Reply to "New Guy Fundamental Question"

Jack,

A ZF style trans-axle/bell housing bolts directly to the engine but has the differential (this is the part similar to the center of the rear axle assembly of a rear wheel drive car) mounted inside of the trans case forward of the gear changing cluster assembly. This is so you can attach axle drive components directly to the gearbox and have the correct wheel/tire placement to the engine location.

Some trans-axle used in front engine/rear wheel drive cars have the differential mounted directly behind the gear cluster and the entire trans-axle in mounted in the back of the car---C5 and C6 Corvette's have this style.

A standard transmission/bell housing bolts directly to the engine and the power from the engine passes through the gear changing assembly into a tail shaft and in most cases ties into a drive shaft that is connected to the rear end or differential.

Some mid engine cars have a transmission that bolts in front of the engine protruding into the cabin and uses a shaft from the trans to drive the differential mounted directly behind the engine creating the correct orientation for the axle drive components in a mid engine car layout. Lamborghini Countach and the later models use this layout.

Confused??? Don't feel bad---I wrote it and now I'm confused. (:>) Hope this helps.

Kirk