Mid Engine

[ho428]

Awhile back someone asked about mid engine PT cars. I finally ran into the Corvair again at a Cruise in Saturday.
Nice car. SBC behind the seat.

At least it's not an LS whatever
Just kidding, an LS in that car would be an awesome swap.

[Rhino]

Do you have any clue what they use for a transaxle?

[TonyHuntimer]

The Corvair looks really nice. Now he just needs to upgrade to disc brakes.

Thanks for sharing,
Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[Rhino]

I just looked at the pics again and noticed it has a cowl induction trunk!

[ho428]

I think he used a Toronada, but I didn't talk to him, just looked under it.
Next time I see him I'll get some details. We're at the same cruises a lot.

Edit: I had to go clear some space for attachments. Here's one other pic I took. Not real clear through the glass though.

It's gotta scream like a Banshee with that sitting right behind you.

[TonyL]

Nope. Tornado cars look different, and the engine would be further back. My guess is that it's a typical Crown Corv-8 and runs the stock transaxle flipped. Most are done that way. Sadly, most of them go through gear sets almost semi yearly.

There is a mid engine corvair with an LS1 in it. It uses the stock corvette C6 transaxle, and runs 12s in safe mode.

[TonyL]

I found it. Here it is. Note, this is only in "Get it working, mockup" phase. he's got the front suspension and brakes figured out too. just not in this shot.



I WISH i could share with you all the discussions we have over at the board these pics came from about weather the LS engine is better than the ol' small block. These guys just cannot wrap their heads around it.

[Paul_J]

I am using an Audi-A4 five speed in my project. Lots of folks are using them or the 5000 for V8 cars. The Corvair has the nicest lines. I'd love to find a decent one. Tony, yours has always been a favorite of mine. Edit: The only thing I'd like to see on these V8 cars would be 8 ITB's with short velocity stacks sticking up in the back seat!

[TonyL]

thanks for that compliment Paul!

you have no idea how many times I've thought of that. (the 8 itb's) There's a really nice kit in this months PHR. But it's FIVE GRAND. and bolts to an LS motor. We're talking about doing my car with an LS in the stock location, in the back. (i need the back seat for my kids.)

But for an all out track car? I may buy my brother's yellow car. Call it the screamin' yellow zonker, and put a mid engine LS engine in it. Depends.

[TonyL]

I just looked at the pics again and noticed it has a cowl induction trunk!

That cowl vent is there for a reason. The radiator needs to vent the heat under the hood now. The cowl vent is far enough from the windshield that there's negative pressure, and the vacuum sucks the hot air out. I've thought about doing it to mine, but it looks wierd. I may just go with inverted louvers.

[showa]

Tony,
If you build the rear engine version, what transaxle you looking at using ???

[TonyL]

One out of a Porsche 911. It's what the only rear engine LS corvair out there runs. Jonathan McCreery built it. So far they've tested the car and say that it walks away from their brand new C6 vette.

[BMF Machine]

The Corvair looks really nice. Now he just needs to upgrade to disc brakes.

Thanks for sharing,
Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

I think the lavender FlameS are going to make me throw up? DanG that is the onry-est paint scheme I have ever seen? They should just go full out DonK with some 32's on that thing?

[Paul_J]

Tony, just some additional information for you on Transmissions.

http://www.lambolounge.com/Chassis/T.../5000/5000.asp

http://www.lambolounge.com/Chassis/T...-915/index.asp

[TonyL]

interesting. I wonder if you can flip the ring gear in the audi transaxle and run it backwards? I didn't know the lambo guys used a 915 transaxle that way.. Stands to reason that you should be able to do the same to the audi and run it like you would the 915 stock. That'd save me a mountain of money on my trans.

[jp455]

I've tried looking for this particular car many times to see whats in it, it was a Camaro with the engine in the back seat. Car was called Camaero, or Camero forget which. It was turned into a fast back for engine access hence the name I guess. Saw it way back in a powertour in 99 or so I think. Never seen it since...but would be interesting to see what he used tranny wise.

[Grngoat]

interesting. I wonder if you can flip the ring gear in the audi transaxle and run it backwards? I didn't know the lambo guys used a 915 transaxle that way.. Stands to reason that you should be able to do the same to the audi and run it like you would the 915 stock. That'd save me a mountain of money on my trans.

Both the 901 and 915 can have their diff flipped inside the case to allow either mid-engine or rear-engine operation. The 930 can too, but I think some clearancing is required to run in a mid-engine configuration. Unfortunately, you can't do this in any of the later Porsche transaxles. The Audi transaxle is the same unit as a Boxster - they just seem to be cheaper because they came out of an Audi. I'm not sure if the Audi/Boxster trans can be run upside down.

Just go with a G50, it's stronger and the 915 shifts like crap.