Hi All, Been a long time since I've posted on Fchat but just wanted to share some pics of an F1 shift to manual conversion we did on a F430 for a mate on the Sunshine Coast. Turned out pretty nice and he was more than happy with the results. Cheers George Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Nice work George!..Must admit I would love my 360 so much more if it was a stick shift even though it’s got the CS TCU..
Meh, it's a cable operated shift, nothing like the mechanical feel of rod operated. All you're achieving is getting rid of the nanny software that puts the car into neutral when you open the door to reverse into a tight spot, or open the bonnet FFS.
Fair enough, but why butcher an original car? Just sell it and buy a manual if that’s what you want. As much as I enjoy rowing through the gears on the Emira I actually miss the paddle shift sometimes.
Yes and they all have a slightly rubbery feel. Spend $40K on converting an F1 and it still won't shift like it should.
A mid engine car with a manual transaxle would normally have the gearlever mounted on the door sill, so the shift rod can be negotiated around the engine with only a couple of helicopter joints. Think of a Ford GT40. Ferrari had no such problem when their rear engines (or gearboxes) were sideways, but had to go to a lot of trouble with the 355 to accomodate a solid shift rod. The clutch and flywheel hang off the rear of the transaxle rather then the engine, which allows a shift rod to run down the side of the sump then into the gear box. For the 360, they returned the clutch to the conventional position, I'm guessing because (a) it was cheaper and (b) they assumed 95% of buyers would order flappy paddle shifting. 355 was the last of the good shifting mid-engined cars. 550 the last shift-rod 12 cylinder car.
That’s why I like the kit Cavallino use for a 575 - rod mechanism. Some US shops use cable for 575 and 599 conversion and I’ve not read anything favourable
People have paid a premium for modern manuals during the boom cycle that's just ended. IMO They were motivated by rarity (no more manual Ferraris) rather than the driving experience. Ironically, the most desirable 360 is a CS and they were all paddle shifts.
I think you will find that was an option..Same as the 575..The 550 was the last production manual in the V12 range as Ian pointed out..
Umm all f360 and f430 manuals are cable shift from factory and it's a whole different (better) car to drive as a full manual.
Um Ferrari's F1 shift is pretty bad there is a reason a full manual F360 and F430 command a much higher price.
Umm, driven both the F1 shift and manual F430, I know what I'd prefer and clutch wear is another thing, these early manuals that used hydraulics to operate the clutch and shift mechanism were just a stop gap tech until we got DSG's which are great. Even now slush boxes such as ZF's 8HP's are doing a dam good job.
Umm, hardly butchering, quality of the job has been reflected by the recent sale price of this car. I think I'd rather have an F430 that I enjoy driving than one that just looks good and sits in the garage until I forget how bad it shifts then drive it and have to wait 6 months to forget how bad it shifts again. Anyhow each to their own but I'd never buy an F1 shift Ferrari of this era.
