# Project- building a mid-engine car from a front wheel drive **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285 "2016-10-29T17:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/21 "2016-10-30T14:59:11Z")
Using a big engine like the 500ci Eldo would limit the choice of frame to larger cars. The 1970 Eldo has a front track of 63.5 inches. You wouldn’t have to tub the rear fenders much on a 1980 Camaro, but the typical 1980s import coupe would need an additional 4 to 5 inches on each side to accommodate the stock Eldo drive train. Add to that wider tires to apply that power to the ground, and the back end would look more like a dually. Maybe that is what the OP wants, but it wouldn’t appeal to me. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/22 "2016-10-30T15:03:35Z")
As always, OK4450, you’ve expanded my horizons. 😄 Sincere thanks. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/23 "2016-10-30T23:01:01Z")
Good comments all around. Seems OP has a lot of choices, from a 1.6L Corolla 4 banger drivetrain to an 8.2 L (500 ci) Caddy V8. And many in between. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/24 "2016-10-31T01:23:23Z")
Yup. My personal taste would rather have a small, lightweight powertrain and keep the weight to only what’s necessary to be able to throw the car around. Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, respected this approach with absolute fervor. Bugatti, on the other hand, has taken a different approach. 😜 My first introduction to Lotus was in '71, a Lotus Europa. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/3/3992a278eb10c397682e815fc585391d10046497.jpg) I thought it was the best looking car I’d ever seen. I’ve liked Lotus ever since. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/25 "2016-10-31T01:59:02Z")
Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder I do think Lotus made some beautiful cars . . . but for me, this isn’t one of them ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/26 "2016-10-31T02:51:01Z")
It has to be seen in the context of the era in which it was made. 😌 ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/27 "2016-10-31T04:33:24Z")
I feel that some cars have timeless good looks While others only look good in their own era, not 30 or 40 years in the future That’s my opinion, FWIW ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/28 "2016-10-31T15:28:48Z")
That’s true. But some designs are timeless. At least in the minds of those of us that liked them. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Propane\_Car](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/propane_car/32/6561_2.png) [@Propane\_Car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Propane_Car)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/29 "2016-10-31T16:06:39Z")
I am planning out my build kit as well. I have decided to go with a 2.3 ford and make it front engine and RWD. There are tons of aftermarket parts for these 2.3 that are available and inexpensive. The rear axle will allow for easy gear swaps. I have decided to KISS (keep it simple stupid). The ford 2.3 have tons of turbo options that are cheap and tons of ignitions from complex efi to drop in MDS distributors. There is also a easy option to bolt on a manifold and carburetor. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/30 "2016-11-01T00:28:56Z")
A smaller engine turbo equipped makes a lot of sense if extra HP is desired. I think the current Formula 1 race cars have exactly the same number of cylinders and same displacement – 1.6 L – as the early 90’s Corolla engine. Similar block specs for the F1 and Corolla, but very dissimilar 0-60 time results 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/31 "2016-11-01T01:09:57Z")
The Toyota MR2 used a mid mounted Corolla engine and over the years offered supercharging and a 5 speed manual. Using some of the off the shelf parts like shift linkage and clutch linkage might eliminate a great deal of Rube Goldberg engineering. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/32 "2016-11-01T04:23:32Z")
Do you mean the aluminum alloy dual overhead cam 16 valve 2.3 liter Ford 4 cylinder . . . ? The reason I’m asking is because Ford has had many 4 cylinder engines over the years Since you mention a drop in MDS . . . I think you actually mean MSD . . . distributor, I suspect you mean an older engine, and not the one I was thinking of In any case, you probably mean a 4 cylinder which was offered in the Ranger . . . ? ---
**Author:** ![Propane\_Car](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/propane_car/32/6561_2.png) [@Propane\_Car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Propane_Car)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/33 "2016-11-01T14:20:27Z")
I was planning on the SOHC 8 valve 2.3. I have not sourced my parts yet so that could change based on what engine i get. I am casually looking for parts cars/trucks now. I don’t really have the time or space to get started tomorrow but soon. I really need to get my turbo fuel injected motorcycle project finished first. I know it takes a long time to build something like this. I previously built a 88 ranger with a 347 and NOS. When you have to do a frame off and box in a frame and fab all motor mounts, cross members, and build a 4 link rear suspension to accommodate a narrow 9" it takes some time and lots of money. On that project I went way over on budget and this project has a much different purpose and I have live and learned that I need to KISS. My ranger project started off as planning a stock 302 swap. That morphed into building a stroker engine with tons of HP then needing larger transmission and 9" rear axle. My engine, transmission, and rear axle on that project ended up costing over $10K and that was just parts since I did all the labor of assembling the engine, transmission, and axle. I am planning to build a bigger shop in the spring because I have out grown the small 1500 sqft shop that I currently rent. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/34 "2016-11-01T14:44:10Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > What you described is YOUR opinion, not necessarily everybody else’s What he described is sarcasm, which you seem to not recognize. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/35 "2016-11-02T00:05:21Z")
I’ll recognize it as I choose to, thank you very much Please don’t try to “educate” me as to how you perceive things to be. If I want an education, I’ll take an evening class as the local community college 😜 “What he described is sarcasm, which you seem to not recognize.” It sounds as if you might be lecturing me, and/or insulting me If so, I don’t appreciate it If I’m wrong, so be it I don’t have a crystal ball, and neither do you Here’s something to remember . . . NONE of us are looking at each other. We can’t see each other’s body language, or other such things. Talking to somebody on the internet is quite different versus talking to somebody who’s directly across from you. There are MANY things that don’t come across, on the internet ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/36 "2016-11-02T02:05:30Z")
I’m a bit confused, perhaps someone can clarify this for me. I always thought “mid-engine” cars were RWD with the engine located forward of the rear axle, ie, where the rear seat is in most cars. How do you get this with a FWD engine setup? Or do you just disable the steering part of the FWD setup? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/37 "2016-11-02T02:08:06Z")
Yep, disable the steering. That’s similar to what major makers have done (I think the MR2 and Fiero started off with FWD setups). ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/38 "2016-11-02T04:26:53Z")
You are correct, with your definition of mid-engine car A Porsche 914 would be a perfect example That said . . . I believe there have been a rare few mid-engine cars that had the engine layed out transversely, where the engine was directly behind the passenger compartment, but pretty much in front of the transaxle I might be wrong, but I think they were Italian So you should be able to make a one-off mid-engine car with a transverse engine, although that might complicate things a a bit, as this is probably not common ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/39 "2016-11-02T06:35:31Z")
Pontiac Fiero, Toyota MR2 and the Acura NSX are examples of transverse mounted mid-engine cars sold in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285/40 "2016-11-02T23:33:50Z")
And the Fiat X1/9, which had the drive train of a Fiat 128 (like I used to won) moved to the rear. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/project-building-a-mid-engine-car-from-a-front-wheel-drive/96285.md?page=3)