Date:         Thu, 11 Dec 2003 08:52:42 -0600
Reply-To:     Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solenoid-operated manual shifter?
Comments: To: andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Andrew & Others,

Way, way, way, way, way too much work. I've been there.

I just installed a G50 in my '87 GL with a 3.2 Porsche Carrera motor. The
sifter throw is a bit long, bu the shifter can be shortened a bit and still
remain within reach. There is a shift rod support that we fabricated (from
titanium!) that prevents excessive play in the shift rod.

If you take the time to do it right, you will be rewarded. The shifter
throws feel fantastic. No hunting for gears. There is a distinct gate for
reverse. Yes, it was some work, but why make things more complicated than
necessary? Cables (proven unreliable in aftermarket Porsche applications)?
Solenoids (remember Shift-O-Matics? Those went over real well.

Stay with the tried and true.

Cheers,
Bruce

P.S. I've got pictures that I can send to you sometime if you like.




>From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
>Reply-To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Solenoid-operated manual shifter?
>Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 22:23:42 +1300
>
>I was wondering what the best way to set-up my 84 Caravelle's shifter
>when installing the Porsche G50 trans.
>
>The trans has an inline axial shifter rod, just like older VWs.
>
>The usual way is to fit the entire Porsche shifter tower into the
>cockpit floor to replace the VW one.
>
>It occurred to me that I could use a Toyota floorshift and mount it
>on a modified console to place it where it would be in  Hiace,
>thereby alleviating chopping the Porsche lever and ending up with a
>long throw and long flexy imprecise shifter. The Toyota uses cables,
>I think (must look at my Hiace!) and would be relatively easy to
>adapt. If it's NOT cable-operated, a Corolla/Corona cable unit would
>do, so long as the 2 forward-running cables can be curved around
>toward the back without impinging on the radiator or bending too
>tightly..
>
>Then I started to wonder about electric shifters. I guess this would
>necessitate using linear motors (solenoids). As there are 3 positions
>of the trans shifter rod in each direction, this would necessitate 2
>solenoids for each, or a pair of 3-position solenoids (and I don't
>know whether such solenoids are made).
>
>Transverse solenoid(s) to rotate the shaft to change lateral planes
>ie among the 1-2, 3-4, 5-R planes. Longitudinal (axial) solenoid(s)
>to move the rod fore-aft to select the 1-3-5, N and 2-4-R planes.
>This could be in addition to the manual shifter, and be operated via
>porsche Tiptronic levers on the steering column.
>
>I guess this would need some simple electronics to coordinate the
>solenoids, as some shifts would need one solenoid to move, others
>would need both solenoids.
>
>Thoughts, anyone? ... other than "why bother..."
>--
>Andrew Grebneff
>Dunedin, New Zealand
>64 (3) 473-8863
><andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
>Fossil preparator
>Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut

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