Mid engine 420A???

[91-GS]

Is it possible to mate a Mazda rotary engine to a VW bug's transaxle? If so, it might be nice to go that route since not only a rotary engine is more powerful per pound, it is also much shorter than a 4G63 or 420a and will allow for much more room inside the car? Or forget the whole 'car engine' deal and go with a bike motor and a solid axle, basically like a big go-cart.

As far as holding up the car, there is no real need for a jig inside it. As long as it's supported in multiple places on the bottom, the structure should not sag when cut.

 

[DJ Raydiate]

Yes it is possible. There is a company that makes all sorts of adapter plates for the VW and Porsche transmissions.http://www.kennedyenginc.com/Pages/default.aspx Engine Option List - 4 cyl. I think they would even custom make a plate if needed.

The same theory could be said about the Subaru engine/trans. Beings that its an awd, another company makes plates to convert the transmission from awd into fwd and it's set up to be in longitude. The downfall on the Subaru trans is that (depending on the trans used) they don't hold up to a lot of power and they have short gears. However they would not have to be inverted.

As far as the jig inside, that could be used as the start of the trans and engine mounts. Where our transmissions mount on the bottom, depending on the trans used, it would have the mount on top.

 

[1G Eclipse94928]

I didn't ever think of the bottle jack thing. I would have just tried to find some cheap scales for it, the kind that D.O.T uses for side of road weighing. But the bottle jack thing is even cheaper .

I think the mounting of the engine would have to start at the trans. Once one knows what transmission they would be using ( either longitude/latitude ) then the engine could be placed.

It would be easier to use the 420a engine/trans combo to convert it to rear engine. But the real fun is making it a Mid Engine longitude set up. By measuring from strut tower to tower, one could find the center point of the vehicle and then find the center point of trans of choice whether it be VW,Porsche, Audi, Etc. then line that up. Next one would find the center point of the hubs and line it up with the output of the trans. Once all of this is known, the fab work for the mounting process can begin.

Hopefully before someone cuts into the trunk, they would have enough knowledge to weld a jig inside the car to hold everything straight before removing all of that metal.

Gsx is more like 70/30... I would be surprised if the 420a wasnt around 70/30 too.

 

[DJ Raydiate]

Gsx is more like 70/30... I would be surprised if the 420a wasnt around 70/30 too.

That's why I said ruffly speaking. Once one starts switching everything around, the factory ratio is null and void anyway. That is why it would be best to have access to a way of weighing the vehicle ( Front/Rear, Left/Right ).

 

[mitecl96]

I was reading this and using the 300M longitude trans axle would work with a custom adapter plate, but got to thinking why not just use the 300M v6, would be one idea. The transmission is auto though but it is slap stick so I could see using paddle shifters.

But thinking I would rather have a manual if it were me. Got to looking and for about the same price as a 300m v6 and transmission you could get a v6 Audi A4 with its 5-speed trans-axle. (old model) You would have a stronger and manual transmission and even if you wanted an auto transmission you could have the auto A4 transmission. If you didn't want the Audi engine in the car I would put the 4g63 in it with the Audi trans. 420a would be cool and I like the 420a but 4g63 would be easier to make power and keep the project lower budget. You could use the tunnel that the exhaust used to run coolant lines and maybe move the fuel cell to the front. Wall off behind the front seats make a window in the wall so you can see the bad ass motor from the rear view mirror . Someone needs to do this and a v6 would be a little shorter so that would help with space, maybe even throw a super charger on it

 

[DJ Raydiate]

I was reading this and using the 300M longitude trans axle would work with a custom adapter plate, but got to thinking why not just use the 300M v6, would be one idea. The transmission is auto though but it is slap stick so I could see using paddle shifters.

But thinking I would rather have a manual if it were me. Got to looking and for about the same price as a 300m v6 and transmission you could get a v6 Audi A4 with its 5-speed trans-axle. (old model) You would have a stronger and manual transmission and even if you wanted an auto transmission you could have the auto A4 transmission. If you didn't want the Audi engine in the car I would put the 4g63 in it with the Audi trans. 420a would be cool and I like the 420a but 4g63 would be easier to make power and keep the project lower budget. You could use the tunnel that the exhaust used to run coolant lines and maybe move the fuel cell to the front. Wall off behind the front seats make a window in the wall so you can see the bad ass motor from the rear view mirror . Someone needs to do this and a v6 would be a little shorter so that would help with space, maybe even throw a super charger on it

When I first started looking into this, the 3.5 ho 300m motor and transmission is what I what gave me the idea. The thing about that setup however, is if one builds the 3.5 in any way, the trans will be nothing but junk. They do have upgrades for the Chrysler trans but if you want to make any kind of serious power, it would still be lost.

You are right about having the exhaust tunnel have the coolant lines and anything else you want . The fuel lines are mostly already ran. One could keep the stock location for the lines but have custom lines ran instead.