1G FWD to AWD

[nightracer91]

I have searched and all I can find is info on a 2G F-AWD conversion. Can I get some help on doing it on a 91?

 

[19Eclipse90]

Everyone will tell you it's not worth the money. You are better off buying an AWD then trying to swap. As much as I know, you will need flywheel, clutch and all it's components, transmission, transfer case, driveshaft, AWD exhaust, AWD gas tank, rear differential, rear axles, rear suspension, maybe even rear brake calipers/rotors and front calipers. Even then, I don't know if it will work, I probably left a lot of stuff out... I've never done the swap but I have thought about it a few times, and after doing so, I agree that it is not worth the time and effort you put into it, when you could simply buy an AWD version.
Brian

 

[92awddsm]

The reason you cant find any info on it is because the 1g fwd and awd chassis is different. The 1g fwd doesnt have any of the rear suspension and diff mounting points so there woul be a lot of fabrication to make it work. The 2g fwd and awd chassis is the same so the swap is fairly easy with most of it being just bolt in.

 

[Marc91GSX]

I have a serious question about this so please none of the BS crap that comes with some responses. I have 3 AWD chassis so parts are basically free. My question is does anybody know anyone who has attempted this swap? The reason I ask is because I found a super clean FWD chassis interior is a 5/5 and exterior is a 4/5. I paid less than 1000 for all three of my AWDs and they are pretty much just parts cars that I was trying to make into one really nice car and one race car. To make the one car really nice will end up costing me alot of money and I can get this FWD for practicly nothing. He wants to trade me for one of my AWD chasis, AWD tranny, and T case. I can weld most metals so the fabrication would not be too difficult. I just need to get an idea of exactly how much fabrication will be involved.( ex... does any of the suspension share mounting locations )

 

[Newlogics]

I have a serious question about this so please none of the BS crap that comes with some responses. I have 3 AWD chassis so parts are basically free. My question is does anybody know anyone who has attempted this swap? The reason I ask is because I found a super clean FWD chassis interior is a 5/5 and exterior is a 4/5. I paid less than 1000 for all three of my AWDs and they are pretty much just parts cars that I was trying to make into one really nice car and one race car. To make the one car really nice will end up costing me alot of money and I can get this FWD for practicly nothing. He wants to trade me for one of my AWD chasis, AWD tranny, and T case. I can weld most metals so the fabrication would not be too difficult. I just need to get an idea of exactly how much fabrication will be involved.( ex... does any of the suspension share mounting locations )

No one I've heard of (and I've heard of a lot. I run a DSM shop and been here a while) has ever attempted the swap, although I do hear that idea thrown out there very once in a while. No one ever follows up on it though.

Like has been said before, for AWD setup you'd need to swap whole front and rear subframe into your FWD. The problem is that you will not find any mounting points for it. While fabricating may be an option, whithout access to a whole shop of equipment, it would be rediculusly hard to get everything perfectly straight, and I'm sure you don't want a car with twisted subframes, which pulles in all direction when you drive.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

Like 92awddsm said the awd and fwd chassis arew different on the 1Gs, and even though you have 3 awd chassis for parts you will have to do some cutting into the flooring of the FWD to make room for the AWD gas tank, and to will have to make a channel down the middle of the car in order for the driveshaft and exhaust to fit and go to the rear. IMPO its not worth the time and cash when you could buy a clean 1G AWD for 3-5K. But it you do end up doing it make a tech article for the swap and take lots of pictures for the rest of the DSM community. Good Luck

 

[19Eclipse90]

Marc91GSX - If one of your AWD chassis has any of the AWD components needed, that would help a whole lot. But aside from that, you can swap the clean interior and alot of the exterior from this FWD to one of the AWD. That is personally how I would do it. Then you already have the AWD chassis, you only have a few body pieces/panels that would need some sprucing up, and the motor is a direct drop in. All you need after that is your AWD components, bolt them up and go! If you have an AWD chassis, there doesn't seem to be a point to me to swap everything from it to a FWD chassis to convert the FWD to AWD.

 

[Marc91GSX]

Thank you for all of your responses. The main reason for this swap is because I want a really clean 1GA and I already have all of the pieces to do this. The FWD is completely untouched while the AWDs have been hacked on for years. Only one of AWDs is even close to being what I want but it needs to have the wiring replaced all the way through it. I think that it would honestly be less of a hassle to convert the FWD to AWD than it would to get the AWD into as good a shape as this FWD is.

Here is a list of all of the parts I have that have already been paid for so they are basicly free parts.

3 complete AWD rolling chasis including all suspension components
2 AWD trannys and T-cases
1 fourbolt differential, axles, and cups
1 complete energy suspension bushing kit for a 1G AWD

So from my standpoint all of the parts are free so that leaves me with just the labor. To the best of my knowledge the front suspension is the same but I may need the rack out an AWD and I know that I will need to use the swaybar. The rear apparently uses a completely different subframe so I will have to fabricate there. I am not sure about the tunnel on the car but from just a glance it looks identical. I also have access to a frame machine, and all other tools needed for this swap. I guess I will atleast tear the cars down to look and see how different everything is. If I can do this then I will, if it is going to require me to cut alot of the structural integrity out of the car to accomplish it then I will just enjoy the FWD and buy an evo or something.