How difficult do you think it would be to get from Fwd to Rwd? Options

[coldbluesteel]

Well, I understand exactly where your coming from. I had planned and started to implement a RWD conversion on my 94GT. You can look up my old post if you want some more info. Basically the plan was gut and rebuild. I wanted some real power so I was building a twin turbo LS1. If your going to go through all the trouble of a conversion, why put a 200-300 HP motor in? You could do a Lexus 1uzfe and build that to about 400HP if you want to save some money( that has been installed a 5th gen alltrac before)
As said before you'll have to make room for a transmission. There is already room for a drive shaft because of the shared chassis with GT4. You'll have to figure out a custom suspension and steering set-up. Of course you'll have to reinforce all the cutting your doing, and to support the increase in power and torque forces.

You could order up a rear end from a GT4, which is nice because it pretty much bolts in with a little fab work and it has a Torsen differential. Should be good to about 400HP, maybe more. You would need a custom drive shaft regardless. Another good option is to use the suspension from a Mustang Cobra, because its more robust and the dimensions are pretty close. You'll need a custom fuel tank, as the one you have now is in the way. Fuel cell in the trunk is a good option.

If that sounds like more than your ready to tackle you could take it to a shop that specializes in custom fab vehicles. Most quotes I got were in the 20K-30K range.

Hit me with any questions you have.

[coldbluesteel]

also with the beams, you could turbo it, it wouldn't be that hard at all.

Why would you turbo a high compression motor, instead of just installing one that is factory set up with turbo (3sgte) which cost less than a beams anyway. You could do 4age or 4agze.

[mkernz22]

just forget i even mentioned it lol

[blu94gt]

Ehh, don't start planning stuff out that far ahead. Stuff, life, and goals change so quickly... No offense but after a few years of the same car, you'll probably realize there are better ways to spend your money, car related or otherwise.

This.

OP: You're how old? I'm assuming 18 or 19 since you're just going into school. What exactly are you studying, because I'm confused if it's mechanical engineering or auto-mechanic's school. Neither of which will just magically give you the skills to do a swap like this in a few years. I completed a 2 year auto mechanic's program here, which taught some good information but it was basically just enough to start apprenticing at a shop: basically changing tires, brakes, and oil while learning more on the job. Finishing up my engineering degree now, and there is pretty much nothing like that taught at an engineering school unless you go to a specialty school.

I don't know if any colleges in Canada participate in Formula SCE, but it's the only university-based club that actually would teach you some good fabricating and custom skills. It's basically a competition where you make a custom kart as light as you can with a 600cc or less motor. TONS of custom work, there's a good opportunity to learn a lot.

As far as planning, seriously don't plan that far ahead, especially when you don't know what your skillset will be. When I was 19 I had my 94 Celica and swore I would keep it until it had a million miles on it. What do you know after a year of driving that car I realized that it would never do what I wanted it to performance-wise without a ton of money and work, so I sold it for a Subaru WRX. Swore I'd keep that car, but 2 years later got a Lexus and a Miata, etc etc. Now I'm back in a 99 Celica but I KNOW it will never do anything more for me than be a fun and reliable DD, for even the cost of a swap I could purchase a lot of other proper sports cars.

I'm not really trying to discourage you from dreaming big, but for what knowledge you have both of your car and what all you can do to it, right now you are dreaming BIG. Why do you want to go RWD so bad? Do you even have much experience driving RWD cars and know what their true advantages are?

[SwissFerdi]

just forget i even mentioned it lol

No, now you have to live with the consequences of your action, and let me tell you my friend...those consequences are dire.

[dudeofchaos]

Ehh, don't start planning stuff out that far ahead. Stuff, life, and goals change so quickly... No offense but after a few years of the same car, you'll probably realize there are better ways to spend your money, car related or otherwise.

This.

OP: You're how old? I'm assuming 18 or 19 since you're just going into school. What exactly are you studying, because I'm confused if it's mechanical engineering or auto-mechanic's school. Neither of which will just magically give you the skills to do a swap like this in a few years. I completed a 2 year auto mechanic's program here, which taught some good information but it was basically just enough to start apprenticing at a shop: basically changing tires, brakes, and oil while learning more on the job. Finishing up my engineering degree now, and there is pretty much nothing like that taught at an engineering school unless you go to a specialty school.

I don't know if any colleges in Canada participate in Formula SCE, but it's the only university-based club that actually would teach you some good fabricating and custom skills. It's basically a competition where you make a custom kart as light as you can with a 600cc or less motor. TONS of custom work, there's a good opportunity to learn a lot.

As far as planning, seriously don't plan that far ahead, especially when you don't know what your skillset will be. When I was 19 I had my 94 Celica and swore I would keep it until it had a million miles on it. What do you know after a year of driving that car I realized that it would never do what I wanted it to performance-wise without a ton of money and work, so I sold it for a Subaru WRX. Swore I'd keep that car, but 2 years later got a Lexus and a Miata, etc etc. Now I'm back in a 99 Celica but I KNOW it will never do anything more for me than be a fun and reliable DD, for even the cost of a swap I could purchase a lot of other proper sports cars.

I'm not really trying to discourage you from dreaming big, but for what knowledge you have both of your car and what all you can do to it, right now you are dreaming BIG. Why do you want to go RWD so bad? Do you even have much experience driving RWD cars and know what their true advantages are?

Yes we have that formula at my school. Was actually planning to get in it this year.
I know, everything you said is true, but it's something I'd like to do some day.

[dudeofchaos]

Well, I understand exactly where your coming from. I had planned and started to implement a RWD conversion on my 94GT. You can look up my old post if you want some more info. Basically the plan was gut and rebuild. I wanted some real power so I was building a twin turbo LS1. If your going to go through all the trouble of a conversion, why put a 200-300 HP motor in? You could do a Lexus 1uzfe and build that to about 400HP if you want to save some money( that has been installed a 5th gen alltrac before)
As said before you'll have to make room for a transmission. There is already room for a drive shaft because of the shared chassis with GT4. You'll have to figure out a custom suspension and steering set-up. Of course you'll have to reinforce all the cutting your doing, and to support the increase in power and torque forces.

You could order up a rear end from a GT4, which is nice because it pretty much bolts in with a little fab work and it has a Torsen differential. Should be good to about 400HP, maybe more. You would need a custom drive shaft regardless. Another good option is to use the suspension from a Mustang Cobra, because its more robust and the dimensions are pretty close. You'll need a custom fuel tank, as the one you have now is in the way. Fuel cell in the trunk is a good option.

If that sounds like more than your ready to tackle you could take it to a shop that specializes in custom fab vehicles. Most quotes I got were in the 20K-30K range.

Hit me with any questions you have.

Hmm, thanks man, I sure will come to you if I have questions! But I'm looking to stay as close to OEM as possible (ironical don't you think? lol) so I'm just going to stick with the 3sgte.

[azian_advanced]

you should definitely join if you haven't already. for anyone taking a mechanical engineering degree and want to pursue in automotive engineering, you will have a MUCH better chance of getting a job with SAE in your background. it will probably have a bigger impact than your GPA. the big motor companies in detroit won't hire any engineers without any SAE experience just fyi.

[dudeofchaos]

you should definitely join if you haven't already. for anyone taking a mechanical engineering degree and want to pursue in automotive engineering, you will have a MUCH better chance of getting a job with SAE in your background. it will probably have a bigger impact than your GPA. the big motor companies in detroit won't hire any engineers without any SAE experience just fyi.

The only problem is that I live in eastern Canada.. Not much of a chance I get a job related to cars' engineering. I will have to move to the USA if I want a car-related job. Otherwise I'll just stay here and get a different job. I'm not necessarely thinking about getting a job that involes cars, but I would like to. Anyways, the futur only will tell me my futur job lol.

But I will look at this for sure. I will probably join the SAE formula. But we are the only ''Cegep'' (You guys don't have this where you are, it's between high school and university.. Pretty much like college.) that participates in the SAE formula in America I heard. The rest are all Universities. So I have a lot of time ahead to get in it, still 2 years of Cegep and then a minimum of 3 other years of Uni.

This post has been edited by dudeofchaos: Oct 1, 2010 - 6:40 PM