Why is a c3 engine not centered?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,864
Likes: 960
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Regarding the engine offset effect, let's do the math. Let's assume a BB engine and transmission weighs 700 pounds. If we move it one inch we have a weight/moment arm of 700 pounds times one-twelfth of a foot, equaling 58.3 foot pounds. A typical driver (lets say 190 pounds) sits about ten inches to the left of the vehicle centerline. That weight placement is 190 pounds times (10/12 of a foot), equaling 158.3 foot pounds. The offset driver has about two and a half times the effect of the offset engine.
(Disclaimer: Freshman statics class was decades ago. I welcome anyone doublechecking my work.)
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Not so!
Up until about twelve years ago, the registration authorities MANDATED that ALL cars had to be RHD. Luckily, common sense prevailed and now we can fully register any LHD car or light truck that is more than 30 years old, up until a manufacturing date of January 1, 1989.
After that, ALL cars must be converted to RHD in order to be registered.
So late C4 owners and all C5 and C6 owners have to have their cars converted if they want them to be registered Down Under.
It's a cross we have to bear.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!!! The REAL reason is to make it bloody near impossible to do a right hand drive conversion.
Up until about twelve years ago, the registration authorities MANDATED that ALL cars had to be RHD. Luckily, common sense prevailed and now we can fully register any LHD car or light truck that is more than 30 years old, up until a manufacturing date of January 1, 1989.
After that, ALL cars must be converted to RHD in order to be registered.
So late C4 owners and all C5 and C6 owners have to have their cars converted if they want them to be registered Down Under.
It's a cross we have to bear.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Up until about twelve years ago, the registration authorities MANDATED that ALL cars had to be RHD. Luckily, common sense prevailed and now we can fully register any LHD car or light truck that is more than 30 years old, up until a manufacturing date of January 1, 1989.
After that, ALL cars must be converted to RHD in order to be registered.
So late C4 owners and all C5 and C6 owners have to have their cars converted if they want them to be registered Down Under.
It's a cross we have to bear.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
Mopar claims it was for drive line angle so the universals don't burnout.
IMHO, I think balance and steering shaft is the main reason! The manufactures could have raised or lower the trans mount to offset the drive line.
IMHO, I think balance and steering shaft is the main reason! The manufactures could have raised or lower the trans mount to offset the drive line.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
The real reason for the engine offset in C3s is to compensate for the phase transluctance of the spurving bearings in the transmission. The capacitive duractance caused by the sinusoidal depleneration of the offset is the reason for the battery being on the driver's side. It's all very simple..........
Seriously, my vote is for the driver's legroom.
Scott
Seriously, my vote is for the driver's legroom.
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
The real reason for the engine offset in C3s is to compensate for the phase transluctance of the spurving bearings in the transmission. The capacitive duractance caused by the sinusoidal depleneration of the offset is the reason for the battery being on the driver's side. It's all very simple..........
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
OK, time for the real reason.
It was a conspiracy plot between GM and Rockwell who made the fibreglass body panels. They knew that many owners would cut holes in their hoods to accommodate blowers, air cleaners, scoops etc etc but would not realize that the engine was offset to the right, and would ruin the hood by cutting the hole dead centre instead.
All the executives got big bonuses based on the sale of replacement hoods.
There, now you know. The secret is out.
It was a conspiracy plot between GM and Rockwell who made the fibreglass body panels. They knew that many owners would cut holes in their hoods to accommodate blowers, air cleaners, scoops etc etc but would not realize that the engine was offset to the right, and would ruin the hood by cutting the hole dead centre instead.
All the executives got big bonuses based on the sale of replacement hoods.
There, now you know. The secret is out.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
OK, time for the real reason.
It was a conspiracy plot between GM and Rockwell who made the fibreglass body panels. They knew that many owners would cut holes in their hoods to accommodate blowers, air cleaners, scoops etc etc but would not realize that the engine was offset to the right, and would ruin the hood by cutting the hole dead centre instead.
All the executives got big bonuses based on the sale of replacement hoods.
There, now you know. The secret is out.
It was a conspiracy plot between GM and Rockwell who made the fibreglass body panels. They knew that many owners would cut holes in their hoods to accommodate blowers, air cleaners, scoops etc etc but would not realize that the engine was offset to the right, and would ruin the hood by cutting the hole dead centre instead.
All the executives got big bonuses based on the sale of replacement hoods.
There, now you know. The secret is out.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 1
From: Carol Stream Illinois
It is 1 and 1/4" off center to the passanger side. It was offset to provide more room on the drivers side for manual transmission to allow room for clutch pedal. Ran into the same question a few years back when I needed to cut an opening in my hood. Did extensive research and that is what I found out!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
My A body is offset and came with an auto
its driveline phasing it isnt anything room or Corvette specific.
Lots of myths out there that will never die along with stories of wheelies from 15 sec cars from youth with 3/4 cams.
Im out of this one.
its driveline phasing it isnt anything room or Corvette specific.
Lots of myths out there that will never die along with stories of wheelies from 15 sec cars from youth with 3/4 cams.
Im out of this one.