and left the car door open for like a week while I was out of town. Ugh. Dead battery. Recharged it and all seemed fine, but the car was doing strange things on startup occasionally. Drove fine, but randomly startups would be weird. After doing some other diagnosing, and even checking the fuel system out, I discovered that the battery was the actual problem. I exchanged the battery out at AutoZone for free for a new Duralast platinum AGM, and everything is now back to normal. Lesson learned.

-Besides that, the conversion is perfect, and I could not be happier. I have been driving it every day and am enjoying the heck out of this car. I am 100% happy i converted it to manual! Rowing through the gears is so much fun and SOOOOO much better that clicking a paddle. Also, relearning how to rev match and blip the throttle at the correct times has been so much fun. I'm getting excited just typing this and may need to go drive the car again in a little bit!

-I found some mint Scuderia carbon door sills, so I installed those on the car. MUCH better matching than the factory steel ones and MUCH lighter.

-Tossed in a way better H3R Pro fire extinguisher as well beside the factory one. Looks crowded, but in this instance, it is function over form.

-Oh lastly, the Kline inconel exhaust system is perfect. I have blown up some threads of other people hear recently, so I'll keep my text here about this system to a minimum. It's perfect, I'm happy, and I'm finally settled on my personal perfect exhaust system. Tubi headers, factory cats, and Kline inconel exhaust.

Anyways, thanks for reading. If any of you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask me. I think I am the only person on the planet to have converted their Challenge Stradale to manual on their own in their own garage. Many of you all and your advice helped make that possible, so if there is any way I can pass it down, I gladly will.

Thanks!

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Yes. Just a handheld one by the factory one. I would rather use it than that factory one. I obviously hope I never need to though.

 

Thanks

 

Thanks a lot

 

Thanks. I really appreciate it!

 

Iu meant to tell you that I change the 2 bolts mounting the cables to be like how you said to do them. That's for the tip.

Mike

 

Haven't posted an update in a long time. Been enjoying the car a TON and have about 1,700 miles on the manual conversion. Did an engine and transmission fluid change and added a few bits like Scuderia carbon door sills. Got a flat tire last week, and that was super lame. Luckily I found a tow company that specializes in towing low and expensive cars, and I'm just thankful that zero damage was done to the car and wheels during the blowout and towing, Just waiting on 4 new tires to show up in the mail now, and I also bought aftermarket TPMS sensors that send the readings to my iPhone for added future protection. It'll soon be time again to go drive drive drive!

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