Need the help of R3V - Amputee Driving a Clutch

[ZekeTheSneak]

I say attempt it and worry about fine tuning later, Hell you may hate it when its all said and done. My favorite thing is downshifting, props. I'm in tacoma if you ever need a hand.

[5Toes]

Props for what? Wanting to heel toe?

And yes you are right. I may hate it, but everything is reversible.

I just need to get in alot of E30s and feel a bunch of different clutches. I wonder if even like the Master Cylinder from a 535is or something would even change the feel to make it easier?

[Gerta]

what what post whore!

[ZekeTheSneak]

You might like my clutch, Its stock but with the clutch stop so basically its an on off button. Real easy feel just a thought and you can make your own for basically free. I give you props for wanting to drive a stick.

[10Toes]

E30Rookie - Good luck with clearing MEPS. It can be a hurdle to get in and processed if you have significant injury history. As a former Marine most of what you will encounter in bootcamp is simply a mental game. If you have a will there is a way.

wat

[bmwstudent]

i have a fully manual valve bodied C-4 in my mustang. Its got a one way roller clutch in first gear which basically eliminates engine braking in first gear. It was not cheap do build that trans as it has several other upgrades and it is capable of handling about 500lbft of torque. The advantage of the manual valve body is that you absolutely control when that trans shifts. Up or Down. It makes the car a blast to drive, it truly does make the car a manual shift, just no clutch. Im not trying to dissuade you from a manual trans but a properly prepped manual can be a blast to drive. Get a slightly high stall converter also, nothing wild, just 200-300 over stock. A little goes a long way. I've bracket raced my mustang for years and ran it on the street and have always had an auto in it. I do love dropping the clutch in third and hearing a chirp from my e30's tires though. Good luck and if you need any auto tranny info pm me i can give you number. I've had them do custom stuff for me over the years and they work on bmw trans as well. Good luck either way!

[5Toes]

So Mr BMWStudent.. how does it rev match when shifting down?

[OrangeFiero]

Being a driving instructor, i have seen a lot of different setups for amputees. You might want to think about hand controls for the accel and brake pedal, but still have a clutch? Ive seen it done and its not to bad. You could also maybe try installing paddle shifters, so you control when the trans shifts. They might not sound too fun but they are surprisingly fun, and ive also seen this done to a car without them stock, looked simple, and with a shift kit...wouldnt be boring at all.
About you being a young driver, you have a lot to learn, take your time with driving and trying new things. Funny story, A couple months back one of my best students was driving my co-worker around what we call our "transition turn" and a slip of the foot caused her to unintentionally drift the corner and then run into a fence. The best driver in the world could screw up for the one second and its all over, even though 99% of there other driving was flawless.

[TurboJake]

I don't know why you don't just try to have an electric solenoid push the clutch based on a momentary switch you have on the shifter.

Easy and cheap as hell to do. Quick, timely clutch engagement and disengagement. and only two pedals. You can set it up on a timer pot to dial in the clutch engage speed, rather than it being on/off too.

Just, think a little bit more outside the pedal box. Al I'm trying to say

[5Toes]

Being a driving instructor, i have seen a lot of different setups for amputees. You might want to think about hand controls for the accel and brake pedal, but still have a clutch? Ive seen it done and its not to bad. You could also maybe try installing paddle shifters, so you control when the trans shifts. They might not sound too fun but they are surprisingly fun, and ive also seen this done to a car without them stock, looked simple, and with a shift kit...wouldnt be boring at all.
About you being a young driver, you have a lot to learn, take your time with driving and trying new things. Funny story, A couple months back one of my best students was driving my co-worker around what we call our "transition turn" and a slip of the foot caused her to unintentionally drift the corner and then run into a fence. The best driver in the world could screw up for the one second and its all over, even though 99% of there other driving was flawless.

lol how does this even happen? hahaha was the kid wearing crocks and it was really wet out? I havn't wrecked my car yet, and dont plan to. I will never use hand controls... bad idea IMO

I don't know why you don't just try to have an electric solenoid push the clutch based on a momentary switch you have on the shifter.

Easy and cheap as hell to do. Quick, timely clutch engagement and disengagement. and only two pedals. You can set it up on a timer pot to dial in the clutch engage speed, rather than it being on/off too.

Just, think a little bit more outside the pedal box. Al I'm trying to say

This would work Jake, 100%. But there is no fucking feel. A solenoid just fires... And I would need to modify the m/c because I think that the engagement length on it would be too long for a solenoid.

The kart shifter idea I still love. I was looking at Ducatis the other day and I love the feel of their clutch... firm and short engagement. But at the same time, I sort of want to be like everybody else and use my feet.

[bmwstudent]

engine braking is still there in third or second but when you downshift into first the roller clutch allows the engine to idle. Automatic transmissions do not "revmatch." When you shift gears in an auto, you are actually applying hydraulic pressure to a series of clutch plates that once engaged force the rotating mass inside of the trans to begin rotating at different speeds and often times different directions. Each gear will have its own set of clutches and its own holding member. By having a one way roller clutch in first you no longer have a holding member in deceleration, therefor allowing the engine to come back down to idle. This is not something new nor is it my creation. Automatic transmissions all work on the same theory and principals. I'm just trying to let you know that for the right money you can have an auto trans that will snap your neck and shift faster than a manual.

[5Toes]

^ oh I know I could. Money can buy anything... haha

But I mean when I am rolling in 4th, and want to drop it into second for a twisty road... what happens? Does the car "buck" under the downshift? Or is it seemless?

[TurboJake]

This would work Jake, 100%. But there is no fucking feel. A solenoid just fires... And I would need to modify the m/c because I think that the engagement length on it would be too long for a solenoid.

M/C? What?
Do away with the hydraulics altogether. Put solenoid in place of Slave cylinder.

But, honestly. I wouldn't think that a persons thigh would get the necessary feedback, or feel to operate the clutch with any real tactile feedback, but I am not an amputee. I simply do not know.

I'm just going off of ease. The solenoid is what will gain you the precision you will need, at the minimum fabrication intrusiveness possible. It will make you, an amputee, more consistent in shifting and clutchwork than 90% of the stick driving world. Sure, you won't get the feel of a clutch, but it will not only work. But really tell your parents to eat a dick. Giving you a good reason to put a "Shut up, I've fucking got this" Sticker on your dash while you thrash on the track with your dad as a passenger.

[bmwstudent]

dropping two gears in an auto is a big drop, my trans is only a three speed. No overdrive. when you shift into second from third it will decel heavily if your not on the throttle. If your on the throttle when you shift it accelerates accordingly.

[5Toes]

^ lol I wish. My Dad and I got into a huge fight yesterday because he told me to put my detailing products that were in my room in the garage and I didn't (it was leather care stuff, interior dressing, and some microfiber cleaner. Oh and some tire shine and griot's car wash). THe fight eventually escalated into him making me put my stuff in the shed in the dark where it would freeze... ruining all $300 I have invested in it. He is fucking dick, but luckily my Mom convinced him to let me bring it back in the garage. I fucking hate him.

So yeah disobey my Dad and dont listen to him and he would surely sell my car... that I payed for. His name is on the title because it supposedly has to be. Fucking waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles.

So I would somehow fit a solenoid in the space that the slave cylinder goes? How would that even work, lol.

Could the solenoid fire with a pot attahced so I can adjust if I want to slip the clutch or not? Because this idea is going to make driving my car like a race porsche...