I really don't care much for the long bed pu type COE's with the mid mount engines. Just to long for my taste. I realize it's necessary for driveline length, etc. Soooo, i was thinking.......how about turning the engine around(facing rearward) and using a 4x4 front diff? Maybe a 90's GM with IFS? You'd have to flip the pumpkin over to make it spin the right way. This would allow for a much shorter wheelbase.....but would it work?
Your making my brain hurt thinking about this one. I don't think flipping the diff over would change the direction so a transfer case or ? would be needed.
I thought about doing this to my Autocar way back. If you want to know why I didn't, go find yourself a 4X4, disconnect the rear driveshaft, hook up a nice heavy trailer and go for a drive. That non-CV jointed axle will beat your hands to death. I guess if you really wanted this, you could use some sort of IFS unit that had CV jointed axles, but be careful about which way you turn your differential, they won't run backwards very far
You might look at the old Toronado drivetrain, GM hauled a pretty good sized RV around with them. I toyed with setting one up with a driveshaft between the trans and pumpkin, this would set you engine back.
This is why I was thinking GM....they have a solid mounted pumpkin with jointed axles. They also use torsion bars, so it might be possible to change ride height a bit. And yes, flipping the diff upside down will make the wheels spin the opposite direction. Not reversing the input of the diff here......the GM center diff is a sealed unit, as long as it has the correct venting and lube level I think it would work?
OK, so I'm thinking about this. If your engine is turning clock-wise and your rear axle is moving you forward and you flip the engine and rear axle forward is now reverse yes? I have no idea on front axle rotation in relation to rear in a four wheel drive. But lets just say forward is now reverse just think of the attention you could get going 80 in reverse down the interstate, heck just mount the cab backwards on the ch***is. It would steer like a fork lift which is real stable at speed....not. Rob
You have to flip the axle side over side, your pinion is now on the opposite side of the ring gear and you go the other direction. Think of it this way, you are now using the tops of the tires rather than the bottoms. On the first gen VW beetle you could flip the differential gears in the housing (they fit either way) accidentally and get a surprise when you took it for a ride. (backwards)
I've done something similar in my Mid engined pick up. I have an LS3 mounted in the rear tray facing the rear. It then drives through a 6L80E into a transfer case from a Nissan. The drive is taken off the front output of the transfer and p***ed down the side of the engine and trans to the pumpkin that is heavily offset to one side. The pumpkin is turned upside down to make it rotate correctly (I didn't want 6 reverse gears!). I used a front diff that gave me a low pinion when inverted. It also meant the driving force is on the drive side and not the coast side of the teeth. I thought about V drives but they can't handle the torque when driven on high friction surfaces. Water is "soft" compared to blacktop as the water has give when you floor the throttle. The car can get the front wheels off the deck on the street so the transfer can take a heap of punishment. On my 4x4 I use the same front diff in the rear to give me a high pinion set up and it runs on the coast side of the teeth and I've had no trouble in many thousands of miles.
you guys see Stubby Bob from Roadkill? They put the V drive in but ran the rear axle. Same idea as FWD, kinda. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=stubby+bob+youtube&*
Just get an old GM motorhome ch***is. I have seen a couple built like this with a trailer box on the back. I have no ideal how well they perform though.
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