I was checking out the formula Mazda cars at Mosport last weekend and noticed they are using a VW transaxle, anyone have any idea what variety of transmission it is (what its from?) and what adaptor is needed?

 

Wow, I always wondered how the dealt w/ the rear-engine thing. Just a guess, but It's probably the Bug's w/some mods and an adaptor from Star...

 

I thought it was a hewland sequential transaxel?

Best place for info on FM that I've fond is the FM forum
http://pub8.ezboard.com/bformulamazdaforum

Matt

 

it is a Hewland but it is not sequential. it does use the VW transaxle case. it is run upside down like a 914 Porsche or mid engine sand rail. there are companies out there that make sequential kits for these transmissions, but they are probably not legal in FM.

 

Cool.... so, uhmm... does this mean that I could just run a VW transaxle in a mid engine rear wheel drive situation?

(NOT complying to FM rules...)

 

People do that already with mid engined rotary powered sand rails.

There's a kit car company that makes what is basically a whole new chassis and fits a Lotus Europa bodyshell over it. They use Mazda rotaries (up to 350hp from them) and Porsche 901 transaxles.

 

http://www.kennedyeng.com/vw_por.htm

Kennedy sells adapters for many applications. Racing Beat is a distributor for them.

The parts are very high quality, I've used them on a 13B/914 conversion.

 

What do Formula Mazdas use for engines? And what type of power do they generally make?
I looked over the board and saw they're kind of low tech or old tech, and just stay with what works.

 

175hp, "sealed" (against rules for you to open) 13B 6-port engines.

 

the race team i work for used to run formula mazda, we now run formula atlantic,

the formula mazda is a school car developed in the 80's for the Russel driving school, then Star Cars started making them to sell and start a series (russel and star cars are still battling it out in court)

it's a stone stock 13b replacement motor from the factory, that's had holes drilled thru some key places and special tags put on safety wire thru those holes. when you use one up (about 1-2 seasons) you send it back and they rebuild your motor for about 5 grand (total rip)

it's a 6 port w/ a weber setup- the manifold doesn't even have the 6 port configuration cut cleanly- it just has a big open port feeding both holes.

the gear box's are pretty tough by most standards- they are Hewland boxes, in VW cases, that are balanced and rebuilt by Craig Taylor at Taylor race enginering here in the DFW area (he has a full sequential tranny that would bolt very easily to a rotary- trick as hell)

 

www.starmazda.com - FM builders site

www.taylor-race.com - driveline specialist

http://www.myfuturecom.com/Racing.asp - the car i work on

 

as peejay said there porsche 901 boxes i dont know if they flip them upside down or not. ive been looking into this cause i want to put a efi 13pp in my pops 914. that would be one hell of a autocrosser.