Homebuilt Hotrod for the Working Man

A lot of low end torque for that transaxle!

Who's gonna try it first?

Find a manual trans axle out of a 928S, that should have the nuts to deal with a V8 of reasonable displacement.

Avoid any of the tiptronic transmissions unless you like a challenge.

928's had the engine in front and transmission at the rear for weight distribution purposes.

Can't say I've seen any used here in Oz, but then they're a bit of a rare here.

There was a guy who raced an Alfa Romeo GTV with a Chev V8 in Sports Sedan Racing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Ricciardello

I don't know if he used the original Alfa transaxle.

If it is motorized, especially in the vein of "no such thing as too much horsepower",

The sand buggy guys have probably done it...

Heres one to get you started...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesgK_EG2vo&feature=related

start digging, you'll find it somewhere.

a VW style trans-axle can be modified to handle some outrageous power, plus they are pretty cheap, as they are a standard of the buggy world

look on your local newsstand for "hotVW" type magazine

make sure to post pictures of your build,

have fun!

JohnnyB

Had plenty of cars in Europe and only can say that during my "crazy" Porsche years, my car related bills were tenfold. 1992 - water pump $1,000.00 and 3 days dealer repair shop. To change that, the engine had to be taken half apart. Porsche 328, Jaguar XJ6, the worst experiences for my wallet, forgot also Oldmobile Cutlass Diesel and Chevrolet Blazer. Never again.

Are you going to add the Chrysler Caravan to that list?

DeTomaso Pantera. Used a midship 351C with a trans-axle. I just don't know who's. Send pictures.

What about some moderately peppy fwd car and put a matching drive-train in the back also. An all wheel drive V12 Mitsubishi.

The transaxle you are referring to is a ZF transaxle also in the GT40's. the Porsche 928 is fine for the HP they are actually fairly robust. There are trans adaptors for just about anything out there. I myself flipped an 02 bus trans over (some machine work required and had an adapter fabricated which I used to bolt it to an early Hemi (late 1954-331 cu/in .060 over) If you'd like to go automatic the Audi 5000 transaxle is an excellent choice. When I originally began my search the Gents at Valkyrie (yes they are still building kit cars) where very helpful in finding suitable options and suppliers. They offer several options themselves for their kits including the Audi. I would dig through my old files if they where still there. (sorry.) I had a lot of info that I dumped.

928S transaxle as stated is the one to use. Never heard of anyone putting a big block Ford infront of one, but lots of modified small block Chevs. A 351 or any of the V6s should work with minimal fabrication and problems.

As for the Pantera, I believe that was a ZF Transaxle and fairly rare.

Yes it was a ZF transaxle, but you aint gonna find one of those in the local wrecking yard. If you did, dont ask how much it costs. You probably can't afford it ;)

Not a Ford compatible product, but the Cadillac Eldorado (500cid V8) and the Olds Toronado (455cid V8) were both front wheel drive,with longitudinal engines. I think the Transaxle was based on the TH400 Auto. A pretty stout unit. The Caddy made something like 400hp and 500 ft/lb of torque. I have thought of doing a swap like this myself several times.

Adapted an Olds Torinado transaxle to a 3.8 twin turbo out of a wrecked Grand National. Put it mid engine in a 71 Opal GT. God that was a long time ago.

That trans axle was an odd variant in that it left the engine in a traditional front to rear location. Also allowed the standard BOP bell housing bolt pattern to remain.

With that Opal as a back ground, How do you think a V-8 3.4 Taurus with a hair dryer would work out for him? For that matter, there are 500 inch Eldorado drive trains out there yet. Also the Cadillac North-star, and Olds Aurora combinations that would make nice packages in a light vehicle.

What about the front drive trans-axle from a Taurus? They might have a usable bell-housing bolt pattern. They should be cheap in junk yards. There should be some 5 speeds available.

Taurus has a transverse transaxle (engine sits sideways) which usually requires a different bolt pattern then traditional for/aft configurations. It also will not handle the torque of a big block. Possibly a stock/mild 351. You will still probably need an adaptor. If there is space between the pan and drive section of the trans. Also I don't remember the starter location on the ford. I do remember that the older ones the starter was mounted to the trans bell housing. Not sure if thats still the case.

Either way not a very attractive configuration for a hotrod.

While it would not fit the traditional 32 Ford or 57 Chevy "hot rod" image, having a mid-rear engine placement was going to give it a different flavor already.

One of the SHO drive trains flipped to the rear-midship location in a light weight vehicle would have a good power to weight ratio. You would still have the option of all wheel steering if desired.

I was driving across Nebraska at night and a Porshe? was also, he happened to stop at the same unattended gas pump across from me. We got to talking and he had put a V-8 in his car, I can't recall the brand, he said he didn't have much road experience with it before he left Minneapolis headed to Colorado. He said the gear ratios were way off and he was revving too high and burning lots of gas.

The 1997 Buick LeSabre V-6 engine has lots of pep, a coil on each cylinder and fuel injection.

Yes seen here... http://www.californiamotorsports.net/Kit%20car.htm

fun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1AMCTODc2c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPkByKChdEc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76A_u_46ROA&feature=related

Smooth concept:

Next time you look under the hood of a FWD car, take a look at where the axles are. The entire engine is in front of the front axles. All of the weight of the engine is in front of the front axle. Now, take the entire engine and move it to the back of the car. The car is now a mid-engine car, because the engine is now in front of the rear axles. And the weight of the engine is between the front and the rear wheels.

That first site is great for the custom project. I don't know about Redfairlane, but in my neck of the woods, I could own a fleet of Eldorados, or Tornadoes for what I would need to set up even the cheapest of those Porsche transaxels. I can convert that TH425 to manual shift, and struggle through with it.

The first of the you tubes was an old mechanical Rochester fuel injection system. Was probably built before those injection units became more expensive than gold. Nice car though.

Second one is a Crown kit car. They made some good parts that were designed just for this conversion.

The third is an Olds Toronado drive train installed in the mid ship location on a Corvair.

Back in the day, there was a man named Tom Snyder that put a second Toronado drive train in the mid ship location on his Toronado. I think he eventually installed GMC blowers on both engines. Lots of smoke. Hard running also. Called it the Terrifying Toronado.

Here is another outtake from what's left of my mind. Take a crappy looking long wheelbase Jeep. toss the drive train. Stuff a 500 inch fuel injected Eldorado engine right behind the driver's seats.Build an engine cover that hides the engine as well as possible. If needed, pile some hollowed out suitcases behind the driver's seat to hide what ever is too tall. swap the front axle out for the front suspension assembly from a 3 series BMW, anything after 92 should not break the bank. Leave the oversized mudder type rims on, but put something a bit better for cornering on. I'll bet there is a whole $#it load of fun with a car like that on some twisting roads.

Bob, i like the way you think! - always thought that would be a good setup in a clapped-out mid 80's chrysler minivan (with vinyl wood grain)

I knew a guy that used a Toronado package for a trike and used the rear of the Toronado body to cover it so that he could "keep the tail lights".

This guy was always asking for bailing wire. 454 c.i. 425 ft-Lbs @ 3500rpm. I wonder if he is still alive?

I really like that feulie in the second link. Don't get to see many of those anymore.

Hi everyone.

What about a front wheel drive engine and transmission, chopped and mounted as an rear wheel drive midship engine set up. All that has to be done is to move the assembly to the back.

When it comes to the steering system all one as to do is to turn the wheels straight and fix them on that position permanently?

Just a thought ... comments welcome.

Cheers.

I suppose you could remove the tube from between the Ls6 in an Z06 vett and re attach the bell housing and more conventional parts (torque converter etc..). This should also provide for some of your rear suspension hookups.

I tried that about 20yrs ago on a trike. I used a Buick FWD transaxle and no money. No one in my area had ever done it before, and I did not finish it then because of family problems(I SHOULD have finished the trike cause she still left!). Anyhow, This time I am finishing what I started!

I did that with an oldsmobile transaxle into a trike project.

Good idea, money ran out due to a failed marriage at the time, so the project wound up as scrap metal.

Actually, I did try that a few years ago with my wife's old car. An Oldsmobile Omega drivetrain into a trike and it would have turned out ok if my marriage had not broken up!

A Porsche G50 will take anything you throw at it. Especially in a light kit car. Take a look at factory five kit cars. Their GTM kit car uses a V8 mated to a Porsche transaxle.

Thanks for your help. After I finish the scooter project I'm working on, I now have a planned course of action for the next driveway filling project for the old lady down the street to call the city on me! Oh well! It's MY bucket list and I need to finish it!

That lovely lady that lives down the street from you has a relative near me. Have you ever had the urge to dump a stolen car in her driveway, call the police, and then watch for the fun.

BOB! Seriously.

Just kidding, it would be funny

Now, THAT is a funny idea!

If I only had the nerve!

A less dangerous way would to go to a motor-sports gathering. My choice would be a professional drag race. Tape a few LOUD burnouts, and launches.

At the appropriate time play it on your home system, with a speaker pointing out a window at the lovely lady's house, but VERY LOUD.

If perhaps the local law enforcement does arrive, Your vehicles should all have cold engines.

I'm just saying.......