I am familiar with gear reduction boxes in Split window VW Buses..
have worked on those since about '72.

but never have heard of them being called Portal Axles.

I have also seen them used in a Dune Buggy rotated ...to increase wheel
base, not ground clearance.

I also have a plan for some ..
likely in a 1 to 1 ratio, used in an 'extend wheelbase' configuration.
or 'increase ground clearance' configuration for off road types.
to enable putting in a stock subaru transaxle turned around..
as the Gear boxes reverse direction of rotation,
which is what you need if you turn around a front transaxle .

scott
turbovans

On 3/29/2012 3:50 PM, Jim Akiba wrote:
> Best part about the mighty FC, is it's sitting on portal axles...
> looked at the pricing for these from dynatrac (the OEM) and they run
> 12,500 for the front, and 11,000 for the rears.. anyone want a syncro
> with portal axles and have about $50k to spare? We'll do it up..
>
> Jim Akiba
>