In case you don't know the reason I'm asking this is I can no longer drive a Standard transmission due to an accident I was in.
I am out of ideas, so I have a feeling it's going to RPM to have an automatic put in like several others have had done.
My question is this. A clutch has x number of inches of play, lets say it's 5. Why couldn't someone set up an air shifter or servo that presses the clutch in and holds it while I shift the gears. Then have another servo that allows the clutch to come out at a controlled rate, and then I press the gas in just like I would do if I was operating the clutch and gas with two feet. It could have two buttons on the shifter that operate both of these.
Am I just missing something here? I think I am just because it seems way to easy. There has got to be some other issues that just seem to have gotten by me.
Thanks everyone and let me know what you think.
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My "off the wall" opinion is, it would require more engineering and cost than it would be worth. It would probably be cheaper to swap to an A4. If I were in your boat, I would trade the car for one with an automatic.
That's my $.02. I'm sure others with more knowledge than me will chime.
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Beer and a remote. That's all I need.
No offense meant, but I'm sure he's considered the cost of such a modification. "Worth" is a relative term.
Doms, I remember your post a while back regarding this topic and I'm glad you haven't given up on it. I'll think about this and see if any options come to mind. I'm positive it can be done somehow.
if you cant physically depress the clutch then maybe this is something that might work for you... we use it on both our race trucks...its a bolt on under/overdrive that splits each gear... think of it as a gated automatic... shift it 1...2...3... no clutch... this unit turns a 4sp auto into a 6sp auto... you still shift you just dont need the clutch
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Last edited by MikesZ06 : 07-12-2009 at 08:26 AM.
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As far as yes I lost my right let, but right now I cross drive using my left leg for gas and brake. I wanted to make a clutch in that one foot can run 2 pedals. I felt if I was trying to run the clutch and brake it would be too dangerous. I mean when normal people drive they use one foot for the brake and gas, so shouldnt I do.
The overdrive is an interesting concept......
The issue with the z06 and automatics is it was NEVER made to operate with an automatic. I have found 3 spots that do the conversion. It's not just a simple swap in that you also have to make the ECM talk to the automatic by using a transmission computer....(I think that's what I remember.) The 4L60E that RPM sells will handle up to 750 hp which is what I want in that I hope to supercharge it in the next year or two....
I was just trying to think of something that would allow me to bang through the gears. I miss it. Granted driving the automatic in my audi is fun, and I rarely actually use the paddles. Oh well just thinking out loud...
-z066, you actually use the overgear in a standard and never use the clutch? How much room does it take? What transmission do you use in your race trucks?
Oh yeah I forgot to say that all the DOT approved hand controls will not allow them to install in a standard car due to you can't operate the controls, steer and shift all at the same time.....
we used to run TH400 but switched over to 4L60 powerglides a few years back... they are gated automatics.... automatic trans that are shifted manually.... the gearvendors unit has a button on the side of the shifter that when pushed, will split the gear... so if you have a 4spd auto it can be adapted to a 6sp or 8spd auto but you shift it manually... the guy you really need to talk to is rick.. his number is 8009999555... he has a vette w/ this unit installed on it.... he will be able to answer any questions you have
if you are dead set on running a manual trans then i can hook you up w/ a guy who also lost his right leg in a race crash and simply switched the pedals around.... gas is on the left brake in the middle and clutch on the right.... it took a lotta practice but hes gotten pretty decent at working the throttle w/ his prosthetic... matter of fact he will probably be back racing next season
Last edited by Project666 : 07-10-2009 at 08:22 AM.
A remote actuator for the clutch would be fairly easy. It's hydraulic. Technically, there's no reason why you couldn't just relocate the pedal, lengthen the line between the Master and Slave, and just push it with your hand.
Doing it electronically would be a bit more work. You'd need to find a servo that was strong enough, but driving it (the servo) can be done via a fingertip control knob using readily available servo testing drivers. These kinds of things are available off-the-shelf in the Radio Control hobbyist market. If you can get an estimate for max torque required to push the pedal, I can do some research to see what kind of servos might do the trick. A quick check shows that Futaba sells a 425Oz-in servo. That's 26Lbs-in of torque, that might even be enough to push the pedal. And if not, the nice thing about RC Digital servos like these is that you can gang them. Two servos working together would give you 52Lbs-in of torque.
And you could use a device called a "servo cycler" to give you push-button operation. Servo cyclers are used to test servo installations. Typically, you can set the end points for a move as well as the rate for the move. Push the "go" button and the servo moves the pedal in, pauses, and them moves it out at the rate you select. Or just have an In and and Out button. And as far as DOT goes, the pushbuttons could be mounted on the shifter, so it shouldn't be a problem.
I think this is definitely doable, on the cheap, with stuff you could buy tomorrow, and just a little mechanical engineering to hook the parts together.
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I think a good start would be to check out the laws in your state regarding hand operated systems in automobiles. Assuming that you're trying to stay legal, this may determine the solution for you.
While the clutch has several inches of travel, all of the feel and use of the clutch is in the first couple inches. This means that you would need a high level of precision in the control over a short travel. A servo can do this, but would not give you any feedback, so you would be driving by the seat of your pants. This is something you could learn to do with a little bit of practice, but in an emergency situation could really cause a problem.
I think using your leg for the clutch with a hand controlled throttle would allow you to shift and drive much smoother. Since most hand controlled throttles simply use a servo to push the accelerator (on the shaft, above the pedal), you can still operate the pedal with a foot as normal because the pedal is unmodified. This means that you could use the hand controls to operate the throttle while shifting (using your leg for the clutch) and after letting off of the clutch, use your leg to control the accelerator as you are currently doing in your automatic. I imagine this would take some practice, but it would allow you to continue driving a stick shift and maintain the feel of it as well.
This solution creates one obvious problem, however. If you are shifting with your right hand and controlling the throttle with the left, there are not any hands left on the steering wheel. You would have to include steering input in the hand control as well (this would most likely be a joystick of some sort). Systems that handle throttle, brakes and steering are available, but the steering controls I've seen must have the servo turned off before you can operate the wheel by hand. This usually takes a few seconds which is unacceptable while driving. If you can find a steering system that will yield to manual input, you could make this work.
Anyway, I hope this was helpful and good luck getting something set up to continue enjoying your Z06.
Oh yeah, since this is my first post and you don't know anything about me, I should tell you that I'm a mechanical engineer from Georgia Tech and have spent several years designing suspension/steering systems for dune buggies and my experience with hand controls comes from a friend who uses a joystick to drive his suburban (throttle, brake and steering).
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