guys just wondering about these things because usually all i consider is clearance and leveling out a motor when i install them. are these other things more about high performance (setback)and height in ch***is (handling)? just curious about these things. i guess i left out "offset" which is more of a clearance issue. vehicle is just a old hot rod.
Some fellas do it for looks I do it for handling. Crank center a little on the high side if my package allows for better weight transfer if I want it to stand up and cut a straight line, engine set back for better weight bias between the front and rear of the car. Even if I am just building a streeter/cruiser I like to have as much if not all of my engine as is comfortable possible behind the front axle center. They just drive better in my opinion.
Obviously the oil pan needs to far enuf away from the ground that a big whoop de do or pothole is not going to slam it into the ground. Also an engine looks funny when it is mounted so low it looks like it is down in a well! I have mine up fairly high and back close enuf to the firewall so there is not an ugly gap between engine and firewall. It is a good idea to make sure your cooling fan whether electric or mechanical is the proper distance from backside of radiator. I think that the whole low and back deal is overstated as the tires most of us run aren't really set up for handling anyway, no sway bars etc. anyway. There was a great thread on here with a ton of engine pictures, it was all about engine heights in ch***is, check it out!
Double ditto on the fan clearance. Make sure that a mechanical fan can clear minor things like the frame and the radiator lower hose outlet and of course pan clearance and tie rods etc. keep everything above the scrub line. Also keep an eye on the placement of the fan in relation to the center of the radiator. My Model A motor is low and and shoved back and it handles pretty good for a model A. Axle center is 9 inches in front of the number 1 spark plug. Most cars have the number 1 plug is in front of the axle center line. Mid engine cars abound and are renowned for their handling. but like said above Traditional tires and a few other traditional things will limit your performance up against a Porsche.
That sounds about right. Dont kid yourself, its a HotRod(determined by looks). If your going for fastest in town, then lower & back is better. Higher is cooler, just make sure the trans is not sitting to the side of you
were talking about a 1938 ford truck with 9" rear and 50' ford car suspension up front. putting in a 4.3/700r4 combo.
ummm, personally i'd place the motor in the bed, and run something traditional, but that's my opinion.....
and you are en***led to your opinion! but i don't think a rear engine truck is very traditional! funny thing about tradition i'm discovering being in the S. CAL. desert this week is being the temp is 104 right now that throws traditional right out the window after talking to some SO.CAL. hamber because quite a few of them have A.C in the traditional rides because they want to drive them whenever they want. No A.C. here and it's parked!
I like the engine set back far as possible, but at least the front cylinders on axle center or behind. I also like them low in the frame, but I can't install an engine without thinking about how I'll service it, so I wont make headaches by getting the plugs so low that I can't get to them over the frame rails. Also consider where the radiator sits, and how much firewall set back I need to get good clearance front and back. If I can install an engine without cutting the firewall, and still clear good at the fan/radiator, then I'd rather not cut. On my present car I bolted my headers to the engine, then knowing I'd have to cut the firewall I just went ahead and cut it completely out. Then I dropped the engine with headers in nd blocked it up so I had the plugs about 1" above the frame. By chance that also put the crank 24" above the ground, as my frontend sits pretty high. Then I just built the firewall around the engine with enough clearance to later access the bellhousing bolts if needed.
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