Re: the Navarro Rambler Six...

[adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)]

" From: farna@xxxxxxx
" 
" On November 15, 2005 Mark Price wrote:
" 
" > I wonder how long a Renault Lecar or 18i based transaxle would hold up?
" 
" Yes, but small engines. One thing people are forgetting -- this is the
" 550 hp prototype Indy engine! Size won't matter (it's less than 199, by
" the way, the 199 block is sleeved down). Tom may de-tune it some if
" he's actually planning on driving it (less boost, maybe?), but
" "detuned" to 400 hp is still a lot more than a 199! Even considering
" the 400 (and 550) ratings are gross, net would still be around 340-360
" (detuned to 400 gross first -- or around 500 if not detuned). 

i hadn't forgotten - that's why my first thought was for the porsche.
recent '911' engines are -very-potent-.  if they can reach production
standards of reliability with ~400hp in a 3200lb+ car...

" Mark, that's why I was suggesting the ZF auto behind the 3.0L Premier.
" Auto, and tougher than something like the 18i, which had a 2.2L max.
" I'm not sure if the turbo version (not sold in the US, IIRC) used the
" same transaxle or not. Or a Chrysler LHS transaxle (in auto). Making it
" an auto would greatly simplify shift linkage and should last longer
" since the torque converter "cushions" the shock to the rear wheels and
" trans guts. No clutch linkage either! 

yeah, but the turbo 199 is still way over their heads.  take a look at
http://www.fiberfab.us/transaxles.html though...

" The Corvair can be "flipped". I've seen the Corvair transaxle in mid
" engine sand rails with SBC bolted to them. The trans case and diff are
" separate units. It's made very much like the VW pieces, at least the
" diff and manual trans. 

i was remembering that too, but not clearly.  iirc folks have made
sports car kits [kellison?] based around 'vair transaxles with sbcs.

i've just doublechecked - the late, full-irs transaxle had the same
innards as the 4sp used with 283s.  that's only half way to the power
of the turbo 199, but in a fullsize car.  and it's a low-cost start...

the 'regular' pg was used behind even bigger v8s.

the corvair ring&pinion are starting to look like the weak links.
otoh the kit folks don't seem to have any trouble with fairly
warmed-over v8s.

" The auto transaxle used in the Pontiac Tempest is actually a power
" glide two speed (I had one). It was also used with 326 V-8 as well
" asthe "half a 389" (194.5) four. The torque converter in the Poncho is
" still on the same end of the trans as it would be with a Corvair
" engine. It's really weird -- the torque converter case hangs off the
" back of the trans in the open air, and rotates, thus is air cooled (no
" coolant lines to radiator). There is no bell housing on the front end
" (torward the engine), just a mount for the torque tube. So it can't be
" used. A true Corvair auto could be, since the ring gear and carrier
" just change sides. As noted above, it has the SBC bolt pattern also. 

yup, the corvair too, and the pg - still popular in drag racing - can
be built for a lot of hp.

i hadn't known that the early unibody tempests ['61-3 only, iirc] were
also available with v8s.  they were really little cars for america -
the size of the corvair, remember!  they would've been -very-fast-
with a 326, and -very-nose-heavy- too, as the 326 was essentially a
low-deck 421/428/455, rather bigger than a sbc never mind a buick 300,
let alone a 215.

the '64-up tempest - and skylark - were midsize body-on-frame cars
shared with the chevelle.  that was the platform the gto sprang from.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought