In my introduction, I left off at {the point|the purpose} {where|the place} I {decided|determined} {to change|to alter|to vary} from the Audi V8 engine, over {to another|to a different} engine for my V8 MR2 swap. {The reason|The explanation|The rationale} I {originally|initially} {chose|selected} the Audi was {because|as a result of} there was {a very good|an excellent} {chance|likelihood|probability} {it would|it could|it might|it will} {fit|match} {without|with out} {cutting|chopping|reducing|slicing} the {car|automobile|automotive} chassis. The axle clearance {issue|challenge|concern|difficulty|problem|situation|subject}, {unfortunately|sadly}, {could not|couldn't} be {known|identified|recognized} {until|till} I {removed|eliminated} the oil cooler/filter from the {side|aspect|facet} of the engine. It then {became|grew to become|turned} {apparent|obvious} that the engine block itself was in {the way|the best way|the way in which}. The block {could not|couldn't} be {cut|lower|minimize|reduce} and re-welded {as the|because the} oil pump and oil pump drive pulley {were|had been|have been} {also|additionally} in {the way|the best way|the way in which}. I had {to purchase|to buy} the engine {in order|so as} {to find|to search out|to seek out} {these things|these items|this stuff} out. {This is|That is} {the nature|the character} of swaps like this, that {no one|nobody} has ever {done|accomplished|achieved|carried out|completed|executed|finished|performed} {before|earlier than}. Know {anyone|anybody} {that wants|that desires|that wishes} a 1997 Audi ABZ 4.2L V8 with 70K miles? I realized at {that point|that time} that it {might be|could be|is likely to be|is perhaps|may be} {easier|simpler} to {find a|discover a} transverse V8 engine, {even if|even when} {it's|it is} too {long|lengthy} {to fit|to suit}, and go {ahead|forward} and {cut|lower|minimize|reduce} the chassis and weld it {back|again} up {again|once more}.
Welding some sheet {metal|metallic|steel} {is easier|is less complicated|is simpler} {and far|and much} cheaper than {trying|attempting|making an attempt} {to solve|to resolve|to unravel} {the problems|the issues} created {by using|by utilizing|through the use of} the Audi V8, which {might be|could be|is likely to be|is perhaps|may be} solvable, {but|however} {only|solely} with {a lot of|a number of|a variety of|a whole lot of|loads of|lots of|numerous|plenty of|quite a lot of} very {expensive|costly} {custom|customized} machined {parts|components|elements}. I {need to|have to|must} backtrack a bit, as I {have not|haven't} {discussed|mentioned} the transaxle {yet|but}, which is {another|one other} {major|main} {component|element|part} that {needs|wants} {to fit|to suit} {besides|apart from|in addition to|moreover} the engine. {During the|In the course of the|Through the|Throughout the} {initial|preliminary} {research|analysis} into this {project|challenge|mission|undertaking|venture}, I {decided|determined} {to check out|to take a look at} what the Fiero guys {were|had been|have been} doing. Transmissions and transaxles are rated by torque from the {factory|manufacturing facility|manufacturing unit}. Transmissions and transaxles {are not|are usually not|aren't|should not|usually are not|will not be} rated by horsepower, as horsepower {does not|doesn't} kill transmissions. {Too much|A lot|An excessive amount of} torque is what can kill a transmission. {Think of|Consider} it like this, {when you|if you|once you|whenever you|while you} {turn|flip} a bolt with a wrench, {you are|you might be|you're} {applying|making use of} torque to the bolt. Apply {too much|a lot|an excessive amount of} torque to an already tight bolt, {and you can|and you may|and you'll} snap {the head|the pinnacle|the top} off. Transmissions are {similar|comparable|related} in that {too much|a lot|an excessive amount of} torque can break the gear teeth {right|proper} off of a gear. The torque {rating|ranking|score} given {is also|can also be|can be} {based|based mostly|primarily based} on {the weight|the burden|the load} of the {intended|meant|supposed} {vehicle|automobile|car}.
Torque {rating|ranking|score} means, how {much|a lot} torque from an engine can the transmission or transaxle handle, and {still|nonetheless} {last|final} {a long time|a very long time}, {usually|normally|often} 100,000 miles. The heavier the {car|automobile|automotive}, the {lower|decrease} the torque {capacity|capability} of the transmission. Use {the same|the identical} transmission in a lighter {car|automobile|automotive}, and the torque {rating|ranking|score} {will be|can be|might be|shall be|will likely be|will probably be} {higher|greater|increased|larger}. A heavier {car|automobile|automotive} generates {more|extra} stress on the transmission {components|elements|parts} when the {car|automobile|automotive} is accelerating at its {maximum|most}, when the engine is {generating|producing} {maximum|most} torque. {This is|That is} {always|all the time|at all times} first gear, as {that is|that's} {the maximum|the utmost} torque multiplication given by the transmission to the engine {during|throughout} driving. The 1997 Audi V8 I tried {to use|to make use of} was rated for 295 ft-lbs of torque at its {maximum|most}. The Northstar has {a similar|an analogous|an identical|the same} {rating|ranking|score}. {The new|The brand new} transaxle the Fiero guys {were|had been|have been} {using|utilizing} was {a new|a brand new} GM unit rated {for almost|for nearly} 300 ft-lbs of torque, in a 3500 lb {car|automobile|automotive}. This transaxle {could|may|might} take the torque of a {healthy|wholesome} V8 engine. If the {car|automobile|automotive} {were|had been|have been} lighter than 3500 lbs (Fieros are {around|round} 2700 lbs, and mk2 MR2's are 2700 to 2950 lbs), the torque {capacity|capability} of this transaxle {would be|can be|could be} {higher|greater|increased|larger} than its {factory|manufacturing facility|manufacturing unit} {intended|meant|supposed} {application|software|utility}.
The 6 {speed|pace|velocity} was {also|additionally} shorter than the {stock|inventory} MR2 transaxles by 1.{75|Seventy five} inches, {allowing|permitting} {more|extra} room for {a longer|an extended} motor and adaptor plate (if one was {needed|wanted}). By switching to the Northstar, I {could|may|might} {solve|clear up|remedy|resolve} the adaptor plate {issues|points}, the starter location {issue|challenge|concern|difficulty|problem|situation|subject}, and {most importantly|most significantly}, the axle clearance. {This is because|It is because|It's because} the Northstar was used {originally|initially} in transverse {applications|functions|purposes} from 1992 or 1993 {up to|as much as} 2002. It's {still|nonetheless} used transversely, {but|however} {there is a|there's a} longitudinal {version|model} and GM moved the starter location. Back in Nov 2007, {I did not|I didn't} use a straightedge on the Northstar I {looked at|checked out} {in the|within the} wrecking yard, {just a|only a} tape measure. Also, {at the|on the} time, I assumed an adaptor plate {would be|can be|could be} {needed|wanted} for the Northstar to mate to the GM 6 {speed|pace|velocity} (which was {wrong|fallacious|flawed|improper|incorrect|mistaken|unsuitable} as I later {found out|came upon|discovered}, and {discussed|mentioned} above). {If you have|If in case you have|In case you have|When you have|When you've got|You probably have} ever measured an engine for {length|size}, {you would|you'd|you'll} know that {it can be|it may be} {tricky|difficult|tough} to get an {accurate|correct} measurement {as the|because the} engine has {a lot of|a number of|a variety of|a whole lot of|loads of|lots of|numerous|plenty of|quite a lot of} width and {parts|components|elements} in {the way|the best way|the way in which} of measuring. In December of 2008 (a {year|12 months|yr} later), I went {back|again} to the wreckers and re-measured the Northstar.
