What is the best way to preserve the clutch when I am not trying to run the F430 hard? I would think that trying to prevent the constant down shifting when stopping would help like pressing both the paddles to put the F430 in neutral rather than down shifting. Please any suggestions?

 

Drive less stop & go, don't shift as much, drive it in manual vs auto but make sure to enjoy it

 

I am certainly going to enjoy it and I am not that concerned about paying for a new clutch. I was just curious on the best way to drive this type of transmission.

 

Unfortunately, the F1 transmission can be sort of like a gift and a curse. For those times when you're really out there driving in a more "spirited" fashion, it's wonderful! But in stop and go traffic it can be a bit cumbersome with all the downshifting. I'd say your best would be just try to not to think about it so much.

By the way, have you considered doing a TCU upgrade in the car? With it, you can decrease the shifting times as well as hold the revs a bit higher in each gear. Together with the EVOMSit performance software, it can completely transform the car.

 

What is the cost? Does it shift faster or what are the benefits? I have heard about it but did not look into it.

 

Ill send you a PM with some info.

 

Can something similar be done to a 360? Reduce the shift times?

Edit:

For OP: You can choose not to downshift, and say, driving in 4th gear and coming to a stop, it will downshift for you into 1st at the very last moment. That way the revs dont go up and down, and i actually think the car sometimes skips a gear or two this way going down through the 'box. Try it out, can be done

 

Yes....the same TCU mod can be done to the 360 as well.

 

Can you tell me more about it please?

We are currently racing a couple of 360 challenge cars here in scandinavia, and fighting the 430s is a constant struggle. We can see a dramatic difference in shifting times when running side by side...

We have talked about upping the hydraulic pressure to reduce shifting times.. Is this something you know anything about?

Also, I haven't heard of this TCU before. One of our cars is the guinea pig, and is considered a GT in the class, therefore racing against 430s. It is currently pushing out 490-492 hp from its tiny 3,6 liter engine. There is not much more to come from it, so now we are looking at other things. Shift times etc.

So, I would really like to hear more!!

 

Sent you a PM.

 

DAMN! Just wrote you a looooong answer, just to find out my post count was one short of being able to send PM's.

Will write you back now.

 

No problem you can also email me at tom@rennsport-one.com