gemellocattivo.com

1-10-2008
I measured the cranks the other day, the 400 crank is 10" longer than the 308....that's a lot to find room for and the 400 is taller by a good amount because of the 60 degree V instead of 90 (you remember your trig right ).

The way to go in that case is a TR or boxer drive train as Paul suggested way back in the thead. Cut out the trunk, move a cross member and turn a cople a-arm mounts and it's in.

I got thinking some more after I posted about the torque issue. I know the trans is ok with 420ft-lb because that is what the supercharged 308 engine made. I'm planning to swapt the top and bottom drop gears which will change by 23% such that the trans will spin 23% faster and receive 23% less torque. In that case 500ft-lb at the crank becomes about 400 at the trans and it works. You'd need a clutch thst can handle the full 500 ft-lbs, but the trans should to fine....but you have to switch the gears.

1-10-2008
Boring night. I cleaned off the old gaskets and indicated the locations of about 1/2 the studs on the pans. I'll finish indicating tomorrow and hopefully get drilling on the jig plate....I really want to get the welding done this weekend.

1-11-2008
Nope.

The hub it the engine gears is bigger than the hub in the trans gear. It also requires moving the position of the idler gear. The trans gear needs to be re-worked or replaced any way do to the offset of the longer engine so it make no difference which gear you re-work to put on there. At the engine the easiest thing to do is re-grind the shaft to accept the smaller trans gear. I haven't look very carefully at moving the idler, it might be possible to simply re-bore the hole oversize on the new centerline and sleeve it back to size. If not, well I have a welder.....

1-12-2008
The day started with a broken milling machine and the broken part really wanting a milling maching to fix, but a band saw and file seem to do the trick in the end and I got it back up and running.

I got the jig plates I needed made and the case all clamped tight. Tomorrow I need to though the case in the mill and clean up where I sawed, make the new parts to weld in and if it's still a resonable hour, get it welded.....but I'm not holding out a lot of hope to get to the welding part.

1-13-2008
I clearly had been spending too much time with the crack pipe when I started thinking I’d be welding the trans case today.

I got 1 rail made and fitted to the case. Looking at it I decided to remove another chuck from the trans case that will no longer have a purpose. The row of studs on top is where the engine used to sit, quite a difference to where it will now be.


Maybe ready to weld by Saturday…maybe.

1-16-2008
Yes, family stuff. I've got more family stuff tonight, but I should be making stuff again tomorrow. I really want to be ready to weld Saturday - the welding needs time for pre and post heating and the actual wok so it has to be a weekend.

Then on Sunday my Mother-in-law who has been here helping with little Victor for nearly 6 moths and has been a godsend to have around is leaving..……things will be slowing down after Sunday when Lana and I have to learn to handle the baby ourselves

1-16-2008
Oh....that's a lot of work. It's looking good though.

My only negative comment is that sure doesn't look like any ferrari engine I've ever seen ???

I keep thinking about a space frame and light weight body panel....then I say scr*w it and add hp instead

1-16-2008
I understand a budget all to well and I understand an engine swap in the name of hp to stay within it. You've good a great looking project, start a thread and give us all the details, you won't get run off. You will get a few "but it's not a Ferrari any more" type posts, but I'm certain the over all response will be very positive.

1-16-2008
I'd love to see the pictures if you can get them scanned.

When I got the car 7 years ago and pulled the engine to rebuild it I was literally shocked when I looked at how little frame there was and that what was there had bends and didn’t meet at the corners causing mid-member welds. The sheet metal welds up top were already cracked. Just terrible.

But I don’t do any high-speed driving, just a little autocross and that wasn’t the problem I was trying to solve, so I fixed the welds and put the engine back in the car. I like your solution better than mine.

1-17-2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by pincusa View Post
Mark -
With the engine dropped down, will you be able to put the stock engine lid on? (With the velocity stacks sticking up I'd guess)

Sounds like it might be worth dipping into the project fund to buy a return ticket now for your mother-in-law

Can't wait to come down and see it.

-Aaron

Aaron! I was just thinking it was time to sent you an email and find out if you're the proud owner of a v8 rx7 yet???

I'm hoping the stock deck lid will fit and I think it will, but I haven't tried it yet....the lid's frikin heavy to lift into place alone. I need a foam core CF one like we make the formula car test panels

You're welcome any time, but obviously I recommend during pool/patio season so Christine won't be so bored.

There's talk of my father-in law taking a month or 2 shift then my mother an law coming back to relive him, but for now Lana is switching to second shift and maybe (she hopes) only working 4 days/32 hours.