Well after much putting it off I put together a electric shifting setup for my '92 auto trans in my '82 project. It was a lot easier than I dreamed.
The electronics consists of a couple of switches, a few diodes and a relay and of course LED lights to let you know what gear you are in. Tried it out last night for the first time and everything work flawlessly. Still need to get the throttle pressure cable(?) hooked up to the Weber but that should get finished up in the next couple of days. This is turning out to be a great toy, no pun intended.
Next will be a GPS to use as a speedometer as well as guidance. A Lowrance Baja 540C is the dream unit for this with it's external antenea it should be optimal.
RD

 

wow sounds interesting. Got any pictures?

 

No pictures yet. I will post when available.
RD

 

I would like some pictures as well. I'm guessing an A340 will be something like an A343. I've got one in my 92 on the turbo diesel. And someday I might want to go to a manual but would have to fool the computer to think the auto is still working so I would like to see what you did. I wish I was electric savvy but electrical stuff just does not like me.

 

This has been done before

 

I know that there are other options but trying to get a unit or info has been impossible. So I made my own simple switch system.
I also have a PLC controlled system on the drawing board which should give a bunch more options.
RD

 

I bought a Programmable Logic Controller, came up with the right program and will now use in to shift the trans up, down and lock up torque converter. All using 2 buttons I am mounting on the steering wheel. One for upshifts, one for downshifts and while in 4th if I hold the upshift button down for 3 sec. the torque converter will lock up. Hold it down again for another 3 sec. an it unlocks.
All the working parts are about $150.00. Plus I had to of course buy software for the PLC programming.
I'm hoping also that I can use the elec. speedo wiring output as an input for the PLC to give close to full automatic driving also as an option. That's phase two of the project.
I am currently using a Garmin 200W for the speedometer since the 82 truck has a mech. speedometer.
Design, build, test, have fun.
RD

 

I finished getting the PLC(Programmable Logic Controller) installed and operational for shifting my A340. I have two buttons on the steering wheel one for upshift and one for down shift. What an improvement over the swithes I had before, holding the upshift button down when in 4th gear for 3 sec. will lock up the torque converter, holding it down for another 3 sec. will unlock torque converter. Phase #2 will be writing a program to use engine RPM for shifting when switched to the full auto mode. What fun, this truck is for my son who is in the Navy, I hope i can talk him out of it and keep it for myself.

 

Just an update, this is working sweet.
Well here is a photo of what I made for manual shifting of the A340.