If I had realized this much discussion would be generated I would have started a separate thread. I'm just a rogue hotrod guy dipping my toe in the flat four world. That said I've seen a lot of gearboxes of many vintages and applications including ones I could crawl through. I have to agree with Jaime in that much work of questionable reward is likely with the CVT. I personally would go electric before CVT. But then that's been accomplished. So if anyone wants to grab a wreck and play with the CVT please share the results with us. CVT's do have potential, my XUV gator proves it, my wife's jeep compass did not, Subaru is using it on the NA motors, we'll see...