Moving the clutch to the back of the car
05-04-2010, 05:29 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Moving the clutch to the back of the car
Has anyone considered this?
You could turn the torquetube around and bolt a 924 Turbo bellhousing directly to our Audi transmissions, use your hydraulic clutch setup by extending the metal line down the car. The only problem would be the starter would be spinning the wrong way, but surely someone can come up with an idea for that....
Up front, you could cut the old flange off where the transmission used to bolt to and this would basically allow any engine to couple to the 1" 20 tooth driveshaft directly (via some type of small adapter of course)
It would transfer a lot of weight to the rear of the car! Thoughts?
You could turn the torquetube around and bolt a 924 Turbo bellhousing directly to our Audi transmissions, use your hydraulic clutch setup by extending the metal line down the car. The only problem would be the starter would be spinning the wrong way, but surely someone can come up with an idea for that....
Up front, you could cut the old flange off where the transmission used to bolt to and this would basically allow any engine to couple to the 1" 20 tooth driveshaft directly (via some type of small adapter of course)
It would transfer a lot of weight to the rear of the car! Thoughts?
Last edited by pjburges; 05-04-2010 at 08:55 PM.
05-04-2010, 05:47 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Ease of removing engine, adapting different engines, and more weight distribution towards the back of the car (the clutch starter and flywheel/pressure plate probably weigh more than the batter. Novelty? lol
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05-04-2010, 06:04 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
An allwheel drive 944? lol
Im considering engine swaps, and if I did it this way I wouldnt need a bellhousing because the clutch would be contained in the back of the car with the audi 016 / 924turbo one.
All that would be up front is an adapter to attach the crankshaft of the motor to the 1" 20 spline shaft - that I could easily turn out on the lathe in my garage!
I might add that for all those engines we previously thought were "too long" to fit - they could be moved further back in the car if the clutch assembly wasn't in the way. Not that I want an inline six piston motor or anything.
Im considering engine swaps, and if I did it this way I wouldnt need a bellhousing because the clutch would be contained in the back of the car with the audi 016 / 924turbo one.
All that would be up front is an adapter to attach the crankshaft of the motor to the 1" 20 spline shaft - that I could easily turn out on the lathe in my garage!
I might add that for all those engines we previously thought were "too long" to fit - they could be moved further back in the car if the clutch assembly wasn't in the way. Not that I want an inline six piston motor or anything.
05-04-2010, 07:23 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Really? Its not like the driveshaft is very big around, so it wouldn't have much inertia, but I suppose the flywheel would. I've had my flywheel/clutch/pressure plate all balanced together and marked.
I guess there would be torsional vibration from such a long driveshaft with the flywheel on the end of it - even if the whole assembly was balanced....Maybe I would need to incorporate a "flexcoupler" of some type into the adapter I would turn on the lathe to go from the crankshaft to the driveshaft. That way it would help dampen all the torsional vibration from the clutch being transmitted back up the shaft to the engine?
I am serious about this idea guys!!!
How could I get the starter to work the opposite direction as it would end up facing the rear of the car...
UPDATE - Im not sure its such a good idea to hang the flywheel and pressure plate on the input shaft of the transmission. Probably roast the bearings there. But it would be very easy to bolt the 924turbo bellhousing onto the end of the torquetube and directly to the transmission, thereby moving all of that stuff to the back of the car.
My VW friend suggested I literally hack the back of a type 1 VW engine casing off, plane it flat and attach it to the torque tube. Then saw the back of a crankshaft of type 1 VW that attaches with dowels and a threaded nut with the pilot bearing in the nut and bore it out and put the 1" 20 spline pattern in it so it attaches to the end of the driveshaft. Then use a 915 or "914" transmission (with the starter bolted on that side!) to power the car.
Basically instead of having to hang the whole assembly hang off the input shaft, you use the back part of a type 1 VW engine and hang that on the torque tube so that all the load is supported on that side. The only thing hanging on the transmission input shaft then would be the clutch plate.
Comments and criticisms? haha
I guess there would be torsional vibration from such a long driveshaft with the flywheel on the end of it - even if the whole assembly was balanced....Maybe I would need to incorporate a "flexcoupler" of some type into the adapter I would turn on the lathe to go from the crankshaft to the driveshaft. That way it would help dampen all the torsional vibration from the clutch being transmitted back up the shaft to the engine?
I am serious about this idea guys!!!
How could I get the starter to work the opposite direction as it would end up facing the rear of the car...
UPDATE - Im not sure its such a good idea to hang the flywheel and pressure plate on the input shaft of the transmission. Probably roast the bearings there. But it would be very easy to bolt the 924turbo bellhousing onto the end of the torquetube and directly to the transmission, thereby moving all of that stuff to the back of the car.
My VW friend suggested I literally hack the back of a type 1 VW engine casing off, plane it flat and attach it to the torque tube. Then saw the back of a crankshaft of type 1 VW that attaches with dowels and a threaded nut with the pilot bearing in the nut and bore it out and put the 1" 20 spline pattern in it so it attaches to the end of the driveshaft. Then use a 915 or "914" transmission (with the starter bolted on that side!) to power the car.
Basically instead of having to hang the whole assembly hang off the input shaft, you use the back part of a type 1 VW engine and hang that on the torque tube so that all the load is supported on that side. The only thing hanging on the transmission input shaft then would be the clutch plate.
Comments and criticisms? haha
Last edited by pjburges; 05-04-2010 at 08:37 PM.
05-04-2010, 09:13 PM
#15
Rainman
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
that driveshaft weighs 40-50lbs, and it vibrates alot down that tube as is, which is why there are 4 bearings supporting it...
what is your reasoning for wanting more weight at the back of the car?
what is your reasoning for wanting more weight at the back of the car?