stick shift for a 440A ? | FerrariChat
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stick shift for a 440A ?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Timp, Jan 4, 2006.

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  1. Timp

    Timp Rookie

    Oct 8, 2005
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    #1 Timp, Jan 4, 2006
    Great to read about a fellow 400 daily user in a recent thread. I'm using my 78 400A as a daily driver and loving it. It is the one featured in the recent Forza article, which I picked up at the Monterey Auctions a few months back. It has been very reliable and a joy to drive. It benefitted form a carb tune up, cleaning all the fuse contacts, got to keep an eye on the oil, and had some squeaky brakes that needed TLC. I drive the auto by manually changing gears which are pretty crisp....however I'm starting to inquire about putting a modern manual box in it as I'm wondering if I'll wear out the auto box the way I drive it. Seems it would be the perfect move to enjoy the engine more. Anyone out there have experience with this ?
     
  2. Ashman

    Ashman Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 Ashman, Jan 5, 2006
    The modifications would be more extensive than just changing the box and installing a 3rd pedal for the clutch. The rear end ratios are different on the automatic than on the 5 speed and so that needs to be changed too if you want the performance benefit of the 5 gears. That, plus the cost of finding a 5 speed to install would make the economics all wrong. The price premium of a 5 speed over an auto is probably only about $5-8K and so your best bet if you are set on a manual is to sell the auto and buy a 5 speed.

    John
     
  3. Timp

    Timp Rookie

    Oct 8, 2005
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    #3 Timp, Jan 6, 2006
    OK thanks. Good to hear the details, although sad to me as the engine and body of my 400 are in such good shape. I assume putting a more modern box in that has some kind of tiptronic gear change capability ( i.e. manual gear change but using the torque converter ) would still face the rear end gear ratio problem ?
     
  4. Ashman

    Ashman Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 Ashman, Jan 9, 2006
    I'm no expert but now that is an entirely different issue depending on what gear ratios are used in the tiptronic transmission that you select.

    The rear end ratio on a 400i 5 speed is 10/43 (i.e. 4.30 to one) and on the automatic it is 12/41 (3.42 to one), so you can see how the two are different.

    John

    (edit: are you talking about using a tiptronic selection mechanism on the same automatic transmission that you currently have? If so, then you haven't really changed anything except the method of gear selection. The performance should be the same.)
     
  5. andrewg

    andrewg F1 Rookie
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    #5 andrewg, Jan 9, 2006
    As the 400's use the same GM400 gearbox as a Rolls Royce / Benteley in the shadow/spirit /Mulsanne why not drop in a GM700 turbo 4 speed box as fitted to later Turbos/Spirits/proper Arnages? this is an upgrade thats been retrofitted to a few early Bentley Turbos so it should be fairly straight forward
     
  6. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
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    #6 aleventhal, Jan 9, 2006
    What is the difference between a TH-700 and a 4L60? They are both 4 speeds, I know that. I can say I have looked at replacing the th-400 in my 400i with a 4L60 and the two problems are that the 4L60 requires shortening the driveshaft (a problem with the the torque tube arrangement, but not impossible) and that it is not clear if the 400 tailpiece (ferrari part) will bolt onto a 4l60 - housing is different (much bigger problem). Any idea if the th-700 has teh same housing as a th-400? If it did it would make the process easier,

    Alex
     
  7. Timp

    Timp Rookie

    Oct 8, 2005
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    #7 Timp, Jan 14, 2006
    This chat forum is fantastic ! What a great way to learn. The intent behind my tiptronic comment was that if it is impractical to get a stick into the 400i then a crisp tiptronic type solution would allow me to manually change gears, hopefully reduce any 'mushyness' from the converter, and get me closer to a stick driving experience......maybe helping the long term life of my left leg in the process.

    What's I'm learning from the dialogue is the idea of replacing the three speed with a four speed would potentially help increase the acceleration ( hopefully at the lower ends ). I would then need to confirm the box could cope with continuous driving with manual gear changing ...... and understand whether there were any options to consider fast gear change tiptronic type addiditons, and any options to make the converter as crisp as possible. I have heard of a GM retro kit for the current box which allows you to lock the converter.
     

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