I have seen several examples out there of folks that installed hand throttles in their cars. I am motivated by two reasons: No cruise control, and, handy for getting good MPG.
I asked my bike mechanic buddy if he had some old school bike shifter levers. Sure enough he had a couple. I tested the amount of cable travel it has and it worked out to 7/8". The actual throttle cable measured up to 1" travel. I figured that was good enough given I will probably not need full throttle from the hand contol. I bought a new cable for it so there would be minimal drag for returning back to idle.
I then debated on how to install it. I thought about mounting it on the shifter as it seems like a convenient location. But I did not want to route the cable through the console, although it is a good way to do it. I finally settled on a bracket mount located under the E-brake handle. The lever would work so moving it up/back would apply more gas, and forward/down would return to idle. I consider this the safest way to operate the throttle too.
I wish I could stage the pictures to show the progress, but they are at the end.
The bracket is mounted to the two screws that hold the console/e-brake cover. I used spacers to take the screw force down to the original screw locations. Then I tested for good positioning of the lever. I settled on a slight down angle to the cable for clearance around the shifter console, and for good overall cable routing. The lever swing this way would also not interfere with anyting at the max throttle position.
I also added a cable clamp at the lever to prevent the inadvertent pull-out from the lever which would apply throttle.
The cable route goes along the shifter console, then up past the ashtray console, then up through a crack at the side of the lower dash.
For under the dash, there is a handy 8mm bolt location on the dash framing. I used a piece of scrap flat bar to extend a cable mount up in line with the pull direction on the gas pedal. I discovered here that my cable housing could not be clamped as it would pinch the cable. Instead, I found an old adjustable shifter ferrule that would receive the hard end of the housing, then clamp the ferrule instead. Works like a charm.
I have not driven the car yet to test it out, but soon! I just bought this car and I want to get the MPGuino and this in place before I hit the road.
Enjoy
My VX hand throttle project
Today
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After seeing some hand throttles here I've been tossing the idea around as well. Made me keenly aware of how difficult it is to make the really small adjustment thats required to get the most out of the fuel I so jealously meter out. I just got back from 7 hour round trip and my lower leg killed me when I got out of the Mazda from trying very delicately modulate the throttle. Hope its a big sucess for you!
