AWD Conversion Options

[Swifty]

If I get the ST205 Clip and get that dealt with (- read - Thats a big IF (I'm in my last year of high school and have all my cash going towards university, scolarships are pending)) HOw much would it cost to do the AWD conversion. would this be something I could do on my own? Is it harder or easier than an engine swap (with a clip). This conversion is pretty much a must, if I decide to get the 3sGTE, that many horsies in a FF car (front engine, front wheel drive) would really take away from the experience/clean starts off the line. Also I have a bunch of mods already (UD pulleys, sway bars, short shifter) would any of these have to be replaced or would they work with the new engine and drive train?

PS: anybody know how easy/hard it would be to get a 3sgte in Canada (Ottawa).

This post has been edited by Swifty: Mar 29, 2003 - 12:32 PM

[Charlie97L]

um 5 grand for the clip, you'll have to get a front AND rear clip. prolly 5-7 more for a shop to do the conversion, and at least a month downtime, if not more. i'd guesstimate at minimum 12 grand to do the conversion, there are always hidden costs. you won't be able to use any engine mods or suspension mods from your current car.

if you have to ask if an AWD conversion is harder than a swap, you aren't experienced enough to attempt it. there really isn't anyone on this forum that could do it themselves. nor

This post has been edited by Charlie97L: Mar 29, 2003 - 12:42 PM

[Swifty]

Where those prices US or CAN (US price/0.68)

First of all I have done an engine swap before (B18C1 Integra GSR into a Civic DX ps:civics suck), granted it was pretty straight forward that engine and the car are almost interchangeable. Second my friends father is a mechanic, and their garage has a pit in which i have worked in. That same friend has an amazing Mitsubishi eclipse turbo for which we did a turbo replacement together. And since I have never done a drive conversion I had to ask if it was hard or not. Sure Im no mechanic (Going into Biology/Life sciences in the fall) but I'm pretty sure I can get away with having to pay little/none for the labour on the AWD conversion.

Thanks for the numbers though.

[97sccelica]

yes well with hondas, all the honda engines fit in all honda cars and they are for the most part plug and play

this swap is a little more complicated because it is not just the engine. it is the whole drive train and suspension. most toyota performance engines are special purpose(unlike all of honda's engine), they dont use one block for about 5 different engine varients in 10 different cars

lots of parts and a lot of hard work and many things may go wrong on the way

a turbo replacement isnt much harder than installing a header, that is almost basic maintainance

oh yeah, and unles you have a hydrolic lift, good luck on doing all the work under the car. people who say they are good with cars will have a hard time doing this, let alone someone who says they are not very good mechanically but can get by

like charlie said, do more research

This post has been edited by 97sccelica: Mar 29, 2003 - 1:22 PM

[Guest_Matthew_*]

Ok, a couple of things:

1. For the parts go to www.jarcoinc.com. 4500 for an st205 front and rear clip. If you just buy the front you will not have all the parts or the floor panels needed.

2. Like chuck said you will not be able to use you suspension or engine mods from your 5s-fe or 7a-fe on your 3s-gte.

3. This swap again like charlie said will cost you 5-7 grand, not counting the price of the parts. I would suggest getting all new belts, oil lines, brake lines, fuel lines, spark plugs, etc. In a sense do what I am doing. Get all the parts that you will need before you attempt the swap. Such as internal engine parts, clutches, suspension, sway bars, brake system, etc.

Then you have to find a shop that has a frame straightener or frame holder. Because you have to take out the floor of your car and swap in the floor pans of the st205 clip. Then you also have to do the same for the gas tank. If you do not have a frame straightener/holder, when you take out the floor of your car your car will lose its structural integrity and the roof will wrinkle and you will have a whole mess of other problems. The engine part should be a lot easier to do than the awd part.

Don't think that I am just making this up either. I got this information from highly trained professionals. In fact it is from eric and a couple of other guys at E.L. Prototypes in Aruza California. This work is just his estimate on what needs to be done. He is not entirely sure if the floor needs to be swapped out or not. But just to be on the safe side that's what I would do.

Oh, and please please please do not use 5th gen awd parts for your 6th gen suspension. I know of someone who did that. I will not mention his name. Also I do not know how safe it would be to just weld the parts to your car.


Any more questions?? If so, PM me or talk to me on Aol Instant Messenger (AIM) My screenname is "igotta5SFEturbo". Or talk to Qatar11. He is doing this too. Not sure how far he is now...but he has an st so he will most likely be your best source of info after he gets done.


Matt

This post has been edited by igotta5S-FEturbo: Apr 3, 2003 - 11:30 PM

[hiflytsi]

Everything said here is the best advice anyone could possibly give you, and if you decide the awd conversion is outta your league, then just spend a little change on a LSD. Then a little bit of your FF worries will be rectified.

[west_minist]

Adding to hiflytsi thread, putting in a good suspension like Tein or JIC would definately help with body body under extreme torque or stress in cornering forces.

[FallenHero]

Just buy a 93 all trac and have some pro's mount your body on it. it would be cheaper.

[qatar11]

Now hold on a second here.....

Matt you punk, thanks for mentioning me in your list of people who you talked to about doing this conversion...

A proper Tein system is like $4K

I am actually planning to do this swap in a few weeks here after school gets out. I have all the parts and have budgeted $2K for the frame place to do the floor plan R&R.... so wish me luck. I am actually not replacing any seals or getting the engine worked due to finanacial contrainsts and the fact that well it ain't broke... I'll post more goodies soon...

[Guest_Matthew_*]

sorry man...

i forgot

post edited.