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F430 New owner diary inc. maintenance & upgrades

Nice work.

I know what you mean about beating they get especially from UK roads which really are a disgrace.

Given me food for thought that has.

An exchange service would be great for the Ferrari community.
 
Suspension work

That's some serious expense....I have HE track rod ends, Ferrari drop links and roll bar bushes ready to install but failed at the first DIY hurdle in that I could not get the first bolts on the existing droplink to move and could not get the existing rollbar bush to move - although I should have jacked up both sides of the car first and didn't. I have thought about removing all the suspension arms as you have done but chucking the best part of £1500 at some bushes feels like a waste although would be very satisfying once done.
 
Front Suspension Refresh
The suspension components take a beating in these cars. The Hill Engineering track rod ends were new only 7k miles ago, but poor road surfaces wear them out in no time. I put together a spare set of wishbones to make the swap easier with less time off of the road.
View attachment 157083


I had the arms vapour blasted. I'm going to replace all ball joints, track rod ends, and the flamblocs. The arms will be assembled by AV Engineering.
View attachment 157084
View attachment 157085


Here's what the titanium wheel spindles look like after vapour blasting. Now I will send them for hard anodising, which is the final surface treatment process before they are ready to use. The end result will be a perfect match for the OEM titanium wheel bolts.
View attachment 157086

Awesome stuff as always Mark [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks all. Our roads really are a disgrace, aren't they?

Maintaining the suspension within spec on this chassis type is an expense, and actually I'll go as far as to suggest that the ball joints aren't the right choice for the application, but they do provide a level of feedback that is hard to beat plus they really highlight the chassis brilliance. The trouble is that I notice small amounts of wear, and it bugs me when driving hard.

I bought the second set of arms to use a PoC for more sensible joints & bushes with very close performance characteristics yet significantly better wear characteristics but, as always, time pressures and another (one or two) car projects got in the way. I may continue in due course.
 
Thanks all. Our roads really are a disgrace, aren't they?

Maintaining the suspension within spec on this chassis type is an expense, and actually I'll go as far as to suggest that the ball joints aren't the right choice for the application, but they do provide a level of feedback that is hard to beat plus they really highlight the chassis brilliance. The trouble is that I notice small amounts of wear, and it bugs me when driving hard.

I bought the second set of arms to use a PoC for more sensible joints & bushes with very close performance characteristics yet significantly better wear characteristics but, as always, time pressures and another (one or two) car projects got in the way. I may continue in due course.

It’s a proper conundrum because it’s not just ferrari but Porsche (GT series cars), Lamborghini, Mclaren et al now use similar.

When you sample the roads around Stuttgart it’s no problem but here in the UK they are terrible but everyone else is driving a 4x4 anyway (or so it seems). I have faired well with both of my Ferrari’s as the chassis are all in good condition but the same can not be said of my MSport BMW 335hybrid which needs the front wishbones and steering rack doing at 80k miles,

UK roads...
 
It’s a proper conundrum because it’s not just ferrari but Porsche (GT series cars), Lamborghini, Mclaren et al now use similar.

When you sample the roads around Stuttgart it’s no problem but here in the UK they are terrible but everyone else is driving a 4x4 anyway (or so it seems). I have faired well with both of my Ferrari’s as the chassis are all in good condition but the same can not be said of my MSport BMW 335hybrid which needs the front wishbones and steering rack doing at 80k miles,

UK roads...

Chris, Did I just see you pull into the industrial estate outside Silverstone for the Ferrari Racing Day?
 
The car looks great - I noticed the winglets and then your plate.

I didn't go in - I was meeting a friend outside to collect some parts - but I will go to next year's.

It’s a great event yet slightly weird because the previous two years have been without spectators. Was good to catch up with the Italian Ferrari staff as well as the guys from Stratstone who spanner on my cars. No track time for me this time except for the parade which I am not really Into but a mate who works aero for Aston Martin F1 wanted to hitch a ride. The 599 is going in to R&D next week to get the brakes sorted and despite the rubber not seeing much UV light they are well past their best and with the GTO wheels I am looking to get it set up for another tilt at the Mille Miglia Tribute (#4) next year.
 
It’s a great event yet slightly weird because the previous two years have been without spectators. Was good to catch up with the Italian Ferrari staff as well as the guys from Stratstone who spanner on my cars. No track time for me this time except for the parade which I am not really Into but a mate who works aero for Aston Martin F1 wanted to hitch a ride. The 599 is going in to R&D next week to get the brakes sorted and despite the rubber not seeing much UV light they are well past their best and with the GTO wheels I am looking to get it set up for another tilt at the Mille Miglia Tribute (#4) next year.
What are you having done to the brakes?

I would love to enter the MM. I signed up to the newsletter and created an account but never heard anything more. If you have any advice or information it'd be gladly received.
 
The conclusion of my winter suspension maintenance: 2.44kg of sprung, and 1.01kg of unsprung weight saved. I wouldn't normally go in to such small detail, but when a maintenance job is required I will take the opportunity to optimise or improve whatever parts are involved.

Wheel uprights machined to Challenge spec
Challenge car uprights undergo two modifications:
1) Rear handbrake caliper/front vertical acceleration sensor mounting bosses are milled off;
2) Brake cooling vents machined out.

A road-going F430 requires both handbrake caliper/front vertical acceleration mounts, so I opted to machine the brake cooling vents to save a little bit of unsprung weight.

Standard (360/430) upright:
360-430-standard-upright.jpg

My uprights (16/Scuderia) after machining:
20211109_111355.jpg

Refurbished and rebuilt front arms with Scuderia flanblocs
I have in stock each type of flanbloc to investigate their construction and weight. My findings are below:
360-430-flamblocs.jpg

I sent my arms via courier to AV Engineering to be built up. Great communication throughout - it's nice dealing with someone whom you can trust to do the job well. New HE ball joints, and Scuderia flanblocs.
20211109_114302.jpg

New CCM discs
Thanks to my friend Gary I have a set of new front & rear CCMs to go on. These won't save any further weight - the fronts were quite worn but I'd put off changing them because the bite is really good, the downside being that they ate pads! Challenge discs are bed-in during manufacture, which is nice.
20211109_110953.jpg

Hubs rebuilt with bespoke titanium spindles
I've covered these in a previous update, but these are fitted after being hard anodised.
20211109_111504.jpg

Camber shims replaced with aluminium spacers
As a general guide, the following applies:

Front + 1 mm shim = -0.20 to -0.25 degrees of camber.
Rear + 1 mm shim = -0.30 to -0.40 degrees of camber.

Removing front UCA washers = -0.6 to -0.7 degrees of camber.
Removing rear UCA washers = -0.5 to -0.6 degrees of camber.

I've removed the upper RCA washers (top right in photo) to gain some camber, and based on that I ran the calcs for my new ride height to determine the thickness of shims F&R, and used that to have a set of aluminium spacers machined (top left in raw form, and bottom left with etch primer). The weight soon adds up with the steel shims (bottom right) when chasing a more focused camber configuration - I've saved a shade under half a kg for very little outlay.
20211109_111704.jpg

Vertical acceleration sensor hardware
Titanium and aluminium fasteners used to save a few grams.
20211109_112720.jpg

Wheel upright rear cover plate
I remade these in carbon, used lightweight fastenings, and lightweight cable management clips. 338 grams of unsprung weight saved.
20211109_113053.jpg

Calibration optimisation
AV Engineering have my ECUs: 360Trev has been undertaking some great work on the Bosch ECUs, and he has discovered many improvements. AV and Trev have teamed up to offer an electronics service, and I can't wait to get these back and in the car: even though my car in its current form is quicker than the 06 F430 I owned, it still lacks some of the punch that car had. I'm quietly confident that Trev can produce some magic.
20210911_160438.jpg

Weight Saving Total
Unsprung weight saved: 21.59 kg
Sprung weight saved: 111.86 kg
Total weight saved: 133.45 kg
 
Great attention to detail as always Mark [emoji106]

I found the OEM ball joint covers better than the HE replacements (they’re thinner so more flexible and easier to install) and got them for a great price from Stratstones. The larger size (bottom) was still very expensive though so I used HE on the ones that needed changing….
 
Great attention to detail as always Mark [emoji106]

I found the OEM ball joint covers better than the HE replacements (they’re thinner so more flexible and easier to install) and got them for a great price from Stratstones. The larger size (bottom) was still very expensive though so I used HE on the ones that needed changing….

Thanks Mike :) I have the rear end to do next - I'll take your advice.
 
What are you having done to the brakes?

I would love to enter the MM. I signed up to the newsletter and created an account but never heard anything more. If you have any advice or information it'd be gladly received.

It's a very italian thing - as you can imagine.

I know the people who run the show there so get preferential access - it helps having done it a few times and had a class win.

My car is now in all the relevant yearbooks in the Museum in Brescia

The issue is they know that it could, if they are not careful attract 'Gumball' types especially with regard to the overall attitude to speed and what the crowds demand in terms of a show for having their roads taken over every year. From little flag waving kids to frail old folk they want to see you drive heroically fast except in the older historic towns where it would be pointless to do so. The exceptions are the 'lap of Rome' under police escort and the ascent into San Marino both of which are as close as you can get to being in a car driving video game in the real world. I was at the farm the week before last and although I went in the daily (transporting stuff there) we did some of the epic Mille Miglia Roads from Radicofani to an evening meal in Siena.

When i get over there more permanently I am planning to start doing guided Mille Miglia driving experiences out of season.

If you plan on doing the event proper PM me and i can tell you the best way to get the slot.

Meanwhile this will give a taste for it....and you can see the roads i mentioned earlier...PS lots have been resurfaced during covid so...

https://youtu.be/nlFjqBmRBhc
 
That looks great. My experience in Italy is that unless you know the roads well, no matter how fast you think you're going you'll be caught by a granny in a Panda. I love it!
 
Hello folks, I hope that everyone is well. I'm preparing for the year ahead: I've re-joined the FoC, booked the Classic, and booked a trip to Italy. I'm feeling quite energised this year in terms of the car - somehow everything has worked out so far in terms of work etc.


I've spent some time over winter tinkering, mainly taking inspiration from A348W, and irarref. I'll upload shortly.
 
Hello folks, I hope that everyone is well. I'm preparing for the year ahead: I've re-joined the FoC, booked the Classic, and booked a trip to Italy. I'm feeling quite energised this year in terms of the car - somehow everything has worked out so far in terms of work etc.


I've spent some time over winter tinkering, mainly taking inspiration from A348W, and irarref. I'll upload shortly.

Sounds good - our house project has finally started again after all the trials and tribulations of Brexit and COVID.

Unfortunately we had a break in and things of value stolen. The locals are blaming outsiders and helping out which is great to feel. I am hoping to move out there later in the spring and take the cars over. This year I intend to run the F430 as it didn’t get used much at all last year. It will need a good once over to ensure all is well before the big mileage trip.

Mille Miglia is set for 15th to 18th of June this year and the route goes right past the farm. (Leg 2) no word on a tribute this year so not sure if it is happening yet.
 
Welcome back Mark…. Looking forward to the updates [emoji106]

Good luck with the move Mod [emoji106]


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Service time at my local Ferrari main dealer. The car hasn't missed a single service in its lifetime, but thanks to COVID I was out of the country for most of 2020, and it missed the annual. I haven't actually driven the car since Feb 2000, so despite being around this year I was actually in two minds about having it done...I caved at the last moment. It's a bit ridculous really - the oil was brand new.
20220108_103327_web.jpg

There were some amber items on the traffic light report:
- TPMS battery life reading 0 months left
- Front Pads - 5mm (A) advise pads are getting low
- Brake Fluid change advised
- Antifreeze change advised

I have new CCM discs and pads to go on but I'm likely going to a FOC trackday before summer, so I'll finish off what's currently fitted. Brake fluid, antifreeze, cabin filter, and AC re-gas were already on my comissioning list. TPMS can wait for new tyres.

Over Christmas I titivated the wheelarch areas. That is factory overspray on the underseal.
20211228_150721.jpg20211228_150743.jpg

I removed the moisture barrier in the luggage compartment to check the bulkead area, and clean it. All is well. I'm sure that the moisture barrier was £50 odd the last time I did this. It has gone up to £130. Expensive cleaning session :)
20211229_124032.jpg

In 2022 I'm going to try to make up for lost time; I've rejoined the FOC, and booked Silverstone Classic tickets. My friend Gary (black 360 stripped out track car) has asked if I'm going to the Silverstone or Anglesey FOC track day, so I'll get to one of those. I've booked accomodation for a three week trip in May which includes France, Switzerland, and Italy. My wife and I are discussing another trip after Italy - possibly northern Spain or Croatia - but nothing booked so far.
 
A few weeks ago I had a call with Aldous at AV to say that my ECUs were at the top of 360Trev's list for recalibration work. Very excited to experience the results of that, and hoping that I'll end up with some of the extra low down grunt that my MY06 car had.

MOT on Saturday. Looking forward to driving it.
 
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