Section : Gearbox

Clutch, gearbox, overdrive, propeller shaft.

automatic gearbox in a vitesse

Posted By : Richard Hardstaff, 25-Sep-2005, 11:50am

I about to buy a triumph, the one issue I have is that I would like my wife to be able to drive the car also (she is a wheelchair user), I would therefore have to have hand controls fitted to the car. This can only be done if the car has an automatic gear box. Also we need fairly large doors and a decent sized boot to get the wheelchair in.

We want a convertable and see our options as being 1. A stag and 2. A vitesse with an auto box fitted.

We very much prefer the vitesse, we have rented one and it satisfy's our needs perfect (except it hasn't got an autobox).

I realise that this is a most unusual modification, and one we would not contemplate if we didn't need to.

Can anyone advise if this modification is easy/practical/possible? Would we have to drop in a different engine to mate to it?

One final thing, we do not want to increase the weight of the steering as this would also make the car difficult for my wife to drive.

I would really appreciate any advice on this.

Richard Hardstaff

Followups :

automatic gearbox in a vitesse

Posted By : John Davies, 25-Sep-2005, 12:30pm

Richard,
I have never done this, but a conversion has been described by Tom Longley. His article was as long ago as 1989, in the 'Turning Circle' No.14, p.9, and he wrote an update in 1992, Courier 143, p.48. You may be able to get copies from the TSSC, or else email me and I will try to scan them for you. It's a fairly major mod, as the chassis needs to be widened to accept the auto-box, though Tom was lucky to find a factory built chassis!

I did have an email exchange with Tom a while ago, but several PC crashes have lost his address. Tom, are you out there?

And I think there should be a previous thread here on this 'board, so a search might help.

Good luck!
John

PS Could you get help from Motability with the conversion???
automatic gearbox in a vitesse

Posted By : Paul Humphries, 25-Sep-2005, 01:10pm

I have a "bad" left leg. I've already bought a 1500HL Dolomite engine and autobox to convert a MKIII Spitfire when undergoing a full restoration.
Have you thought of a Herald instead of Vitesse and using same Dolomite unit ?
For my "everyday" Land Rover Discovery I have an auto clutch to be fitted to the manual gearbox which might be of interest to others. Basically it's an electrcially operated hydraulic master cylinder that is linked via a small ECU to brake light, throttle, engine speed, road speed etc and then you drive with the ECU oeprating the clutch. A lot easer than a full auto conversion ?

Paul Humphries.
- automatic gearbox in a vitesse
  
  Posted By : John Davies, 25-Sep-2005, 03:00pm
  
  Paul,
  That's an interesting idea. Add road wheel sensors and you have the makings of traction/launch control!
  Details of this device, please?
  John
  
  PS I found Tom Longley's email! I hope he won't mind me copying it here:
  
  "Hi,
  I was looking through the message pages today and stumbled across your message about automatic gearboxes in small Triumphs. I still have my automatic Vitesse and would be happy for you to answer any queries. I should point out, however, that it no longer has the Borg Warner 35 fitted; it now has a ZF 'box from a Jaguar XJ40. This has four gears plus torque converter lock-up at speeds over about 45mph - a vast improvement over the old BW35! I hope this helps.
  Regards,
  Tom"
  
  That means Tom looks at these pages, though I don't know if he is registered. As I don't like to pass on an email address without permission, please email me and I'll pass on your message and address, so Tom can contact you direct if he wishes.
  - automatic gearbox in a vitesse
    
    Posted By : Tom Longley, 28-Sep-2005, 02:14pm
    
    John,
    
    You're quite right, I do still have an automatic Vitesse and I do also look at the Message Board from time to time, though not in the last few days, so thanks for drawing this particular 'thread' to my attention. I would be happy to try to answer any queries about the conversion. I believe Richard now has my e-mail address so he can either contact me on that or through the Message Board.
    
    Regards,
    
    Tom
- automatic gearbox in a vitesse
  
  Posted By : Richard Hardstaff, 26-Sep-2005, 09:36pm
  
  Thanks Paul, This is really interesting, I really didn't know these existed. Unfortunately I do not think that this modification will be of use to us. My wife is paralysed and cannot use her legs at all. She therefore steers one handed, using the other for a simple push/pull accelerator/brake mechanism.
  
  Thanks for the suggestion though.
  
  Richard
- automatic gearbox in a vitesse
  
  Posted By : Richard Hardstaff, 26-Sep-2005, 09:36pm
  
  Thanks Paul, This is really interesting, I really didn't know these existed. Unfortunately I do not think that this modification will be of use to us. My wife is paralysed and cannot use her legs at all. She therefore steers one handed, using the other for a simple push/pull accelerator/brake mechanism.
  
  Thanks for the suggestion though.
  
  Richard
  - automatic gearbox in a vitesse
    
    Posted By : Jason Green, 11-Oct-2005, 02:57pm
    
    Here's one for sale right now!
    
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRIUMPH-VITESSE-RED_W0QQitem...
    
    End date 16/10.