Spirit of South Dakota Lakester

[Peter Jack]

Easier is better and length isn't going to hurt you unless there might be trailering or storage problems. Aerodynamic nit pickers could say that the increased wetted area will increased drag but you could probably counter by saying that it allows smoother transitions and thus better air flow. There..................... I'm not sure I helped your quandary but I gave you more to think about.  8-)

Pete

[Stainless1]

T, I'm with PJ, add the wheelbase.... make life as easy on you as possible... I think Seth will tell you longer didn't hurt him at all.  We stretched the Bockscar a foot for longer drivers (me) in 2000, it didn't slow the car down, the big motor bubbles on the top to fit a Busa motor did a little, luckily that motor comes with additional power 

[Tman]

Yup, I was right! 

Thanks for my daily afformation! I know at some point I will use up that extra space back there. Still have not figured out where the second firebottle fits!

[kiwi belly tank]

Yep! Now's the time to stretch it for you. I can tell you it sucks big ones to have to do it down the road.
My chassis is finished with tunnel & all. Now the production O/D unit is 2" longer than the dummy unit I built around.
Time to cut the back off a streamliner. :x
  Sid.

[Tman]

Yep! Now's the time to stretch it for you. I can tell you it sucks big ones to have to do it down the road.
My chassis is finished with tunnel & all. Now the production O/D unit is 2" longer than the dummy unit I built around.
Time to cut the back off a streamliner. :x
  Sid.

I feel your pain Sid!

Another question, I am sure some of the high end aftermarket trannies have the same dimensions as a GM 4 speed. Tex, Jerico, Lenco etc? Don't want to build into a corner for future upgrades!

Thanks guys.

[Milwaukee Midget]

Yep! Now's the time to stretch it for you. I can tell you it sucks big ones to have to do it down the road.
My chassis is finished with tunnel & all. Now the production O/D unit is 2" longer than the dummy unit I built around.
Time to cut the back off a streamliner. :x
  Sid.

I feel your pain Sid!

Another question, I am sure some of the high end aftermarket trannies have the same dimensions as a GM 4 speed. Tex, Jerico, Lenco etc? Don't want to build into a corner for future upgrades!

Thanks guys.

Maybe, maybe not.  Aftermarket is a lot easier getting dimensions for out of catalogs, etc., than stock pieces.


If I've learned nothing else doing this, I've learned this -

ASSUME NOTHING.

[38flattie]

Trent, it seems like they all vary a little bit. Even a 1/2" means driveshaft work, on a high revving, or high HP engine.

I'd go overkill on the tranny for now, and have that end done, for when you build in more HP. JMHO.

[SPARKY]

my suggestion:  Get a driveshaft guy to tell you how long a 10,000 RPM driveshaft ( 8000 rpm motor + 20% OD) can be, then double it---stretch your car that much + at least 1' in front of the eng.  You will NEVER regret it and I will bet the time comes when you say-- why didn't I put that much more in front of the eng. Driveshafts and Jackshafts  are VERY easy to shorten and do not involve BODY pannels

This will give you a car you can use for YEARS
Lakesters that are fairly aero usually are around 200-210 WB

ymmv

[maguromic]

Trent, I am with everyone on this, you will be head of the game making it longer.  Our RMR is at the limit with a 189 1/2" wheelbase.  Tony

[kiwi belly tank]

My W/B is 258" & it's too phucking short!!! :x
  Sid.

[Buickguy3]

   Salt Cat ll is 267". We had to stretch it 18 inches when we put in the straight 8, but there were no real body panels back there when we got the cat so we had to build any of them we needed anyway. Make it as long as you can haul. The car handles good at speed because of the length.
   Doug 

[Tman]

Thanks for all the input!


The plan was to couple the tranny and QC using a Mark Williams Greek coupler.  I plan to have some adjustment capability with the brackets on the rear end if needed later for a longer tranny

[kiwi belly tank]

If you leave some more space in there you can do a short shaft between them with double couplers on each end. Allows you to more options down the road & you can pull the trans without pulling the eng or diff out. Use two sliders on the short shaft with collars so you can slide them back & lift out the shaft.
If you are runnung a 7.5 10bolt, B&J are now able to make a Greek coupler to fit them. Part # is B&J-SID.
  Sid.

[Tman]

If you leave some more space in there you can do a short shaft between them with double couplers on each end. Allows you to more options down the road & you can pull the trans without pulling the eng or diff out. Use two sliders on the short shaft with collars so you can slide them back & lift out the shaft.
If you are runnung a 7.5 10bolt, B&J are now able to make a Greek coupler to fit them. Part # is B&J-SID.
  Sid.

You are right, I could run one of the short shafts.

[Peter Jack]

If you need your thoughts reinforced Trent I really think KBT has it right! 

Pete