I need some opinions from all of you.... let me explain.
My Aventador build is progressing well, but I'm going to be caught up in a fight between costs, complexity and efficiency. Right now, as I'm using an 88 Fiero chassis, I have the car setup with a transverse Caddy 4.9l V8 paired with the stock Fiero Isuzu transaxle. I had completed the engine swap before I began the Aventador build so I could iron out any issues. It worked very well. Of course I was using the stock Fiero wheels with a 24" diameter. Now I'm using 28" diameter wheels...a definite increase. I'm also now using wide track suspension, which puts the wheels out about 3" per side.
So here's the issue(s). I'm going to need to get custom axles made, which we all know isn't the cheapest. I'm also going to eventually switch to a longitudinal Audi transaxle (01e or 01x) mated to a v12. That was always the ultimate goal. I know that the Isuzu transaxle isn't going to last all that long. Should I keep it until it blows up THEN change out the transaxle? That would require custom axles to be purchased twice, once for the Isuzu and then again for the Audi transaxle. Of course, the current engine/ transaxle configuration already works and the bugs have been worked out. Should I update the transaxle now? A performance built 01e can handle anything I run through it... but would cost about $6k (Cdn). I think that may be out of my short term budget. Of course, I could get a used 01e for around $1k (delivered from Europe) and rebuild with performance parts later on. That way I'd only get the custom axles once. But other than the custom adapter plate, what pitfalls would I run into mating it to the 4.9 (it'll be few more years before I can build up the eventual v12)? I've been spending a lot of money lately so I'd prefer to take a bit of a spending break.... but i don't want to waste money later either.
Hopefully i explained the dilemma well enough for some opinions. What does everyone think?
Neil
