corvette off-set powertrain
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
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corvette off-set powertrain
As most Corvette enthusiasts know GM off-set the drive train on C1's and C2's by about 2" to the passenger's side. The two reasons I can think of is to off-set the driver's weight or to offset the torque on acceleration. Does anyone know the real reason for the off-set? Have asked guys that have worked in Corvette shops for 30 years: they don't know.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: AUSTIN Tx
I have always assumed that it was to accommodate the IRS.
On a stick axle. it does not matter if one axle tube is longer than the other, but on an IRS, the axles must be the same length for proper handling. since you can not put the pinion in the center of the rearend, you would have to offset the driveline to accommodate the pinion offset. Since the driveline offset on a Mid year is exactly the same as the pinion offset, I always assumed that they did this to keep the entire driveline in alignment.
Regards, John McGraw
On a stick axle. it does not matter if one axle tube is longer than the other, but on an IRS, the axles must be the same length for proper handling. since you can not put the pinion in the center of the rearend, you would have to offset the driveline to accommodate the pinion offset. Since the driveline offset on a Mid year is exactly the same as the pinion offset, I always assumed that they did this to keep the entire driveline in alignment.
Regards, John McGraw
Melting Slicks
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From: DFW
Agree with John. Consider too that it makes room on the left for the steering box and the shift linkage. Lore had it, in the late 60's that it made the car more balanced with just a driver in it. Not sure I buy that one though..
Harry
Harry
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I always heard that was done with a lot of cars to make room for the steering shaft and other bits like clutch, brake cylinders, accelerater rods,kickdowns,etc, not a weight issue.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: columbus oh
I have always assumed that it was to accommodate the IRS.
On a stick axle. it does not matter if one axle tube is longer than the other, but on an IRS, the axles must be the same length for proper handling. since you can not put the pinion in the center of the rearend, you would have to offset the driveline to accommodate the pinion offset. Since the driveline offset on a Mid year is exactly the same as the pinion offset, I always assumed that they did this to keep the entire driveline in alignment.
Regards, John McGraw
On a stick axle. it does not matter if one axle tube is longer than the other, but on an IRS, the axles must be the same length for proper handling. since you can not put the pinion in the center of the rearend, you would have to offset the driveline to accommodate the pinion offset. Since the driveline offset on a Mid year is exactly the same as the pinion offset, I always assumed that they did this to keep the entire driveline in alignment.
Regards, John McGraw
....the offset is for the pinion offset to the ring gear....the weight dist. issue and more frame clearance are just part of the deal....jmo....
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According to a 1963 SAE paper on the then-new Corvette, the offset is 1". The reasons seems to have been to align the crank and the rear axle pinion, which then let the designers make the driveshaft tunnel more narrow.
Jim
Jim
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
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From: Washington Michigan
From Zora's SAE paper on the 1963 Corvette design process:
"To achieve a [weight] distribution in this range (47% front, 53% rear), the passenger compartment was placed as far back as possible and the engine centerline was offset one inch to the right, taking advantage of the fact that passenger foot room requirements are less than those of the driver. This offset also reduced the width of the driveshaft tunnel, because the crankshaft and offset rear axle pinion were now on the same centerline."
"To achieve a [weight] distribution in this range (47% front, 53% rear), the passenger compartment was placed as far back as possible and the engine centerline was offset one inch to the right, taking advantage of the fact that passenger foot room requirements are less than those of the driver. This offset also reduced the width of the driveshaft tunnel, because the crankshaft and offset rear axle pinion were now on the same centerline."
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