Changing the engine mounting configuration
Discussion
All hypothetical, as I'm flat broke with house moves, but...
Are there any issues with mounting an engine that was designed for a front wheel drive car longitudinally?
At the minute I expect that:
It will need new mounting bushes
I assume the engine moment doen't matter so much in the design as the wheel base is big, but the track is smaller - will this cause issues with the chassis when revving up and down?
The design for cooling will alter. The engine in question is a V6, with 3 front cylinders being cooled more than the back three, but now it would be the front two on opposing sides of the vee, will this be a real issue?
I also know there'd be a lot of fabrication needing to be done: There isn't even a gearbox to suite without adaption.
So it's never going to happen, but if it was, would it be ok? OR should I just stick it in and see?
Are there any issues with mounting an engine that was designed for a front wheel drive car longitudinally?
At the minute I expect that:
It will need new mounting bushes
I assume the engine moment doen't matter so much in the design as the wheel base is big, but the track is smaller - will this cause issues with the chassis when revving up and down?
The design for cooling will alter. The engine in question is a V6, with 3 front cylinders being cooled more than the back three, but now it would be the front two on opposing sides of the vee, will this be a real issue?
I also know there'd be a lot of fabrication needing to be done: There isn't even a gearbox to suite without adaption.
So it's never going to happen, but if it was, would it be ok? OR should I just stick it in and see?
Several "longitudinal" engines have been successfully used transversely in production vehicles through the ages. So I don't see why you couldn't go the other way! I would think the biggest headaches would be getting it to fit in the body/chassis. Mating to a gearbox would presumably be a case of having adapter plates and couplings made up. Modern engines (even Vs)tend to be twin cam making them wider up top making cut and shut of the body/chassis more likely.
I am sure someone will be along soon to say they've actually done it!
I am sure someone will be along soon to say they've actually done it!
id see if there wehre any "kits" avaliable for the car/engine you want to use!
there are loads about though! somem very intersting ones are the ford focus (with anything upot a V8) anf a fiesta (with a cossy and rwd or 4WD)!
also have seen a Nova with a highly tuned red top in the front (rwd), a mk 3 escort with anything upto a V8 i think, oh and the same ofr a feista.
i think the main thing is the bulkhead and trans tunnel. oh and the rear diff location/mounting!
thanks Chris.
there are loads about though! somem very intersting ones are the ford focus (with anything upot a V8) anf a fiesta (with a cossy and rwd or 4WD)!
also have seen a Nova with a highly tuned red top in the front (rwd), a mk 3 escort with anything upto a V8 i think, oh and the same ofr a feista.
i think the main thing is the bulkhead and trans tunnel. oh and the rear diff location/mounting!
thanks Chris.
It the motor is a V6 from my mitsi FTO (has VTEC equivelant so big heads). They're now pretty much ten-a-penny and parts are also now easy to get.
This has mostly come about as they are now so cheap that I just can't sell it. Oh and I want something that's more fun; the FTO is fast but doesn't feel it and it's too forgiving to have any real thrill factor (lift off oversteer only happens when you nail the break near the limit). I'm moving house and I've realised just how much that costs, so can't trade up for Mantis/Exige/Noble/AN Other.
So I'm either px'ing for a girly MGF for 50p, getting an MGF for £1 and trying to shoe-horn the engine in, or get a metro (or another shed) and...
The whole nine yards is just and always will be a pipe-dream: single build car with panel mouldings taken from the FTO, building a space-frame chassis and using FTO for all the bits, but I don't have the time or the money to buy the parts (machining is free).
The whole aim really, is "just" to make the car RWD; I think it'd make a big difference. That means body changes for the diff, prop, drive shafts and re-routing the exhaust. New suspension, new gearbox with mating plates etc, engine mounts, cooling re-routing... in fact probably all new plumbing. Will also probably need to move the bulkhead too etc as mention above. Ouch!
Also not sure if the chassis can take RWD either, especially after all the cutting and shutting needed to fit the gubbings at the back.
Pipe-dreams, huh?
>> Edited by jitsukadave on Tuesday 16th May 21:06
This has mostly come about as they are now so cheap that I just can't sell it. Oh and I want something that's more fun; the FTO is fast but doesn't feel it and it's too forgiving to have any real thrill factor (lift off oversteer only happens when you nail the break near the limit). I'm moving house and I've realised just how much that costs, so can't trade up for Mantis/Exige/Noble/AN Other.
So I'm either px'ing for a girly MGF for 50p, getting an MGF for £1 and trying to shoe-horn the engine in, or get a metro (or another shed) and...
The whole nine yards is just and always will be a pipe-dream: single build car with panel mouldings taken from the FTO, building a space-frame chassis and using FTO for all the bits, but I don't have the time or the money to buy the parts (machining is free).
The whole aim really, is "just" to make the car RWD; I think it'd make a big difference. That means body changes for the diff, prop, drive shafts and re-routing the exhaust. New suspension, new gearbox with mating plates etc, engine mounts, cooling re-routing... in fact probably all new plumbing. Will also probably need to move the bulkhead too etc as mention above. Ouch!
Also not sure if the chassis can take RWD either, especially after all the cutting and shutting needed to fit the gubbings at the back.
Pipe-dreams, huh?
>> Edited by jitsukadave on Tuesday 16th May 21:06
Cant you use the 3000GTO v6 and box? Itd be a 4wd FTO then...thad be a hoot. 
You could possible adapt a supra gearbox to the mitzi engine and run it rwd by slicing the bellhousing off and re-welding the mitzi item onto it or even use an adaptor plate.
Not a pipe dream, make it happen!
Go on, you know you want to! 
You could possible adapt a supra gearbox to the mitzi engine and run it rwd by slicing the bellhousing off and re-welding the mitzi item onto it or even use an adaptor plate.
Not a pipe dream, make it happen!
Go on, you know you want to! I know somebody who's put the 2.5 V6 from the Galant in and that's a real squeeze, not sure the GTO engine would fit without some serious hacking away of the metal!
As for 4WD, it'd be good, but the extra diffs would probably take up too much room - just making it RWD would need a lot of work underneath - the petrol tank is in the way, and the exhaust would need somewhere to go too.
Though I did spend an hour or so under the car yesterday and saw some options for the exhaust to be moved and then the 'box and prop' shaft can go along the old exhaust route (straight down the middle - to the petrol tank at any rate).
Will have to ask after how much it would be to get a new petrol tank formed... 10k for the project may be a bit on the lean side, which is why this is just a pipe dream - 10 grand for something that might not work very well is a bit too high-rolling for me
As for 4WD, it'd be good, but the extra diffs would probably take up too much room - just making it RWD would need a lot of work underneath - the petrol tank is in the way, and the exhaust would need somewhere to go too.
Though I did spend an hour or so under the car yesterday and saw some options for the exhaust to be moved and then the 'box and prop' shaft can go along the old exhaust route (straight down the middle - to the petrol tank at any rate).
Will have to ask after how much it would be to get a new petrol tank formed... 10k for the project may be a bit on the lean side, which is why this is just a pipe dream - 10 grand for something that might not work very well is a bit too high-rolling for me
if you want rear wheel drive fun then why not look at soem cars that are already RWD???
lower price range you got oyur siera cossy's or XR4I's (the ford could make a great platform of a V8 project!!!)
then in the middle band you got Nissan 200zx (good drift cars and are pretty cheap), rwd corollas, etc
and in the upper band you have the Skyline GTS's, supra's, bmw 3 series, rx7's, etc ,etc
and for 10k you should be able to buy a nice elise!
or you could get a good built kit car or build a nice one!
thanks Chris.
PS, if you where set on converting your current chassis to RWD you may want to look into the older Evo engine! a few cars in the states run them in RWD config!
lower price range you got oyur siera cossy's or XR4I's (the ford could make a great platform of a V8 project!!!)
then in the middle band you got Nissan 200zx (good drift cars and are pretty cheap), rwd corollas, etc
and in the upper band you have the Skyline GTS's, supra's, bmw 3 series, rx7's, etc ,etc
and for 10k you should be able to buy a nice elise!
or you could get a good built kit car or build a nice one!
thanks Chris.
PS, if you where set on converting your current chassis to RWD you may want to look into the older Evo engine! a few cars in the states run them in RWD config!
Didn't realise there were some in the US already converted, I'll have to look into that properly - may be some useful tips.
I had a track prep'ed Sierra, but it started to fall to pieces, so I sold it to someone that wanted to re-build it, no idea why they did, but there you go. It was fun, but I want something a bit special. I can't really put a proper reason to it either, apart from the challenge of making it work (or spending a lot of money on a large piece of scrap if I fail).
I had a track prep'ed Sierra, but it started to fall to pieces, so I sold it to someone that wanted to re-build it, no idea why they did, but there you go. It was fun, but I want something a bit special. I can't really put a proper reason to it either, apart from the challenge of making it work (or spending a lot of money on a large piece of scrap if I fail).
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