Re: the Navarro Rambler Six...

[adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)]

" From: farna@xxxxxxx
" 
" The problem with the Fiero transaxle (TA) is it's a standard GM front
" drive TA -- transverse (sideways). Just wouldn't work with a long six!
" Or would make a rather wide car. 

yup.

" The one I even forgot until now though, is the strongest -- the GM
" Toronado/Eldorado TA! It doesn't have to be the TH-400 spec model from
" 67-78, the slightly smaller 79-85 model should be good, and cheaper to
" find.

these are the th325 i mentioned.

all these early ones put the tranny alongside the engine.

" I don't know if the 86-91 model used a longitudinal (traditional
" front to back) or a transverse TA, but I think they are longitudinal.

i think they are transverse, with the th440 transaxle.

" I'm pretty certain the 92-02 models (all Northstar engines) use a
" transverse TA, but I could be wrong. Couldn't find a good reference on
" the Internet. 

these definitely are.

" On November 15, 2005 J. Johnson wrote:
" 
" > I am surprised no-one had mentioned the Fiero transaxle..   I have
" > been told that these have been mated to a SBC, so they must have
" > some strength to them.  I beleive they are forward mated as well,
" > yes??  They are also virtually worthless to junkyards as they are
" > mostly fibreglass, no crushable weight to them at all.  I went to
" > an estate auction this past summer.  There were 9 of these cars,
" > no-one, even the junkyard boys that were in attendance bid on them..

fieros aren't 'mostly fiberglass'; they have an inner steel structure.
the 'glass is for body panels, decorative only.  they are in fact
relatively heavy for their size.

as frank says, they're transverse; an x-car front subframe moved to
the back.  i started looking around when i got the idea of putting a
z34 drivetrain back there, and i was gratified to find a place that
said of all the swaps they did - including northstars and turbo 231s,
as well as sbcs - the twin-dual-cam 3.4 -sounded- the best.

the stock trannies are the same as used with 151 and 173 x-car motors.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought