Planning to build a DFGT shifter.

[YukinoSuzuka]

Yes, there's already a seq.shifter inbound at the DFGT steering wheel. But it has no feeling, no simulation at all compared to the real shifters in gt/touringcar racing. Because I've found RaceRoom Experience a time a go, I think it's a good thing to make the DFGT a little better. I'm racing with it for 3 years now and I love the GranTurgismo paddle shifters, but I like to shift like in WTCC- and GT Blancpain racing cars while I'm racing with RR3 again.

And so, I've to make my own seq. shifter for the DFGT, do some wiring and tweaking on the hardware, but as far I've seen, it is possible and easy to do.

Question, is there anyone that already did this conversion with the dfgt to a more realistic (external) shifter?

I don't like to do work that is already done for me, so I was seeking for a potential case for my shifter. I found it at a thrift-shop, for € 1,50 , 2 midi speakers for a (cheap) stereoset. With a solid and heavy metal base plate, it will stay in place while shifting gears, very nice dimensions, easy to change them from sound to racing equipment.

I'm in doubt for the technique I will use, coil springs, heavy stuff but also expensive with all the extra stuff I need for this kind of system, or maybe the cheaper way, with rubber bands/elastics?

Stay tuned for updated, for any comments or helpfull examples and ideas, be my guest !

 

[MSTER232]

Building a sequential shifter should be far easier than making a h-shifter so all should go well if you know what you are doing .

 

[Gunstar]

Here's an old ISR video of the FREX shifter, and I was frankly surprised how simple it is mechanically. All you'd really need to do is wire the switch off of the existing leads inside the DFGT, right?

 

[Jet Badger]

The wiring part won't be a big of an issue whether you use momentary switches or a DPDT/SPDT switch like the one in the Frex shifter. Making it feel realistic and decent is probably more of a challenge. I once made a sequential shifter simply by attaching a rod to a DPDT switch and putting it in a box with an opening in the top to limit the lever's tavel and multiple rubber bands to return it to center. It performed really good but ofcourse there are many ways to do this.

 

[YukinoSuzuka]

The wiring part won't be a big of an issue whether you use momentary switches or a DPDT/SPDT switch like the one in the Frex shifter. Making it feel realistic and decent is probably more of a challenge. I once made a sequential shifter simply by attaching a rod to a DPDT switch and putting it in a box with an opening in the top to limit the lever's tavel and multiple rubber bands to return it to center. It performed really good but ofcourse there are many ways to do this.

You are right about the feel of the stick and shifting up & down. I like the idea about the rubber bands, it's easier to make and easier to repair when it's broken.
I'm also thinking of to make the gear-leaver on guard rails, like from a curtain-system or a double-u-profile. The benefit here is to create a simple system where my shifting actions won't act on 1 single joint, but on multiple joints/ (4 rails) + the rubber bands. The stick would make more a for- and backwards movement instead of a rotation on 1 single joint, that would be a short rotation (because the small case) and by this system I've in mind my shifter could simulate a more heavy shifter (together with additional weight in the shifter) to have a better feel while racing.