Rear engined automatic

[jp455]

Hi all...I was looking at that turbine car built by GM that Leno has. I saw that it uses a standard automatic tranny mated to a diferential to be able to use it as a rear engined transmission. Who makes that piece? Is it maybe a one off GM part? Looks pretty trick, this way cars like Ultimas could use an automatic.

Manuel Scettri

[HILROD]

I think it's from a newer vette, minus torque tube.

[Steve Chryssos]

That looks really slick. But excluding Jay Leno's resources, I would consider a 4T80E.

[Project69]

Yea im pretty sure the newer vettes have transaxles.

[jp455]

I guess it is the corvette transaxle minus the transmission. I always thought that it was a one piece casting on the vette...guess not. Thanks guys!

Manuel

[Skip Fix]

Back in the old days an Olds Toronado or Caddy Eldo were used. In the 70s in Dallas "hot Rod Exchange" speed shop had two El Caminos with them mounted in the bed to a BBC. Easy to pull the front wheels with no motor and just a straight front axle there!

[HILROD]

That pic is of the transaxle AND the trans.

[pdq67]

Please look into Pontiac's OLD early '60's Tempest transaxles and see if one couldn't be reworked to do what you may want??

I do know that my Buddy tried out a used 2-dr post 336" / 326" V-8, 3-speed on the floor jobber back then and boy did it GO!!

pdq67

[deuce_454]

corvette transaxle on ebay... you can clearely see how the diff is bolted to the t56...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-Co...ayphotohosting

on an other note, the ultima uses a porsche or getrag transaxle that has the diff mounted between the engine and transmission... so that is a no-no on the automatic ultima....

[Skip Fix]

The Tempests used a cable type shaft to mate the motor to the rear tranny. The autos have the torque convertor hanging out back that looks weird. Buddy busted a cable with a fairly stock 326.

[Texas Hotrod]

I have a Turbo Htdro 425, its case and internals is designed after a TH400. It's a really strong unit and parts are available. If it could lug a big Caddy El Dorado/Toronado around, you know it has to be strong. Mine was behind a 455, others took the abuse from 500 inch Caddies.

The cool thing about this t'axle, it puts the drive shafts dead center of the engine block. It makes a really short package.
I saw an old Tomy Ivo race car. It was an Olds Toronado with a blown455/TH425 combo at each end. Dual engines, dual trannies, and smoking all 4 tires down the track (proving how much power that trans axle can take).

[pdq67]

TV Tommy!

pdq67

[Texas Hotrod]

You're right.
Tommy Ivo ran jet cars.

TV Tommy had all the weird, cool stuff.
The Toronado had blown 455s. He had a rail with 4 engines too, everything was Oldsmobile powered.

[kmcanally]

Hey...I remember that speed shop.

Back in the old days an Olds Toronado or Caddy Eldo were used. In the 70s in Dallas "hot Rod Exchange" speed shop had two El Caminos with them mounted in the bed to a BBC. Easy to pull the front wheels with no motor and just a straight front axle there!

[BB69]

That pic is showing basically all Vette pieces. Starting with the C5 Vette, the transmission is mated directly to the differential. In that pic, they are even using the Vette aluminum rear suspension cradle with some modifications. Here is a pic of the C5 trans and differential mated directly to the engine instead of the torque tube used in the Vette. The complete packaga is about 54" long; much too long for the Ultima. I am using it because I am building my own car and the length was something I could design around.

Ken

[rcotteleer]

BB69,

What is the dimension from the bellhousing face to the axle centerline? is it the 54" or is that the overall length?