The Elio Standard Transmission

[Horn]

Carzes nailed it imo. Cable clutches are the way to go.

 

[wizard of ahs]

Carzes nailed it imo. Cable clutches are the way to go.

NOT my cup of tea

 

[carzes]

NOT my cup of tea

Nothing like proven reliability........:-)

 

[ross]

NOT my cup of tea

My Dad had a '62 Belvedere that had that exact same push button automatic. It worked great, but remember, that was a Torqueflite, a true automatic tranny, with a torque convertor, clutch packs, valve body and all of that. The Elio AMT will have a flywheel instead of a flex plate, a clutch plate and pressure plate, and instead of a valve body doing the shifting, I understand there will be electric servos actuating the clutch and the gear selections. We will just have to wait and see. Can we get a clutch pedal as an option? I just trust that Paul has improved on 1962 technology.

 

[Bert]

Really? Ive seen quite a few that arent cable. I deal with older cars though

I've seen my share of solid linkage shifters over the Years, but not on a transaxle car. The one I'm remembering specifically, had virtually solid motor and transaxle mounts. To this day I think her Husband did it just to annoy her, as just starting the engine and letting it idle, could vibrate the fillings out of your teeth.. LOL

 

[BlioKart]

Don't know if I'd put too much assumption on a hydralic clutch. Such a small engine and power level would make it tempting, in keeping with the low-cost ideal, to use a clutch cable. After all, a few bucks for a cable and a couple brackets pressed out of sheet metal would have to be cheaper than a master cyllinder, fluid reservoir, hydraulic lines, slave cylinder, AND some metal brackets. And with such a small engine and possibly a lower-sprung pressure plate to match, I doubt the driving experience would qualify for the 'insanity' workout for quads and hammys.

I don't mind cable operation but I think hydraulic would be better for most drivers. As I said i come from cable operation its no sweat for me

 

[Lil4X]

In my experience with both hydraulic and cable clutches, they are both very light - probably operable with your fingertips. Remember, this is a tiny engine that produces a small amount of torque.

In '68 a friend bought a Hemi Roadrunner . . Now THAT thing had a bear trap for a clutch . . . But in it's defense, clutch plates were nearly immortal. Sadly, not so the drivers seat backrest. Several dozen one-leg squats each way on your daily commute would soon destroy the cheap bench seat.

 

[RKing]

Way rather have a cable than mechanical linkage. Last one of those I had to drive frequently required a trip underneath to "untangle" it. Was a pretty rough old truck, and lots of stuff rattled

 

[Johnny Acree]

With the current funding news. Can any one see the manual transmission not being offered the first year?
I think I can.

 

[goofyone]

With the current funding news. Can any one see the manual transmission not being offered the first year?
I think I can.

This is a good question but I do not see this happening. The biggest advantage of the manual transmission is a lower base price which always helps with advertising especially with a vehicle as inexpensive as the Elio. As EM is planning to use a manual and AMT version of the same transmission there really are not a lot of changes between the two versions which keeps things simple and keeps the cost of offering both minimal.

The only real difference in terms of assembly is the need for a three pedal unit and clutch cable on the manual transmission vehicle. While the AMT does not need the clutch pedal and clutch cable, which are very inexpensive items anyhow, the AMT does need a gear selection assembly and electrical cable running from there to the transmission which simply is installed in the same manner, and likely at similar cost, to the manual gear shift assembly and shift cable.