Front, transversally mounted engine and gearbox

[missouri_bb63]

Dear all,

I am thinking of making a Lego Technic interpretation of my MK1 Golf GTI (VW Rabbit in the US). What I am going for is a compromise between Model Team detailing, and working Technic parts like engine, gearbox, suspension etc... I won't be putting any electric motors into it. Perhaps some working lights but that is it.

Before I start on that project I am looking for ideas on making the front, transversally mounted engine and gearbox. I think that fitting the gearbox will be difficult due to the size limitations within the engine bay...especially as I really would like to have 5 working gears just like the real car (if possible, but I can settle for less). Then of course there is the linkage too! No idea how that will work.

Based on whether or not that is at all feasable, I might skip the Technic engine/gearbox combination and go for an accurate representation of the engine using regular Lego parts instead and settle for working steering and suspension.

Just to give you guys an idea of the scale of the model, I will be using the wheels from either the 8880 or 8865 sets (as it happens my GTI actual has white alloy wheels so that would work perfectly)

Please let me know if you guys have any experience with that type of chassis layout, or if you have any links to examples on the web. I had a quick browse through this forum using the search function but I couldn't find anything. Thanks in advance!

Edited August 5, 2010 by missouri_bb63

[Silcantar]

That's a pretty big scale. You should be able to fit just about any features you want into that scale. I think 8880 is probably one of the best examples of that scale in Technic bricks, which easily integrate with Model Team bodies. Do you have the synchronized transmission parts, or are you going to use sliding gears? I've never built a sliding-gear transmission with more than 4 gears (3 forward, 1 reverse), because they increase in size parabolically, so they're really not practical for more than 3 gears. 8865 has the best example of a sliding-gear transmission, although I would recommend using double bevel gears rather than spur gears. I'm not sure it's practical to mount the transmission in the engine bay, it really has to go between the seats. If you insist on putting the transmission in the engine bay, Tyler Reid has several examples of cars with linkages to the transmissions, although they are all mid-engine supercars with their transmissions in the back. His Audi R8 chassis probably has the best example.

[missouri_bb63]

Hi Silcantar thanks for your input! Actually you are right, maybe space won't be the main problem. The linkage will be tricky though. Thanks for recommending Tyler's models, they really are amazing. I am still hoping to find an example of a gearbox which is transversly mounted as I think it will be much harder to change the gears in a gearbox where the linkage is not alligned with the input and output shafts. It is a great point that you raised concerning which type of gearbox I could use. I haven't built Technic in so long (about 15 years), that I had forgotten the options. I am most familiar with the sliding veriaty, but then again for that option I am guessing the linkage really does have to be in line with the in and output shafts but I would be happy to be proven wrong. I have noted your tip concerning the bevel gears!

I am looking forward to further suggestions!

[Silcantar]

If you're not motorizing it, it would probably be simpler to put the transmission in longitudinally and use bevel gears than to mount it transversely. You lose some realism, but Lego transmissions aren't very realistic regardless of what method you use. I don't know how the shifter would work if were mounted transversely, either.

[DLuders]

Would Sariel's Transverse Subtractor be useful for your MOC?

[missouri_bb63]

  On 8/7/2010 at 1:28 PM, DLuders said:

Would Sariel's Transverse Subtractor be useful for your MOC?

Hi DeLuders, I am not sure if that particular idea will be useful, but that is a great link that you sent! I have added it to my favourites, thanks!