Terrible mpg's = new interest in old ideas.

[Tygen1]

Ok, got the circuit for manual shifting of the trans ready to try, I ordered the parts I need, only $10, and will probably work on them over Christmas break. Not to be installed till mid January. Sorry I can't do it faster I would give you the schematic, but I don't want to burden you with any trouble shooting. Anyhow, I almsot got the PWM nailed down, perhaps tomarrow it will be all figured out....
As a little update, I'm at half a tank and 40 miles further than my last tank, so all indications point towards a gain in mpg

[Christ]

I'm waiting for something like this that can be used on almost any car... short of installing a manual valve body in an automatic. I can't do that in my wife's car, she'll forget to shift.

[Tygen1]

They do make them, but they are verrry expensive. The Shaffer Shifter is used to diagnose transmission solenoid failures by isolating the solenoids and activating them at your comand. Superflow | Transmission Test | Introduction I'm sure it uses a programed microcontroller that is set up for the different makes. I'm taking advantage of needing to do it for only my vehicle and knowing the squence it's just a matter of switching them in the correct squence. I'm sure it could easily be done for your car also. I have an advantage though....I don't like to flaunt it, but it's what makes this possible for someone like me with limited means and very limited brain power....I've got a few buddies in the automotive industry and they are very usefull in helping me understand how to make things like this work.
Shipping on the parts I ordered is only 2-3 days, soooo, maybe I'll get this done sooner???

[Christ]

I can look and understand, in most cases, so that's not a problem. I also have engineer friends, tech friends, professor friends, etc., so that helps too, if I can't figure it out.

I'll have to talk to my GM friend and see what can be done to this transmission to make it able to be controlled manually. Even just to manually control TC lockup would be great, so I can lock it on accel (pulse) and unlock it to "glide" my way into better numbers!

[mhmitszach]

Side note.

Wheel covers?

I'm considering coroplast (since it'd be easier than pizza pan style covers). Just zip tie them on.

I'm def going to do air dam.

Possibility of at least 2 mpg gain from both of those.

[Tygen1]

I'll call you Zach, for lack of being able to spell your name with out scrolling up to see every letter of your name We must have been reading the same thread at the same time, I might be stopping by WalMart soon to get some pizza pans It's a temping proposition, although our cars may be slippery enough that it might not make much of a change. COZX2 got some moon discs. I'll have to look back thru his posts and see if he rocorded a gain from them alone.
I was doing the math on the 40 miles extra by a half a tank, with the understanding that the ZX2 gas gauge is not linear, meaning it goes down much quicker after a half a tank... this tank could be close to 40mpg's My gut tells me that's not right, but we'll see by Thursday when I fill 'er up.

[Tygen1]

Originally Posted by Christ

I can look and understand, in most cases, so that's not a problem. I also have engineer friends, tech friends, professor friends, etc., so that helps too, if I can't figure it out.

I'll have to talk to my GM friend and see what can be done to this transmission to make it able to be controlled manually. Even just to manually control TC lockup would be great, so I can lock it on accel (pulse) and unlock it to "glide" my way into better numbers!

Where on the same wave length here, pulse on lock up (in any gear) then glide with the engine on. I'm imagining locking up the converter in first, just off the line and short shifting each gear to get the maximum benefit.

If you think you are really going to do it, I can try and get the diagrams for your shift solenoids. Then you can try and figure it out from there.

[Christ]

I wouldn't worry too much about me trying it just yet, since we're not sure if we're keeping the car. Once I figure out how much money I'm going to be making in the near future, I'll make that decision.

(If I can keep sustained union work, I'll be making close to $18/hour... if not, probably $12 or less.)

At that point, I'll decide whether I can swing it to get her a newer car, which will already be a jump in efficiency.. since the newer GP's are rated for much higher avg mileage, with a larger/more powerful engine!

At that point, I'll get more serious about figuring out the transmission part.. for now, it's a dream, but that doesn't stop me from learning about it early.

[Tygen1]

AWshifting transmission controllers

Here's another trans shifter. He says he will be selling do it yourself kits in early '09 for $100.

Are you sure you want a Grand Prix?
If you don't mind me asking, what's your line of work?

[Christ]

Wife wants another GP.. and I've never had trouble with them, so it's fine for me.

Currently, I'm unemployed, but professionally, I'm a union "Pointer,Caulker,Cleaner." Apprentice.

I'm not going to find work through the Union hall for at least awhile though, so I may just drop out of it and get another factory job or something.