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Author Topic: Call me crazy  (Read 5381 times)

Gaz

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    • 92 XR2, 01 LL Bean Outback, 92 Concours, 86 F150
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Call me crazy
« on: July 11, 2020, 12:56:51 PM »

So, as I’m throwing together parts and prices for a KL swap. I had a thought.

What would be so bad about taking the whole drive line from another Capri and putting it in the back? Effectively making a RR/MR Capri. Relocate the fuel cell, batteries, anything else you can do that equalize weight... Even if the car is not designed for real wheel drive in the terms of handling, I think of the right suspension set up could make it really interesting. If not a good track performer, it would at least be an interesting show piece and burn out machine.

Not brought to you in anyway by hot Rod garage.
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Rocketman

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Re: Call me crazy
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2020, 11:30:53 PM »

Are you talking aboot a twin engine job? Or just shifting the drivetrain to the rear?

It has been my dream to make a mid-engine KL capri for many years now, I just haven't been able to throw the time & money at it. I have two shell candidates & most of the donor parts, at least the stuff that doesn't have to be made. And the tools needed for fabrication.

But the KL swap isn't trivial, front or mid-engine.

It sure would be a lot easier to just stick with a stock drivetrain & smack it into the rear of the car. No axle issues, the wiring is already correct & just needs extended to fit what's already there. Adapting a set of front hubs to work in the rear of the car would take some work but it's been done in other mid-rear conversions, and that's how the Pontiac Fieros were initially built. Compared to swapping in a totally different engine, it is "simple"

It is tempting, I've thought about it a lot.
On one hand - moving the engine is enough work by itself.
But on the other hand - if you're going through the work, why not make it worthwhile?

One could shift a stock engine & swap it later. But how much would need to be re-done?

Either way, from what I have gathered, a mid-rear swapped Capri will likely not be a great performance car on the track and may be a bit touchy or even a tad dangerous on the roads. But it would be unique and given the right choice of differential it would be a cool burnout machine.
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"


Gaz

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    • 92 XR2, 01 LL Bean Outback, 92 Concours, 86 F150
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Re: Call me crazy
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2020, 10:12:21 AM »

Are you talking aboot a twin engine job? Or just shifting the drivetrain to the rear?

It has been my dream to make a mid-engine KL capri for many years now, I just haven't been able to throw the time & money at it. I have two shell candidates & most of the donor parts, at least the stuff that doesn't have to be made. And the tools needed for fabrication.

But the KL swap isn't trivial, front or mid-engine.

It sure would be a lot easier to just stick with a stock drivetrain & smack it into the rear of the car. No axle issues, the wiring is already correct & just needs extended to fit what's already there. Adapting a set of front hubs to work in the rear of the car would take some work but it's been done in other mid-rear conversions, and that's how the Pontiac Fieros were initially built. Compared to swapping in a totally different engine, it is "simple"

It is tempting, I've thought about it a lot.
On one hand - moving the engine is enough work by itself.
But on the other hand - if you're going through the work, why not make it worthwhile?

One could shift a stock engine & swap it later. But how much would need to be re-done?

Either way, from what I have gathered, a mid-rear swapped Capri will likely not be a great performance car on the track and may be a bit touchy or even a tad dangerous on the roads. But it would be unique and given the right choice of differential it would be a cool burnout machine.

Word.

So, I've got my old silver '91 NA collecting rust. It's been parted out somewhat, but there are still so many usable parts, incuding the entire drivetrain minus some engine bits here and there, and that's where the thought originated. I'd feel fine about cutting up this car to make it MR, and with all the time I'll have for it this winter...

On the other hand, the NA 1.6 is gutless in stock form. Do you think it'd be worth the trouble to yank the B6D out, tear it down, build it proper, and slap a turbo on it? I thought there was some critical failure that would happen if you threw boost at the N/As...
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Rocketman

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Re: Call me crazy
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2020, 03:25:03 PM »

The engine itself can handle the boost, I have swapped N/A longblocks into XR2's before with no issues. The higher compression makes them much more lively. Have to be more careful with timing, fuel, boost. The B6T has a different camshaft, both seem to work okay.

It's the N/A f-series transmission that is the really weak spot, it's much smaller than the XR2 transmission and even the XR2's g-series has its issues with power. The F-series has a much smaller clutch, too.
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"


Gaz

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Re: Call me crazy
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2020, 08:10:05 AM »

The weak point is in the diff hardware, though, isn't it? The Mfactory unit is supposed to solve that, right?

Sure, the third gear deal may be a problem, but I've seen some neat trans-saver devices on the market lately that give me hope.
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Rocketman

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Re: Call me crazy
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2020, 05:11:30 PM »

The weak point is in the diff hardware, though, isn't it? The Mfactory unit is supposed to solve that, right?

Sure, the third gear deal may be a problem, but I've seen some neat trans-saver devices on the market lately that give me hope.
The diff is the first weak spot, yes.

The 3rd gear is a problem when you have enough power, this has been proven by the high-hp Mazda guys. It is caused by the mainshafts flexing, which no trans-saver devices can prevent.
There have been trans saver devices dating back 20 years in the Ford Probe communities. None have proven to be a sure-fire fix. These are usually to mitigate case flex, which can exacerbate mainshaft flex.

The best I've seen is the billet steel bearing plate for the 5th gear side, it requires machining out the whole end of the transmission case where the mainshaft bearings seat, and it replaces the bearing seats with a billet steel piece. How effective is it? Even the guy who makes it isn't sure

http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?56023-GB-5th-gear-plate-mod

But I mean look at the effort and cost of these solutions, for something that will still probably grenade at 350hp?

The g-series just isn't an option for that kind of power. Fortunately very few Capri owners are making anywhere near enough power for it to be an issue
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"