[ckucia]

This is probably a hair-brained idea...

When I think about an AWD project, I assume that the engine is going to have to be offset slightly to clear the front differential and set high enough to clear the halfshaft that either goes under it or through the oil pan under the bearings.

Then, the trans would be hooked up directly behind the engine as normal.

I was thinking last night about the way the Eldorado and Toronado was set up - with the chain drive connecting the engine and transmission.

What if you took two inline four engines (or even inline sixes) and laid them sidways with the two crankcase bottoms facing each other on both sides of the front differential, and the cylinder heads facing outwards. Then connected both to a common transmission via the same chain setup.

That would effectively give you an eight-cylinder or twelve-cylinder engine but would probably keep the mass located a lot lower in the vehicle - assuming you had the space in the engine compartment. IIRC, Corvairs used sideways-mounted cylinder banks. You could also tweak the positions of all the components to even out the weight distribution left to right.

Sure wouldn't work for every application, but if the room was there, it might be pretty interesting - especially with two inline sixes.

[Nightrider]

Wow. A lot of things to consider. But...some question: what setup for what application?

[1982 SS]

I like the keep it simple philosophy, the fewer moving parts the better (to me).

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by 1982 SS

I like the keep it simple philosophy, the fewer moving parts the better (to me).

Pretty right philosophy...
Yea, and one question still not solved: with transfer case or without?

[ckucia]

Originally Posted by Nightrider

Yea, and one question still not solved: with transfer case or without?

Unless you're going with a transversely mounted engin/trans that is already AWD, the transfer case is the only way I can think of to get power to the front axle.

Its really a question of what xfer case you want to use, along with what engine/trans combo and then getting it all to fit.

[thenige]

Originally Posted by matt167

Suburu has been around for a whail, late 70's at least and they are all on AWD platforms, a model that comes to mind is the Brat. Might find some IHC Scouts might have AWD's, not shure but I think they might have

That's right.. and another thing to consider, as my AWD X-Talon had, was whether the engine is a traverse mount (i.e., front-wheel drive likely) and has the transfer case to drive the rear wheels mounted next to the tranny.

If the vehicle started as front-drive, then there is the new tunnel required and the completely new rear-end.

I'm moving from AWD to RWD, and thus have the tunnel, however the rear is basically useless as I was originally splitting 210 tq two ways, and now i'm looking at 300+ tq one way.

Either way, a fun project you will have!

[Nightrider]

Originally Posted by ckucia

Its really a question of what xfer case you want to use, along with what engine/trans combo and then getting it all to fit.

What you said about Eldorado-like front drive setup?

[farna]

The 66-85 or so Eldorado/Toronado setup has the torque converter on the engine in a bell, with a wide chain from the converter output to the transmission input. The transmission is on the left side of the engine and points forward, with the differential on the end ("front"). The right axle goes under the oil pan. The engine ends up centered over the wheels. Early models with the big 455/472/500 engines use a TH-400 derived transmission, later models with 350 and smaller engines use a TH-350 derived transmission (I've been told TH-325?). Here's a link from when the Toro was introduced that covers all the details: http://motortrend.com/roadtests/clas...ng/index4.html

Note that this could not be used in an AWD configuration.