Need some help on understanding the mid-engine AWD layout...

454Casull · #1 07-23-2002, 10:54 PM

I just can't find anything on the drivetrain on a mid-engine AWD layout. How does the power get to the rear wheels and then to the center differential? Is the engine above or in front of the rear axle? If above, how does it attach to the rear differential? If in front, how does the power get to the center differential? Err...

Jay! · #2 07-23-2002, 11:01 PM

Do you have an example? The only MA layout car I can think of (off the top of my head) is the Nissan MID4 concept. Since it was just a concept, I'd expect details like that to be hard to come by; although... There were a few plastic model kits of it... I wonder how detailed the undersides are...

Are there other MA layout cars?

Deakins · #3 07-23-2002, 11:09 PM

Small picture, best I could find.

454Casull · #4 07-23-2002, 11:09 PM

Murciélago for one.

Also the Diablo, I believe.

Some Porsches.

454Casull · #5 07-23-2002, 11:11 PM

I can't see anything in that.

Moppie · #6 07-24-2002, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 454Casull
I can't see anything in that.

Think of it as a Frount engine AWD set out, but reversed.

The engine can be transverse of longtidudinal, and the gearbpx/transfercase/rear diff can be apart of the engine block (i.e. Ferrari, Lambo etc) or it can be seperate. (i.e. Subaru SVX)

But generaly the engine is in frount of, or on top of the g/box. with a dif for the rear wheels sticking out the back, and a drive shaft for the frount either running down the side, or out the frount. i.e. the above picture.

454Casull · #7 07-24-2002, 12:48 PM

OK, I have another question. Is it possible for the pulley end of the crankshaft to drive an axle?

But then you'd have to add another gearbox...

ivymike1031 · #8 07-24-2002, 02:03 PM

you mean like a front PTO system? They're common on garbage trucks (they drive the hydraulic pump for the salad mixer).

454Casull · #9 07-24-2002, 03:46 PM

Well, actually, I was thinking of a longitudinally mounted engine driving the front axle with the front end of the crank and vice versa. With an attachment on either one of them for accessories. Possible?

ivymike1031 · #10 07-25-2002, 12:02 AM

you could do it, I suppose... it wouldn't be cheap, and I'm struggling to think of any benefits that would offer...

Hudson · #11 07-25-2002, 12:38 AM

454:

You stated it in your question. In order to run power from both ends of the engine, you'd have to have a second transmission.

There are very few mid-engined cars with AWD. The Lamborghini, as the above picture shows, splits the power to the front and rear axles. Lamborghini's setup is rather odd in the first place since it has the transaxle ahead of the engine with the power (in 2wd models) going rearward from the transmission.

Some other mid-engined, AWD vehicles use the same sort of layout as a transverse FWD vehicle adapted to AWD -- a PTO comes off of the transaxle and powers the other differential.

The Porsche setup is different since it is a rear-engine vehicle. The transaxle pushes power forward to the front differential, much like the front transaxle in a Subaru or Audi transfers power to the rear.

Moppie:

I don't understand your explanation that some vehicles have the gearbox as a "part of the engine block." Transmissions are not typically part of the engine block, they almost always separate, just like in that picture above of the Lamborghini AWD setup. Next, what Ferrari is AWD?

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