ok, i am looking at building an off the wall, crazy car. one of the things im designing is a mid engine, tube chasis suzuki swift (geo metro). i have been looking and think the best idea due to power to weight would be a rotary. i want to turbo charge it, and have it running through a standard. i think the easiest way to do it will be to run it like a rear wheel drive, but i need to know what the length of different rotaryengine and transmission combos. i will put the radiator in the front, so i just need from the front pulley to the end of the tranny. any help is greatly appreciated.

 

This is an interesting idea. Usually, in a mid engine rear wheel drive car of this size, the engine is mounted transversely. The MR2 and Fiero, for instance, used a frontwheel drive engine and transaxle originally intenteded for another model mounted behind the seats. I don't have any experience, but finding a transaxle which would be able to handle the rotary and which would mate up might be very difficult, perhaps and MX-6 transaxle being from the same maker.



Or are you intending to mount it longitudinally using as very short drive shaft? Anyway, I have a 1989 convertible. I just crawled under it with a measuring tape, so the result isn't incredibly accurate. I measured from the front of the fan blades to the rear of the transmission and got 44".



Good luck with your project.

 

This is an interesting idea. Usually, in a mid engine rear wheel drive car of this size, the engine is mounted transversely. The MR2 and Fiero, for instance, used a frontwheel drive engine and transaxle originally intenteded for another model mounted behind the seats. I don't have any experience, but finding a transaxle which would be able to handle the rotary and which would mate up might be very difficult, perhaps and MX-6 transaxle being from the same maker.



Or are you intending to mount it longitudinally using as very short drive shaft? Anyway, I have a 1989 convertible. I just crawled under it with a measuring tape, so the result isn't incredibly accurate. I measured from the front of the fan blades to the rear of the transmission and got 44".



On the power to weight ratio issue, you would probably do better with an all aluminum four cylinder from Toyota or Honda. But that would detract from the outrageousness of the project. The raotry doesn't make huge power, it gets awful gas mileage and it pumps raw fuel into the atmosphere. What makes the rotary great is its size and shape. It can be mounted very low in the car which makes for a great handling car. If you want high output, there are easier ways than a rotary. But if you want a well balanced car that sticks to the road like glue so you can use smaller wheels and tires and brakes, thus lower insprung weight, then the rotary is your engine.



Good luck with your project.

 

How about a Sidekick? It's light and has a frame.



Sidekick Type R



An MR2 would be cool but they are a good 2400+ lbs.



Better yet would be a Fiat X-1/9 They are LIGHT, Handle Awesome and CHEAP!!!!



I'd seen one with a VW Engine and VW Transaxle in it. Wheelies? The only drawback there is they are SMALL.