autobox conversion
autobox conversion
Author
Discussion

mcfadzean tvr

Original Poster:

11 posts

194 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Can anybody help with ideas on how to convert a chimera to automatic either with rv8 engine or ls1 engine.
Thanks John

Phoenixcat

93 posts

174 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Not sure if I agree with this. Why would you want to turn it into an auto?

debaron

878 posts

227 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Phoenixcat said:
Not sure if I agree with this. Why would you want to turn it into an auto?
One handed driver maybe?

Personally I think an auto TVR is a little bit of waste but it's not up to us to judge it.

There were certainly auto boxes that went in the Range Rovers that mated up to the RV8.
I expect it would need some fettling and whether or not it would physically fit length wise...

From memory I think it has been done - I originally enquired on here some time ago about paddle shift conversion and I found links to similar topics; as essentially an auto box with a shift control would give me what I was after. Problem is the search is down (it's ALWAYS down rolleyes) and I can't find any material relating to it

Maybe this is of use:

http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/topic/auto-gearbo...


Mark.

11,104 posts

306 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
I can understand the reasoning for an auto Chimaera, like if you only had one leg.

I really hurt my foot recently (actually it happens a fair bit) so much so I could never have pressed a clutch pedal so an auto Chimaera would have been ideal.

Lets be honest most of the big marque makes only have 2 pedals now.

Chimaeraman

139 posts

174 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinions etc - BUT an autobox on a Chim - DON'T DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Podie

46,649 posts

305 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Phoenixcat said:
Why would you want to turn it into an auto?
Knee / leg injury would be the obvious answer.

rudecherub

1,997 posts

196 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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anything is possible with money, but isn't the case it's usually cheaper to buy it already made.

Okay auto Chim's are hen's teeth, but there are lots of V8 auto convertibles.

If it's a hairy chest image required there are auto cobra replicas.

DonkeyApple

70,407 posts

199 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Ashcroft make the uprated ZF box you'll need. Fitting to the drivetrain is easy, Leyland and Rover did millions of them.

Only possible issue is whether there is space between the chassis. Not sure if the auto box is wider than the manual.

CompuShift do the paddles for it all.

Goaty Bill

1,779 posts

181 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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Someone asked this question a few (9-10 ?) month back.
For a disabled friend that was thinking of buying a Chimaera.
I am sure there was an answer or offer of help / useful contact eventually.

A forum search (by which I mean google) might turn something up.

Alexdaredevilz

5,697 posts

209 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
It should be a fairly easy conversion,

What engine are you going to choose?

Will make great 1/4 mile times :-)

mcfadzean tvr

Original Poster:

11 posts

194 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Its not because I am physically disadvantaged that I want to do this,though I am rather large and can harle move my feet in the footwell,which dose not add to the driving expereance.Its because I have already built one car with anrace tuned autobox by TCI and it was fantastic it could chage gear before the average person could get thier foot on the clutch pedal and it changed under full power without any problem.So since I realy like my Tvr why shouidn't
I try to make the most of it as somebody already pointed out almost all real drivers cars come with this option.
John

mcfadzean tvr

Original Poster:

11 posts

194 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
quotequote all
Thankyou for the advice given so far hope somebody out thats done it see's the thread

John

VictorMeldrew

8,293 posts

307 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
quotequote all
Now I am a pretty big auto box fan - as long as it is German, smart, tiptronic and mated to something hefty - and I wouldn't have anything else in my A8. But in a TVR I'm not so sure. Changing gear at full power? In a Chim? Life expectancy marginal IMHO.

Unless the box has a VERY smart GCU to make VERY smooth shifts you will spend a lot of time travelling backwards in the scenery, until some of it wins.

Yes, lots of expensive German kit have auto boxes, but they also have lots of driver aids along with the aformentioned smart GCU and attendant sensors all over the car. That's why they are expensive to buy and fix when they go wrong.

The Chim has just one sensor; your arse.

I'd love to be proved wrong, but I think this would be a recipe for disaster.

davep

1,157 posts

314 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
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TVR fitted auto boxes in the Wedge, with the ultimate example being the Juniper Green 'special':

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

I believe Neil Garner are looking at putting an auto box into a Chimaera for a customer. Might be worth contacting them.

http://www.neilgarner.co.uk/

Good luck.

ralphy12345

330 posts

195 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
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I think MB Motorsport in Devon are involved in converting one for a Chimaera owner...

Give them a call on 01548 550660.

R

Mark.

11,104 posts

306 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
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VictorMeldrew said:
Changing gear at full power? In a Chim? Life expectancy marginal IMHO.


The Chim has just one sensor; your arse.

I'd love to be proved wrong, but I think this would be a recipe for disaster.
hehe Lovely post smile

VictorMeldrew

8,293 posts

307 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
quotequote all
getmecoat

DonkeyApple

70,407 posts

199 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
quotequote all
VictorMeldrew said:
Now I am a pretty big auto box fan - as long as it is German, smart, tiptronic and mated to something hefty - and I wouldn't have anything else in my A8. But in a TVR I'm not so sure. Changing gear at full power? In a Chim? Life expectancy marginal IMHO.

Unless the box has a VERY smart GCU to make VERY smooth shifts you will spend a lot of time travelling backwards in the scenery, until some of it wins.

Yes, lots of expensive German kit have auto boxes, but they also have lots of driver aids along with the aformentioned smart GCU and attendant sensors all over the car. That's why they are expensive to buy and fix when they go wrong.

The Chim has just one sensor; your arse.

I'd love to be proved wrong, but I think this would be a recipe for disaster.
You'd definitely need total control via Compushift to avoid random gear changes!!!

Aussie John

1,021 posts

261 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
quotequote all
Or if you want something simple [ or maybe some would say agricultural!] the old borg warner 35 was used with the Leyland p76 in OZ [this was a 4.4l rover type engine].

DonkeyApple

70,407 posts

199 months

Sunday 5th August 2012
quotequote all
Aussie John]Or if you want something simple [ or maybe some would say agricultural!] the old borg warner 35 was used with the Leyland p76 in OZ [this was a 4.4l rover type engine said:
.
Not sure that would give you enough control? The last ZF for the RV8 can be built as a high torque box with a longer final drive and also totally controlled by paddles which I think would be the safest way to run an auto in such a wagon?