Inverted FWD transaxle in a mid engined config
Discussion
I want to put together a mid-engined drivetrain which uses a cheap tunable engine, and a transaxle.
But to get the engine low enough to fit in the car I'm putting these into and keep shaft angles sensible, I will need to flip the transaxle upside down to place the gearbox input shaft below the driveshafts.
Sadly, because kids, it needs to be a (very) low cost solution. Sad face.
The most obvious gearbox I've found via google is the VAG 012 from a diesel A4 (the diesel variant shafts are larger) and it's pretty cheap and available.
Seems that a few mid engined builders are using the 6spd 01E gearbox instead. This would be really attractive if I didn't need to flip the gearbox, as a range of VAG engines like the 1.8T, 2.7TT and quad cam v8 would (I assume) bolt on and then just have flywheel and clutch bits to fiddle around with.
Does anyone know if either or both of these transmissions can be inverted and the diff flipped? - with some fettling I would assume.
The other one I know about is the WRX 5spd, which definitely has space to flip the diff. But the box isn't that cheap and it would need converting to 2wd.
There's a flip kit available from Subarugears but the cost of it, the 2wd bits and the box would probably bust my entire engine and gearbox and upgrades budget...
Based on the above I'm well aware I will need an adapter plate, and it'll probably be a custom one as this installation will be somewhere between uncommon and unheard of.
I'm keen on using the range of VAG engines mentioned above, but have also had thoughts of the Saab B204 / B234 engines which can produce the sort of power I'm after (c.400bhp in mind) for not much money. I'd love to go Subaru flat-4 but again the cost of a decent base engine is against me, as is then tuning one to the level I'm targeting.
Anyone done it, have good knowledge of the gearboxes, know of any specialists in the UK, or converted cars?
And any other engine ideas to cheaply get to 400bhp - so preferably without needing forged everything?
But to get the engine low enough to fit in the car I'm putting these into and keep shaft angles sensible, I will need to flip the transaxle upside down to place the gearbox input shaft below the driveshafts.
Sadly, because kids, it needs to be a (very) low cost solution. Sad face.
The most obvious gearbox I've found via google is the VAG 012 from a diesel A4 (the diesel variant shafts are larger) and it's pretty cheap and available.
Seems that a few mid engined builders are using the 6spd 01E gearbox instead. This would be really attractive if I didn't need to flip the gearbox, as a range of VAG engines like the 1.8T, 2.7TT and quad cam v8 would (I assume) bolt on and then just have flywheel and clutch bits to fiddle around with.
Does anyone know if either or both of these transmissions can be inverted and the diff flipped? - with some fettling I would assume.
The other one I know about is the WRX 5spd, which definitely has space to flip the diff. But the box isn't that cheap and it would need converting to 2wd.
There's a flip kit available from Subarugears but the cost of it, the 2wd bits and the box would probably bust my entire engine and gearbox and upgrades budget...
Based on the above I'm well aware I will need an adapter plate, and it'll probably be a custom one as this installation will be somewhere between uncommon and unheard of.
I'm keen on using the range of VAG engines mentioned above, but have also had thoughts of the Saab B204 / B234 engines which can produce the sort of power I'm after (c.400bhp in mind) for not much money. I'd love to go Subaru flat-4 but again the cost of a decent base engine is against me, as is then tuning one to the level I'm targeting.
Anyone done it, have good knowledge of the gearboxes, know of any specialists in the UK, or converted cars?
And any other engine ideas to cheaply get to 400bhp - so preferably without needing forged everything?
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