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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 1:03 am 
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The model numbers for all the "Japanese" (and US clone) cars and parts make me dizzy.
Not sure how anyone knows what bolts to what with little or no modification.
I've noticed all sorts of parts from very different manufacturers seem to interchange.

What I am after is a way to build mid-engine "street" cars without paying silly prices for a MANUAL and LONGITUDINAL transaxle for an I4 to possibly small V6 engine.
Not really looking for big HP/Torque, Sports Cars, not CAN-AM or GT-40 replicas.
Miata, Toyota, Ford I4 engine is the most obvious choice, but despite searching the forum I find very little clue for the trans to use. :BH:

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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 3:12 am 
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These people have been in the transaxle adapter business a long time. They list VW, Porsche and Audi transaxles - at least a dozen of them. They also have a long list of motors... I see the both vintage Ford and modern Duratec 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 along with Ecoboost ( same part number ). Lots of other motor choices too.

I think VW and Audi have choices that could be affordable. I remember Cheapracer once posted a picture of Audi transaxles in a Chinese junkyard that was about the size of a house. They were used a lot in taxis in that country. THere was something about the 04 model that was attractive when I was thinking of putting one in the back of a Locost, but I don't remember what. Good luck.

https://www.kennedyeng.com/engine-adapters

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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 3:54 am 
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Found a long V8 trans thread full of dead pic links on this very site.
Still somewhat useful.

Looks like Kennedy FINALLY updated their site.
Unfortunate that it looks like they also did away with some of the previous trans strength reference info. :(

Poking about the web is seems some of the much less expensive Porsche boxes may work fine with Miata 1.8 or similar I4 engines.
Lots of adapters made for the old VW/Porsche bolt pattern.
I'm looking to change my life and get back into building cars again.

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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 8:55 am 
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Call 'em up and ask if they can email the information to you. And then repost it here!

Failing that, the old site may be saved at archive.org.


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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 1:26 pm 
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Consider the newer Audi stuff over the older VW or Porsche. They have been making that stuff for decades but it is also still current. So you should be able to get that stuff cheaper than the VW or Porsche which can cost extra because it's vintage or antique now.

I think the current Audi 1.8T is the same basic engine VW has been making for a long time. I think the Audi is longitudinal. So you can get the transaxle you want, cheap German motor with lots of years of different models, should be able to get carb manifolds if you want. etc.

Older VW Passat also has a longitudinal transaxle from Audi.

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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 3:28 pm 
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Audi trans are on my list.
Never even thought of the Audi/VW engines.
Mostly looking at Miata donors as they are fairly recent manufacture and cheap with decent brakes.
Looking into making my own Weber and ITB adapters for Miata.
Now wondering if anyone has experience with leaning the Miata engine over to fit under the bonnet?

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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 7:05 pm 
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Subaru transaxles are another option.


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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 7:13 pm 
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Priorities in no particular order.
Availability - price.
Strong enough.
Light.
Smaller is better.
Adaptability.

The Renault trans I used in the Noble P4 was great but now they are very hard to find and expensive.

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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 7:45 pm 
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Huh, Subaru to LS, really?
Interesting that the VW 1.8 can apparently be tilted over a lot.
Listing shows 15º, 28º and 50º!
Prices are high though. :(

http://www.subarugears.com/Adaptors/Adaptors.html

Trying to find more detail on the Subaru boxes, dimensions and weight.
Which reminds me, how is the Abarth project going?

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PostPosted: December 2, 2017, 9:04 pm 
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Ugh, most modern engines sure are UGLY!
Plumbers nightmares, and electricians too.
Overly complex with F.I., VVT, Turbo, CATS and many other headaches.
I need to do some more research but it look like the VW 2.0 may be easier to use than a 1.8t?
Wonder if it can also be leaned over so much?
If there is an original longitudinal version power is certainly adequate for my purposes, even if a little is lost to simplifying the engine and control.
From WIKI, "The 16 valve Volkswagen engine is the same as the EA827 series,the only difference being the addition of piston cooling oil squirters, similar to the g60 block but with a 16 valve cylinder head attached.
ID code- PL
1.8-litre 16v, 95 kilowatts (129 PS; 127 hp) — 1986–1989 Volkswagen Golf Mk2 GTI, Volkswagen Jetta Mk2, Volkswagen Scirocco
ID code- 9A
2.0-litre 16v, 100 kilowatts (136 PS; 134 hp) — 1989–1993 Volkswagen Golf Mk2 GTI, Volkswagen Jetta Mk2, Volkswagen Passat B3".

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PostPosted: December 3, 2017, 3:22 pm 
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Hmmm, Audi A4's seem plentiful in the self service yards.
According to WIKI there are front drive only, and all wheel drive Quattros.
But I'm left wondering if the non-quattro models were even sold here as that seems to be all I can find?
How hard to delete the third drive output?

Once again the silly numbers, numbers, numbers system is making it hard to know what I'm looking for. :?
A4's aplenty, but would A5, 6, 7, 8 really be significantly better?
Is the matching Audi I4 or V6 engine too weird to use?
I'm looking for mostly UNDER 200 HP., perhaps a little more occasionally.

I may enquire overseas for Renault Fuego five speeds, they are fairly small and light.
Really wish I had not given away the one I had with the Europa. :BH:

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PostPosted: December 4, 2017, 2:17 pm 
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A friend used an Audi A6 as his track day car. Ran in the fast group. He flogged that car to within an inch of its life. At ~100,000 miles one of the turbos got noisy, and there was a recall on the ignition coils, I think. Otherwise, no problemo.

The main problem I see would be is that the engine is not only a mass of electronics, the car has all kinds of anti-theft stuff threaded through the wiring and computer. You might want to see if someone has successfully bypassed all that before committing, or plan to go with an aftermarket engine management system.


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PostPosted: December 4, 2017, 7:42 pm 
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Mostly looking for a transaxle to put behind Miata or even an around 2.0 or less PUSH ROD :shock: engine.
Push rod would be smaller and easier to keep under the body.

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PostPosted: December 4, 2017, 8:46 pm 
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In regards to the A4 gearbox, have a search for VW Passats, the B5 platform cars share quite a bit with the A4 are usually aren't AWD. There's a few guys slotting the VW motor and gearbox into Yuropa's.


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PostPosted: December 4, 2017, 9:39 pm 
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Not finding it easy to learn which are longitudinal or their relative torque strength.
Seems VW B5 is a 1.8t and Audi A6 is a V6, but are both longitudinal?
Also seems VW 2.0 is easier to work with than the 1.8t?
B5 manual trans is rare?
A6 manual even more rare? :?

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