Im addicted to hard launches | FerrariChat

Im addicted to hard launches

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Magnum6464, Mar 13, 2006.

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  1. Magnum6464

    Magnum6464 Formula Junior

    Mar 5, 2006
    319
    Quebexico, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mario
    I wanted to buy a 91 TR but read that the clutches are garbage for hard launches and wouldn’t last long difficult cars in general and so on, and so on. After all my homework I decided to go with the 348 instead.

    Now, my question goes out to anyone who are addicted to the same as me. Are there any racing clutches available in order to make strong launches in confidence ? Because everyone seems to talk about Ferrari having really weak clutches. So am I led to believe that companies that make replacement clutches cant cut it ?

    And can anyone explain why a double plate clutch was not reliable in Ferrari’s ?


    ~

    “I dont sell cars, I sell engines. The cars I throw in for free since something has to hold the engine” - Enzo Ferrari
     
  2. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    #2 PAP 348, Mar 13, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The clutch would be the last thing you should be worried about launching the 348 hard. Ive never launched my 348 hard,but the pressure plate diaphram fingers broke. 6 fingers broke. I got a new race clutch made locally by a guy called ferrarifixer who posts on here by the way. He says that the 348 clutch has a problem of overthrowing the pressure plate diaphram and its causes broken fingers. He is looking into it. Dual clutch kits can handle more HP/torque (apparently :p). Not sure why Ferrari went away from the dual plates. They were unreliable? Alot of 348's here still run the stock dual plates im sure? Maybe they were not needed?? To save money? I dunno sorry. :) Maybe another guru knows the story?
    Just get a clutch made to suit your needs. Im sure someone there can help you out. Maybe the ferrarifixer can export a race clutch kit to you :) Here is a pic of my old broken pressure plate and my new race clutch kit from the ferrarifixer. Cheers :D
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  3. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    If you have a dual disc clutch, I have two words for you: "STOP NOW". The cost will amaze and bewilder you for the disc assembly and pressure plate. If you want to convert to a single disc unit, you would also need a new flywheel ($$).

    Regardless of whether you have a single plate or a dual plate assembly, it's not designed for hard launches. You'll be opening your wallet and the clutch pumpkin soon enough.

    (And I have a vested interest in you smokin' that clutch! I'm telling you, please don't hard launch the car).
     
  4. ants2au

    ants2au Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2003
    793
    Sydney Australia
    Full Name:
    Anthony
    I don't think any Ferrari is immune to clutch dumping. If the clutch doesn't break, something else up the line will.

    Some guy I know broke his Gbox with shuey ueys.

    just my 2 aussie dollars worth (equivalent to 2 pesos)


     
  5. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    Thats exactly correct. :)
     
  6. mk e

    mk e F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
    13,737
    The twilight zone
    Full Name:
    Help me get this thing finished! https://gofund.me/39def36c
    I don't have a 348, I have a 500+ hp 308 that I just plain abuse. So far the clutch was been the only link. Last year I installed a tilton 7.25" triple-disc carbon-carbon clutch and it's been magic. Nice light pedal so there is no problem sitting in traffic and it just laughs at drag-strip or autocross launches. The only down side is price. The clutch was $3500 and I had to machine the flywheel to install it. Tilton would have set the whole thing up with a light weight flywheel for $5000, but I chose the save money and keep the stock flywheel.
     
  7. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Mark -

    That's an interesting propostion. For us 348 brothers with a dual disc clutch, the cost of conversion to a single plate is around $4000 because of the flywheel. Then, we still have a crappy clutch that needs $1000 replacements all too often.
     
  8. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
    Full Name:
    Bill Tracy
    The 348 stock setup is not made for the hard launch. Occassionally it is okay, but not all the time. I did about four hard launches in a row on the way home one night and could start to smell the burn. :D That was about 7 months ago. Have not had any clutch slippage / failure, but I don't think the car would stand up to constant abuse. Sounds like the racing clutch is the way to go. Checl to see if the Ferrarifixer clutch will work as a replacement for both the single and dual disc clutches before you buy a 348.
    BT
     
  9. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    Forget the clutch. TR and 348 have something in common, the gear box wont take it.

    Just read the various threads about 348 gear boxes going right now. Those clutch shafts and their gears? You will get to know them real well if you drive one that way.

    308 gear box was tough, maybe the only really tough gear box Ferrari ever made.
     
  10. ggjjr

    ggjjr Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2003
    928
    Detroit
    Full Name:
    George
    Brian,
    how come it seems so many 308 gearboxes seem to need attention at such low miles. People can't be that bad of drivers, can they. My 308 which has approx 17k miles has a bad fourth gear synchro and second is getting harder to get intro when cold. I bought the car with 13k on it and it is in excellent condition otherwise. Thanks.

    George
     
  11. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,099
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    I have not experienced that except in cars that got no or wrong care and even then it was rare. All the damaged syncros I have seen in the cars with iron tapered syncros were a case of improper lubricant and in some cases it was factory recomended. The factory recommended Agip SPFLES was so bad even the factory guys were telling us not to use it but the lesson was not universally learned.

    I have had a few clients over the years that could break steel balls and could not hurt a 308 trans. I have also rebuilt quite a few high mileage, just plain worn out motors and never felt compelled to do more to the trans than just put new seals in.

    I have not encountered a worn out 4th gear syncro in anything, ever. It almost defies logic. 4th is the second least worked syncro. I have customers with 308s they have been beating for triple digit miles and the trans is one thing they have not broken.

    I am far more suspicious of what the mechanics or lack thereof are doing to them.
     
  12. Magnum6464

    Magnum6464 Formula Junior

    Mar 5, 2006
    319
    Quebexico, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mario
    Thanks for all the info, I very surprised to hear that hard launches will kill the gbox…As far as racing clutches, I will have to look into it…5K will not bother me if it means having fun…hell im going to purchase a Ferrari so what’s in buying a racing clutch to make the one bullet proof.

    By the way, sorry for the late replies, my wife gave birth about 4 hours ago to our healthy baby girl Claudia, 8lbs 5 ounces.
    27 hours of labor...man she's tough maybe I should ask her to build me a clutch (hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!)


    ~

    “I dont sell cars, I sell engines. The cars I throw in for free since something has to hold the engine” - Enzo Ferrari
     
  13. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,220
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    Congratulations on the arrival of your new baby girl buddy. :)
     
  14. ferrarifixer

    ferrarifixer F1 Veteran
    BANNED

    Jul 22, 2003
    8,520
    Melbourne
    Full Name:
    Phil Hughes
    I've found sticky spigot bearings and/or rusty clutch plate splines on a 308 can make a 4th gear synchro feel weak (and 5th).

    Also, Personally, I've not witnessed ANY Ferrari other than 512BB and TRossa break gearboxes on road tyres, even during track use.

    I have seen problems due to loose nuts, poor assembly etc, but never a broken anything.

    Of course, drive shafts are the next weak link, and differentials too.

    Remember the 700+(+!)BHP twin turbo 355 here in OZ has stock std EVERYTHING... and has done several dozen drag strip passes or more, and lots of road km.

    Stock clutches are TOO weak. A bit of beef is a good thing.

    You can pull away like Magnum anytime you like........ just don't do rev limiter bouncing donuts.
     

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