Re: the Navarro Rambler Six...
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Re: the Navarro Rambler Six...



Recent Corvette's use a transaxle connected to the engine with a long driveshaft (it looks like a torque tube but doesn't locate the rear suspension). Also, Oldsmobile Toronados used a transaxle behind their 455's which made gobs or torque. Those transaxles are basically a TH-400 split in half and connected with a chain (which is their weak point) and end up being pretty compact. You can also use a "V" drive (ever see the wheelie Ambulance that was built on Monster Garage?) which would let you put the axle under the motor.

You'd have to beef the structure up to do it, but why not stab that motor in a 65 American convertible? I'm thinking mild custom: lowered, shaved door handles, decent sized wheels, etc...

Matt

At 10:57 AM 11/15/2005 -0800, you wrote:
The problem with a std trans and rear is overall length. The
transaxle used in the indy car was very short, from "bellhousing" to
centerline of axle -- like a VW beetle setup. I don't think you could
practically make a driveline that was under 60 - 70" from harmonic
balancer to axle centerline. Put the driver and "stuff" (cage for
your damned ankles, fuel tank, battery, etc) in front of you (hmm...)
and the wheelbase is loooong.

That rambler six is a long block!

I can dream up exotica, but when push comes to shove I gotta buy it
and I gotta build it.

I wish I had walked into that auction with enough $$$ to have bought
the transaxle! Oh man would that have made a fun car...




On Nov 15, 2005, at 4:32 AM, farna@xxxxxxx wrote:


You can run it mid engine with a standard axle. The indy car had an
independent axle, but even that's not to difficult these days! The
only ones that would look "period" behind it is a Jag or Corvette
axle, but even a 280Z/ZX axle should be sufficient. The tires will
break loose before the axle gives up. The Halibrand IRS setup was
similar to a Jag. Standard Halibrand quick change center with very
short "stub" axles right up against the case, drive shafts out to
hubs that were on control arms. The big difference in the Jag and
Corvette setups is the springs -- Jag uses four coil overs that
require mounts out near the wheels, the 'vette uses a leaf spring
mounted on the cast diff cover. So the 'vette is a bit easier to
mount.

I've seen a really old mid engine car (something built in the 50s
or early 60s) that used a standard rear axle about 6" from the
transmission. The engine and axle were mounted on a sub frame, axle
welded to it, which pivoted in front and had a transverse leaf
spring in the back. Needless to say it wouldn't have rode good with
all that unsprung weight, but it worked good enough that the guy
had some fun with it anyway!


On November 15, 2005 Tom Jennings wrote:


It's not forgotten -- I stare at it nearly every day, making me feel
guilty for not continuing the documentation.

Randy Guynn was kind enough totake the custom, one-of-a-kind Navarro
six camshaft and profile it. I've had the specs for months now, too !
@#@!!#$@ busy to do ANYTHING on projects 'til recently. I'm entering
it into a spreadsheet to make a nice table, will post it and mail the
URL to the list.


(I'm thinking now that the only decent project to use that motor would be a hot rod, something 50's-ish with a track nose. I doubt I could ever afford a Hallibrand rear to make a mid-engine car like it ought to be, putting the turbo intake behind the drivers left ear :-)


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mhaas@xxxxxxx Cincinnati, OH http://www.mattsoldcars.com 1967 Rambler American wagon 1968 Rambler American sedan =============================================================== According to a February survey of Internet holdouts released by UCLA's Center for Communication Policy, people cite not having a computer as the No. 1 reason they won't go online.








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