Discussion
suparuss said: hmm, this is getting complicated. i cant really find much info in the way of transaxles that will fit the bmw engines. does anyone know what the gearbox is on the transverse mounted zetec and if the drive shafts from the rear wheel drive sierra are compatible? this is probably a bit too specific for a kit car forum, but maybe ill get lucky
I think that is the bit that confused people
That, and I think the fact that I thought transaxle meant 'transmittion-axle', not refering to it's orientation.
Your project certainly seems more logical now
Cheers, Phil
If you could find someone to fabricate the bellhousing adapter for you I'm sure you'd fit any engine to the Audi transaxle,
however, going back to what I said before, using the front wheel drive car, in this case the 80, as the main donor would mean that you would only have to source the front hubs from a rear wheel drive car. no engine to box hassles
This could be bmw if you really wanted but would give you other options, (carlton, sierra, etc).
good luck with your project.
however, going back to what I said before, using the front wheel drive car, in this case the 80, as the main donor would mean that you would only have to source the front hubs from a rear wheel drive car. no engine to box hassles
This could be bmw if you really wanted but would give you other options, (carlton, sierra, etc).
good luck with your project.
cheers peetbee, thats a very good point, im in a predicament now tho cos ill need to run the donor as my normal car for a while and i really like the bmw, especially if i can get hold of a 320is, thats the 189bhp four cylinder one, mmm
the pricing for the cars looks about equal, according to what is currently available on auto trader, and engine range seems about the same, so i need to make a decision based on availability of audi frot hub assemblies vs availabilty and suitabilty of audi gearboxes.
Russ.
the pricing for the cars looks about equal, according to what is currently available on auto trader, and engine range seems about the same, so i need to make a decision based on availability of audi frot hub assemblies vs availabilty and suitabilty of audi gearboxes.
Russ.
Russ, I may have misunderstood you last post but the way I saw it working is that you use the Audi front hubs at the rear of the car, so that the standard Audi driveshafts fit through as intended. You'd need a trailing arm to stop the hubs turning though!
Another issue would be the calipers, it may be possible to fit Audi rear disks to the hubs to give you the handbrake mechanism. (check the Sylva Mojo to see what I mean)
The front hubs could come from another front wheel drive car, with driveshafts removed (see www.locostbuilders.co.uk and the "Chassis » Front Suspension - What's the verdict" thread for tips) but it would be easier to use front hubs from a rear wheel drive car.
Wishbones would have to be fabricated to suit.
Hope I helped!
Pete
Another issue would be the calipers, it may be possible to fit Audi rear disks to the hubs to give you the handbrake mechanism. (check the Sylva Mojo to see what I mean)
The front hubs could come from another front wheel drive car, with driveshafts removed (see www.locostbuilders.co.uk and the "Chassis » Front Suspension - What's the verdict" thread for tips) but it would be easier to use front hubs from a rear wheel drive car.
Wishbones would have to be fabricated to suit.
Hope I helped!
Pete
i hadnt thought of the handbrake mech peetbee, i guess thats another reason to use the beamer, either that or plumb in a hydrolic handbrake, i have no problem with fabricating wish bones etc tho, everything i cant use from the donor i will be designing and making my self, i could probably fabricate me own rear uprights to take the rear audi brakes and solve the handbrake problem for that matter.
annodomini2- yes i think the 320is is the only 4 cylinder one, its a 16 valve kicking out 189bhp as standard, which is pretty damn good, not sure how much more it can be tuned tho, would certainly be interesting to find out
annodomini2- yes i think the 320is is the only 4 cylinder one, its a 16 valve kicking out 189bhp as standard, which is pretty damn good, not sure how much more it can be tuned tho, would certainly be interesting to find out
Russ, you are definately confusing me! 
If you are using the Audi transaxle you would have to fabricate driveshafts to go from there to the bmw hubs. This seems to be a big overhead as you can just use the Audi front hubs on the rear of the car and therefore the Audi driveshafts. You shouldn't need to fabricate a complete hub possibly just a mounting bracket for the rear calipers onto the front hubs.
With the Audi transaxle I believe the diff is built in, this means that on the car engined version you wouldn't use the bmw rear diff etc.
I think a hydraulic handbrake is definately a good way out, but you need to make sure it's not the flyoff type used in rallying as it wouldn't pass sva.
Surely the more parts you have to fabricate or take from different donors will push up your development costs and also the cost of a kit. Not to mention the time it would take.
>> Edited by PeetBee on Thursday 12th June 23:19
If you are using the Audi transaxle you would have to fabricate driveshafts to go from there to the bmw hubs. This seems to be a big overhead as you can just use the Audi front hubs on the rear of the car and therefore the Audi driveshafts. You shouldn't need to fabricate a complete hub possibly just a mounting bracket for the rear calipers onto the front hubs.
With the Audi transaxle I believe the diff is built in, this means that on the car engined version you wouldn't use the bmw rear diff etc.
I think a hydraulic handbrake is definately a good way out, but you need to make sure it's not the flyoff type used in rallying as it wouldn't pass sva.
Surely the more parts you have to fabricate or take from different donors will push up your development costs and also the cost of a kit. Not to mention the time it would take.
>> Edited by PeetBee on Thursday 12th June 23:19
PeetBee said:
If you are using the Audi transaxle you would have to fabricate driveshafts to go from there to the bmw hubs. This seems to be a big overhead as you can just use the Audi front hubs on the rear of the car and therefore the Audi driveshafts.
im pretty sure i could use adapters at the diff end of the shafts, both cars use a bolt-on affair, they may even already fit for all i know, except the track width may be different, but that doesnt matter. i have a lathe so making adapters wouldnt be a problem.
cheers,
Russ.
I don't think a hydraulic handbrake will pass the SVA...
Doesn't one of the braking systems ie the handbrake, have to be an entirely mechanical system? (which I assume SVA people do not include hydraulics as).
Another thought - regarding the front and rear uprights - don't/didn't Audi use a rather high negative scrub radius for there front suspension geometry? Could this cause fun matching front wheels to rear if mixing hubs from various manufacturers?
Perhaps another reason to adapt the BMW rear hubs? (Assuming you are using the BMW fronts)
BUT there have been a lot of 4WD Audis - cannot you use the rear hubs from one of those instead of adapting the fronts!?!
Another thing - I'm sure you know that a lot of bits from/for Audi are interchangeable with VW? There might be bits from the 'Syncro' Golfs etc you could use?
Cheers, Phil
Doesn't one of the braking systems ie the handbrake, have to be an entirely mechanical system? (which I assume SVA people do not include hydraulics as).
Another thought - regarding the front and rear uprights - don't/didn't Audi use a rather high negative scrub radius for there front suspension geometry? Could this cause fun matching front wheels to rear if mixing hubs from various manufacturers?
Perhaps another reason to adapt the BMW rear hubs? (Assuming you are using the BMW fronts)
BUT there have been a lot of 4WD Audis - cannot you use the rear hubs from one of those instead of adapting the fronts!?!
Another thing - I'm sure you know that a lot of bits from/for Audi are interchangeable with VW? There might be bits from the 'Syncro' Golfs etc you could use?
Cheers, Phil
Hydraulic handbrake won't pass the mot let alone the SVA, you need a different type of system under the regs. The only options are mechnical, as fitted to most and electric handbrake (fitted to a few top end luxury mobiles, new beemer 7 series i think!?).
Mechanical is really the only option, you can either fit some rear calipers with mechanical handbrake, or front ones (some do have it on the front, citroen BX!)
You do realise the Audi gearbox is quite long!
I think the engine you're talking about is from the new 3-series, isn't that going to be a little expensive?
Are you wanting to build a single seater or a two seater? If it's two, then transverse would probably be a better option.
Mechanical is really the only option, you can either fit some rear calipers with mechanical handbrake, or front ones (some do have it on the front, citroen BX!)
You do realise the Audi gearbox is quite long!
I think the engine you're talking about is from the new 3-series, isn't that going to be a little expensive?
Are you wanting to build a single seater or a two seater? If it's two, then transverse would probably be a better option.
has anyone tried with a hydrolic handbrake? the manual says the "parking brake" must be "capable once applied of being maintained in the 'on' position solely by mechanical means" by my reckoning it means the ratchet mechanism that holds the handbrake on, and as said already, a rally style fly off handbrake would fail because you need to physically hold it on with your hand all the time. the "once applied" bit tells me tis not talking about how the lever applies the brake, so i reckon it would be ok, i may be wrong but thats the way i read it.
Russ.
Russ.
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