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Why hasnt anyone put a engine in the back?

Posted: January 16th, 2005, 12:52 am
by Juans_93_MX3
I know some of the problems with moving the engine, tranny (everything in the engine bay needed) to the back would be making some room in the back and that the front would crush easier in a car accident but I bet that could be prevented by building a cage on the front.
Anyway, I am sure there is enough room to fit the engine and the "FWD" tranny (car would be RWD) on the back as long as the back seats are gone, fuel tank, battery are moved to the front and there is something to cover the engine from the front seats. I am also sure there would be enough room so that you would be able to see through your back window.
Moving the engine to the back should improve handling and improve 1/4mile times by atleast .7 to a full second.
So I wonder, why hasn’t anyone tried this?

Posted: January 16th, 2005, 8:53 am
by MarkMoore
why??? costs too much $$$$$ and time!

but... if you guys all wanna fund me i'll try it :P

Posted: January 16th, 2005, 12:32 pm
by hgallegos915
Yeah it would be idious because we dont have the rear supports and boleh bleh..one thjing i noted is that the pontiac fiero uses the fwd system but well that engine sucks gm2.5 carb ugly engine. It woulod be VERY Expensive to do and ard hard hard... ard! Do it..i wanna see it :D

Posted: January 16th, 2005, 11:23 pm
by Juans_93_MX3
I got a intresting question
Say I was to move my engine to the back, how would the engine get cooled if the intercooler only works on the front?

Posted: January 16th, 2005, 11:54 pm
by mitmaks
I dont see why it cant be done if youre working at America's chopper tv show :roll:

Posted: January 16th, 2005, 11:56 pm
by papa roached
it can be done, but whats the realll gains? but i say go for it if you wanna try

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 12:03 am
by Noobi
Juans_93_MX3 wrote:I got a intresting question
Say I was to move my engine to the back, how would the engine get cooled if the intercooler only works on the front?
You'd have to drive around in reverse all the time. It might look funny, but at least you'll have the engine in the back. :lol:
Seriously tho, I'm sure there must be some way, since some cars have engines in the back. Maybe have a pump to move the radiator fluid from the front to the back, or have scoops on the side of the car to suck air into the back. Who knows what people will do nowadays. I don't even want to think about it all b/c it will drive me crazy.

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 12:06 am
by mitmaks
just go buy an mr-2, ill be cheaper

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 12:49 am
by Juans_93_MX3
mitmaks wrote:just go buy an mr-2, ill be cheaper
Buy a $9k car? Hell no
What would cost me so much money that it would be better off buying a MR2?
I think it can be done cheap.
Its just all about time and that time would have to go into moving the stuff from the front to the back and welding out enough room on the back to make it fit.

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 3:45 pm
by rdawg000
funny u should say that about the fiero ! a guy in my town just completed a Northstar V8 in his fiero is freakin bad azzz i will the link to his website. he has pics and vids

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 5:58 pm
by fry_81
make some side vents to cool the engine.

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 7:20 pm
by mitmaks
Juans_93_MX3 wrote:
mitmaks wrote:just go buy an mr-2, ill be cheaper
Buy a $9k car? Hell no
What would cost me so much money that it would be better off buying a MR2?
I think it can be done cheap.
Its just all about time and that time would have to go into moving the stuff from the front to the back and welding out enough room on the back to make it fit.
where did you pull out $9K price on mr-2, my buddy got one and he got less than 5K in it and its upgraded, full wide body kit, aftermarket rims, rebuilt engine, etc etc. and he got it for $1500

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 7:29 pm
by Teal_93
yeah you can also bolt up a 350 small block in a fiero

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 8:36 pm
by Flashpoint2
$9k? THat's not really all that much for a decent MKii MR2. Take a look on Xcars.com They have like 30 MR2s for sale *by owner* and many of them are 12k+. MR2 are such rare cars that those who want one already realize that they are gonna pay through the nose for one. I say this because I'm currently looking for a cheap MR2, and I canna find one anywhere in Canada for less than 7 or 8k. And that's just for a 91 auto NA. Xcars is basically a US site so the conversion would kill me if I wanted to buy on of those. But anyway, didn't mean to jack the thread. Lol I guess my point in all of this is that 9k to change an MX-3 to an RR doesn't seem like that much money. If you are able to do most (80% or more) of the work yourself, you could probably do it for a bit cheaper. But for a shop to do it? OMG! 9k is probably a bargain. I remember when I pulled the engine out of my Corolla (don't ask) it was almost a grand JUST to take it out and put it back in again. Not to mention the work that would have to be done.. I mean, you have to make a space for the engine, brace it, figure out how your gonna work the drivetrain.... It would be easier just to pull the drivetrain from a Miata and modify it for the RWD. OR... the AWD from a 323GTX would be a useful mod. Just my 2 (or 3) cents.

Posted: January 17th, 2005, 9:24 pm
by Taras
Have you thought about the frame strengthening and handling? It would ride like an older 911, spins easily on the wet corners. Not to be another downer to your idea, but it would be better to buy a RWD car.