Originally posted by perkidelic: Tony_C Thanks for the specs. I am not using the TH325 anymore. I was trying to get an idea how far the back of your engine is from the firewall.
Ideally I wish I could push the engine far enough forward to run the far side axle behind the damper, instead of under the pan. That would allow me to really lower the engine.
Gotta do some more measuring. If either of you guys have a chance and remember see how far the bellhousing mounting surface of your block is from the upper firewall please.
perk
Running the output shaft under the harmonic balancer would, of course, be ideal because it would put all of the weight of the engine/trans ahead of the wheels but it would also mean that 4 cylinders would end up in the passenger compartment. Unless it was stretched of course.
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08:34 AM
perkidelic Member
Posts: 772 From: Masury Ohio USA Registered: Aug 2002
Yup, that's why I started out by saying, "Ideally I wish...". When I said I have to do some measuring I meant to see how far forward I can go. I am thinking that I can pass the axle right under the first row of cylinders. That would still put a good bit more weight ahead of the axle.
I call this car the "Lab Rat" because it is a development mule for a more radical project I have simmering on the back burner. With it I will have the wheelbase to move the axles all the way back behind the motor and drop the motor as low as possible for better distribution and CG.
Hey cardealer, you want us to send Joey and Marco down to that machine shop to shake things up a bit? You know, for the familia.
perk
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09:46 AM
Jul 9th, 2003
TONY_C Member
Posts: 2747 From: North Bellmore, NY 11710 Registered: May 2001
Last night I completed installing the passenger side axle. I wanted to post a couple of pics but the images are too large (too many bytes). How do I change that or can I even do that? Help... Thanks, Tony
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09:14 AM
perkidelic Member
Posts: 772 From: Masury Ohio USA Registered: Aug 2002
I will take some new lower resolution pics tonight of how I made an adapter for the axles. It's not too difficult to make adapters if you have access to a machine shop with a CNC milling machine.
I'm really needing some inspiration here in the form of an update. After seeing Boomtastic's blue drag car it makes me wanna toss the whole thing and throw the cab on a tube chassis and say to hell with it. LOL.....
Come on I need some pictures of progress !!!!!
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12:39 PM
cardealer Member
Posts: 511 From: austin tx usa Registered: Jan 2001
I will take some new lower resolution pics tonight of how I made an adapter for the axles. It's not too difficult to make adapters if you have access to a machine shop with a CNC milling machine.
effort = $477.79 for custom 500hp axles.
80's- where can i see some pics of booms car? be gentle im on dail-up. i have to make a quick trip to houston to see my tranny guy and then i will have some pics when i start the final assembly process next monday.
I bumped the topic for you Tony. It's under "Questions for those that have molded front ends that lift" or something like that. First pic. I think it's Boom's, but I'm not sure.
p.s.- are you using James Lovelady ?? I heard he's pretty damn good. I talked to him way back and he's really nice on the phone.
[This message has been edited by 80's BOY (edited 07-21-2003).]
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04:06 PM
rodrieguz Member
Posts: 134 From: cahokia IL 62206 Registered: May 2003
1. mating the Fiero axles to the 425 VIA welding/machine work
2. Cutting special axles like cardealer
3. Having a machine shop mate the axle off the 425 to the Fiero axle using the cut/machine/weld method ?
The reason for the question is due to the fact I received the original TH425 axle member torched off at the base with a 3 inch stub coming out of the factory tripot/knuckle assembly. I was just going to have them mated at the local axle shop. Doesn't sound too strong though does it ? Looks like you had a ring cut to fit, then had the axle welded into that ring correct ?
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09:47 AM
TONY_C Member
Posts: 2747 From: North Bellmore, NY 11710 Registered: May 2001
Well, custom axles would have been nice but I think these will be plenty strong for my purposes. Remember, the gearing in the differential isn't too steep and I don't anticipate launching too hard so I don't think breakage wil be a problem. Yes, I had the ring CNC machined to almost the exact contour or the tripot and then carefully opened it up until it fit snugly. Then it was welded on (disassembled the joint first of course) and the tripot was chucked in a lathe and a step was machined on the back face of the ring so it would locate properly to the diff and also so that face would be perpendicular to the output shaft of the diff.
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10:03 AM
Jul 23rd, 2003
rodrieguz Member
Posts: 134 From: cahokia IL 62206 Registered: May 2003
bump, because I don't want to let this thread die. Cardealer, any progress? How's your back?
better now that i got some good pain killers, but it still sucks! i think they are going to take out all the metal thats in my back in january, but i will have the car ready in a few more weeks. i am goin to finish the roll cage this weekend and do a little more cleaning and painting. i am waiting on 1 part for my transmission then its all going in the car. and you????
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10:29 AM
D-Ri2k4 Member
Posts: 282 From: Florence (Hicksville), Texas Registered: Feb 2003
hey man... make sure and give me a call whenever you get that car movin... hehe... then maybe you and kevin'll finally be able to settle this bottle-fed vs. blown thing... hehe...
-Daniel
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02:10 PM
Aug 5th, 2003
dosed Member
Posts: 337 From: Denver, CO, USA Registered: Mar 2001
Saw the beast yesterday!!! I would say a couple more weeks!! The new very neat looking ___ is soo cool!!! (not sure if I can spill the info! ) He has gotten very good with the welding!
i havnt been able to do to much lately on the project its been way to hot and my back has been giving me a little trouble. i had a little problem with oil pan clearence but i am making a new oil pan and then it will be going in. heres the broken record " three more weeks- three more weeks- three more weeks.
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11:40 AM
TONY_C Member
Posts: 2747 From: North Bellmore, NY 11710 Registered: May 2001
Cardealer, I know what you mean...progress is very slow here too. Been hot here lately and it seems there's always something else that needs to be done first anyway. I looked in other posts but couldn't find it, what stroke is that motor? 3.48" or something longer? I am about ready to start on an oil pan, was wondering how much clearance you intend to have between the crank counterweights and the pan. If you have seen the olds/caddy pans, they even have two drainplugs so you can get the little bit of oil that remains in the front half of the pan. do you plan on doing that? I was thinking about welding two bungs on the pan and connecting them with a steel braided hose running under the axle so there would be no oil pooling in the fron of the pan. any comments would be appreciated. I'm glad this thread is back to BTW.
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01:15 PM
perkidelic Member
Posts: 772 From: Masury Ohio USA Registered: Aug 2002
I guess the not-so-traditional longitudinal guy will insert an update at this point too. I have been busy working on the new shop and haven't had much time for actual work on the car but it's coming soon! My first step is adapting C5 Vette wheels, and then it's motor mockup time. I already started on the wheels, and hope to finish that by the end of Sept.
I decided to keep things closer to the original Eldorado/Toronado type trans (which was my inspiration) and tuck the tranny in alongside the motor. That means my transfer unit will be attached to the back of the bellhousing. I am really just replicating the setup you guys have with separate components.
A C5 differential will be bolted directly to the back of the transmission, in place of the tailshaft; and custom axles from it to each wheel. My plan is to use a Richmond 6spd tranny, but I will probably use something else to mock it up.
This should give you an idea what I am up to:
perk
[This message has been edited by perkidelic (edited 08-22-2003).]
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05:21 PM
vortecfiero Member
Posts: 996 From: Toronto Area, Canada Registered: Feb 2002
Originally posted by vortecfiero:mid speed corner, late apex, lift, tap the brakes, turn in, whoaaaaanelly (trailing throttle overstear)
Suspension tuning, wheel/tire selection, etc can compensate for any additional rearward wight bias. If they can make a 911 handle decently with the ENTIRE motor hanging off the back of the car, it shouldn't take rocket science to make this combo work.
perk
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07:45 PM
The Aura Member
Posts: 2290 From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Registered: Nov 2001
..but c5's have the transaxle and differential combined in a single rear mounted unit
Not so... The C5 rear mounted "transaxle" is actually a custom aluminum (housing) diff that simply bolts in place of the tailshaft on a front-engine/rear-drive type transmission. I believe the automatic is a 700R4 or 4L60E. I can prove it cuz I have a C5 diff here waiting for me to start my mockup.
perk
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09:14 PM
Aug 27th, 2003
TONY_C Member
Posts: 2747 From: North Bellmore, NY 11710 Registered: May 2001
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