Custom gearshafts replication

Just browsing thru ferrari Uk website and looking at 512BB transmission parts my jaw kind of dropped at some of the prices for gears $1000 each, output shafts $3000 each, etc. , it seems you could have a custom gear fabricator make one from scratch out of titanium if you had an original to copy for less money, not to mention other superior metals as well as custom ratios.

Any thoughts?

I totally agree with you, about making the parts from scratch. It would seem that most people will just pay the price, since they wouldn't want to go through the trouble.

One of my hobbies is machining........not versed enough to make my own shafts and gears, but, I would quickly learn, if I had to.

In the next few weeks, I will be making a splined clutch shaft for my TR, out of aluminum......to be used as an alignment tool.

(Message edited by henryk on June 24, 2004)

Board sponsor DexM has drop gears for F40's, and can get other custom gears for various Ferraris. They are not, however, remarkably cheaper than what you have quoted in your post.

Unfortunately, the reality of making custom parts, in small volumes for exotic cars is never cheap. Titanium gears in custom ratios would be much more expensive than what Ferrari UK is quoting for stock gears. However, would you want to risk your gearbox or final drive to some parts cobbled together by a buddy who knows how to do some machining? That's not a slam on anyone, just a case of caveat emptor. A set of cheap gears might end up costing the price of an expensive tranny.

Just my $.02. If anyone is interested in custom ratios, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards,
Brent
DexM llc.

Brent: No offense taken!!!!!

Could you explain by what you mean when you say "cheap gears"? Is this referring to inappropriate machining, or the use of inferior metals?

Thanks.

I think what he means is the OEM holds all the design info- materials, tolerances, heat &/or surface treating, finishes, ect.

So reverse engineering them may not be worthwhile - esp. if the number being made is very small.

To reverse engineer a part like this you would like to have a new one to measure and a lab to evaluate the materials used. Figuring tolerances is a job for someone in the know.

Now I have a question. Why would someone want titanium gears? Titanium has wear properties I'm not familiar with?

I wasn't refering to a buddy or local machine shop to custom make a gear set but such professional places like http://www.moderngear.com or any race shop fabricator with experience, I am sure they can make as close a tolerence or matched set as needed for a reasonable price less the Ferrari tax.

$1000 for a gear is nuts! Its not that big a deal to program a gear of any dimensions into a Cad machine.

Titanium is lighter, and stronger, than steel. I would NOT use this for a gear. Due to it's strenght, the other gears would be MORE stressed, thus prone to failure. If one made all the gears in titanium, then, the shafts would be more stressed...........not a good idea.

Even if all the gears, and the shafts, where made of titanium, then the gear case itself would be more stressed, and prone to cracking. Now one would have to make a stronger gear case. All this would add extreme cost!!!!!!!!..........and, more than likely, NOT worth it!!!!!

Quote: "$1000 for a gear is nuts! Its not that big a deal to program a gear of any dimensions into a Cad machine."

Jeff: I agree. Or, maybe, Ferrari parts defy the laws of physics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Henry,

It's that special mystique built into each part painstakingly learned and passed to each Ferrari craftsman in secret from the previous Ferrari generation thru the ages.

Then each gear is gently caressed and kissed by Virgin Italian Goddesses before packing into the little Yellow boxes.

Ferrari parts actually do follow the laws of physics - unfortunately they also follow the laws of supply and demand....