[DeTomaso] Shift gate lockout project

[Garth Rodericks]

I've seen the lockouts you posted, I was just teasing you about using a hardware store door hinge.  :)




________________________________
 From: "MikeLDrew at aol.com" <MikeLDrew at aol.com>
To: garth_rodericks at yahoo.com; detomaso at poca.com 
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: Shift gate lockout project
 


In a message dated 3/19/13 8 32 3, garth_rodericks at yahoo.com writes:



I've never seen a lockout like that installed on a Ferrari shift gate...
>
>>>I'm not talking road-going Ferraris; they all have their own form of mechanical lockout.  Unlike the ZF, you can't just move the shift lever over and slot it into reverse; there is a blocking mechanism in the shifter box that needs to be overcome, by pushing down on the shifter (towards the ground), which then lets it slide under the block, and over into reverse.  

But if you look at the race cars from the late 1960s and 1970s, they all have some form of mechanical lockout on the gate itself.

You can barely see it at the top (front) of the shift gate in this photo of a 512S cockpit:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3196/2937238667_ae363ed4eb_z.jpg?zz=1

Here's a better view:

http://atspeedimages.com/image.php/33064200-9f9c-11dd-019c-0019e3f8e432/1969_ferrari_512s_#1004_gearshift_lever.jpg

Closer to home, the original GT40s also used a mechanical lockout on the shifter, such as on this '69 Gulf GT40.   Here it is in the 'down' position with reverse locked out:

http://www.racingicons.com/gt/1076d.jpg

And from another car (this one a road car) in the 'up' position allowing access to reverse:

http://inautomobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/1968-ford-gt40-interior.jpg

>Crude, but no doubt effective.

>>>I think "crude" is an overly kind word to describe my setup! :>)

Mike