pic: 4464 Preseason Drive WIP

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

I'd actually argue that you would open up more chassis space just by having cantilevered wheels and non-inverted CIMs, which will also bring a lower CoG, and make maintenance far easier.

Possibly true on the points about space and lower COG. Not so much for easier maintenance.

I have two major gripes with WCD setups: belt/chain access and gearbox removal. This design specifically aimed to make both of those as easy as possible. The coupled output shaft design would be much harder to do with cantilevered wheels, as would keeping the belts outside of the gearbox.

Originally Posted by z_beeblebrox

Nice design. I like the couplers which will make it easier to remove the gearbox.

Why did you choose to put the CIMs above the wheels? Is the belly pan space worth the significantly higher center of mass?

.25" birch plywood is a very good material for a belly pan. It's stiff, light and easy to cut or drill holes in.

The center of mass for this gearbox really isn't that much higher than for a stock WCP 3-CIM shifter, actually - the gearbox is only about an inch taller.