Im curious as to what you mean by "transaxle" If you mean independent rear suspension it can be changed to a solid axle.
The corvettes I am familiar with (C3 and before) had only an IRS...not a transaxle.
Corvairs do, but thats a different animal......
My understanding is as long as the stock shock and spring locations are used its legal.......IF that can be done with a Transverse leaf on the early vettes or ? on the newer I dont know......
But independent rear suspension isnt a transaxle in my book.....
Could you legally replace it on a Tempest ? I dono....can you use the stock shock and spring location ?
Here is the rule.....
"
Swing axle differential may be replaced with conventional housing;
stock trailing arms must be retained, may be beefed up and
adapted to housing, must retain transverse spring. Must install
Panhard bar. Frame may be notched for driveshaft clearance.
Distance between OEM backing plates and OEM wheelbase must
be maintained.
"
Quote:
Originally Posted by bill dedman
I am not going to hijack this post (AGAIN), but there is one more question that Mark, or someone more knowledgeable than myself might answer for me. I've been curious about this for several years, and this would seem to be an ample opportunity to get this "yes or no" question answered.
With your permission, here goes...
NHRA, in a ruling on a late model Corvette a few years back, allowed (for Stock Eliminator) the complete removal of the transaxle, which was, naturally, OEM in the rear of the car, and allowed the installation of a conventional automatic transmission (conventional, as in Camaro-style) bolted to the block with a normal Chevy bell housing, and the installation of a "live axle" (probably 12-bolt) rear axle assembly, complete.
This rolling, driveline-freak, was campaigned as a legal Stock Eliminator car for awhile.
The owner may have been Stan White, a Div. IV racer. Not sure about that...
My question is this:
Since NHRA allowed this sort of "Franken-tranny" funny business for that Corvette, do you think that permission for a similar transformation could be successfully obtained from NHRA, using a transaxle-equipped 1963 Tempest 326 V8, for Stock Eliminator?
Those cars seemingly have potential with the 4bbl motor for Stock, but the swing axles and Corvair-based transaxle make it a drivetrain nightmare; ostensibly, an accident looking for a place to happen.
I'd think that NHRA would approve it if only on a safety-related basis. Swing axles are not something you want to break... and these would be highly suspect, given the tires and track-prep we have today.
The aforementioned Corvette seemingly set the precedent; do you think that NHRA would go for the same switchero in a Temoest, and, if not, why not???
Or, do I already know the answer to that last question/?? LOL!
Now, back to your normally-scheduled programming....
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