10 replies to this topic

[skaterava]

I had a thought earlier today: Minis are extensively modified, sometimes to the extreme, so surely someone has fitted a less conventional gearbox? Specifically, i was wondering if anyone had fitted a flappy-paddle gearbox system in a Mini, because Mini handling and F1 style gearchanges would obviously be driving heaven

Or even the semi auto out of something as humble as a Smartcar?

[Ouster]

How the hell would that work

[george91]

you can get a sequential gearbox for Aseries engines but they are damn expensive (over 3k over 4k actually ), not sure about the flappy paddle idea though, not on an Aseries anyways.

Edited by george91, 25 March 2010 - 10:47 AM.

[Burnard]

no reason why you couldn't do it with an R1 conversion, seen as it uses a cable sequential shift, just need a rally style shifter (same on for up and down changes) But you would still need to use the clutch.

[mk3 Cooper S]

Could work on a bike engined mini with a gearchange actuator.

[skaterava]

I'm surprised no one's done it. Mad things have been done to Minis but no one's fitted flappy paddles?

[Deathrow]

You keep saying "fitted flappy paddles" like its just a case of whacking some paddles behind the steering wheel. It'd be a huge amount of engineering to get it to work with a Mini gearbox.

If you found someone who could warrant the cost so they don't have to move their arm down to use the gear stick, please send them this way so I can slap them with a fish .

[Guess-Works.com]

Once you've got the manual gearbox to work on a sequential shift, then no would not be that difficult, it's not like you're re-inventing the wheel.

and with an Auto, it would be fairly easy ( aka semi automatic )

[mab01uk]

Minispeed sell a "touring car" style sequential 4-speed Mini Dog box which includes shifting assembly but its not cheap. Keith Calver was impressed when he tested in in Mini Magazine a few years back.
Details:
http://www.minispeed...4-speed-dog-box
Quote:
"We have fitted one of these sequential boxes already, and the customer is over the moon - watch out for the magazine articles out soon on the performance & quality of this new gearbox. Base Gear ratios are as follows: 1st 2:313 2nd 1:567 3rd 1:187 4th 1:1
This box does not include final drive or differential assembly."

Part No: sequentialbox
£3,617.02 Ex VAT
£4,250.00 Inc VAT

Edited by mab01uk, 25 March 2010 - 08:49 AM.

[george91]

^^^
Yeah thats the one i was talking about earlier, not sure i would get one though even if i could afford it, i like the H pattern box's, and i bet you can be just as quick with a H pattern dog box after a while.

[jaydee]

have a gander at the project section, im pretty sure there was a guy developing a flappy-paddle gear selector in his project...