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Author: Subject: mid engine-construktion
Olzon

posted on 16/4/05 at 10:11 PM Reply With Quote
mid engine-construktion

I have read nearly every post in the mid engine section but haven't found the answer i seek.
What engine are you guys building on and how do you re-build them for an mid engine installation?
thanks for all kind of answers

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white130d

posted on 16/4/05 at 10:18 PM Reply With Quote
FWD

Almost any front wheel drive engine/gearbox can be used as a mid engine. You just use a fixed link to adjust the toe instead of steering...the Honda/Acura NSX, MR2, Elise, Fiero etc are all derived from FWD drivetrains...

Does that help?

David





"There's only 2 things that money can't buy, and that's true love and home grown tomatos" Guy Clark

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Olzon

posted on 16/4/05 at 10:32 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks mate, that's give me less questions to think of, any good links about the subject? Things like How to, or something?
Will try to look at some of yours building pics tomorrow and see what i can find out.

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kb58

posted on 17/4/05 at 12:18 AM Reply With Quote
Just remember, when using a FWD drivetrain in a mid-engine car, "forward" to the engine is still forward for the car. There's nothing really to research... Any FWD drivetrain can be used since the car is build around it.

In my case I'm using a FWD drivetrain from a Honda Prelude. As said above, since it's at the back, there's no steering to do, so the steering links are attached to hard points. Go read through my site, in my sig. For that matter, many of us here are doing the same type of thing, check out their sites too.





Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html

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sgraber

posted on 17/4/05 at 01:11 AM Reply With Quote
KB's site is one of the best. You should also check out Alan B's Meerkat Site. He is a member in good standing here. And my site too la bala. The hardest item to solve is actually the shifter mechanism, and if you look at some existing mid-engine cars like the toyota MR2, then that becomes pretty simple too!

Steve





Steve Graber
http://www.grabercars.com/

"Quickness through lightness"

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DorsetStrider

posted on 17/4/05 at 01:16 AM Reply With Quote
my engine plans have been thrown up in the air a bit..... I was planning on useing a FWD alfa engine although I'm now considering a zetec.

However I think you'll find that almost any FWD engine will be suitable for a middy with just some relatively minor modifications to avoid rear wheel steer.





Who the f**K tightened this up!

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kb58

posted on 17/4/05 at 05:11 AM Reply With Quote
Yeah like Steve said, the shifter mechanism is the biggest issue. Obviously if you use a Toyota MR-2 drivetrain you're all set. In my case I had to rework the shifter quite a bit and of course use much longer cables.





Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html

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Olzon

posted on 17/4/05 at 04:09 PM Reply With Quote
KB, thats a really good site of yours....if you produce a DVD i really would like to buy it.
It's sad that a day only got 24 hours, havn't time to read through every thing....

There is lots of books to read, but i found out a swedish bookshop that sale that books for some £ less, but all books are far to many to buy at this point. Where should i begin? I already got the seven builders bibel by Ron Chapman.

Maybe it's easyer for you to give me hints if i tell my ideas.
My plan is to design and build a mid engine based up-on MR2 engine, maybe the supercharged one. Make an roll cage from the begining and ad a little comfort and use it for autocross aswell as cruising and a little bit of racing(or trackdays events).

With the MR2 engine i make things easyer for me, besides that i'm a real Toyota fan, any one who knows wich MR2 engine that's is best or more suitable?
(sorry AlanB and Steve, havn't come through your websites yet, only a look in a hurry)

Thanks for your answers....fun to get quick and informative answers.

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owelly

posted on 17/4/05 at 04:50 PM Reply With Quote
Are we talking mid-engine or rear engined???





http://www.ppcmag.co.uk

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kb58

posted on 17/4/05 at 06:42 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Olzon
There is lots of books to read, but i found out a swedish bookshop that sale that books for some £ less, but all books are far to many to buy at this point. Where should i begin? I already got the seven builders bibel by Ron Chapman.


If it has to be only one book I'd vote for "Competition Car Suspension" by Staniforth.





Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html

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Olzon

posted on 17/4/05 at 08:07 PM Reply With Quote
quote:

Are we talking mid-engine or rear engined???



Well, KB, Alan and Steves cars is mid engine isn't they or maybe have i get something wrong? My concept is something like that, i'm collecting information about as mutch as possible.

Okay Thaks KB. I think i going to purchase these books (competition car suspension, Race Car Aerodynamics, Competition Car Downforce) and maybe these "Tune to Win, Engineer to Win".
Isn't so expensive....these five books cost around 90£ from my bookshop.

Have any one read "Racing Chassis and Suspension Design" written by Carrol Smith?

Nice to get so mutch knowledge from you guys....





/Mikael Olzon

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kb58

posted on 18/4/05 at 12:22 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Olzon
Have any one read "Racing Chassis and Suspension Design" written by Carrol Smith?


Here's my list:
http://www.kimini.com/Reference/index.html





Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html

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RazMan

posted on 9/5/05 at 07:51 PM Reply With Quote
I agree with the guys who mention the gearshift being the biggest challenge. If you are using a cable shift with the engine's own shift mech, the gate is all ar*e about face - you have to find a way to 'mirror' everything so it is the correct way round again - either that or use super long cables which is not ideal.

Oh yes, I am using a V6 Duratec in my middy - bloomin' heavy but very torquey

[Edited on 9-5-05 by RazMan]





Cheers,
Raz

When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box

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