Does anyone think this could be possible...

[Striker2237]

Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile

I've always liked the idea of taking a FWD car/ pickup, say, a Dodge Rampage andputting a second engine/transaxle in the back.

The rear/mid engine would be tweaked for some crazy high hp to the point of being undrivable on the street. The stock front engine would then be just some little sub 1.3litre for tooling around in traffic.

Of course, nowadays it would make sense to put an electric motor in the front, much like the newest generation of supercars.

This is in almost every sense what I'm thinking of doing, only problem is that I want to keep my main driveline separate from the secondary one except at the rear wheels and unlike a Rampage I kinda already have both axles driven so the hard part here is going to be finding a way to splice in this other engine and trans into the rear wheel's differential

[Striker2237]

Originally Posted by spacemanspif

How about converting the V8 to 2wheel, rear drive and take advantage of the off-set yolk on the front axle to run a rear drive 4cyl backward for 2 wheel, front drive. Best I can think, this is the simplest way of doing things but would require major modifications to the truck bed and rear frame to make room and support for the all new power train. Maybe come up with a way for both engines to use the same radiator/share coolant so that you can cut down on "extra" hardware.

This unfortunately won't work (was my original idea but a few things killed it) because my rear axle would need to be decuopled from the main trans or the small engine would have to also turn it (allot even when it is in neutral) and because the rear axle is a LSD it would quickly destroy itself if not powered

[oldtamiyaphile]

Smartest move would be to swap in a Fiat/Iveco 3.0 from the Promaster.

Another option would be a six wheel conversion with the tag axle being driven by a small IC or electric motor.

Personally, the last thing I'd want is to have to service two engines and transmissions in the one vehicle.

[Striker2237]

Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile

Smartest move would be to swap in a Fiat/Iveco 3.0 from the Promaster.

Another option would be a six wheel conversion with the tag axle being driven by a small IC or electric motor.

Personally, the last thing I'd want is to have to service two engines and transmissions in the one vehicle.

Tag axle?

[The_Jed]

Back when I had a haggard old '94 F150 5-speed I wanted to yank out the engine, plop a small engine in the bed hooked up to a generator and hook up a large electric motor to the stock gearbox.

It was just a daydream, though and I wound up selling the truck.

[ksa8907]

As has been said, anything is possible. Putting that much work into the vehicle you have with the modifications you are proposing for the engine is completely insane, literally. You want to reduce fuel consumption yet you have the WORST vehicle to start with and meanwhile you also want to stroke the engine and add a supercharger....

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Striker2237

...how would I keep all the electrical system online though if the main engine is off? Nothing would work electrically if its off...

Re-wire your ignition switch to start & stop the small engine (which can either keep running while the big engine is running, or have a kill switch), then have a separate switch to start the big engine when you want it. Small engine drives the alternator & other accessories.

But for the original questions:

1) Is it possible? Sure, if you want to spend enough time & money on it. (And maybe channel Rube Goldberg's ghost :-) But as others have pointed out, it's not really a good idea.

2) Are you crazy? The available evidence seems to be leaning heavily in that direction :-)

[Striker2237]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

As has been said, anything is possible. Putting that much work into the vehicle you have with the modifications you are proposing for the engine is completely insane, literally. You want to reduce fuel consumption yet you have the WORST vehicle to start with and meanwhile you also want to stroke the engine and add a supercharger....

Kinda already stroked and supered it........idk I just feel bad getting sub 15 mpg with the thing and am exploring other possibilities

[Striker2237]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Re-wire your ignition switch to start & stop the small engine (which can either keep running while the big engine is running, or have a kill switch), then have a separate switch to start the big engine when you want it. Small engine drives the alternator & other accessories.

But for the original questions:

1) Is it possible? Sure, if you want to spend enough time & money on it. (And maybe channel Rube Goldberg's ghost :-) But as others have pointed out, it's not really a good idea.

2) Are you crazy? The available evidence seems to be leaning heavily in that direction :-)

In answer to 2 maybe.......I like challenges in engineering things and if this thing can be equipped with an electric drive or two engines I would have accomplished something unique

[jakobnev]

I've had similar ideas. One was for a muscle car with a little 3-cyl cubota in the trunk with it's own transmission to the rear diff.

The other was for a Ford festiva with a 125hp 1.0 ecoboost at both ends of the car. And a neutral lever next to the gear shifter to lock one of the transaxles in neutral.