Smada001
10-27-2011, 03:56 PM
Here's a small writeup about a clutch situation I had and finally worked out. It's for those looking to an alternative to an automatic but need a change from a manual trans. Here's how it turned out.
I lost a little more weight in Baghdad than expected while I was over there back in 04. Since then, I have found it is quite difficult to push in a clutch with out a left leg, heh. Another gimp vet friend mentioned an Italian system called a Duck Clutch made by Guidosimplex. The 'Duck Clutch' system allows me to operate my clutch pedal via a trigger on my shifter knob. It has an on/off switch so my wife can turn off the system and drive it as a normal stick shift as well. The issue I ran into is that the servo that pulls the pedal for the system, which can pull 165lbs, was not able to fully depress my clutch pedal. My original set up was a 392 (430hp) Ford crate engine w/ a TKO 600 and a King Cobra clutch.
After much research and trying a few options (including Forte's fork extender....thanks Mike), I finally settled on getting a dual clutch with some custom pieces to make it as light as possible. A few N. Alabama Cobra Club brethren came over and got the two clutches swapped. That did the trick. Now the pedal moves as slick as owl crap on a tin roof. I'm still curious as to what's making the original King Cobra as stiff as it is. The consensus from a few of the guys is that it was still much stiffer than it should have been for a King Cobra.
One nice thing about the system is that it allows you to feather the clutch. I have a hand held programmer that allows me to set parameters such as:
1) The speed it pulls the clutch.
2) The min and max it pulls the clutch. Fine tuning that now.
3) The travel ratio between the trigger and the pedal. For example.....trigger moves 1 mm, the clutch moves 1cm.
There is an on/off switch for the system that I plan to put on the vert piece of the trans tunnel next to the driver's thigh where you would generally find a seat warmer. My wife has the option of using the system or turning it off and driving it as a regular stick. She loves manuals as much as I do and she had to give them up as well.
There is a little red button on the shifter knob. Unfortunately it isn't a 'Go Baby Go' button (not like it's needed). It actually allows the user to pull the trigger in, say halfway, and hold it there with just the push of the red button. Once that button is pushed, you can let your fingers off the trigger and the clutch stays in that held position. You release the 'hold' by completely pulling the trigger and letting off. Slick little option I suppose could be used on inclines while at rest. I'm more of the go into neutral with foot on the break practitioner while on an incline however.
As far as the feel for the system while shifting, well....it will take some getting used to. I have no resistance on the trigger so I'll just have to work off muscle memory (fingers to palm position) and the feel of the car. Starting from first is the trickiest. It's somewhere between shifting w/ a hand clutch on a motorcycle and shifting a car with a controller on a video game.
I'm keeping an eye on potential wheel interference at full lock. It's fine when I turn the wheel stationary, but that doesn't account for g-forces or suspension travel. Good thing is, full lock will hopefully only be used at slow speeds in parking lots and the such.
There is no lag time as far as trigger pull and clutch pull is concerned. It appears that this system has been known to be used in racing applications due to the speed it moves the clutch pedal. I'm pleased as hell with the system now it's just a matter of making it second nature like when first learning to drive a standard.
This system's general purpose is to be installed as an aftermarket piece. There are two GT500's I know who have had this installed. So for those you are getting a little more seasoned and are thinking of changing to automatics, keep this system in mind.
I've enclosed a few pictures of the build so far. Three of them are of the Duck Clutch shifter system (yes, set screws have replaced the bolts), the black servo mounted on the front x-member, and how the servo cable was mounted to the pedal assembly. It just got its color coat and the silver stripes will be added next week. Interior insulation/carpeting is going in and should be completed by the time the stripes are.
I lost a little more weight in Baghdad than expected while I was over there back in 04. Since then, I have found it is quite difficult to push in a clutch with out a left leg, heh. Another gimp vet friend mentioned an Italian system called a Duck Clutch made by Guidosimplex. The 'Duck Clutch' system allows me to operate my clutch pedal via a trigger on my shifter knob. It has an on/off switch so my wife can turn off the system and drive it as a normal stick shift as well. The issue I ran into is that the servo that pulls the pedal for the system, which can pull 165lbs, was not able to fully depress my clutch pedal. My original set up was a 392 (430hp) Ford crate engine w/ a TKO 600 and a King Cobra clutch.
After much research and trying a few options (including Forte's fork extender....thanks Mike), I finally settled on getting a dual clutch with some custom pieces to make it as light as possible. A few N. Alabama Cobra Club brethren came over and got the two clutches swapped. That did the trick. Now the pedal moves as slick as owl crap on a tin roof. I'm still curious as to what's making the original King Cobra as stiff as it is. The consensus from a few of the guys is that it was still much stiffer than it should have been for a King Cobra.
One nice thing about the system is that it allows you to feather the clutch. I have a hand held programmer that allows me to set parameters such as:
1) The speed it pulls the clutch.
2) The min and max it pulls the clutch. Fine tuning that now.
3) The travel ratio between the trigger and the pedal. For example.....trigger moves 1 mm, the clutch moves 1cm.
There is an on/off switch for the system that I plan to put on the vert piece of the trans tunnel next to the driver's thigh where you would generally find a seat warmer. My wife has the option of using the system or turning it off and driving it as a regular stick. She loves manuals as much as I do and she had to give them up as well.
There is a little red button on the shifter knob. Unfortunately it isn't a 'Go Baby Go' button (not like it's needed). It actually allows the user to pull the trigger in, say halfway, and hold it there with just the push of the red button. Once that button is pushed, you can let your fingers off the trigger and the clutch stays in that held position. You release the 'hold' by completely pulling the trigger and letting off. Slick little option I suppose could be used on inclines while at rest. I'm more of the go into neutral with foot on the break practitioner while on an incline however.
As far as the feel for the system while shifting, well....it will take some getting used to. I have no resistance on the trigger so I'll just have to work off muscle memory (fingers to palm position) and the feel of the car. Starting from first is the trickiest. It's somewhere between shifting w/ a hand clutch on a motorcycle and shifting a car with a controller on a video game.
I'm keeping an eye on potential wheel interference at full lock. It's fine when I turn the wheel stationary, but that doesn't account for g-forces or suspension travel. Good thing is, full lock will hopefully only be used at slow speeds in parking lots and the such.
There is no lag time as far as trigger pull and clutch pull is concerned. It appears that this system has been known to be used in racing applications due to the speed it moves the clutch pedal. I'm pleased as hell with the system now it's just a matter of making it second nature like when first learning to drive a standard.
This system's general purpose is to be installed as an aftermarket piece. There are two GT500's I know who have had this installed. So for those you are getting a little more seasoned and are thinking of changing to automatics, keep this system in mind.
I've enclosed a few pictures of the build so far. Three of them are of the Duck Clutch shifter system (yes, set screws have replaced the bolts), the black servo mounted on the front x-member, and how the servo cable was mounted to the pedal assembly. It just got its color coat and the silver stripes will be added next week. Interior insulation/carpeting is going in and should be completed by the time the stripes are.