auto......possible?

[baileybobs]

The Chimaera was one of my dream cars for many years but life put pay to me ever getting one but now touching 50 yrs and the kids grown up i have been looking at a sporty roadster but here is the problem i need a auto as a motorcycle accident has left me with leg and knee issues following surgery.

I can drive a manual but i get cramps,knee lock and pain at times making clutch operation difficult so has anyone done a auto conversion or know if this is possible?

I guess anything is possible but at what cost ?


thanks for any help

Edited by baileybobs on Friday 24th November 12:42

[Penelope Stoppedit]

Have you considered an electric clutch?
http://www.bosch-mobility-solutions.com/en/product...

[N7GTX]

RT Racing do a hand control conversion. Not sure if that would be your choice though?

https://www.rtracing.co.uk/content/tvr-bodywork.ht...

[Aussie John]

A borg warner 35 auto was used in old Rover v8's and also on an Australian car [ P76 ] which ran a 4.4L rover-based engine. This box is a 3 speed old-hat box but at least it's simple.

[Frostiechim]

There is also the option of the old ZF 4HP22 fitted to the Range Rovers, but one from an XJS would do (modifying the exhaust and chassis. However, having a 3.9 with a ZF auto box in a defender. I'm not sure with if the sump will clear the everything, I also think the inherent sluggishness of the ZF box would detract from the driving experience.

There is one possible solution of the TH400 or TH350, which are used with the Chevy engines. There are lots of guys over in the states that use these boxes for racing and I have read posts of people using these boxes with Rover V8's with adapter plates. There are plenty of these boxes across the water. This would be a very interesting project.

I was looking into this for a project a few years ago when I was looking at building a front engined rear wheel drive car as a one off where I didn't think the ZF would be quick enough (auto due to the 'simplicity'). House renovations and career got the better of me so I never got started after the design stage.

So it might be worth finding some Chevy enthusiasts and chatting with a rebuilding company of your choice.

To do the job if you get that far, you would be looking at a body off job. So I think most of the cost would be in the 'whilst we're here might as well do that'.

All the best

David

[mike-v2tmf]

Later SD1 Rovers used the Borg Warner 65 autobox , much stronger than the "35" also has a smaller sump too which might help with packageing issues

[baileybobs]

Thanks for your help so far...

Before i look for a possible car i need to find someone who would be willing to do this work so i will do some searching,hopefully as near to Kent as possible...

[stuartmmcfc]

Penelope Stoppedit said:

Have you considered an electric clutch?
http://www.bosch-mobility-solutions.com/en/product...

I looked into this sort of thing years ago for similar reasons.
A “duck clutch” is an option that a lot of mobility converters can install.
Eg
https://youtu.be/Ug5UqfGNsEA

[baileybobs]

TVR Moneypit said:

If any one can do the job, it will be Richard and his guys.

They may even still have in the workshop a green, lhd, 400 wedge auto.

I can't see the conversion being particularly difficult. I'm just wondering if the body would have to be lifted to fit new gearbox mounts?

Personally, I'd be giving RT Racing a call. There's plenty on here who can testify to the high quality of their work, and Richard may even have done this sort of conversion before, so may be able to give you a ballpark price for the job over the phone?

Thanks for the link N7GTX and TVR Moneypit

I will give these guys a call this morning.....fate that they reside in Bailey Street garage

[Sardonicus]

A GM Turbo 350 or 400 will be too bulky for the TVR chassis more chance of the ZF 6hp (more modern more gears) fitting the bill but these are far from compact also, the ageing BW 35/65 is only 3 speed but relativly compact ....a last resort however IMO

[N7GTX]

Sardonicus said:

A GM Turbo 350 or 400 will be too bulky for the TVR chassis more chance of the ZF 6hp (more modern more gears) fitting the bill but these are far from compact also, the ageing BW 35/65 is only 3 speed but relativly compact ....a last resort however IMO

I've got the GM180 in my Vitesse - not a big box really - but it is a bit slow from a bygone era. I wanted an auto for cruisin' so I doubt I'd like it so much in the Chim.

[blitzracing]

There have been brake servos fitted to the clutch to make it much lighter. Mind you there was a post where it had snapped the clutch actuation arm so you would need to make sure the slave cylinder travel was limited- I think you would just need to pack it out with washers looking at how its mounted.

[baileybobs]

update..

I have just had a interesting chat with Richard from RT racing who was extremely helpful..

So the 3 speed would be the easiest to source and fit but i would like a 4 speed if possible so we are going to do some research,GM maybe the best option or i wonder if the kit car community have ever done a 4 speed conversion?

Next would be find a suitable car (buying one with a old chassis seems a good way to go as chassis work will be required anyway) and id like a new chassis to future proof the car.

if i do go for the 3 speed then a complete rover sd1 v8 would be helpful and i do have a friend who does own a couple of sd1`s (i wonder if he would mind me breaking one of his pride and joys)

Budget has been ball parked at £30k for Chimaera,chassis,conversion to the 3 speed give or take and £17k less than the new Cayman 2.0 pdk i was looking at..

[phazed]

It may be worth your while having a drive in a chimaera first. The driving position is pretty much legs straight out and may not be as bad as you think.

Having driven one with a new clutch fitted, they are extremely light and easy on the foot/leg but if it is just the weight of the clutch then as mentioned before, a servo can be fitted.

[QBee]

My local garage owner has a 4 litre Rover V8 mated to an auto box in his fun car......which is a 1964 Morris Minor. He also has lpg for economy and Nitrous for lunacy on it, and drag races the car. I will ask him next week what box he is using, how big it is, and how well it works.

[ianwayne]

There's a bare chassis for sale on ebay, at Sportmotive, for £1000. They are specialist in chassis replacement too so could maybe do the job:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-Griffith-400-Chimae...

Being an early one, it has the mountings for the LT77 gearbox but if it's to be modified, this doesn't matter. Wheels not included though but there's plenty of aftermarket options.

Added: It's probably the chassis from the fire damaged body they have for sale but I have seen complete bodies elsewhere.

Edited by ianwayne on Saturday 25th November 07:30

[baileybobs]

Thanks guys.....^^^^



lpg and nitrous mmmm

[300bhp/ton]

Frostiechim said:

There is also the option of the old ZF 4HP22 fitted to the Range Rovers, but one from an XJS would do (modifying the exhaust and chassis. However, having a 3.9 with a ZF auto box in a defender. I'm not sure with if the sump will clear the everything, I also think the inherent sluggishness of the ZF box would detract from the driving experience.

There is one possible solution of the TH400 or TH350, which are used with the Chevy engines. There are lots of guys over in the states that use these boxes for racing and I have read posts of people using these boxes with Rover V8's with adapter plates. There are plenty of these boxes across the water. This would be a very interesting project.

I was looking into this for a project a few years ago when I was looking at building a front engined rear wheel drive car as a one off where I didn't think the ZF would be quick enough (auto due to the 'simplicity'). House renovations and career got the better of me so I never got started after the design stage.

So it might be worth finding some Chevy enthusiasts and chatting with a rebuilding company of your choice.

To do the job if you get that far, you would be looking at a body off job. So I think most of the cost would be in the 'whilst we're here might as well do that'.

All the best

David

A stock TH400 won’t be any more lively than the ZF. Arguably less so as it’s only 3 gears. So you’d need a taller final drive if you wanted top speed and cruising ability at lower rpm. There are other options to get around this. There is a US company that makes a splitter that fits inline with the propshaft for many American cars. This will essentially give you 6 gears to play with. But suspect getting all these bits to fit in a TVR and not cost insane amounts would be a massive challenge.

As for the ZF the latter electronic controlled ones should be sluggish at all and should work as well as any other 4 speed auto. 4 gears still means a taller final drive than a 5 speed manual to retain cruising rpm. But is better than 3 gears. No idea how easy this would be to fit in a TVR but should be easy to fit to the engine.

I understand the op obviously desires the TVR. But it might be easier and a lot cheaper to get a C4 or C5 Corvette. Both could be had with autos. They won’t have the lightness of a TVR nor the lovely interiors. But they do the V8 rwd sports car thing quite well.

[Frostiechim]

300bhp/ton said:

A stock TH400 won’t be any more lively than the ZF. Arguably less so as it’s only 3 gears. So you’d need a taller final drive if you wanted top speed and cruising ability at lower rpm. There are other options to get around this. There is a US company that makes a splitter that fits inline with the propshaft for many American cars. This will essentially give you 6 gears to play with. But suspect getting all these bits to fit in a TVR and not cost insane amounts would be a massive challenge.

As for the ZF the latter electronic controlled ones should be sluggish at all and should work as well as any other 4 speed auto. 4 gears still means a taller final drive than a 5 speed manual to retain cruising rpm. But is better than 3 gears. No idea how easy this would be to fit in a TVR but should be easy to fit to the engine.

I understand the op obviously desires the TVR. But it might be easier and a lot cheaper to get a C4 or C5 Corvette. Both could be had with autos. They won’t have the lightness of a TVR nor the lovely interiors. But they do the V8 rwd sports car thing quite well.

Completely agree with this. My thought process with the TH400/350 is that there are lots of upgrades for these boxes, as you pointed out. In my shed I've one LT77 gearbox sat next to a ZF box and the size difference between the two would be my main concern.

[300bhp/ton]

Another option to consider would be an engine and gearbox transplant.

The 6 speed box (GM 6L80-E) used in the C6 Corvette and Vauxhall VXR8's along with an LS3 would make for an awesome swap IMO. I believe Topcats Racing have done many LS swaps in TVR's. I'm sure they would be happy to help.

http://www.topcatsracing.com/