hans14914

I know this mod has been done before for the auto boxes, but does anyone have any documentation on how its done? I am interested in converting a box over to manual gear selection for a project, and would rather go with a tested method than fiddle around with the body and discover several good ways of not getting it right

Any assistance, notes... etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Hans

yardpro

paging mark....

IcemanG17

SUPER easy

my "estate" racer runs a 4 speed auto....I like to call it "poor mans sequential"...because that IS how it works.....

Honestly its 2 steps.....disconnect the bowden cable on the throttle plates & unplug the kickdown....thats it.... However MAKE sure that the vacuum solenoid is working propery (this determines shift firmness)...

Now it will ONLY shift when you tell it....the downside is you can only get 1st gear right off the line and never again unless you drop below say 10mph.....

I always start in 2.....which is 1st off the line......when you want 2nd gear you quickly bump up to 3 then back to 2....it shifts to 2nd and will hold it FOREVER....then shift up to 3-4 and back down as you see fit...it will never shift on its own....

928mac

Sounds like the way mine works but I just adjusted the cable.

I have done many rebuilds and some true manual shift jobs on the chev 350 and 400 trans. Also was a trans man for 2 years at a Ford dealer.
The Manual shift kit is a kit that gives you a new valve plate and gaskets and check ball.
I have not been inside our trans so I do not know how they work but it must be close to the same.
A trans is a very intricate hydraulic pump/valving/planetary component and should not be modified by beginners as it is easy to burn it or reduce its life with just simple mistakes. Sometimes even when you know what you are doing. My $.02

andy-gts

greg made mine manuel like you would like, pm him and I am sure he will tell you how he did it....

Alan

I'm suspecting Hans may be thinking of paddle shifters... somehow that seems right...

Alan

tailpipe

I always wondered if you hook up a diverter valve for the hydraulic system to a clutch pedal so you could control the lock up of the clutch pack/bands manually and just get rid of the torque converter completely? anyone one know enough about automatics to say wether this can be done ?

outbackgeorgia

Doesn't Porsche call that trans a PDK?

SMTCapeCod

That would be positively epic, done right. Long overdue.

Actually, I was thinking sequential on the console more than paddles. Wouldn't it have to be a pretty intricate mechanism to electronically shift our older trans, wouldn't it? Even the late cars lack bona-fide TCUs don't they?

brutus

The 928 automatic (early Mercedes) all have no brains no computer control last GTS had a "dynamic kick down" which triggered the downshift on part throttle rather than simply at full throttle added switch on the throttle body I believe.

hans14914

Alan... you are just too clever.

So, has anyone ever achieved a manual first gear selection with a modified body? I thought I recalled seeing that in the past. May have to give Steve a call.

Thanks
Hans

SMTCapeCod

I've asked a few times- why not install '85 valve body for 1st gear start (Brutus observed: provided gear ratio on vb and diff are matched)?

THere are some older posts with a schematic for relocating a spring in the valve body, I had a message from someone that tried it and ran into big problems.

Does seem to follow that some of the aftermarket paddle setups....offered for Audi for example...would make a better kickdown switch even if it didn't provide full clickability through the gears. TCI, Works, Twistmachine, Works/NEO...looks like five bills min plus MOMO wheel, that would be a lot for just the kickdown/first gear function. Nice for guys trying to track autos though.