Hi

I'm new to these forums but noted that there are a few of us Midtec Spyder owners on here! I believe we are quite a rare breed!

Anyway, I have just collected mine from where it has been in storage for over 13 years. I originally built it in 1994 and it was my only car until 2003 when I moved to a house with off-road parking only. I now finally have the space to rebuild it and am debating what engine and gearbox to use.

I want to try to keep the weight as low in the body as possible and so thought a Subaru 2ltr boxer turbo engine would work but read somewhere that it was too wide. My next thought was to use a Porsche Boxster engine and gearbox (given you can get frontal damage salvage vehicles for not a lot of money) but don't know whether it will fit. I would then seek to cannibalise as many of the other parts as possible.

Any thoughts very much welcomed.

Greg

Look at Audi. The larger ones have a transaxle with an inline engine.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=audi+v8+engine+transmission&rls=com.microsoft:en-GB:IE-Address&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ah UKEwiDoLXd9snQAhWnJcAKHV-gCKMQ_AUICSgC#imgrc=_

[Edited on 27/11/16 by owelly]

Agree Audi or Passat come with transaxle for free if you get a 2wd (non Quattro) version. 1.8t is very tunable.

Scooby is a good shout, there are measurements on the net, think it is about 850mm wide. Transaxle will need centre diff removing and rear drive locking, kits available (sdr storm used this). Boxster engine won't be much narrower I don't think. Boxster transaxle is pretty much the same as the Audi A4 ones iirc but has the benefit of the gear mechanism going the right way (foreword).

You could always try and fit something like a jag 3.0l v6 to a Boxster transaxle with an adaptor plate, need to choose the right flywheel/clutch combo.

Do you have the space to convert it to transverse engine, this will open up more engines.

Thanks both. I will take a look at the Audi options. The convenience of the Boxster option was quite appealing given the gear change is already set up and there would be no need for an adapted plate. Whether it fits is a completely different thing though.

There are some blogs around about fitting the Audi v8 in a Boxster and iirc most of the bolt holes line up. Also I think some of the Audi boxes have cable changes which would be easier.

Scooby width



Audi v8 on Boxster gearbox I think



[Edited on 28/11/16 by Ugg10]

Thank you - that's very interesting.

I reckon the width of the Scoobie engine will be too much, as someone else has pointed out before. I still can't find the width of the Boxster engine to compare it too unfortunately. I thought the internet had everything?!?

The Audi V8 looks very appealing. Mated with the Boxster transaxle it also looks like it might offer a solution of the exhaust issue that I know is waiting in the wings.

Worth a read up on the Audi v8 swap as I think you need to get the right one with the right flywheel bolt pattern and I think there was something about a spacer as well. Google is your friend on this one.

Here's a pic of the OEM headers, not great for power but very neat.