[DeTomaso] Shift gate lockout project

John Zeedick Pantera351C at Hotmail.Com
Tue Mar 19 21:50:50 EDT 2013


Mike:


"Hoosier slicks mounted on my spare 8/10 inch Campagnolo wheels, brake fluid
changed, etc. etc."

Does this mean your Campy coffee table is gone from your living room?

Did Lori have a say in this? Oh wait, she's a car girl so I am sure she
approved.

John





On 3/19/13 12:20 AM, "MikeLDrew at aol.com" <MikeLDrew at aol.com> wrote:

> Hi guys,
> 
> The ZF gearbox is a fantastic thing, but the dogleg first gear can
> occasionally catch people out, especially in an open track setting.
> 
> To see what I mean, check out this in-car video from a GT40 where the
> driver blew the 4-3 downshift, and instead went from 4th to 1st gear.   (The
> carnage starts just after the 2:00 mark)
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl6Bk6Psj24
> 
> With the upcoming Laguna Seca track day on March 30th, I've been working on
> my Pantera to get it more track-ready.   Roll bar installed, Hoosier slicks
> mounted on my spare 8/10 inch Campagnolo wheels, brake fluid changed, etc.
> etc.
> 
> I decided to follow the example set by various prototype Ferraris,
> Chevrons, Lolas etc., which utilize a mechanical lockout system to block off
> first 
> and reverse gears.   The idea is that those gears are used when manuvering in
> the pits, but are then useless once underway on track.
> 
> I have a ratty old stock shift gate with badly worn fingers and flaking
> chrome.   I decided to use it as the foundation for my project.   (I actually
> had a factory Gr4 shift gate at one time, which had a reverse (only) lockout,
> but I traded it to Les Gray for the nice chrome gate I have in my car now).
> 
> I zipped down to the hardware store and bought a simple four-inch hinge.
> Brought it home, clamped the two together, did a little marking, a little
> hacksawing and grinding, a bit of drilling, tapping, and voila!
> 
> Shift gate in the open position, allowing use of all gears:
> 
> http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=39114
> 
> And with it flipped over, reverse and first are blocked, turning the ZF
> into a simple four-speed:
> 
> http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=39118
> 
> Total cost:   $4.03
> 
> Avoiding the dreaded 4-1 downshift?   PRICELESS!
> 
> Once the track day is done, I'll put the street tires back on, change back
> to the regular non-ugly shift gate, and live happily ever after....
> 
> Mike
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
> 
> DeTomaso mailing list
> DeTomaso at poca.com
> http://poca.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
> 





More information about the DeTomaso mailing list