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Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:04 am

Has anyone here ever retrofitted for hand controls? Just brake and throttle on an auto car.

Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:01 am

I haven't, but I did fit a scooter on the back of my square. Fit pretty well.

Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:03 pm

With some clever use of pneumatic actuators/pistons, you could build an Automatic Type3 to be driven using an old Nintendo controller. :idea:

Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:02 pm

I've read that vw modified cars for people with disabilities but I don't know which models or what modifications were involved. You may want to research this.

I've only seen one of these in person, but it was a vanagon which included a lift gate at the sliding side door for wheelchair access. I don't know if it was a factory built model.

Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:42 pm

Robert Hornstein, who posts on the Type3@VWType3.org Forum has a Type 3 with hand controls!

Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:48 am

i rigged up a hand throttle through one of the heater levers to use for cruise control. I use J-tubes and don't have a heater. I have an automatic and with using the e-brake it can be controlled only by hand.

Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:59 am

I would not want to stop a car from high speed in a panic stop using the hand brake. The car will want to swap ends on you.
the front brakes do most of the stopping on any car, due to weight transfer.
Hand brake to the pedal would not be hard. And a hand throttle would not be hard either. About any place that does hand controls could figure it out for you.
I have a Vanagon coming for an engine rebuild that has Hand controls, but I have not seen it yet.

Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:40 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: I would not want to stop a car from high speed in a panic stop using the hand brake. The car will want to swap ends on you.
the front brakes do most of the stopping on any car, due to weight transfer.
Hand brake to the pedal would not be hard. And a hand throttle would not be hard either. About any place that does hand controls could figure it out for you.
I have a Vanagon coming for an engine rebuild that has Hand controls, but I have not seen it yet.

thats why you run a narrowed beam with spindle mounts on the front, and upgrade to some wide 5 rear disc with e-brakes.

Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:00 pm

lowindO wrote: Russ Wolfe wrote: I would not want to stop a car from high speed in a panic stop using the hand brake. The car will want to swap ends on you.
the front brakes do most of the stopping on any car, due to weight transfer.
Hand brake to the pedal would not be hard. And a hand throttle would not be hard either. About any place that does hand controls could figure it out for you.
I have a Vanagon coming for an engine rebuild that has Hand controls, but I have not seen it yet.

thats why you run a narrowed beam with spindle mounts on the front, and upgrade to some wide 5 rear disc with e-brakes.

:roll: Why not do it right?

Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:58 pm

We lost a VW drag car back in the 80's because it only had rear Porsche brakes.
Made a good pass, and the driver came down on the brakes too hard due to the short shut down area. Car went around on him at over 120 mph. and it never recovered. Flipped 12 times.
Luckily the roll cage held and the harness held, and the driver walked away with a broken collar bone.
We salvaged nothing from the car. Not even the carbs.