Any stick shifts on board?

Jani,

My Longchamp GTS now has a 5sp manual. It has a Maserati clutch pedal which fits the Longchamp pedal assembly. The technicans that fitted the new gearbox believe my car had a manual in it before (for road rally racing) and was swapped to auto (for street use), so my pedal box may differ slightly from the standard auto pedal assembly. As the car's racing activities happened prior to my ownership, I am unsure of all the modification details.

I suspect that the Maserati pedal assembly (front-engined cars) is the same as used for Longchamps, at least in those years when these cars were made by DeTomaso.


Stuart

Here are pictures from the Maserati QP III parts manual:

Automatic pedal set up

Manual pedal set up:

From the Longchamp parts manual:

Auto pedal set up

I´d be very intrested in pictures of your cars pedal set up...

What transmission did you use? The ZF 5S-24/3?

Jani,

I will get some photos of my pedal set up over the next few days. Please note that my Longchamp is RHD and that the clutch pedal fits around the steering column. This means that RHD Longchamps have very limited space in the footwell and no left foot rest. The bellhousing for RHD cars differs too and DeTomaso modified the bellhousing to fit the starter on the opposite side from LHD cars. One wonders how DeTomaso justified the cost of tooling up for the few RHD Longchamps that were made!

I think that the pedal box (manual and auto) for Maseratis and Longchamps are very similar castings. They may have been made by the same brake manufacturer such as Girling(?). I think the Pantera pedal box is not dissimilar as well.

The gearbox I used was the Tremec T5 (World Series) with HD V8 gearset (same gearbox that was used in late V8 Mustangs, etc). The T5 fits in beautifully with no modification to the underbody etc. It must be of very similar dimension to the original ZF, but stronger. The Tremec TKO (late Aston Martins, Holden Monaro, etc)is probably the most robust gearbox to use, but it weighs more and is more bulky, but I think it would still fit ok. Phil (Transmitter Man) and I corresponded at length about gearbox options and I think he will use the Tremec TKO when he does his swap - he may even use a Tremec 6sp 'box).

I think the Longchamp driving experience is greatly enhanced with a manual over the auto, particularly for those cars with modified engines (narrower powerband). The chassis is so good on the Longchamp and the manual allows you to fully appreciate its handling capabilities especially in the GTS configuration.


Stuart

quote:

Originally posted by stuartof:
I think the Longchamp driving experience is greatly enhanced with a manual over the auto, particularly for those cars with modified engines (narrower powerband). The chassis is so good on the Longchamp and the manual allows you to fully appreciate its handling capabilities especially in the GTS configuration.


Stuart

I´m afraid you´re probably right. If this would be the seventies, and my Longchamp a daily driver, between Helsinki and Monaco, it might be different. But since she is a hobby, a welcomed distraction, stick is probably the way to go. I won´t be getting into it this year, nor the next one either, but I see a certain inevitability about it.

Jani,

I am following Stuarts conversion on my GTS in also using a T5.

I am importing an uprated world cup T5 from Modern Driveline in Florida to here in London.

Super Cobra clutch kit.

Adding a Steeda shifter: http://www.steeda.com/store/st...ec-ford-mustang.html

and a Ford Racing leather shifter knob just to finisher her off.

I am now trying to find a suitable clutch pedal and master cylinder. The Maserati Kyalami and I think QP111 were the same AFAIK.

My car should be completed during July.

Jani,

I forgot to thank you for uploading those drawings of the different pedal boxes.

AFAIK the master cylinders were produced by Girling but I have no Girling part number.

If any of you guys know where I can source one of those Maserati clutch pedal's I'd like to know as I've e-mailed a whole bunch of classic Maserati parts dealers all to no avail.
If I cannot find something that fits then I'll probably invest in a complete new AP Racing pedal box.

My LHD auto pedal box;




As you can see this pedal box is designed for auto or manual and has the blanking grommet/bung where the hydraulic clutch master cylinder goes.

Thanks.

Phil

Its good to see some of your are changing to manual transmissions.
As it is one I've considered since owning my Longchamp it just does not feel right when diving the auto.
To solve this I've obtain a ford modular 5.4 motor (FPV Boss 260kw/350hp engine as std)
along with a 6 speed box to be transplanted.
As 2 of you have all ready done this it would be good to discuss the challanges you have faced.


Thanks
Chris

Hi Chris,

Well, I gave up trying to find the correct DT or Masarati pedal (the brake pedal is narrower with the stick shift so that's one pedal you have to change and another you have to source.

I found a pedal box manufacturer who used my pedal box and loud pedal, modified the brake pedal and designed a new clutch pedal to match together with supplying and fitting a suitable master cylinder.

Not inexpensive but plug 'n' play.

My T5 fitted without any problem as it's a lot smaller than the C6 auto. My guys just needed to make up a new mount together with a new propshaft.

Regarding the prop, I now have a larger single diameter for the whole length, definitely stronger than the factory part which is good as I now have a ton more torque from the 408.

Phil