The drive system

The very first thing we needed to sort out was the drive system. The engine would be turned 90 degrees compared to prop driven cars, this meant the engine would be sitting on the right hand side of the car (driverside), so straight away the decision was made the car would have to be LHD, and the engine slid back as far as possible into the passenger compartment. RGB rules state that the passenger side has to be no less than 80% of the drivers, now me being a short arse meant that if we moved the pedal box back towards my feet, rather than sliding me forward in the cock pit (like i am in my fury), we would shorten the drivers compartment, meaning we could minimise the passenger compartment and maximise how far back the engine would sit. After some initial dimensions it was apparent that a single chain would be too long, so the decision was made to add a idler in the middle of the tunnel and use 2 chains. We could also use the idler to mount the reverse and handbrake mechanisim, freeing up space around the engine bay and dropping the need for the rubbish handbrake eable rear calipers. It also meant the mass of the reverse motor would be closer to the centre of gravity, every little bit helps...

Dad had a viscous RS turbo LSD sitting on his shelf in the garage, this is small, light, compact and as its a viscous unit he can alter the "slippyness" of it very easily by using the fluid he uses for his landrover business. Oh and it was free ;). Custom alloy blocks were machinesd to fit the bearings, the flange machined and holes drilled in a new rear spocket and a GRP cover made to enclose the diff casing. The steel plates in the photo are to be mounted in the chassis to mount the diff, and have slot machined in them to adjust the chain tension.

 

 

 

The Idler is completey custom made, using part of a freelander vsicous coupling as the main axle and mounting plate, with 2 sprockets bolted in place and a starter ring from an R1 clutch as the geared tooth for the reverse mechanisim. Unfortuently i cant find any photos if this lovely item out of the chassis, so here it is in the chassis with the mock up MDF mounting plates