autanual....manumatic...

Hypothetical scenario:

-automatic transmission
-flywheel and clutch from a manual transmission car

Clutch in place of torque converter, and a control system (shift lever) to initiate upshifts and downshift (sequentially) instead of being rpm/throttle driven. The clutch would still be used on shifts, since there is no fluid coupling to absorb shiftshock. Has this been done before?

i dont think so...
why would you want to do that though?
never mind, bad question.

you mean like a cross between an autostick and an f1 style automated manual

Yes it's been done before.
But I don't know any other details.

It's also been done the other way, torque converter on a manual box.

It's also been done the other way, torque converter on a manual box.
how would you disengage the lockup on the TC... did it run w/o one?

how would you disengage the lockup on the TC... did it run w/o one?

I don't see it being a problem.

Back off the go pedal before changing and the TC unlocks.

Check out the BMW M3 SMG, its like that, you drive it like a stick, only no clutch to engage and disengage the gears, its got a hydraulic piston or something that takes the place of the clutch. Unfortunatly I wasn't the lucky one who drove it, one of the other guys did, but he says the car is really weird to drive.
Chris

I think the Aston Martin Vanquish uses a type of manumatic gearbox, Top Gear did a segment on it and said the shifts are slow and harsh though.

Okay...I see that I need to clarify my question....
Has anyone made a hybrid transmission with "off the shelf" parts?
I know that transmissions have been produced that combine automatic and manual features, but what I'm getting at is a modification of an existing transmission. Why? Because I want to.

I want a clutch, and a sequential shifter, but connected to a planetary gearset actuated by hydraulic clutches and bands. Electrons don't even need to enter into this. An (old/mechanical) automatic transmission's shifting is governed by hydraulic valves tied to RPM and throttle, I want it to ignore all that and shift when I SAY. And rather than a torque converter, I want a good ole fashioned clutch.

Has anyone done this? again, I am talking about modifying an existing transmission....not what millions of dollars of R&D at [Insert Manufacturer's Racing Department here] have gone into producing. Because I have access to transmissions and tools, but not to millions of dollars.

are you saying you want a manual gearbox without a gate?

it's been done before. rally cars have a clutch, but use a lever and a sequential gearbox so you push forward to shift down, and pull back to shift up. like a motorbike transmission.

Why not spend the timing and effort refining your exhaust tip?

If your asking can it be done? Yes. Powerglides are modified to be direct drive without a torque converter. They still use a clutch pedal that controls oil pressure to internal clutches to disengage and connect power through the trans.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-33,GGGL:en&q=powerglide+direct+drive

Check out your local drag strip- it's likely some of the quicker bracket racers or home-built dragsters use just this type of setup. Commonly with older TH350 oor TH400 (Turbo-Hydramatic) GM tranny's. But once the car gets off the line, they don't use the clutch to shift, just bang the lever (ratchet shifter) to the next gear. The tall sidewalls of the dragster tires flex enough to prevent driveline damage on hard shifts; also the tranny internals are usually beefed up to handle this. I would NOT try this in a street car however.......

We called the automatic without convertor (and a manual clutch for taking off only) a clutch flight. I think it is a good deal. Some farm tractors may have the same thing.

you know, i've been thinking this over, and i've decided that a clutch should interchange with a torque converter just fine. find a car that has a manual trans and take out the trans.
then put your modded trans in and you wont have to worry about hanging any pedals and putting in hydraulics for the clutch and what not...
i like the sound of this.

i still dont understand why, but hey... who cares right.

the way I see it, a sequential gearbox does what you want only without using the specific parts you want.
I've seen kit cars that use the gearbox from a motorbike for use as a paddle shift system.

umm why dont u jsut get a manual valvebody trans with a lockup torque converter alot less work

because he wants a clutch.

The old Mopars had what was called a Fluid Drive, I think it was also called Gyromatic. They could be shifted like a manual or put in 3rd and driven away. Most people shifted them. VW had a hybrid Auto-Stick that was nearly impossible to drive unless you knew the trick.

Bob

If your asking can it be done? Yes. Powerglides are modified to be direct drive without a torque converter. They still use a clutch pedal that controls oil pressure to internal clutches to disengage and connect power through the trans.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-33,GGGL:en&q=powerglide+direct+drive

I had one in a Chevy stock car, man it was great. We kept it a big secret as they weren't allowed in our class. We hooked it up to the clutch pedal so it could be driven around the pits by letting it "slip". The hand valve was just too obvious for the tech guys to catch onto.