4g63 CRX AWD (comments please)

[Jeffk614]

Please no flames

Yea, its another "bright idea", but i THINK i MIGHT actually go thru with this project. But I dont have any knowledge of crx bodies. If anyone here has crx knoledge, do you think i will have to 'cut' into the underbody to get the driveshaft to fit so it isnt hanging really low.

I'm assuming that is going to be the hardest part, is the driveshaft tunnel and the rearend. The rest can be done fairly easy at my friends machine/fab shop. Mounts, steering, axels etc......

Wiring wont be that big of a problem more along the lines of a pain in the ass rats nest.

Now i know this is doable, and i want a UNIQUE project car. But what other main issues do you think i will run into. I'm thinking mounting the rearend up so it can be awd is going to be the hardest part.

 

[maximage]

You will probably have to do at least some cutting to the chassis, but I "think" there is a tunnel running down the middle of the car for the exhaust already. Havent messed with the CRX in a long time.

Actually, we were going to take the Talon TSI we had that went to rally racing and use it's driveetrain/engine in an 89 Shelby Daytona.. hehe

I only have one thing to say


Monster, Monster GARAGE!!!

 

[nutshot]

Half shafts would have to be custom. Fuel tank mounting points. Exhaust mounts. Radiator fitment. There are a lot of bits involved here, I would strongly urge you toward a Festiva w/ B6T swap, which would be easier, less expensive, and a better match of HP/traction...

 

[Jeffk614]

I know there is alot of little tidbits that need to be taken note of. But that doesnt really bother me to much. The little things can be overcome pretty easy. Its just the main things that are making me think twice. I know this is going to cost some $ and ALOT of time but I cant think of anything that cant be done without a rediculously amount of $. That is mainly what i'm looking for. Something that will be in the way and it wont be able to fab'd up someway.

 

[maximage]

I've seen someone put a blown(read: blower) 454 Chevy V-8 in a Yugo. Anything is possible. I would ask yourself does the cost justify the performance/end result? IF you are doing it to do it, then by al means go for it. If you are doing it because of possible performance gains, remember that there is a lot of custom fabrication involved in this swap. You will more than likely lose any gains you would have had before you started.

 

[jmsmit5]

the main obstacle to overcome is the mindset- you have to switch from being a mechanic to a fabricator. After that, it will be easy.

 

[MNGSX]

I say go for it.

 

[QuickerDSM]

First of all, if you have the ambition and the know-how I say go for it...

That being said, since the engine compart is so small on the CRX's (not sure what year you're looking at) it might be easier to cut the front of the unibody off at the firewall. This way you could basically start with your own front subframe with tubing, then tie it in to an internal roll cage through the firewall. Depending how the unibody is laid out on the CRX, this might prove to be easier in the long run, not to mention MUCH more durable. This of course would only be limited by your fabrication skills and dedication to the cause.

Good luck with it if you decide to tackle it.

Mike

 

[mccurdy]

I hit up the street races up in tracy and milpitas in the bay area, and i was talkin to a proshop in the area and they said one of their customers was working on a custom project like yours...they cut out the whole front section and moved the dash back a foot or so, replaced it all. I think it was like a civic they were doing it to, dunno what engine though. But it sounded really interesting.....but..If you ever watch Discovery channel...try calling up monster garage...haha i bet they could do it for you =P Jessy james is a genius

 

[maximage]

Jesse James is GOD!!! I strive daily to be like him...

 

[xinfiniter]

I think it would be a fun project. Just dont get burned out on it and give up. It will be alot of work and lots of fabrication. Is this going to be a street car or purely drag car. Electrical is going to be the hardest if you want to try and keep the factory gauges and what not. Also, hope that the shifter lines up with the hole on the cab, if not...that'll be fun to fabricate up too. You'll also probably have to make a custom crossmember for the engine. Just make sure you know what you are getting yourself into before you start. If some friends and I can put a 2JZ-GTE in an RX-7, then you can put a 4G63 in a CRX.

 

[LaserRST]

I love this forum... had this been placed in a different forum on this site he woulda definately been flamed. Anywho, the rear of an AWD has independant rear suspension. that will take alot of room and will need to be fabbed too if you dont want the stock trailing arms ripped off. Remember that the wheels will need to be aligned properly. Geometry is important. Also think of what benefits you will get out of AWD vs FWD. The CRX is really light, lot of HP and LSD front end might actually come out with similar benefits and not enough difference for what its worth. Also how stock do you want it. Cuz with the gas tank relocated, and possible be custom as well, you may have to put a large feul cell in the back, and wont leave much room for you 2000 amp stereo. Everything else should be relatively easy for an experienced swapper. I put a 22-re in a 22-r celica and the wiring was easy, took 2 12hr days workin on it by myself but stripping a harness out is more annoying than difficult. Love to hear inspiration though... woo hoo good luck

 

[smokehouse_83]

I am putting a 2jz in a 70's Toyota pickup. Now thats going to be fun, just for starters I am going to put a 12bolt rear end with 10 inch tires and use the stock engine and intercooler and stuff, but after I get it all set up and going good I am switching over to a 4 link 9bolt rear end, auto tranny, a fully built engine, huge turbo, water to air setup in the passanger seat, standalone,ect. If I have fiberglass fenders, hood, doors, and bed made the truck will probally weight 2500 pounds or less and have traction like a mother. If I can drive it I might run in some outlaw races but if not I might find someone to drive it for me and sit back and watch it evolve. I am probally looking at a 50 to 75 thousand dollar investment in the end. It will be putting down around 1000 hp unless I decide to run it on alchohol, then it will be more. Now I just need to get my business going so I can have money to start the project. I am going to keep my dsm kinda low powered as I dont feel like going through tons of parts! Probally around 400hp with a 2.4.

 

[FallouT]

thats low powered?!

 

[smokehouse_83]

Thats low powered for a 2.4. I am probally going to run something around a 60 trim and make 400hp on pump gas and water injection (can only get 90 octane around here). I am going to set it up real nice with a tre tranny, nice frontmount, ems, ect. I want it to be halfway reliable, but still put down some nice power and run low 12's or high 11's. I have two many other projects I want to do to spend too much money on it. Such as a miata, toyota truck, 3rd gen rx7(keep it tame its for looks) and maybe a few others. But unless my business takes off none of these will be realized in the near future.

DRew

 

[xinfiniter]

Hey smokehouse_83

If you are interested my friend is selling his pineapple large ported engine, gt3540 turbo, dp, wastgate, apexi ecu, built tranny, new injectors, new fuel rail, commander for ecu, ecu software (datalogic), act street/stip clutch, 9.5lb flywheel w/ counter weight, new in box K&N 4" filter out of his 3g rx-7. We swaped it with a 2jz-gte engine, tranny, ecu, and stock twins...so he doesnt need it anymore. Let me know

p.s. Sorry for posting in here, I couldnt get the PM to work for some reason

 

[smokehouse_83]

No I think I am going to stick with the 2JZ in the 70's Toyota Truck. I dont feel like dicking around with tuning a rotary. Even though it would be a sweet setup in a miata!

Drew

 

[1gE.T.]

If you can pull off the swap it would most definitly worth it. Personally I dont think it would be as bad as people say.

I would strip it all down. Cut out the fire wall. build a tube frame inside. Cut out the rear fenderwell to add the IRS. Mount the fuel cell on the iner fram somewhere.

Just my .02

 

[maximage]

I was pondering this all wekend, and we just happened to have a 90 CRX in the shop for some work. I think you will probably have to open the tunnel up to the back if you would like to use AWD. Also, instead of using the Independant suspension in the rear, you may want to look into a solid axle. You will lose a little handling, but not enough that it would be annoying. I pushed a chev axle under the back and it would line up with minimal fabrication. As far as the driveshaft goes, a good machine shop can take the shaft and shorten or kengthen it, and get the U-joint to match up for the rear for realatively low cost. It' a lot easier to line up the solid axle for than independant, so keeoing the line true will be less of a headache.

 

[OddyseusDSM]

I was thinkin for a while, while researching MR2's, about how great an MR2 with AWD would be (kinda thinkin' akin to the Porsche GT2). I know this probly isn't possible but what about setting up the AWD system backwards-like. like switch the transfercase 180* and have it run weird like that. if I were to do that though i would cut off the driver compartment with a firwall and add a bunch of sound-deadening (yeah you'll up the weight a bit). i always want these things to be daily driver ya know, HEY!!! then you can add a targa. DAMN YOU!!! ya got me thinkin again...which is bad...hmmm...what could I do to an MG...

 

[GoSpeedRacerGo]

Originally posted by OddyseusDSM
hmmm...what could I do to an MG...

hmmm what I did with an mg...

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[spazkaz]

I could be very wrong here as I am a noob, but shouldn't a 2.4/60trim in theory put down more than 400 ponies?

 

[OddyseusDSM]

sorry to hijack, but what did you do to that MG, GoSpeedRacerGo, i've seen it in your sig for a while, i thought you just restored it.

 

[GoSpeedRacerGo]

Ehh jimmy rigged a s/c in it with a weber carb and a uhh monza? exhaust. Wasn't bad...Until I felt Turbo.

Turbo > S/C.

 

[OddyseusDSM]

cool, i was toying with the idea of a different engine.