From fwd to awd, is it possible? Options

[goferris]

I have read somewhere that it isn't possible to change a american celica into an awd gtfour type of set up. Is that True? I am new to the forum and not sure if this has allready been touched on earlier but that is one of my dreams to have. living in the states i doubt i will ever have the chance to ever own a real one. Does anyone know for sure?
thanks for the info

[Batman722]

ok relax everyone...

OPTION 1
if you get a rear clip it would be easier than a 100% fab job. What you would have to do is have a shop cut the along FACTORY WELDS of the clip (start from the back of the front seats (the floor)), then along the side members, then up around the strut towers and over the hatch. Then they would have to do the same to your car (hehe cut that beotch right into pieces) and weld the 205 subframe onto your USDM car. All of the new welds have to be perfect and strait and everything has to be precise. If one side weld is off by a 1/2 inch, then your hatch won't close properly and look not so good, plus your car might drive a bit crocked or just shake violenly at high speeds Then you would have to make sure you have ALL of the needed parts from the 205, like the fuel lines, brake lines, gas tank, sway bar, links, suspension assemblies, brakes, drive shaft, rear diff, make sure you use all new bushings (which you would have to order from Japan and wait a few weeks for) ect.. and still be able to custom fab some stuff. And you would only really want to do this if you had a 3s swap or planning to swap in a 3s of course, or just bolt up an AWD tranny to your 5s and have a very slow AWD car.

all of the exterior welds would be grinded down and then the cost of the repaint (front half of the car is one color and the rear is another)...

also if you do the 205 rear you would probably need new wheels because the 205 calipers are huge. Better stock up on brake pads and rotors too.


OPTION 2
or you can just go 100% custom and do it all yourself. Celiman05 and his dad had many parts from 205 and still did MAJOR fabrication to his car to get everything bolted right up.

have any of you seen celiman05's car in person ? did any of you see the process ? oh yeah, I did. So if you have the extra $$, many many free months, and a trusted shop/person to do all of this for you, is it worth it ? You better make sure the shop/person doing this doesn't mess up one little thing or else your driving something dangerous to you and everyone around you.