awd conversion, help? Options

[Rook]

Hey guys. I'm definitely interested in doing an awd conversion within the next 6 months. I wanna make it a straight up gt4 conversion. I know its alot of work. As far as I've read on my parts list is:

3sgte engine
e154f transmission
gt4 driveline
rear differential
rear cradle
driveshafts
gt4 fuel tank

i know theres gonna be fabrication needed but im not sure how much. I'm not exactly sure how the cradle would go in but I'm sure its supposed to be welded up somehow. So far my favorite thread has been czwalga's rally car...difference though is that i'm going with the 3sgte and i'm wanting an awesome street car not an awesome rally car. lol. but definitely kudos czwalga . But yeah anyway i know i do have a long way to go. I just wanted help with this cus i know its alot. I've heard alot of guys getting it done under $10k. I would be willing to go a little over if i have to since im not a fabricator or a welder. . any input would be awesome.

[Rook]

all good points. However all i'd really have trouble with is the fab. Your right czwalga i would probably do a fuel cell instead. But i can take care of the mechanical myself. lol. wat i'm not sure about is that rear end. how do the struts location differ from the usdm version? you have to cut stuff out and replace with the gt4 rear and weld up?

[czwalga]

all good points. However all i'd really have trouble with is the fab. Your right czwalga i would probably do a fuel cell instead. But i can take care of the mechanical myself. lol. wat i'm not sure about is that rear end. how do the struts location differ from the usdm version? you have to cut stuff out and replace with the gt4 rear and weld up?

Well the thing you're kinda missing is that it's all fab, no real mechanical. You have to do the mechanical stuff in conjuction with all the fab work.

Start by installing the transmission, then there's 4 driveshaft mounts. Align those so that the angle of the ds is within .5-2 degrees of the outputshaft on the tranny. Then make mounts for the ds get those welded in. You'll most likely have to remove the carpet otherwise youll probably catch it on fire.

Once you have those mounts done you have a new reference point. Then there's a CV joint, this is to account for the fact that the rear subframe needs to sit higher than a straight line out of the transmission. However, the angle of the subframe should have the same slight angle as the last long section of the driveshaft. This is so the U joint at the differential is within .5-2 degrees


I spent a few hours just aligning the rear subframe on blocks before i started fabbing mounts. I'm sure you can get away with doing a ****tier job, i've seen others keep the rear subframe in a straight line and it sits way lower than it should, this causes the axles to much more angle than it should. (With full weight on the suspension the axles should be around perpendicular with the differential +- a little) In my opinion its wrong, but hey it functions so who am i to judge. But mine has survived 6 rally days of complete abuse and haven't had any problems.


Aside from installing the transmission and towing to a shop everything else is fab and custom work. Installing the parts in an already compelted car is like 1/50th of the actual time it takes to do it.


If you're serious about doing it, my suggestion is buy a welder with gas, practice, take lots of time and dont half ass it. Unless you find a shop that does custom work most wont touch a project like this. Also shops that would do something liek this will charge you big bucks.

This post has been edited by czwalga: Dec 24, 2011 - 5:03 PM