Running a gearbox upside down?

[010010011010]

Hi,

Maybe a stupid question, but I was wondering what would be the problems with running a gearbox upside down.

Basically the car in question runs an Audi transaxle, but the drive comes from near the bottom of the box, causing us to run quite a large angle on the half-shafts, which can be severe on the universal joints. The only weakspot in what is a bullet-proof reliable car.

So if I were to turn the Gearbox upside down it would potentially solve this, and allow greater adjustablity on the rear setup too. Other than maybe somewhere for the oil to gather at the bottom I cant think of much other problems, but im sure there are.

Thanks

[A13EX_f]

flipping the gearbox will result in the car going the wrong way

[Caito]

Lol'd at A13 response.

I'd take into account lubrication problems.

[flynfrog]

also how do you plan to work the linkage.

[010010011010]

The car going the wrong way is an easy fix...

The linkage is a pain but ultimately do-able, I can move the gear lever to the left if needs be, im from Ireland so were used to driving on the left anyway!

The lubrication is the one im really not sure of, since oil isnt necessarily pumped around it its not as if ill be starving the gearbox of oil, but then again I dont know

[olefud]

The lubrication is the one im really not sure of, since oil isnt necessarily pumped around it its not as if ill be starving the gearbox of oil, but then again I dont know

With no actual knowledge of your transmission, I would guess it's a splash system and might well work inverted if the new lube level allowed for enough lube to provide cooling and a reserve. But if you're going to all the mechanical effort it'll take, why not save a little drag, i.e. dry sump the whole thing? You can probable find an output shaft on which to mount an eccentric to drive a pump and gravity for the drain back. A few well placed nozzles would suffice for distribution, though you could also drill the shafts.