Rear transaxle, 928 wasn't a first
01-08-2004, 11:44 PM
#16
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Yes They even "sawed " a V-8 in half ended up with a 4 cylinder tilted on one side ............sound familiar ( they how ever neglected to license the balance shaft idea fron Mitsubishi since it was not invented and the engine was rather rough )? the weird thing about that central drive tube was it was BENT not straight . The Oldsmobile version was available ...v-8 turbo charged but used a live rear axle , front transmission . The Pontiac 1963 V-8 co-starred in the movie " My cousin Vinney" ....( da caw laid down twa strips of rubba over da curb ....)
01-14-2004, 08:45 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
Some more unsolicited trivia in response to Jim Bailey's comments on the Airomobile.
Doman-Marks was an offshoot of the Franklin Automobile Company. Franklin built approximatly 150,000 high quality automobiles in Syracuse, NY from 1902 through 1934.
Like Porsche, Franklin was a company run by the engineers. From day one, all Franklin engines were air cooled and all had overhead valves. Franklin engineers Carl Doman and Ed Marks continued development of air cooled engines after Franklin's demise during the depression. The short lived Tucker used a horizontally opposed Doman-Marks/Franklin six cylinder engine mounted behind the rear axle (sound familar) but, for some reason converted to water cooling.
Doman-Marks eventually aquired the rights to the Franklin name and horizontaly opposed Franklin aircraft engines remain in production to this day.
My 1933 Franklin has an inline six engine with individual aluminum heads bolted to separate nickle-iron cylinders bolted to an aluminum crankcase (kind of like a 911 stood up on end). Displacement is 274 c.i. which works out to 4.5 liters - same as my 928. Power rating is 100 h.p. at 3,100 rpm - somewhat less than my 928.
For more information on Franklins see www.franklincar.org. Tell them James sent you.
Doman-Marks was an offshoot of the Franklin Automobile Company. Franklin built approximatly 150,000 high quality automobiles in Syracuse, NY from 1902 through 1934.
Like Porsche, Franklin was a company run by the engineers. From day one, all Franklin engines were air cooled and all had overhead valves. Franklin engineers Carl Doman and Ed Marks continued development of air cooled engines after Franklin's demise during the depression. The short lived Tucker used a horizontally opposed Doman-Marks/Franklin six cylinder engine mounted behind the rear axle (sound familar) but, for some reason converted to water cooling.
Doman-Marks eventually aquired the rights to the Franklin name and horizontaly opposed Franklin aircraft engines remain in production to this day.
My 1933 Franklin has an inline six engine with individual aluminum heads bolted to separate nickle-iron cylinders bolted to an aluminum crankcase (kind of like a 911 stood up on end). Displacement is 274 c.i. which works out to 4.5 liters - same as my 928. Power rating is 100 h.p. at 3,100 rpm - somewhat less than my 928.
For more information on Franklins see www.franklincar.org. Tell them James sent you.
07-28-2004, 02:20 AM
#19
Rennlist Member
I worked with a guy for a few weeks back in the mid-80's that had a white Tempest with the 4-banger. IIRC he was having some kind of problem with the driveline sounding like a wood chipper. 
Porsche didn't invent that either, merely "improved" it. 
Porsche didn't invent that either, merely "improved" it.
07-28-2004, 01:59 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
Don't dismiss Alfa Romeo. I owned an Alfetta and later a GTV6 that had a rear transaxle. It had a drive shaft with wimpy guibos but it did have a rear transaxle. Pretty good handler and fun as heck to drive. Loved the way it sounded when really cranking it on with the mechanical fuel injection and the Ansa exhaust screaming. Good times.
Regards,
Regards,
