Attn Electronic Gurus

[260DET]

What is needed is a signal capable of operating an electrical device like a 12v solenoid from a sequential gear shifter each time a shift is made, I'm thinking of adapting something like this circuit http://www.talkingelectronics.com/projects/2DigitUpDwnCounter/2DigitUpDwnCounter-5.html A motorcycle shift light indicator is on order too http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/231070576046  I am a fail at electronics but keen to learn sufficient to make up a device so would really appreciate some advice. Like, is this workable, is there a better solution, where can I go to learn sufficient knowledge and so on,

[d3c0y]

The display comes with magnetic pickups and it already has a driver so you don't need the circuit that you linked first. How do you put your transmission in neutral? Are you using a stick or paddle shifters?

[260DET]

What's needed is a module that can be mounted out of the way somewhere plus a separate LED display, the module to operate the LED plus another device or two. So reverse engineer the Ebay indicator or go with an appropriate circuit, neither of which I presently have the skills for.

 

For a Powerglide/Gear Vendors transmission combination ideally both will be able to be shifted sequentially up and down through the forward gears using a single control, be that a lever or paddles.  To do that the above mentioned module is required to form the basis of what is needed, R and P are irrelevant being shifted separately and mechanically.

Edited May 21, 2017 by 260DET

[d3c0y]

So you are trying to shift the gearbox through this system right? You haven't posted the most important thing which is how the gearbox is shifted. Do you need to fire multiple solenoids in a specific order?

Driving the gear display off it won't be that hard.

[260DET]

Just trying to keep it simple so it's not confusing, like can the Ebay indicator be used to operate, say, solenoids. If so, what is required. Practically it may be impossible to mess around with it though, it's so small. Which is why a kit may be a better option but usually they require programming :eek: although I believe that it's possible using other components like relays to avoid the need for programming.

 

I'm in the process of finding out if a Powerglide can be converted to hydraulic solenoid sequential shifting, if it can't then it may be possible to shift it  mechanically with a two way solenoid. The GV is OK, it uses hydraulic solenoid shifting stock. 

[d3c0y]

So using circuit #3 from the first link you posted will work for what you want to do, although you will have to get the tools to write the code to the chip, which isn't that hard or expensive if you can use a computer for more than just browsing the web. This circuit has 4 outputs for driving LEDs as indicators which can definitely be made to trigger two solenoids and lockup torque converter if you have one. You wouldn't need the 120 ohm resistors as shown in the diagram.

 

 

Then for the gear indicator i would simply hook the ebay indicator setup up to the same switches that you are using to trigger the gear change and be done.

If you were worried about packaging and you wanted it to be super slick, you could combine the driver IC from circuit #2 to drive the 7 segment display on the same board.

 

 

Here is an article on how the 7 Segment display works and shows you what is going to be output from the ebay indicator box: http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/blog/7-segment-display-tutorial.html

Every time the gear switch is triggered it either increments or decrements a counter in the microprocessor and the code built into it drives the different segment outputs as per the above article. 

You could use an IC like the one below with AND gates to drive the solenoids based on the output to the display, but obviously not the best way to do it, given the much better solution above.

 

 

 

 

I was recently thinking of building this exact setup for my Soarer 24 Hours of Lemons car which has an auto to give it paddle shift for lols but have an RPM requirement for being able to lock the converter. 

[260DET]

Thanks mate, so that box can be ticked although I reserve the right to question/nag you forever about how to do it    Can you recommend a basic book that will enable me to understand the terminology, identify electronic bits and how to mount them, that sort of thing?

 

If converting the (2 speed) Powerglide to hydraulic solenoid control is not on then I'm thinking a external two way solenoid could be used to shift it mechanically. That may be the best option anyway.

[d3c0y]

You are going to want some sort of introduction to electronics book. The parts and concepts your are dealing with here is pretty much 101 stuff.

 

I know this has been raised before but why not just use a 4 speed automatic with electronic tonic locking converter and on top of that you can't blip the throttle going down gears with this setup which seems less than ideal for a track car.

[260DET]

Simply weight, 50 kg of it. The present setup with the 4L85E works well but there is an awful amount of rotating weight involved which has to be acc/dec/elerated too. It has a TCC which is not used at Morgan Park but could be at Bathurst for a little gain but once again a lot of weight to carry around for little use and probably no overall benefit.

 

Have looked at other 4 speed autos, the JATCO out of the Z31 is not bad and can be improved at a cost of $6K but no one will say it will hold my power. Basically the others don't save much weight or else would be unreliable, the Z32 box is probably the pick of them.

 

The secret to racing an auto is to have the best possible converter. The one in the 280ZX is great, around Bathurst for 20 minutes and it did not look like overheating which indicates high efficiency, high enough that a TCC is not needed. The bloke who built it is keen to do one for the Z31, I'll be asking for higher efficiency still, he says he can build a converter slippy enough so that the1.8 Powerglide low gear will still be OK for trailer loading etc without detracting from efficiency on the track.

 

So there is a 50 kg reduction but I'm thinking that the car will be more lively due to lower parasitic losses, both the Powerglide and the GV are said to be very good in that respect. So there is method in my madness.

 

EDIT: On a downshift throttle blip, the 280ZX's Haltech won't do it, the car has drive by wire so it's possible with the right ECU I think. Maybe Adaptronic will, MoTec too. There is a device that works on a throttle cable so no ECU involvement with it.

Edited May 22, 2017 by 260DET

[d3c0y]

What Haltech are you running? Can you make the Auto shift to neutral temporarily?

[260DET]

Elite 2000, from what I'm told Haltech's are not very flexible, something about the way they are coded or whatever. If the Z31 gets a new ECU it will probably be an Adaptronic as the local tuner loves them and they are nicely priced.

 

The 4L85E can be adjusted for what is in effect a shift delay, the advantage of the (E) electronically controlled transmissions is if a function is electronic it can be controlled with the TCU. The 'glide GV combo is not so sophisticated, it's characteristics have to be built into it mechanically but as GV's are used in all sorts of road vehicles it should be OK around a circuit. 

[d3c0y]

See now I find this interesting because the haltec has programmable outputs that are essentially just signal generators right, so in theory its just about making the haltec output the right type of signal at the right time to make it do it.

 

Downshift triggered - trans to neutral- blip throttle - trans to lower gear. If your trans doesn't shift fast enough that will obviously be a problem.

[260DET]

A bloke who specialises in Haltech said 'no' so I didn't check further. The 4L85E can be programmed to have a throttle cut when up shifting but it was found not to be necessary but it's not that simple eg line pressure comes into it too, I'm far from an expert on this stuff so there are gaps in my knowledge, sometimes big gaps.

 

Upshifting at wide open throttle (WOT) is not a problem with the 85, that  Bathurst video I posted has a 3 to 4 WOT upshift in it, down shifting with engine braking could be another matter but some internal clutch slip may take care of that. No engine braking at Bathurst, I should have played around with it to try to get some but was in a permanent state of Wow!!!!!

[260DET]

Apparently there is little interest in electronics here but I thought it might be useful to someone to know of one source for learner electronics, Jaycar. They have a couple of books plus a clever multi purpose learner kit, the book looks good the kit is on it's way. 

[Six_Shooter]

Sounds like you want something like what this company offers: http://www.supercarsllc.com/newmastershift/

[260DET]

Yeh I looked at that Master Shift but the creatively named Shift system from Altronics (US) might be the one I go with, it has more relevant features and is much cheaper.

[260DET]

Have ordered an Altronics Shift kit  http://www.altronicsinc.com/electronic-push-button-paddle-shifter-1.html