Move Engine Back
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2025 7:51 pmI've always wondered why we cannot slide the engine back more. Can't the CV joint take it?
short answer ,,corvair uses conventional universal joints not constant velocity (CV) joints ,,and just the spicer 1310 size ,,not the strongest one .
it would be possible to push the engine back a bit , but that would create a compound angle with suspension travel ..the 1310 joint is used in many front engine cars where the torque load is just engine torque times transmission ratio ,,but in the corvair , and corvette , there is the additional torque multiplication of differential ,,by 3,27 or 3.55 most often ,,,torque at a high angle thru u-joint breaks them they seem to be strong enough at small
block level ,,,so if goal is getting the engine back the kelmark conversion turns the transaxle around and gains quite a bit more room than crown ,,or a toronado conversion puts it under the rear window ..seems to be popular to use a fwd drivetrain these days
just a thought ,,if i were to do it again i would build a convertible ,,