Mating engine to new drivetrain

Mating engine to new drivetrain

Author
Discussion

rcx106

Original Poster:

188 posts

118 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Whats the technique for mating an engine to a transmission that wasn't made to be mated? I've seen bellhouses for common engine swaps, but what if I wanted to fit an uncommon engine that no one has done before?

I imagine a custom clutch which accepts the new gearbox spline. How would a custom bellhousing be made?

PaulKemp

979 posts

144 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
The usual fix is a bellhousing adaptor
Basicly a machined ring that has the engine face bolt pattern on one side and the gearbox on the other.
The clutch cover is the one for the engine as it bolts to the flywheel
A troll through the clutch catalogues should find the right spline for the gearbox and the right diameter clutch plate for the clutch cover

griff 200

509 posts

192 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
I have before got a g box that fits the engine rwd or fwd cut it up just leaving the bell housing then mill down flat to the desired depth for the new g box minus 12mm , then weld an 12mm alloy plate to the bell housing ,machine flat and bore hole and bolt holes for studs etc. not really that easy but that's how it was done by some. Richard

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Clutch is the easiest bit.

But how you mate the engine/box together is up to you.

You could have a bellhousing cast and machined, you could fabricate, or you could adapt something else.
Or as others say make a short adaptor plate

There are no lack of options, but alignment is absolutely critical.

S0 What

3,358 posts

171 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Adapter plate is the cheaper and most used option, even manufacturers did it this way, for instance so the pinto engine would fit the transit diesel B/H there is a plate that bolts to the engine then extends out to meet the B/H mounting points, the plate also relocates the starter further out so they could use a larger flywheel and clutch.
What are you thinking of fitting to what ?

rcx106

Original Poster:

188 posts

118 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Great advice. With the adaptor plate, it will change the distance between the engine and gearbox. Griff says he ground down the original bellhousing, unless of course the new setup requires a greater distance between the engine and gearbox.

What it's for is I'm planning a custom 4x4 trials and challenge vehicle, space frame based buggy. I want to do things a bit unconventionally though, and go for a sporty engine like they do in the US rather than heavy diesels like we use in the UK for challenge vehicles. I haven't selected the parts yet. Engine might be Duratec 2.0l, or Type-R or F4R. Not certain yet, still checking costs and stats. Transmission may be Hilux. Again not certain yet, but I think a Hilux should handle the 200-300bhp power, has wide gear ratio selection of mods, low cost, and I hear it's good equipment. Correct me if I'm wrong. I've done loads of 4x4 mods but this is my first custom build and got lots of gaps in my knowledge.

PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Well, it doesn't really matter if the transmission gets further away because you can correct it in your clutch/flywheel offset, but you will need to watch that the input shaft mates with either the crank bearing or one you run in the modded flywheel or similar if the gearbox requires one.

griff 200

509 posts

192 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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If you are going for light weight but still need low box ,the likes of Suzuki 2 l will be light with g box for more power just fit a turbo ? If you don't need low box may be Audi tt 4wd. 1.8 set up will give you 300 plus hp on tuned ecu. Have fun in the mud I know I do. Sporting trials.

spyder dryver

1,329 posts

215 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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If you're using a Toyota box then why not use a Toyota engine. Specifically the 3SGE.
I mated one up to a T50 years ago and to a Lexus 6 speed more recently. Both required re-drilling of dowel and bolt holes and some internal machining to the bellhousing in the case of the T50.
The REV 3 3SGE is 170 odd bhp as standard and if you were to put it on throttle bodies like I have recently done with mine you are looking at close to 200.
The ideal unit would be from a Lexus Altezza since it is already in RWD format and has VVTi giving 210 hp. They can be pricey though.
What engine was originally mated to your proposed Hilux box?