FrankenMR2

[yoshimitsuspeed]

So I recently got a MK1 MR2 and have started hanging out with the local MR2 guys, one of which is a cool toyota mechanic. This guy loves to do cool swaps like putting the 2.0 and 2.2 MK2 engines in MK1s and 3.0 and 3.4 V6s in MK2s. Naturally discussion has come up about making an AWD MR2, specifically for my interest a MK1. Now there are several problems with this aside from the fact that it would be a lot of work. The biggest problem that I see is a transversly mounted engine with AWD will send the drive shaft out the back of the car. If you turn it around you will have 5spd reverse and one really slow forward.
Well now we get to why I am postin this on tuners
It occured to me that since the evo 4 and up is mounted reverse the engine should also spin the opposite direction right? I also assume that the engine being a 4G63 should bolt up to a DSM tranny pretty easily right? Now the motor would be spinning the tranny backwards so theoretically if you turn it around and point the driveshaft at the front tires it should drive in the proper direction right?
Now thinking about this a little more it occures to me you will probably at least need straight cut gears since I am assuming it would not shift properly spinning backwards. With straight cut gears would the tranny hold up to reverse rotation? If so will the center diff be a problem? This is just fanciful thinking right now but it seems like one of the simpler solutions that I have thought of so far.

 

[suicidal2af]

So I recently got a MK1 MR2 and have started hanging out with the local MR2 guys, one of which is a cool toyota mechanic. This guy loves to do cool swaps like putting the 2.0 and 2.2 MK2 engines in MK1s and 3.0 and 3.4 V6s in MK2s. Naturally discussion has come up about making an AWD MR2, specifically for my interest a MK1. Now there are several problems with this aside from the fact that it would be a lot of work. The biggest problem that I see is a transversly mounted engine with AWD will send the drive shaft out the back of the car. If you turn it around you will have 5spd reverse and one really slow forward.
Well now we get to why I am postin this on tuners
It occured to me that since the evo 4 and up is mounted reverse the engine should also spin the opposite direction right? I also assume that the engine being a 4G63 should bolt up to a DSM tranny pretty easily right? Now the motor would be spinning the tranny backwards so theoretically if you turn it around and point the driveshaft at the front tires it should drive in the proper direction right?
Now thinking about this a little more it occures to me you will probably at least need straight cut gears since I am assuming it would not shift properly spinning backwards. With straight cut gears would the tranny hold up to reverse rotation? If so will the center diff be a problem? This is just fanciful thinking right now but it seems like one of the simpler solutions that I have thought of so far.

Feasible solution, with straight-cut gears.

Out of curiosity, have you perhaps considered using an aftermarket EMS to change the firing order and make a 3SGTE spin backwards? You would probably run into issues with oil pump/alternators, etc...but it would be easier than that idea.

 

[yoshimitsuspeed]

Feasible solution, with straight-cut gears.

Out of curiosity, have you perhaps considered using an aftermarket EMS to change the firing order and make a 3SGTE spin backwards? You would probably run into issues with oil pump/alternators, etc...but it would be easier than that idea.

If i'm not mistaken I am assuming you would be pulling air in through the exhaust ports and out through the intake. The timing belt and tensioner would be backwards, oil pump like you said. I think it would be easier using a motor already designed to spin in the opposite direction.

 

[MIdsm]

To my knowledge, which is not very good, the evo 4 engine spins clockwise, same as in the eclipse. The engine was moved to the opposite side of the vehicle because the evo 1-3 and DSMs have a 3 shaft transmission. With the engine on the other side of the vehicle one less tranny shaft is needed allowing for larger gears and synchros. Various older Honda engines are located on the drivers side and rotate counter clock wise, and that's why they could get away with a two shaft tranny. Newer Honda engines spin clockwise and reside on the passenger side of the engine (like in newer evos) and still have a two shaft tranny.

On the other hand, when a Porsche 911 (rear engine) tranny is used in a 914 s or other mid engine application, the custom is to reverse the ring and pinion gear so that there are 4 or five forward instead of reverse gears.

Another issue would be that the engine and tranny would be located behind the rear axle compromising handling.