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It is very sad that a lot of older automatics needed actual mechanical linkages instead of entirely digital signals. It would've allowed some pretty custom gear
by techwiz137 4y ago
It is very sad that a lot of older automatics needed actual mechanical linkages instead of entirely digital signals. It would've allowed some pretty custom gear selectors that would've enabled even more mods by freeing up space in the car interior.
- hotpotamus 4y agoThere were push button automatics in the 50's. But for the life of me I've never seen the problem with a column shifter which was normal when I learned to drive a car in the late 90's.
- tadfisher 4y agoThe push buttons were also mechanically linked! At least Chrysler selectors such as the one used in the Plymouth Valiant, they actuated cables to open/close fluid paths in the transmission.
- hotpotamus 4y agoYeah, I'm aware that old auto transmissions had what - valve bodies? - analog computers to apply logic on when to shift; they'd have to have something. I just don't think the linkage was all that important a feature - mechanical or electronic seem to both be flexible enough to do the job. I mostly drive manuals, but the column shifter for autos seems the most utterly logical way to put transmission control right at your hands. It seems like putting it on top of where a transmission hump might go (but probably doesn't in a modern car with a transverse engine) is just pretending to be something it isn't.