Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:45:16 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: .................... and vanagons
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I will say that a 'good' automatic is a joy to drive.
More than a 3 speed slush box like vanagons have.
I am way satisfied with the 4 speed auto in my turbo volvo sedan, with
electric button shifting in and out of overdrive top gear.
my personal vanagon for a while was an automatic trans 85 Weekender.
It was 'ok' ......worst thing was it drank a lot of fuel. 16.5 mpg on the
highway.
Otherwise pretty nice.
my current personal van is a 4 speed...
while one has to shift it ..
advantages are better fuel economy, you can push start it if you have to
( did that a few times recently when an IMI gear reduction starter deciced
not to cooperate ) ....and more precise control on slippery surfaces, wieghs
less too.
and one of these days .........I have a plan to make a button controlled
vaccum operated clutch release sysem, using VW parts....
starting out from a stop will be normal, with a clutch pedal, but once
moving, clutch release is by button on the shifter - and just coordiante
throttle and engine rpm.
I also have a plan for an 'automatic stick shift' trans....there are two in
rear engine german cars that can work.
The 3 speed from about a 69 bug, and better, a 4 speed from a 69 or 70
Porshce 911.
Those are a normal manual gear box, and there are two 'clutches sort of'
......
one is a conventional clutch operated by a large vacuum servo ( got that
part already ) , and in addition to that clutch is a torque converter.
The way it works is ....if you are 'touching' the shift lever ...
a micro switch in the shifter switches a vaccum valve ( got that part too )
that disengaes the conventional clutch. Then you put it in first gear.
Then you remvoe your hand from the shifter, it goes 'clunk' being in gear,
but it doesn't move yet, if your foot is on the brake ...
due to the torque converter.
Release the brake, give it a little gas ....and away you go.
when it's time to hit second, you just grab the shifter lever, pull it into
2nd, and let go.
and so on.
Gives you a manual transission with no clutch pedal.
It's not a lock-up torque converter so there is probably always some
power/effeciency loss there......but it is an early version of a clutch
pedal-less manual trans.
Somebody is gonna make a padel shifter vanagon one of these days too.
Tiptronic.
Mabye someone already has !
----- Original Message -----
From: "Annie" <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: .................... and vanagons
>I prefer a stick shift but due to a back injury that causes my legs, and
> especially my left leg, to fall asleep, I no longer drive one and now have
> an automatic.
>
> ~Annie
>
> On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 4:23 PM, Donna Skarloken
> <dskarloken@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> As middle age descends upon me, I find in traffic I do prefer an
>> automatic.
>> But my commute car is a stick shift (as of course is the Syncro) so I
>> just
>> deal with it.
>>
>> Happy Friday,
>> Donna, Syncro 1987
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 3:54 PM, Mike South <msouth@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 5:40 PM, Robert Fisher
>> > <garciasghostvw@gmail.com
>> > >wrote:
>> >
>> > > --snip--
>> > > I can't imagine owning an auto tx in a Vanagon
>> > > --snip--
>> > >
>> > > Why not?
>> > >
>> >
>> > Love of adventure--the thrill of waiting for that 3-4 slider to
>> > disintegrate, etc.
>> >
>> > :)
>> >
>> > mike
>> >
>> > >
>> > > Cya,
>> > > Robert
>> > >
>> >
>>
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