DuttonOwners

Dutton Kit Cars and their owners

For those days when your parts just can't arrive quick enough, for sunny days when the transit just isn't 'fun'...

Project X...

Coming soon to a shed near me.

1997 DOHC, weber TC, MT75 box and Sierra fixed 3.72 diff in a Phaeton 3/4 hybrid.

I did some playing on gear calc and the theoretical stats look like this.

Gear   Mph per 1000 RPM  Mph @4000 RPM Mph @6000 RPM
1 4.91 20 29
2 9.17 37 55
3 14.24 57 85
4 19.08 76 114
5 23.27 93 (buttock clench) 140 (new pants)

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Comment by Paul Sheridan on November 21, 2017 at 10:41

In my mind it would work a lot smoother if the rose joint was in a horizontal plane. The rose joint will move freely in any single plane, but as you have added an arc into the equation (all be it small)  the lever will have to slide in the rose joint.............. Just writing as Im thinking in engineering mode, so dont take any notice of my ramblings ;-)))))

   

Comment by Adrian Southgate on November 21, 2017 at 9:29

@ Paul - trying to get the pivot as close to the centreline of the selector. If I increase the angle i'd have to move the tube back. The mark 1 was designed to have a vertical gearstick as that seemed to work on the type 9 in both the Legerra and the Sierra. If I went much further back I'd run into collision issues with the prop bolts in 1st, 3rd and 5th.

@ James - The tube with the drop arm? Thats made from the crush tube from an anti roll bar to TCA bush and a lump of 8mm bar stock. It is shimmed with a sacrificial sleeve from a Vectra suspension bush, I have a bag full at work and you can make 2 sleeves from each one.

Before I finalise it, I will take it down to component level and do some photo's.

Comment by James Doulton on November 21, 2017 at 8:50

I'm guessing that the pivot point of the gear lever needs to be in line with the centre of the selector shaft.

That looks good Ade. Where did the lever on the end of the selector shaft come from or was it part of the original mechanism?

Comment by Paul Sheridan on November 21, 2017 at 6:47

Video does work Ade.   Why does the rose joint have to be at an angle?   

Comment by Adrian Southgate on November 21, 2017 at 0:01
Comment by Adrian Southgate on November 20, 2017 at 23:37

So, the video was pants... I know. It works as a link, once you've watched the video just click the back button to return to the Ning page.

Comment by Adrian Southgate on November 20, 2017 at 23:28

Here goes, photo's for your perusal.

So this was the mark 1, partial success (providing you only needed third and fourth)

IMAG0853

and... this is the mark 2, quite stiff to select gears whilst there is no clutch depression, the lever is short and there is a 

polybush on the knob end as a temporary safety feature.

IMAG0364

IMAG0370

The change of position on the pivot made all the difference, it now works in all 6 gear positions. I will have to cap the selector tube and extend it down the bar below then grind back. If I fit this cap with a grease nipple then it can be lubricated without disassembly. The excessive M12 bolt sticking forward from the pivot mount is to double lock the rose joint and will be replaced with a grub screw when they arrive.

At the suggestion of Mr Sheridan I attempted to shoot a video of it in operation... once again a tech fail as I forgot the camera mount so had to operate the shift while holding the camera with the other hand.  I don't know if this will work as it's on flickr not you tube. Starting by selecting fifth and banging down the gears it shifts well, short throw and very precise. I do think it's going to need more metal in the pivot mounting bracket, possibly using the blue bolt on the picture above (there is one both sides) which is the original mounting point for the old shift lever extension. 

VIDEO0036

I have now created gearbox mounts as the original Sierra one was cracked and fell into two pieces when removed. These are BMW transmission mounts from a 3 series, apparently made from sponge rubber and very soft. probably make the BMW very quiet but not ideal for this application. Might as well have used mini exhaust bobbins, probably stiffer. Seen from above they are mounted on the diagonal box section which is the only new bit I had to add (so far!) its 20 x 40 mm box left over from a previous project, drilled so the nut is hidden from below and can be concealed with a 20mm grommet. A 13mm 1/4 drive socket fits just right, i'll get a picture from underneath when I lift the chassis to finish the welding.

IMAG0372

So there you go, half the mounts in, gear shift sorted. Got to cut and shut the prop next then take it to North West propshafts to be welded properly and balanced. As it's fixed i'm going to be able to get away with a very small prop catcher and tunnel  but I will be keeping a UJ on the diff end and the rubber donut on the front just in case the engine and box ever shift suddenly, don't want that bit getting stressed. The finished prop will have to be millimetre perfect as I have no adjustment on those transmission mounts.

Waiting for the next batch of bits to arrive so I can get the steering rack mounted. Why does the steering ALWAYS want to interfere with the engine mounts. More on that little issue next time.

Comment by Steve Kerswell on November 16, 2017 at 8:59

I have just found a remote that may give an idea or improvement, will post pictures when this thing lets me :-)

Comment by Adrian Southgate on November 15, 2017 at 23:45

Bit more done tonight but like a womble I forgot my phone so no pics.

MK2 gear stick now functions in all six gear positions but there is a little play in the selector / 'made up bit' joint that needs a thin rubber or polyurethane sleeve just to help keep the rattles at bay. Its adjustable both at the pivot rose joint and the bottom clevis fork which is good because a 1 mm washer makes all the difference between being able to select gears and not. I think 2 or 3 may end up being used in the end. 

The inner rod is only M8 threaded 316 stainless so really needs the outer tube to be one bit and also threaded on to help add rigidity. If I can find the right spacer bushes then I may go for a mk3 using M10 and dispense with the misalignment bushes currently being used. A lathe would make things so much simpler but as I don't currently own one, welded bits will have to suffice. The bracket will need bracing and may also need the two lower mountings adding to stop flex. All in all i'm quite pleased that it now functions, but still got to finish the rest of engine and gearbox mounts before I can test it from a seated position so not really in a position to declare it a complete success. It would be handy to create that reverse lockout too but that may have to be incorporated into the shift gate.

Comment by Adrian Southgate on November 12, 2017 at 20:32

Well that didn't pan out quite the way I wanted.

'Bit' made and fitted, everything nipped up and third - fourth is perfect... sadly all the other gears are out of range.

The pivot point for the stick is too high so as you try to move it sideways in neutral the mechanism binds on itself. I have started on the mk2 but may need another M12 tube nut as the first one is welded into the bracket and it's going to be awkward to remove and re-use it. I may be able to rotate the bracket through 180 degrees and reweld the mounting points though, that will get the existing M12 tube nut to about 30-40 degrees from horizontal and allow the pivot point to be moved down and back, more in line with the centre of rotation. I have already made a new 'link bit' which is totally different, but it needs to be ground to shape. The new link bit is a different diameter of tube which may need a cap welding on and a rubber sleeve between it and the selector knob to help stop vibration. 

I can't work out how the spyder engineering one works now, thought I had it sussed but it didn't work.

Spyder shift 01

I Don't see how that assembly can rotate the selector as the pivot point is out of line.

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