Auto box on GT 40?
- Thread starter Heinrich
- Start date
Hi Heinrich,
I don't have any personal experience with that, but I think that's a unique, and potentially appealing prospect for some folks/situations. Instict is to suggest that's a bad idea for track work (and it probably is) but I believe automatics were tried back in the day (early LeMans efforts, perhaps '64/'65) by JWA/FAV. I have no idea what type of autos those were that were tried, and evidently they didn't fare that well under long-distance racing conditions.
Trying an automatic audi box would be an interesting project for sure.
I don't have any personal experience with that, but I think that's a unique, and potentially appealing prospect for some folks/situations. Instict is to suggest that's a bad idea for track work (and it probably is) but I believe automatics were tried back in the day (early LeMans efforts, perhaps '64/'65) by JWA/FAV. I have no idea what type of autos those were that were tried, and evidently they didn't fare that well under long-distance racing conditions.
Trying an automatic audi box would be an interesting project for sure.
I have seen one mid-engined automatic. It was in a Fiberfab Valkyrie and according to the owner, who was trying to sell it for $20K, was a Chrysler 727 TorqueFlite transmission body joined to some sort of transaxle looking device.
It would not run (was powered by a 350 Bow Tie product, so no surprise there) and I ran like hell!
The current crop of autoboxes might hold promise, particularly the AWD variety, in which I suppose the rear-drive portion could go unused or be disabled?
Cheers from Doug!
It would not run (was powered by a 350 Bow Tie product, so no surprise there) and I ran like hell!
The current crop of autoboxes might hold promise, particularly the AWD variety, in which I suppose the rear-drive portion could go unused or be disabled?
Cheers from Doug!
Seymour Snerd
Lifetime Supporter
Not to mention various Chapparals, although most are described as being "semi-automatic".
You could try one of the sequential semi-auto boxes out of the new generation of sports car. The combo in the Audi R8 would be my choice.
I`ve been thinking of the possibilities of putting an auto in my 40 for a long time due to health problems affecting my left leg. Converting my current car is probably not practical because my current manual Renault box is inverted and I don`t know of any autos that were designed to run this way apart from the one that was fitted to an original mk2 way back. The 4 wheel drive boxes, I was told, are not as strong as their 2 wheel drive equivalents? The other thing that has put me off using modern autos so far is they all seem to use electronic/computer controls and I know nothing about such things and wouldnt know where to start. I am keen to know what others think about any of the issues mentioned. Cheers Kev
Ian Anderson
Lifetime Supporter
Renault did make an automatic UN1
I've only once seen one advertised on e bay so rarer than rocking horse sh1t
Ian
I've only once seen one advertised on e bay so rarer than rocking horse sh1t
Ian
Kev, I would sugggest you contact Ray Christopher and ask about the audi-getrag box that he work with in the last days of GTD. There may be a method of making these a paddle shifter. Ray or Roy Smart might be able to help you with their knowledge .of the un-1 and audi boxes. Good luck, this sounds interesting for a non track street car. Chris Cole might also have some info or opinion on this.
Seymour Snerd
Lifetime Supporter
Speaking of paddle shifters...., and I only mostly-seriously suggest this, but there's this company in my neck of the woods that makes a system for electrically shifting gearboxes, and they have one for the ZF:
Paddle Shifters, Sequential and Electronic - ASaP
This isn't automatic, but it's part way there. They have an option that acts (as I understand it) like the old Wilson pre-selector gearbox, where you select the next gear you want and it shifts when you step on the clutch.
Now, given all that, it's not a huge leap to electrically actuate the clutch. Now you're no longer, or at least only when you choose to, using your left leg.
Anyway, I've seen this thing operating with a gearbox on a stand at shows and it's quite impressive.
Perhaps one of the auto boxes out of a later model porsche would work. I'm not sure, but I think the auto boxes in an early 2.5 boxster are audi/getrag boxes and may even use the same bellhousing pattern as the manual 016 (that's a total WAG). The electronics might be less complicated on this box v. a later 911 (993/996/997) "tiptronic" type auto box also. That's a WAG too.
One of these later porsche auto boxes could probably deal with a modest 302 of less than 350 hp/tq if treated sympathetically. That would be a neat car and project!
One of these later porsche auto boxes could probably deal with a modest 302 of less than 350 hp/tq if treated sympathetically. That would be a neat car and project!
Seymour Snerd
Lifetime Supporter
It may not be there: I got that from talking to the company on the phone.
We don't need to get complicated guys, the 5 cylinder Audi 500E sold in SA (and elsewhere) in the 80's that used the 016 originally were mostly supplied with an auto box. I would guess that one of those would bolt straight in.
Hi Heinrich, nice to see another SA on here.
Cheers
Fred W B
Hi Heinrich, nice to see another SA on here.
Cheers
Fred W B
Thanks for the feedback guys. I havent looked into it very seriously before. I know about all the early auto versions of Renault and Audi but didnt really give them much thought at the time. They are harder to find these days I would think, most having gone to the breakers. Speaking to Ray Christopher would be interesting, I havent done that in a while. I had considered a tiptronic Boxster and assumed it was an Audi gearbox but I keep wondering how would I solve the electronics/computer issue. Idealy I would like to select gears like a manual but without using the clutch, just like my old Escort. I think I will try to get a test drive in a tiptronic Boxter to see if I like it before I go any further. My leg is fine when dipping the clutch to change gear but holding down a heavy clutch in traffic is where I struggle. Thanks again guys for your input, I apologise for taking over this thread. Cheers for now, Kev
Seymour Snerd
Lifetime Supporter
At the risk of oversimplifying the problem, one thought would be to approach the hand-control people to get just the clutch part of a hand-control system. Another thought would be hand (or possibly foot-) operated latch such that you could push the clutch down and latch it there. That could be as simple as a rod with an arm that rotates over the clutch pedal when it's depressed.
My Lexus has a similar feature for the brake: when I come to a stop with the brake pressed it essentially applies the parking brake until I hit the gas again. Seems at first like a trivial feature but actually quite stress-reducing since I can sit in traffic or at a light without having to hold the brake (the car has about a dozen other such "trivial" features that together add up to a surprisingly pleasant car to drive).
I am using an automatic transaxle from a Corvette in my track car. I removed the stock Vette torque tube and mated the transaxle directly to the engine. The problem for a GT40 is that it's Chevy bolt pattern, and it's very long.
The auto works OK for the track. My dad made a controller so I can tell the trans exactly what gear to be in. The trick is keeping the fluid cool. I was able to do that with two large coolers in series, each with a fan.
Ken
The auto works OK for the track. My dad made a controller so I can tell the trans exactly what gear to be in. The trick is keeping the fluid cool. I was able to do that with two large coolers in series, each with a fan.
Ken
Good point Fred. Simplicity is certainly desirable.
Perhaps the p-car suggestions are aimed at ID'ing a compatible auto box which may handle a little more torque than the basic 016 type auto box. I'm guessing (WAG) that even a 2.5 porsche boxter auto box is designed to handle a little more torque than the 016 (audi 5000) auto box. Certainly a tiptronic out of a 996, for example, will be a stronger auto box.
Would be interesting to know what kind of engine Heinrich is using...
hoppy
Lifetime Supporter
Hi Kev,
I have a similar issue with my leg and considered an auto but everyone I spoke said it would be too hard(inverted auto).I ended up putting a brake booster in the clutch linkage and now with the engine running it feels like the clutch pedal of a little Korean car.
Later
