Unlikely ME/RWD donor?

[Twincam16]

I had a thought about this today - I remember a thread on here bemoaning the lack of longitudinal engine placements, meaning that mid-engined cars in the future would nearly all have transverse engines, therefore meaning the engine is restricted in the size that can be fitted, and how central it can be.

Then I remembered a big-selling, longitudinally-mounted mid-engined RWD car, the platform of which could be useful if you were considering a car with a big mid-mounted engine.

Now you'll have to bear with me as its a bit of an unlikely candidate. I don't think there are any kit cars based on anything like this:

[pic]http://www.southdowntrading.co.uk/k3/003sml.jpg[/pic]

Well? Has its chassis got sporting potential or am I having a larf?

[denisb]

Really dumb question but what is it?

Sorry, I only do Motorbikes, mid engined kit cars (transverse) and Corolla GT's.

[Twincam16]

It's a Toyota Previa. They maximised the interior space by doing a 'cab-forward' job with a mid-engine, RWD and a much lower centre of gravity than other MPVs.

It just struck me that, if the floorplan was laid bare, the right alterations to the wheels, suspension and steering rack would mean that it could possibly be surprisingly sporty, and it's big enough to accommodate any engine up to really big V12s, in the middle, mounted longitudinally. Strikes me as a quick, if unlikely, way to a supercar.

[Incorrigible]

I don't know what engine or box it has but if you could attached one of the higher performace Toyota VVT or somesuch engines without having to resort to a gearbox plate and if the box could take the power, it could indeed be very interesting

The chassis and front suspension could probably be used if you wanted to go really budget, I think the chassis/floorpan would need shortening

However, just getting a civic type-r front end sticking that at the back and building stuff around that would be be easier. having the engine mounted longtitudonaly isn't te hbe all and end all

[anonymous-user]

Incorrigible said:

having the engine mounted longtitudonaly isn't te hbe all and end all

But it would help. Putting a front-transverse engine and box in the rear is all well and good, but as most front engine installations actually sit *over* the front axle and no doubt will be slowly forced further back in time (pedestrian impact regs, etc.) you'll be shifting the weight further back making the car more rear engined than mid.

As for using the chassis, I really don't think body conversions have any life left in them these days. It was almost acceptable when you could unbolt the body from a Beetle floorpan and bolt a new body on. But now we're looking at almost all of the cars that you'd consider as potentials for this will be monocoque. Hence putting a new body on would necessitate hacking into the very strength of the shell. Considering the cost of a spaceframe chassis onto which all of the bits from a shopping trolley or whatever can be bolted, it doesn't seem worthwhile to me.

[Incorrigible]

Oh yes, that was kind of my point

Plenty of other gearboxes you could use to do the same thing (usdie down VW transporter, Renault, porsche etc)

[GravelBen]

they did actually make one of those with 4wd and a 2.5 supercharged atraight-6 in it (petrol not diesel). have no idea what they go like but found it funny when I saw one.

[SidecarDoug]

Over on this side of the pond,an enterprising fellow
has taken to building Porsche 356 speedster replicas
using Subaru drivetrains mid-engined. The 2.5 litre
engine yields 165hp stock. If you want to get totally nuts, the WRX STI is capable of 300hp. The Subie engine is longitudinally mounted ahead of the trans-axle, so weight distribution is 48/52 f/r (with 5speed manual gearbox.)
I drive a Forester with one of the 165hp engines, & at 4,000 + lbs it gets 24mpg average, close to 30 on the freeways and handles the roads thru the Sierras pretty well.... In an 1800 lb kit car it should run like a scalded ape and return 30 + mpg or better.

www.specialtyauto.com/PORSCHE.htm will get you to a website with more info and ideas.

Doug