Ok, so I like the idea of replacing the engine in a VW Beetle (aside of the one I'm building at the moment) with a "large" motorcycle
engine (1000cc plus) and well, it already had a gearbox.
How about replacing the Beetle transaxle with the front diff from a 4x4 (Sierra/BMW X series etc) and then bolting the bike output "sprocket
replacement" to the input of front diff (though you could stick something like the Elite reverse box in between engine and diff if you want
reverse).
Cheers
I'm sure I remember seeing something about Freelander front diffs being used for RWD kit cars. As for bolting the engine/gearbox and diff directly together, you'd need very accurate alignment or some sort of joint to take up differences, as you've no prop-shaft and UJs to do the job.
Looking at BMW diffs there seems to be a rubber connector so that might help but agree alignment would need to be good
If I remember right zcars used a rear Sierra dif upside down
quote:
Originally posted by SteveWalker
I'm sure I remember seeing something about Freelander front diffs being used for RWD kit cars.
I think you mean a Freelander REAR diff'
Quite possible. I was going from memory of something I read years ago and could easily have got it wrong.
May not apply to what you want to achieve, but IIRC Ultima GTRs use a Porsche gearbox/trans-axle upside down. Upside down so they can achieve a mid-engine layout using a gearbox/trans-axle from a rear engine layout vehicle.
I've got a Freelander rear diff in my Fury. 3.21 ratio and a lot lighter than a Sierra one.
Not heard of anyone using front diffs.
Hey, if i'm not mistaken there is a time when you would use a front diff from either a Cosworth or 911 C4 etc...
For most bike engines (Blade, R1, Hayabusa, most chain driven) the output turns anti-clockwise (if you're sitting in the tunnel looking at the
output shaft) just like most car engines, that's why they fit in neatly with a 'normal' diff like Sierra / Freelander rear diff.
Similarly with shaft-drive bike engines, if the shaft is on the right of the bike, the output turns anti-clockwise, so it would fit in the same (e.g.
I had a car with a Honda Pan-European 1100 which had the shaft on the right), so again you use a normal diff.
The one time you would use a Front diff is if you had a shaft drive bike with the shaft on the left (some BMWs, Honda VFR, etc) they drive clockwise
when viewed from the tunnel looking at the back of the engine, so you need a diff that turns the other way, et voila - front diff from a
Sierra/911c4.
Not heard of anyone doing it, and might be a bit more expensive and rare to get hold of, but it would work....
(Can't use a Freelander front diff because it's in the transverse gearbox, and you can't just use a 'normal' diff turned
upside down because you're still using the diff the wrong way so wearing the diff etc).
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
May not apply to what you want to achieve, but IIRC Ultima GTRs use a Porsche gearbox/trans-axle upside down. Upside down so they can achieve a mid-engine layout using a gearbox/trans-axle from a rear engine layout vehicle.