I'm currently in Hawaii on vacation and have a new Camaro V6 with 600 miles on it for a rental car. I quit like the stock Paddle Shifting Steering Wheel. I'm planning on using the TCI Paddle shifter with the Momo Steering wheel in my C4. Anybody try to adapt the Late model Camaro or Corvette steering wheels to our cars ? The TCI isn't cheap but comes with the controller that I will probably need anyway.

 

My guess is what you liked was 7 gears. (or is it 8). With 4 gears Im not sure the paddle shifter will be quite as exciting. I mean really, its 2, 2nd and 3rd. The other thing is without a modification of the transmission, the stock trans in your c4 will not engine brake unless PHYSICALLY in 2nd gear and never in 3rd. There is a valve that can be installed to make that happen inside the valve body. I just dont think the effort would be worth the result. Not sure which year you have but I have the 4l60e and Ive put a lot of thought to this transmission and the one change I would like to make is the engine brake valve because the transmission feels limp and always has to spool up the torque converter when going off and on the throttle.

Adapting a 6 speed or higher transmission would transform our cars... Ive never seen someone do that.. then a paddle would be exciting.. it would really modernize the c4 and I think would provide more performance than any motor upgrade.

Example, drive a tight corner where you lift to break for the entry then come back on the throttle...the car is virtually unsafe with the supplied auto trans performing this maneuver because one could easily over apply throttle waiting for the tc to spool up again.. in one word "yuck".

I dream of sticking my BMW 8 spd auto which engine brakes on downshifts... then I wake up.

I dont mean to say your idea isnt good, just from my perspective in application Id question how exciting it would be for you.

By the way, do you like the height of the camaro window? I think it looks silly up so high... wish theyd lower it.. I might buy one one day.

 

slushbox style automatics (even modern), with paddle shifting are a gimmick

what you need is a fast shifting robot clutch type SMG that can ‘bark’ the tires when shifting and rev match during downshifts


thats when paddle shifting gets exciting

 

I dont know about the Camaro but my 2017 bmw is a smg transmission. I assure you, paddles are not a gimmick.

Essentially you made my point but I rambled on about it. Paddles would be close to worthless in the 4l60e stock. I really think the engine braking valve I spoke of would transform my car. Just cant afford to pay for the install right now.. and dont have the facility to so it myself.

Part of the problem is lowering the valve body.. my right arm is severely handicapped so Id have a hard time doing it myself. I bet with 2 full functional arms I could do it in 4 hrs jackstands to test drive. The parts are under $200...though to do it right there is a small clutch pack which its name elludes me should be upgrade.. coast cliutch or something like that..

 

I should mention that as of now I have no transmission for my Project Track Car. I plan on using an Automatic, which is odd as in the past I have converted Auto's to Manual Trans in Vettes. Since the new C8 will probably never be offered with a manual, Ferrari hasn't had a manual in years, and the last Autocross I attended to was won by a C4 with an Auto, and I only have two Feet prompts me to go this way. The new Camaro was an 8 speed, and yes I believe it was RPM matching on downshifts .I should point out when not in Manual Mode the Trans was pretty much lost on what gear to be in when performance driving. Googling 8 speed swap hasn't really given me info on what Trans family these new ones come from. Other than more speeds mean the trans must be "really big". I have little doubt that these are derived from the TH350 and or the TH 400. The new 10 speed developed by GM-Ford will probably be the first not derived by the two former Gm products. However I know nothing about the 10 speed. Assuming the 2WD 8 speed Trans is probably in the TH350-700R4-L60e family then it might be an option for our C4s. Even if its from the TH400 family with its added weight its in the center of the car.

 

I'll bet you a dozen donuts the transmission heavily relies on engine sensors. Im sure it isnt just a separate product and heavily computerized. So while you may shoe horn it in and couple it to the engine making it function is going to require logic analysis and engineering. I dont see any potential for a performance part manufacture in building something either as there would be no profit.

What could be done however is to fit the engine and trans into the c4.. seems to me that would be your only option sadly. I suppose it would be possible someone might develop a separate computer that just relies on the basics like speed and rpm for any application. There are plenty of "hot rodders" who would love such a thing where they maintain the stock engine for originality.

Now if you are handy with an oscilloscope and logic analyzer and perhaps can write some code.. go for it.

Update: I couldnt help myself and took a quick look, I was right.. HGM does make stand alone controllers but currenlty only for 6 speed GM.
https://www.hgmelectronics.com/compu...pecifications/

 

I agree. Adapters might match the Trans up the Gen1 SBC, but that's only the beginning. A Donor Car probably might be the best start. Unless GM sells a Trans-TCM package.