Driveshaft Alignment

Checking driveshaft alignment

I'm reasonably happy with how I've fitted the gearbox to the motor. I'm going to weld a plate into the bottom of the bell housing, cut it square in a mill and attach the motor to that. Above you can see everything fitted to check the driveshaft lengths (fans of the Mini will note that the hubs are on backwards -- the Mirage gearbox is biased to the right while the Mini is biased to the left). I have another Mini undergoing a gearbox & subframe overhaul. Since it's already apart I'm using it to prototype the conversion while I drive the donor. The fancy brakes aren't part of the electric project. At some point I have to reassemble the other car and take the donor apart.

I'm not using a Mini gearbox, I'm using a gearbox from an early 80's Mirage. This is an interesting 8 speed box -- the input shaft drives the laygear through one of two ratios, doubling the available speeds. It has some good properties, it's small, the input shaft doesn't need to be supported by the motor & there is reasonable separation between the input & output (making it easier to fit into the Mini).

Unfortunately when I got driveshafts I didn't realise that the short Mirage driveshaft is too short by about 3cm. I will be going back to the wrecker to get another long driveshaft. While I'm there I'll get a new gearbox to replace casing I broke.

Mini (below) & Mirage driveshaft assemblies