[ferraristi]

Came across this review of an oldie but goodie. Haven't seen too many of these in the northeast but remember the Mondial t fondly from the Pacino film Scent of a Woman.

[Gcalo]

I don't even remember that car being in the movie.

Great reminder.

many thanks for posting.

What part of the North East?

[ferraristi]

Hey, my pleasure. Yes, there's a great scene in the movie when Pacino's character (who's blind) bribes a Ferrari salesman into letting him go for an extended test drive in NYC.

I'm writing from CT.

[Gcalo]

CT?

Is that still in the US?

Did you know that Ted Kennedy's favorite area was bridgeport?

[ferraristi]

Well, it's any wonder that CA hasn't slid into the Pacific yet ;-) Lucky for us in the Constitution State, Ted Kennedy is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' prob.

[Gcalo]

You obviously forgot Ted Kennedy's slogan when he ran for president.

Frequently when campaign aides presented him with problems his statement was "we'll cross that bridge when we get to it!!!

Oh, and BTW, you might be surprised to discover that you live in the same seismic zone as we do. It's just that the frequency of quakes is not equal to ours.

So don't think CT can't become an island!!

You'll then need one of Kennedy's bridges.

[Granucci]

That car was a Valeo = keeper. Saw it in the FofSF showroom and it sold about 1-2 years ago for $70k+ to a collector.

rik

[ferraristi]

I was born when it was morning again in America so I don't know anything about Senator Kennedy's presidential aspirations ;-) Or at least I'd like not to know anything about anything like that. And I'd say that CT becoming an island before CA would be a conceptual bridge too far.

Granucci, I have to do more research on this Valeo business...

[Gcalo]

I had a large industrial building in Avon, Mass, next to Brockton while having one here in CA.

So I decided to insure the Avon building for everything including earthquake til I found out the cost being the same as CA.

Don't think it can't happen there!

The Valeo was a form of auto tranny that was a nightmare. It's worse than the F1!

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by ferraristi

I was born when it was morning again in America so I don't know anything about Senator Kennedy's presidential aspirations ;-) Or at least I'd like not to know anything about anything like that. And I'd say that CT becoming an island before CA would be a conceptual bridge too far.

Granucci, I have to do more research on this Valeo business...

um?? I tooootaaally don't follow the first paragraph, but on the sencond. the valeo was Ferrari's first shot at a 'F1' transmission on a road car. There were only a few dozen examples of which one Valeo was put in a F40 for a Ferrari customer.

Valeo looks identical to the Mondial T's gated shifter. But is missing a clutch peddal. When the user touches the shifter, the clutch disengages and you can make a shift where it reengages as you reach the new gear: having driven many t-tronics, one can see a similarity, but this Valeo was touted much quicker.

From persons I know to have them they are GREAT. They have so far been proved very reliable. First used by a French race team then Ferrari adapted them to the T, never to be used again.

Google Valeo or Mondial T valeo on ebay, one is currently going for $70K

[Gcalo]

Originally Posted by Granucci

um?? I tooootaaally don't follow the first paragraph, ----

We were discussing earthquakes and Ted Kennedy!

You did not miss much.

As to the Valeo, that's good info cause I was told it's like the 456 auto- a ticking time bomb?

Maybe not.

You still have that MGA, BTW?

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by Gcalo

I had a large industrial building in Avon, Mass, next to Brockton while having one here in CA.

So I decided to insure the Avon building for everything including earthquake til I found out the cost being the same as CA.

Don't think it can't happen there!

The Valeo was a form of auto tranny that was a nightmare. It's worse than the F1!

Would like to see any facts relating to that as all evaluators say differently.

rik

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by Gcalo

We were discussing earthquakes and Ted Kennedy!

You did not miss much.

As to the Valeo, that's good info cause I was told it's like the 456 auto- a ticking time bomb?

Maybe not.

You still have that MGA, BTW?

456 auto is not a timebomb in the sense anyone has evey put down on paper. AND if so, there are reasonble solutions much better than some F1's I've heard. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthr...#post138540677

Originally Posted by Adrian Turner, Rugby, United Kingdom

realise I am not supposed to "solicit", but I can repair the automatic transmission fitted to the 456 GTA and 456M GTA. Contrary to one of the posts I've seen, I am not the designer, but I did run the Ricardo business unit that co-designed and subsequently built this transaxle. I have some parts in hand and most of the special tools required, along with the complete production and fault finding process documentation and the personal contact knowledge of every single component supplier. Please feel free to contact me if you feel I may be able to help you. adrian.turner@dabsolutions.co.uk or see www.dabsolutions.co.uk .

BTW, the internals are not from 4L80.

Even Brian realizes it's a simpl'ish' rebuild. http://www.dabsolutions.co.uk/Transmissions.html <-- they rebuild the transmissions for the 456 GT/MGT A's

rik

[Gcalo]

Originally Posted by Granucci

Would like to see any facts relating to that as all evaluators say differently.

About the earthquakes or the transmission?

I have read many comments about the 456 auto tranny but have not read of anyone who has actually rebuilt one.

I communicated with the firm in England that built the box for Ferrari, but even they are unwilling to impart info!

I was looking at a low mileage 456 with auto tranny. So I started doing the research.

I do not believe Brian has rebuilt one.

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by Gcalo

About the earthquakes or the transmission?

I have read many comments about the 456 auto tranny but have not read of anyone who has actually rebuilt one.

I communicated with the firm in England that built the box for Ferrari, but even they are unwilling to impart info!

I was looking at a low mileage 456 with auto tranny. So I started doing the research.

I do not believe Brian has rebuilt one.

Earthquakes I know.

Brain has not rebuilt one, but has discussed, with me many times that he would either like to see or have someone enter the business, but as you see from the link above... done http://www.dabsolutions.co.uk/Transmissions.html

cheers rik

[Gcalo]

It would be great if someone was able to do this as it would make me comfortable to purchase a 456 with the auto tranny.

I communicated with Fat Billy Bob about this as well some time ago, and he said he'd take a stab at it. Two of the guys in Texas said the same. The problem is as I see it is that a "stab" is not the same as one experienced to do it as a regular business.

I am a tinkerer but never tinkered with an auto tranny. I'd give a 6 speed a go though. I'd like to change my 6th gear to somewhat of an overdrive gear to drop the RPM's at 70 mph from about 3,100 to 2,200 or less.

[Granucci]

I understand FBB's mind....but that link IS a fix, why bother elsewhere with someone's hammer in there.

Rik

and back on topic: Other Mondials in movies http://imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=F...elInclModel=on

[Gcalo]

But that firm is in England, no?

Great possibility but will be expensive to send that box back and forth unless it goes by sea and then it's 30 days each way alone in transit!

[Granucci]

Don't know what to say to that. as it is a still a good consideration. Actually, without a properly trained mech stateside, or the ready parts, one needs to wait months for even a Mondial T fuse block, which is way more documented as failing and needing replacing IF one can be found. Usually in the $1K+ range just for the part.

crazy, it's just a fuse block that can be easily re-mfgr.

rik

[Gcalo]

Doesn't Birdman in New England make them for the Mondials? I know he does for the 308's and 328's but I thought he did Mondial boxes as well!