Thread: Wheelbase: Best engine placement?

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I know that if you set your engine "BACK" you gain a much better "FEEL" to the car but suffer room for your feet. Say you were to lengthen the frame and have a longer wheelbase...could you then move the engine a bit more forward to free up foot room but still have a decent handeling vehicle?

Exactley what I did on my 5 window A. built the chassis to 108 inch wheelbase wich allows me to run a flat firewall and still have room for an HEI if I wanted, but the Vertex mag looks so much KEWLER.

Originally Posted by FNA

I know that if you set your engine "BACK" you gain a much better "FEEL" to the car but suffer room for your feet. Say you were to lengthen the frame and have a longer wheelbase...could you then move the engine a bit more forward to free up foot room but still have a decent handeling vehicle?

A short wheelbase car will be more nimble-handling than a long wheelbase car. The best you can hope for if you have handling in mind instead of brute horsepower is to use a lightweight motor to try to bring the weight distribution more toward 50/50 or 45/55 or whatever. Something like a SBF with aluminum heads, aluminum manifold and tubular headers. Or maybe even a turbocharged 4-banger from a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.

Tech's right,and I should have explained that the longer wheelbase allowed me to move the body back wich in turn allowed me to move the engine back also. That gave my more fan room and still had clearence on the flat firewall.

Lookin' for more STRAIGHT LINE performance than anything else (still need to turn on the road) but a road race car is NOT what I'm after.

My 4 door '29 has a 125" WB right now...just mocked up. Luckily I'm at a point in my build where this can be adjusted.

I personaly like a longggg car...and since I'm using a four door body that measures 97" from firewall to the rear window...I did not want to have a crowded engine bay.

I temp set it up the front so the frame is 48" from firewall to centerline of front x-member ('32 style).

I have the engine set off the firewall 5" (back of head to firewall). Plenty of room for an HEI. I'm running a BBC w/long H2O pump that gives me a measurment of 36" from bellhousing to fan blade tips. Add a radiator and a grill...that puts me about an inch in front of the front x-member centerline.

Frame is 2x3 .250" wall..18" rear kick and 6" front "Z".

The engine will be a mild 450 hp one...but have plans for a much higher HP one down the road. Running a M22 4 speed and a Ford rear with a parrellel 4 link/coilovers.

Front I'm still up in the air...with the 6" "Z" and a 3" dropped I beam...looks like I can maintain a 6" oil pan clearance running 30" tall rear tires and 26" tall fronts.....just not sure if I want to run a spring pack in the front...considering coilovers as well.

Car also has a 6" chop. Not after any type of "look" for the car.Just going for "MY" style!..The car will have a finished look to it..not a pure Rat Rod look that many I've seen have. Not looking for a concourse car either...something to use and enjoy. It will be BLACK...not because that's the "IN" color...it is "MY" color.

My main concern is safety and reliability. Thanks for your input.