Ok, not a Fiero, but I THINK this has Fiero written all over it. I DO NOT have measurements, and you would be losing your trunk, but it seems you could manage this without a stretch. Maybe not, but worth looking at! So look about halfway down the page, very interesting post by "cheapracer" with good pics..

http://www.locostusa.com/fo...f=53&t=9431&start=15

That is a rather unique/clever concept and I kinda like it...

But most V8's are too long for just the engine block to fit between the firewall and the rear axle centerline (in longitudial configuration) and this setup has the axles about 8" behind the bellhousing... so not going to happen in a stock wheelbase fiero w/o some major intrusion into the passenger compartment.

I don't have any numbers in front of me but I was pretty certain I had seen a longitudinal 6 in a stock wheel base fiero so I thought this was feasible. I well... Then it will present interesting ideas for those who ARE looking to stretch but don't want to spend big bucks on Porsche transaxles...?

There is only about 24" between the axles and the double firewall section and most V8 blocks are around 24" in length before adding on the front accessory drive.

The mid to late 90's FWD LHS chrysler transmissions are longitudinal and have the axle right behind the torque converter. Aside from the TH425/TH325 they would allow the shortest overall front of engine to axle centerline package and there have been a few 2.7/3.5 installs with this tranny, but most I though were in 355's with a 3" stretch.



Here is a good thread with pictures and measurements:
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...090219-2-088120.html

I wonder what happens if one of the belts snap? Neat idea though.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 07-08-2010).]

This was done many years ago and was featured in a KIT CAR magazine article --- Original vehicle was very countach in style and painted in a brite orange --- If my memory is correct the manufacture of the belt trans was based in Texas. Still looks like a good idea.

quote Originally posted by steve308: This was done many years ago and was featured in a KIT CAR magazine article --- Original vehicle was very countach in style and painted in a brite orange --- If my memory is correct the manufacture of the belt trans was based in Texas. Still looks like a good idea.

Seeing that pic gave me a real blast from the past, the car you were talking about was called the Zara, never went into production, it was the last project I worked on at Exotic Dream Machines, the prototype was built up with an LS6 big block chevy and a richmond gears 5-speed, the whole idea behind the belt drive, was to provide an alternative to what was avalible at the time for transaxles, this was built back in '90. between parts and labor to fab, it cost more than avalible transaxles, the upside was that it would take more power without nukeing itself.





Sorry about the crappy pics, this is what happens when you take pics of low quality pics, I didn't take many pics of what I did back then, and what I did was taken with disposable cameras.

Joe

What exactly would be the purpose for doing this on a fiero over just doin it side ways like usual? Not tryin to be a smart @$$, I'm just curious. Performance gains? Or just bein able to say u did it and are the only one?

I suppose just to be different. And a longitudinal v8 with marine style headers going out the back between the tail lights would look pretty sweet. O well. From what I recall a Subaru EJ2x is about 23 inches from front of accessories to axle centerline. They are longitudinal H4 with 5 speed manuals on the older ones(pre 07 maybe?) so I think they would make great donors. Turbo, boxer, 5 speeds, no crazy machining to match engine to transaxle, LOTS of aftermarket, common/readily available, etc. But I thought this was a pretty neat idea. O well.

You could use longer belts and get the axle center line further forward. Maybe use a front sump setup and put the axles right in front of the bell housing...

It is a sweet idea tho.. I'd never seen or heard of it before this.. Would it help, hurt, or not affect performance?

YES the ZARA ---- great looking car --

Longitudinal V8 in an un-stretched Fiero:

Well, it's a Fiero on the outside... (R Runner's car).

The Longitudinal V8 swap has been done in Fieros for years. Most of them used the Old Toronado TH325 or TH425H transaxles and a small block Chevy engine. Joe Wyman owned one years back ( that was built by a welder from NY) and he even sold a CD Rom with instructions on how to build one. No frame stretching was required although the trunk had to be completely removed. It was an unusual swap in that the oil pan needed to be U shaped on the bottom to clear the axles. The powertrain mounted in a steel "cage" frame that was welded in the Fiero engine compartment. The swaps were heavy and IMO not as good as the tranverse swaps that Archie does.

------------------
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quote Originally posted by fieroguru: There is only about 24" between the axles and the double firewall section and most V8 blocks are around 24" in length before adding on the front accessory drive. The mid to late 90's FWD LHS chrysler transmissions are longitudinal and have the axle right behind the torque converter. Aside from the TH425/TH325 they would allow the shortest overall front of engine to axle centerline package and there have been a few 2.7/3.5 installs with this tranny, but most I though were in 355's with a 3" stretch. Here is a good thread with pictures and measurements: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...090219-2-088120.html

BRAND NEW Audi transaxles have the differential between the engine and the clutch, moving the engine 4 or 5 inches closer to the axles. This was done to try to get the engine further back in their chassis. Who would have thought that having a V10 hung out cpompletely in front of the front axles would affect handling at all?

quote Originally posted by Will: BRAND NEW Audi transaxles have the differential between the engine and the clutch, moving the engine 4 or 5 inches closer to the axles. This was done to try to get the engine further back in their chassis. Who would have thought that having a V10 hung out cpompletely in front of the front axles would affect handling at all?

That would be cool... I need to check them out and see what they look like and if they are available in a manual.

I believe they are... and DSG as well. I *think* Audi went to that layout across the board, but I know that they started using it in cars like the RS4 and RS6 that have huge engines (FSi V8 and V10, respectively) hung out completely in front of the front axle centerline. It helps them get the engine back a few inches in the chassis. If designed properly (big if), it *may* also make clutch replacement easier, because you shouldn't have to disassemble the front suspension or disconnect axles to remove the transmission.