MGB Double Declutching

My 1977 MGB is a great car for learning how to heel and toe double declutch when downshifting just like the race car drivers of yesterday. A smooth heel and toe downshift is an art form and really helps on the twisty bits where balance and control are helpful

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• MGB
• Heel
• and
• Toe

[MGB1977Red]

Racing cars from the 60s and early cars in general didn't have any/very good synchro gears so to shift smoothly and quickly up and down, the driver double-clutched to match the engine rpm with the gear box. It is difficult to do but the payoff is a longer lasting gearbox. Also a smooth downshift did not upset the line of the car in a difficult corner. Finishing the race was as important as being first and if the gearbox breaks there are not point to be won.

[thomasking55]

I'm off to try that now! (Morris Minor)

[MGB1977Red]

When you get the timing down you can shift quite nicely without using the clutch at all. My Mazda RX7 is particularly easy. Get the revs right and use finger tip pressure on the stick and it snicks right in.

I've got a TR4 that is just as smooth.

[MGB1977Red]

When you get the timing down you can shift quite nicely without using the clutch at all. My Mazda RX7 is particularly easy. Get the revs right and use finger tip pressure on the stick and it snicks right in.

I've got a TR4 that is just as smooth.

[turkeylips17]

i thought in the older cars you had to double dip both upshifting and downshifting.

[MGB1977Red]

The 1977 has a modern transmission with syncros on every gear. My 1958 MGA did not have synchro on 1st and reverse. To stop smoothly you had to double shift into first or come to a COMPLETE stop to get into first.

[Curveking]

@abstractduk its sometimes called candesence braking

[abstractduk]

i watched this 3 times and i havnt got a clue what youre doing??!!

are you talking about engine braking? seriously dont understand-cant see what you are doing different from anyone else

[dethpig420]

@MGB1977Red 100% correct. People could learn quite a bit from you. Nice MGB, much respect here from the states.

[ilia93]

Is it really V8 ? I dont know a lot about MG's but i dont think its a V8. I might be wrong so dont get nad at me. Nevertheless im bloody in love with that sound.

[SparrowNoblePoland]

Great sound of V8.

Old cars had good pedals. In many modern cars pedals are too small, too short, too far away to perform heel and toe because constructior want to avoid an accident caused by some incompetent who hit the gas when he wanted to hit the brake. :/

[rallyramone]

Check out video called Rauno Aaltonen, shows very fast double declutching by rally professor himself, he was first ones to left foot brake, double declutch and heel and toe...

[allyNHYO]

what is it for? - double declutching?

[ilia93]

I've been practicing with a vw passat '92 but i dont think that car needs double declutching ;-). I cant get the gears to slide in with no clutch though.

By the way isn't that a fabulous sound. I'd buy the car just on the strength of the sound. And its got great styling. I want one. Sorry for the spam.