As with any project, you occasionally run into some stumbling blocks that really give you cause to stop and wonder. From simple questions, such as "Which intake runner did that screw fall into?" to the perplexing and all-out "How my supposeta do that?" As KIT CAR's Ecocat project moves forward, one of the single biggest questions that needed to be answered was how the 2.2L GM Ecotec engine (normally a transverse-mounted, front-wheel-drive application) could mate in-line with a Tremec five-speed transmission, and in the process, be used as rear-wheel-drive?
Shafi Keisler and his team at Keisler Engineering in Knoxville, Tennessee, were the people who came up with the answer. Keisler is known in performance circles as manufacturers of five- and six-speed Tremec conversion kits for musclecars, but even this weird combination was a challenge for the pros at Keisler. In the last issue of KIT CAR we interviewed Shafi in order to get the low-down on what it took for his company to develop the necessary pieces to make this combo work (a combo Keisler Engineering now offers over-the-counter).
In this installment on the buildup of the Ecocat, we show the parts and pieces they came up with, and how they work together. The Ecocat project is now in the hands of Bill Hahn of Hahn Racecraft in Yorkville, Illinois, who is busy installing a turbocharger on the vehicle's engine.
 Illustration By Thom Tayl...  Illustration By Thom Taylor |
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 The key to this conversion...  The key to this conversion is the 10 1/2- and 11-inch clutch bellhousing that Keisler Engineering is reproducing for GM vehicles. The 10 1/2-inch model was selected for the Ecotec engine. An SFI race-approved housing is also available |
 This is a cutaway view of...  This is a cutaway view of Tremec TKO-600 transmission, our challenge to mate to the Ecotec 2.2L engine. Keisler Engineering, a distributor for the Tremec line of transmissions, customized this unit's input gearing and shifter construction to fit the Ecotec engine and the Cheetah body configuration. |
 A Keisler engineer is scanning...  A Keisler engineer is scanning a car body for transmission component design. This same technology was used to design the transmission system for Ecocat to ensure component space, shifter positioning, and proper overall fitment. |
 This is one of the key ingredients...  This is one of the key ingredients for the Keisler RWD conversion--its newly designed clutch-housing adapter for the Ecotec-GM V-8 transmission. This adapter will allow the use of many GM bolt-pattern transmissions, including automatics. For this project, Keisler used the Tremec TKO five-speed with an overdrive fifth-gear ratio of 0.64 for low-rpm cruising, excellent fuel economy, and performance. |
 After the clutch adapter plate...  After the clutch adapter plate is bolted to the engine, the pilot bushing is driven into the crankshaft. Note the allowance for the original starter fitment, along with dowel pinholes to precisely locate the clutch housing. |
 The clutch disc is aligned...  The clutch disc is aligned to the crankshaft using a common alignment tool, ... |
 ... and then the clutch plate...  ... and then the clutch plate is set and torqued to factory specifications. |
 The clutch housing is dialed...  The clutch housing is dialed in to the engine crankshaft. This process precisely places the transmission input shaft in alignment with the crankshaft. |
 This is Keisler Engineering's...  This is Keisler Engineering's unique hydraulic bearing assembly, which uses a single line and self-bleeds. The hydraulic bearing is rated for over 1.5-million cycles and 9,000-rpm shifts in continuous operation. While the Ecocat may not be able to wind up that high, the reliability of the part is reassuring for upcoming touring. Builders should note that Keisler Engineering makes these hydraulic kits for many popular engine and vehicle combinations. |
 The bellhousing can be installed...  The bellhousing can be installed to either the engine or transmission first. With this project, the bellhousing was installed to the transmission first, making the installation of the hydraulic lines even easier. |
 Here's a close up of the hydraulic...  Here's a close up of the hydraulic bearing as the line is installed. The hydraulic line is flexible stainless steel with a Teflon liner for high-heat application and race-duty capacity. |
Finally, the Keisler five-speed...  Finally, the Keisler five-speed driveline system is married to the Ecotec engine. For the Ecocat, the shift position was set rearward and a Pro billet shifter with a short chrome handle was used. Keisler offers many shifter positions for nearly any vehicle you could want to drop in this combination. |
 So how did all this planning...  So how did all this planning and fabrication turn out? Excellent! With the Tremec safely resting on the car's transmission mount, Tracy Tichenor cut the hole for the shifter location. It is exactly where it is needed to "row" through miles of gear changes with minimal effort and maximum comfort. |
 In the engine compartment,...  In the engine compartment, the conversion looks as if it was engineered to be there. With over 10 1/2 inches to the radiator, we have all the space needed for upcoming power adders, which are the next step for the Ecocat project. |
 With the trial fit of the...  With the trial fit of the engine and transmission combination, our Ecocat looks more like the real deal. |