Some Honda engines rotate anticlockwise, and as a result, the engines are located on the offside of the engine compartment.
www.jdm-motor-sports.com/images/car-images/brians-...g
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There is a rotation standard for all engines dictating that they rotate clockwise at the free end of the crank. This is derived from the use of starting handles and hasn't changed - it is actually part of a British Standard.
The classic FWD layout allows direct coupling to the transmission (the best and cheapest way) and gives the lowest number of meshing gears consistent with the use of a final drive - which lowers the crank speed to the wheel speed in top gear by a factor of about 4:1.
Putting the transmission on the LHS also allows the shortest possible clutch cable for most (LHD) cars.
FIAT had this all worked out when they introduced the 128 - demonstrating how stupidly designed the Issigonis cars were (they also sorted out the suspension properly).
659.
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...how stupidly designed the Issigonis cars were...
Bit harsh - the layout worked well enough for, at guess, millions of motorists.
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thats why BL bought in vw gearboxes then ifithelps ;-)
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...thats why BL bought in vw gearboxes then ifithelps ;-...
That would have been many years after the Issigonis design appeared.
Just because something can be improved on, doesn't make the original rubbish.
The Issigonis engine/gearbox gave no significant problems and that combination did a lot of miles in the many cars to which it was fitted.
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The reason for weak gearboxes in Austin-Morris and BL front drive transverse-engined cars was the compromise of having the box in the sump lubricated - inadequately - with engine oil. Issigonis wanted a proper arrangement, I suppose something like a modern fwd car, and he also wanted a more efficient engine than the old 3-bearing A series inherited from the Morris Minor. The bean counters upstairs made him design the familiar engine-gearbox lump as a stopgap, then stayed with it in blinkered fashion through thick and thin.
People sometimes think the problem with BL was the engineers. It wasn't, it was the suits. Them and the workers. Bad cess to the lot of them even if they are my compatriots.
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Have a vague recollection a 1.4 petrol BX (with TU series engine) as a courttesy car and noting that motor was installed opposite way to my 1.9 XUD. But maybe my memory is playing tricks. It was over 20 years ago!!
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maybe a french friday afternoon car Bromptonaut?
did it go faster backwards than forwards?
ala daf 33 with the big lassi band
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I'd always assumed it was because most countries are LHD and cars are mostly driven alone. The weight of the driver sort of balances the engine.
Old Pandas used to have a spacer under the front RH spring for the UK market.
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