Would an MX-5 differential work upside down?

[crofty1984]

The plan (not for a while but I'm trying to do my research):

Take 1 old Fiat 500 (Same layout as VW beetle for those that don't know)
Remove engine and gearbox
Replace engine and gearbox with a motorcycle engine and a differential off probably an MX5
Result: basically the same as a bike engined caterfield but with a really short propshaft.

Engine is now behind the rear axle, if the output shaft spins the wrong way, is it possible to flip the differential to stop me having a car that only goes really fast in reverse?

Dan

[gdaybruce]

Well, a friend has an Ultima and that uses a Porsche transaxle mounted upside down to cope with a mid, rather than a rear engined, layout, so the same principle.

Only drawback is that the gearbox has to come off to change the oil.

[bluetone]

gdaybruce said:

Only drawback is that the gearbox has to come off to change the oil.

Some drawback! Pumping the oil out to change it not an option then?

[gdaybruce]

bluetone said:

gdaybruce said:

Only drawback is that the gearbox has to come off to change the oil.

Some drawback! Pumping the oil out to change it not an option then?

Not as bad as it sounds. The rear bodywork detaches in one piece and then the transaxle is fully exposed. Pumping might be an option but so far as I can see the nature of the Ultima ownership experience is that, having built the car in the first place, there then follows a constant programme of improvements and upgrades (well, 500bhp is never enough, is it!) such that the engine and box are removed every winter anyway.

[bluetone]

gdaybruce said:

Not as bad as it sounds. The rear bodywork detaches in one piece and then the transaxle is fully exposed. Pumping might be an option but so far as I can see the nature of the Ultima ownership experience is that, having built the car in the first place, there then follows a constant programme of improvements and upgrades (well, 500bhp is never enough, is it!) such that the engine and box are removed every winter anyway.

A nice hobby if you can afford it I guess!

[eddie1980]

Can he not tap in some new drain and filler holes?

In regards to running a diff the wrong way up you may need to check for any vents that are there and relocate or pipe them to the top... Or possibly not, don't know much about the mx5 diff.

[Busa_Rush]

Ask the same question on www.locostbuilders.co.uk - somebody there will have done it.