Longitudinal BMW V12 in a Stock Fiero Engine Compartment - 25th Anniversary Countach (Page 3/33)
25thCountach APR 11, 11:59 PM
for the roll down windows , I had a guy in England make me steel frames. He's the only guy so far that has made a curved version, which was a must for my build, I also sourced curved glass from Pilkington Automotive Glass UK. I was able to get both my windscreen as well as all remaining glass from there. For my BMW V12 build I have the Audi 5000s 5 speed transmission, shifter kit ( Mike Orlando) for the trans, custom made adapter plate to mate up the trans and the M70, a custom made flywheel with pilot bushing/bearing, and finally a clutch and clutch plate. I have a friend name Mark that has a genuine 89 Countach that has helped me immensely on reference and photos. I've taken many photos of his car, even helped him with parts as well. So the name of the game is to get the cars on the road, I just have to make mine as oem as possible as Mark wants me to show it next to his at shows, so if you take a look at my old thread you will see some of the parts I've collected to get it there. Anyway I can help , just let me know

Will
25thCountach APR 12, 12:09 AM
I never got my paid for seat shells snicker snicker..... I'm gonna go with modded seats from a fiero as well and have Mr Mikes do the proper cover for it..Any idea of who made your kit? how authentic are you going for on your build?

Will
opm2000 APR 12, 06:23 AM
Nice bit of work !

You won't regret the auto trans, with all that engine behind it. I finally got my LT!/325 pumping just right, and it's all you can do to hold on

By all means share more pics, and if you do get a manual with drawings we can take to the machine shop, it would be greatly appreciated.

David Breeze

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Pantera Rebody Kits

88lambo APR 12, 01:12 PM
Hey Will

the kit came from a companey in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...15 or so years ago these guys made 12-15 turnkeys and sold them, in 1997 the owner shut down the company but one of the employees bought a kit from him to build for his grandson, well he never did anything with it and it sat in his sisters garage for 11 years. He claims they pulled the molds from a real Countach, but who knows. it looks accurate, but a bit wider than what the Lambo specs say...the only major difference is since the kit was designed to be stretched in the passenger compartment the rear window is at a 45° angel rather than vertical. too hide this they went with an older style engine cover (dome style with a horizontal grill and another small grill near the trunk) I would like to get rid of the rear bumper, i never liked it (See photo below). so if anyone has a older style countach kit and are willing to pull molds of the lower section where the 25th anniversary bumper should be, let me know

Will, how are you going to get the V12 with the audi transaxle into the car, isn't that package to long for the countach? it barely fits the Diablo with a 11" stretch. are putting the axles at an angle? or cutting part of the firewall????
25thCountach APR 12, 04:27 PM
Howdy,
short answer is that I want the firewall closer to where the Countach's should be, behind the door sill. This will move the firewall forward considerably. the Engine is 29.5, the trans is 26.5, and the adapter plate is 1.375 so approx 57.375" long total. Building an 89 version also gives us a bonus in that the 89 has a rear valance that sticks out further than the older model and with the addition of the 89 lower bumper , this combination should conceal the trans end...I've been told it's doable...and there's this

Will

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apIxp8Lh98w

http://www.choiceautowiring.com/bmw%20video.AVI Boy,talk about a inspiration

[This message has been edited by 25thCountach (edited 04-12-2010).]

88lambo APR 12, 10:55 PM
Hey Will

I would check carefully on your dimensions. This is what i get...i could be wrong

engine is 29.5 long, adapter plate 1.375" from adapter plate to center line of transmission axle flange is Approximately 8"-12" - totaling 38.875" to 42.875"

From Firewall of Fiero to centerline of axle is 20" add 5" for the 25th anniversary stretch = 25" See sketch. if you take 38.875" - 25" = 13.875" is distance to move firewall forward...???

are you planing to move the footwell forward also? i know the Countach footwell goes up beside the wheel a bit.

look at my photo that shows the chassis structure, the bent tubes that go from the rockers to the roof actually go right behind the door sill, it's quite a bit forward of the rear firewall...
88lambo APR 12, 11:39 PM
More Photos

Ok you have to remember that the front of the engine is actually going to be facing the rear of the car...

Photo one is the short axle mounted to the differential where it should be (passenger side)


This is the drive shaft that goes thru the oil pan into the differential, i am extending it 2.25"...Before you guys say anything about cutting a hardened axle and welding in a piece of round bar, let me explaing what this is...
yes the axle is hardened steel, so is the spacer AISI C-1045 High Strength Precision Ground Steel Shafting, good to 100,000 PSI tensile strength. also i am getting the armor guys at work to weld it, where i work we make steel armor kits for military vehicles and our welders have to weld the hardened steel with special mig wire so it doesn't loose its hardness or strength


Next 2 photos are of what the axle on the opposite side will look like, the axle shown is for the opposite side I don't have this one made yet. I won't know its proper length until i get the engine onto the cradle.


Notice the carrier bearing the supports this side of the axle (thats the next thing i'm doing drilling holes in the support plate bolted to the engine block (try to find it )


Tube thru oil pan
Mickey_Moose APR 13, 09:59 AM

quote
Originally posted by 88lambo:

Hey Will

I would check carefully on your dimensions. This is what i get...i could be wrong

engine is 29.5 long, adapter plate 1.375" from adapter plate to center line of transmission axle flange is Approximately 8"-12" - totaling 38.875" to 42.875"




..I suppose this would depend on the kit and where the stretch is - I have seen kits where the stretch is behind the firewall, as such that would give you more room for an engine.

BTW - nice work so far, I wish I had the skill (and ambition) to do something like this. However, once it is done and you are bored with it, I would probably be glad to take it off your hands.
88lambo APR 13, 10:20 AM
I think my calulations are wrong, the v12/audi fits into the Diablo with an 11" stretch in the engine compartment, so if the countach is only a 5" stretch then you would only need to find 6" OOPs Sorry....i didn't mean to scare you Will

as for selling it, not for a long time...But my Lotus 7 is for sale...see photo above

John
25thCountach APR 13, 11:39 AM
lol,
got me worried, though I measured three times, can't hurt to check one more time lol...oh, the stretch is definitely behind the firewall on this one...

Will

[This message has been edited by 25thCountach (edited 04-13-2010).]