Ferrari F430 Spider

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Discussion

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
Thanks all!

Column mounted paddles are frustrating for a couple of reasons. I much prefer them wheel mounted.

I have a plan to address that but it will come later down the line when I swap the steering wheel.

sc0tt

18,057 posts

202 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
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From the video does the car change down automatically?

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
sc0tt said:
From the video does the car change down automatically?
If you are about to stall, otherwise it's up to you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=resjtcK0-x0

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
I just realised Facebook image links expire over time! I'm now hosting the FB images myself and have edited broken posts.

thebraketester

14,288 posts

139 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
mwstewart said:
Thanks all!

Column mounted paddles are frustrating for a couple of reasons. I much prefer them wheel mounted.

I have a plan to address that but it will come later down the line when I swap the steering wheel.
:-) somehow I should have expected you to have it in hand. I think it will make it much easier to drive.

Tinkshusband

280 posts

104 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
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been following your builds for ages , awesome cars! ill just leave some further modding inspiration here http://www.undergroundracing.com/vehicles/ferrari-...tongue out

5potTurbo

12,593 posts

169 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
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Wow!

Base car price + VERY expensive genuine replacement/upgraded parts = yikes

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
That UR car is a bit mental! - lots of lag though. I have plans for my engine but it will remain NA.

Tinkshusband

280 posts

104 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
mwstewart said:
That UR car is a bit mental! - lots of lag though. I have plans for my engine but it will remain NA.
Keeping it pure then! I'm guessing stuff like cams and pistons maybe? UR does make some mental machines tho!

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
Tinkshusband said:
Keeping it pure then! I'm guessing stuff like cams and pistons maybe? UR does make some mental machines tho!
Yes - I have already forumalted a spec, but it will come later smile

Tinkshusband

280 posts

104 months

Tuesday 15th March 2016
quotequote all
mwstewart said:
Yes - I have already forumalted a spec, but it will come later smile
the whole of PH cant wait!

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Friday 18th March 2016
quotequote all
OEM Scuderia optional carbon side skirts
A large package arrived from California.


New OEM carbon side skirts, grilles, fixings, and Pininfarina badges. These were an absolute Holy Grail part for me. They were an expensive optional extra for all F430 & Scuderia models.



These are the ultra rare exposed carbon version. Painted versions were supplied by Ferrari in green PPG primer and are slightly less rare.




I'm going to fit them tomorrow.

16M/Scuderia carbon rear diffuser
Another really special part - it's really nice and considerably lighter than the heavy fibreglass stock item. The carbon version was optional on the Scuderia and standard fit on the 16M.



New side grilles which are specific to the 16M/Scuderia diffuser. I will reuse my original centre grille.



Wheel fitting
I'm using new TPMS valves and reusing the sensors, which after looking through the car history file I note were replaced last year.


I've gone for new Super Sports on the front in the 16M/Scuderia 235/35/19 size. I will fit the wheels tomorrow and compare the weight of 225/35 and 235/35.


Suspension parts
New OEM front ARB drop links. The bushes are still on their way. I'm not touching the rear yet as I'm going to replace the ARB and links together.


A box set of metric fine nuts for the suspension. They must be grade 10.


On my check over of the car I noticed that only one track rod end was a brand new Hill Engineering version, which was a surprise as the car was sold to me as having replacement Hill ball joints - which I verified - and also ends. I called David at Autologix and he agreed to order the remaining ends and send them on. I am happy to fit them as part of the work I am doing.


I've bought a Hill Engineering C spanner to adjust my ride height.


I thought my findings here may be useful: I've read a number of times the lower joint mistakenly referred to as a bush when in the case of the F430 it is actually another ball joint. This is something to be aware of as some online retailers sell replacements in the form of a simple rubber bush, which may last longer, but from a driving dynamics/performance perspective it is inferior to the OEM joint.

My Scuderia suspension is very low mileage but I've replaced as a matter of course.


Grille
Parts of a large Eurospares order are coming through. Scuderia front bumper grille - you can tell it’s Scuderia not 16M because it's silver not black. Ferrari don't hold stock of the black right side grille and there's no telling when it will be manufactured again, so I bought a silver one instead and will spray it satin black.

Tiger Tim

1,810 posts

223 months

Friday 18th March 2016
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And I'm baulking at the idea of £400 on a pro alloy radiator for my Elise. 😂

It's a fascinating read. Looking forward to seeing it all together. Carbon on red is certainly interesting in contrast.

Thanks for sharing,

alec.e

2,149 posts

125 months

Saturday 19th March 2016
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I bet you are like a kid at Christmas with all those (very nice) parts arriving!

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Sunday 20th March 2016
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Thanks both. Really enjoying it smile

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Sunday 20th March 2016
quotequote all
16M/Scuderia suspension - Right side rear
I finished installing the Scuderia suspension. I also installed the Hill tie/track rod ends; the front went on very easily but the rear OEM ends had corroded and seized onto the tie rods. I had to cut the old ends along their length and use a chisel to split them.



16M stripe finished
The final stripe section is on and U'm very happy.


Carbon sill trims/kick plates
Given I have access to the kick plates whilst fitting the Scuderia skirts I decided it would be a good time to replace the standard stainless steel kick plates with carbon versions. Doing so saved 1.356kg.



Carbon side skirts
Fitting the new skirts took a surprising amount of time - there are a lot of fasteners! The Scuderia type skirts are quite a lot wider than the F430 version so I've taken a bore and after comparison to illustrate. Here's the before for reference.


The areas usually hidden from view were a little dusty so Dad kindly washed them for me.




Scuderia carbon skirt (left), F430 (centre), standard Scuderia (right): the difference in width and air duct size can be seen.


Skirts and carbon kick plates fitted. The Ferrari inserts for the kick plates are still on order.




16M Wheels fitted
I've fitted the new wheels and titanium bolts. I also weighed the old and new tyres to make a comparison - interestingly the front MPSS are lighter than the Pirellis they replaced despite being 10mm wider. I've also decided to replace the rear Pirellis with MPSS in the same size. In this size the MPSS are actually slightly heavier.



Weight savings
The savings are starting to add up - especially unsprung.
Part Fitted quantity Original part (kg) Replacement part (kg) Sprung Saving (kg) Unsprung Saving (kg) Replacement Part - Notes
Front brake disc 2 8.3 6.77 - 3.06 CCM - 380mm (alloy bell)
Rear brake disc 2 8.3 4.61 - 7.38 CCM (alloy bell)
Front brake caliper with pads 2 4.9 5.94 - -2.08 CCM - 380mm
Rear brake caliper with pads 2 4.9 4.72 - 0.36 CCM
Exterior door handles 2 0.065 - 0.02 0.09 Carbon
PAS reservoir cap 1 0 0.065 -0.065 - Alloy cover
Fuel Flap 1 0.143 0.128 0.015 - Carbon
Seats 2 28.2 17.9 20.6 - 16M/Scuderia carbon
Front suspension strut & spring 2 4.74 3.8 - 1.88 16M/Scuderia Mk2
Rear suspension strut & spring 2 5.37 4.59 - 1.56 16M/Scuderia Mk2
Anti roll bar - Front 1 3.04 2.73 0.21 0.1 16M/Scuderia
Side skirts 2 4.62 2.9 3.44 - 16/Scuderia carbon
Kick plates 2 0.841 0.163 1.356 - 16M/Scuderia (carbon)
Front wheel 2 12.9 10.5 - 4.8 16M - optional 5 spoke
225/35/19 Pirelli P Zero Rosso (new) 2 10.7 10.23 - 0.94 235/35/19 MPSS (new)
Rear wheel 2 13.7 12.3 - 2.8 16M - optional 5 spoke
285/35/19 Pirelli P Zero Rosso (new) 2 13.61 13.92 - -0.62 285/35/19 MPSS (new)
Wheel bolts 20 0.128 0.065 - 1.26 Titanium


Total sprung weight saved: 25.65 kg
Total unsprung weight saved: 21.44 kg
Total weight saved: 47.09 kg

Podie

46,630 posts

276 months

Sunday 20th March 2016
quotequote all
That's a pretty significant change in us sprung mass.

I felt a huge difference in losing 3kg per corner on a Focus ST!

mwstewart

Original Poster:

7,672 posts

189 months

Sunday 20th March 2016
quotequote all
Podie said:
That's a pretty significant change in us sprung mass.

I felt a huge difference in losing 3kg per corner on a Focus ST!
Agreed. I just had the wheels on the last car - not even the Ti bolts - and it made a very noticeable improvement. It's like getting out of hiking boots into some decent trainers.

I'm looking forward to feeling the difference.

carphotographer

500 posts

196 months

Monday 21st March 2016
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Podie said:
That's a pretty significant change in us sprung mass.

I felt a huge difference in losing 3kg per corner on a Focus ST!
In what way ?

I've actually added 2.5 kg per corner on a very light ( 600kg ) Caterham. I've gone from 13" to 15" wheels. That maybe the reason why I was so slow yesterday compared to the other 7's in my class yesterday at an Autosolo

duffy78

470 posts

140 months

Monday 21st March 2016
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I'd love to see a pic of the car with the side skirts in place. In my minds eye i've got a picture of it looking slightly berlinetta boxer'ish