oh and a motor inside the passenger compartment is asking for problems , from smeels , to leaks , to heat.

 

Smells and heat are not a problem in a well sealed engine compartment. Think about an old Volkswagon bus or squareback. Those cars have engine access panels inside the passenger compartment. One could theoretically work on those engines with the vehicle in motion (not recommended)

 

yeah but look at that shogun , or even the renault , a buddy of mine has an old econoline and all sorts of smells and heat travels up and through the fully sealed doghouse ( in that case it's a better heater than the actual heater)
for an xb if i was gonna do a weird crazy cool setup like this i would put a 502 rat motor up front and tub the rear.

 

why not a 540 go bigger

i saw a 502 in the last gen RWD monte carlo

oh those cams in there *drool........ ^_^

 

Sufficed to say, the sealing of the compartment would be crucial. I would not however put some huge engine in the front and rear-wheel drive. It would handle like crap!

 

it would go like crap too...you wouldn't be able to hook up with no weight over the rear wheels. the northstar is actually doable without going full tube frame, i would think...there was a guy at waterfest last year at englishtown raceway in new jersey (big volkswagen show) with a 1.8t mid engined rwd mk2 ('85-92) golf...this would be the same concept, with a bigger motor. should work with enough time, labor, and money. oh, and northstars can be had relatively cheaply because there are a LOT of them on the road and a LOT of them in wrecking yards.

 

http://racetec.net/vtecmini.htm


I've seen this one in person. stock classic mini weighs 1300lbs

 

ok then go all aluminum 350 , and rwd , it couldnt be too bad.

 

How'bout a box with a midengine northstar with an all wheel drive setup. Then you could atleast use it to do tight donuts

 

What is the purpose of the vented hood with the engine in the rear? Looks?

 

I'd bet they still have the radiator and cooling system up front and piped to the engine...

 

I'm thinking the 4.0L V6, twin turbo'd, would look real nice. And if you're worried about engine intrusion, just check out the Monteverdi Hai 450.

 

83 Jaguar XJ6 with 96 Impala SS LT1

 

thats way too much intrusion , lol

 

^^^
That's one helluva armrest...

I wish I had pics of my older brother's cars from back in the day... V8 Vega with NOS, 350 in a Datsun PU This was back in 82-83, the Datsun had 4 12's across the rear of the cab and the speaker box extended to just past the rear wheel wells. There was a hill a 1/4 mile away from our house and you could hear him coming before you could see him coming...