AWD conversion???

[KyleR]

I have a FWD laser RS N/T and I would like to change it over to an AWD set up W/o turboing the car. What driveline modifications would I need to make to make it AWD, and about how much would junkyard+rebuild parts cost (I have a "auto salvage", yard fairly close to where i live that has quite a few 1g and 2g DSMs)

 

[99gst_racer]

Thread moved. The Project Logs section is not for tech questions.

Anything is possible, and this swap has been done before (a couple times at least), but it is very involved. It's not a simple parts changeover like it is for 2Gs. You would have to do alot of cutting and welding to get everything to fit under a FWD 1G.

I'm not too familiar with FWD 1Gs, so I can't provide details of the process. But as the saying goes, if you have to ask how to do it, then it's probably a little too involved for you.

 

[KyleR]

I'm a quick learner, and other than the welding, my dad and I can pretty much do any other automotive work our selves

 

[DSM1G90]

AWD chassis are totally different than a FWD chassis - a D22 against a D27 chassis. It'd be engine mounting, driveline, rear end adaptations, brakes, et.al.

Go find you a TSiAWD, a GS-X, or find a '92-94 PLY AWD vehicle. (Your NT looks good though - why cut it up..?)

-DSM

 

[123eclipz]

Anything is possible, and this swap has been done before (a couple times at least), but it is very involved. It's not a simple parts changeover like it is for 2Gs.

so to do this w/ a 2g is easier. how much does a swap like that cost?

 

[KyleR]

thank you I try I try

I thought that it would just be changing tranies and some crossmembers and stuff. So i'll abandon that idea( I wanted to be the first D1 DSM reardrive drifter)

 

[DSM_PWR]

Normally i'd say go for it but when talking about 1gs... i'd say find an AWD Shell since they're pretty cheap, I got my 1g with motor for 1k and no rust..

Unless your in it just for the expierence, then go for it

so to do this w/ a 2g is easier. how much does a swap like that cost?

I got all my AWD parts for under 1k...

 

[KyleR]

I'm just turned sixteen and this is my first car so... the sentimental value outweighs my curiosity

 

[99gst_racer]

so to do this w/ a 2g is easier. how much does a swap like that cost?

Yes, doing this on a 2G is cakewalk compared to a 1G.
Cost depends on alot of things. Some guys buy an entire donor car to rob the parts off of, and some guys just buy the needed parts only. Some guys are going to re-use the existing AWD tranny, flywheel, clutch, etc... And some guys will opt to have their tranny built by TRE or Shep, opt for the lightweight flywheel, and a more aggressive clutch. So, it all depends on what you're "improving" in the process.

I'd say it can be done for as little as $700 and as much as $5000. Personally, I spent $1300 on a complete donor car (which I later parted out to help recoop some $), $1300 on a TRE rebuild, and then also put in a new clutch and flywheel. But if you have enough time and patience to hold out for a good deal on parts or a donor car, if can be done for under a grand.

Normally i'd say go for it but when talking about 1gs... i'd say find an AWD Shell since they're pretty cheap, I got my 1g with motor for 1k and no rust..

I agree 100%.

I picked up my 1G for $300. Complete running car (albeit the dropped cylinder and the 2 holes in the block).

 

[rock1t]

AWD chassis are totally different than a FWD chassis - a D22 against a D27 chassis. It'd be engine mounting, driveline, rear end adaptations, brakes, et.al.

Go find you a TSiAWD, a GS-X, or find a '92-94 PLY AWD vehicle. (Your NT looks good though - why cut it up..?)

-DSM

Where do you find this information? The chassis is different yes, but all you need is a donor awd car. Just drop the components off of the donor, drop your components and bolt the awd up in place. All the mounting points are the same, including engine mounting. I am in the process of finishing up a body swap.

 

[99gst_racer]

Where do you find this information? The chassis is different yes, but all you need is a donor awd car. Just drop the components off of the donor, drop your components and bolt the awd up in place. All the mounting points are the same, including engine mounting. I am in the process of finishing up a body swap.

He was mostly correct. Under the hood, everything is the same. Mounting points for the engine and tranny don't need to be altered. But the rest of the chassis is very much different - Including the entire rear floor pan. Because of this, the AWD components are not a bolt on affair.

Here's a documentation of the swap: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/drivetrain-tech/294385-so-begins-1g-awd-conversion.html

 

[DSM1G90]

But, to AWD a NT? Have to put in that F5M33(xx) tranny to add that transaxle ass'y on the side of it. His came with the F5M22 tranny. That includes changing out the clutch ass'y and related parts.

Lotsa, lotsa work .. - DSM

 

[EVO]

Buy an AWD. I've had, let's call them "special people", come to me years ago and want me to convert their 420a equipped cars into 4G63t cars. Assuming it can and could be done - for the right money anything is possible, however there is the cost that overwhelms the reward and the outcome... my 2 cents. BTW I told em', the "special people", politely to sell their cars and buy a GST or GSX, I dont even favor turboing 420a's...

 

[shadow001dsm]

i too have a first gen that i have been messing with for the conversion, what th moderator says is correct, the whole rear end of my 94 gs is very much different, theres a lot of work i have to do and dont have the time at the moment, i have all the parts i need there sitting at the shop at work, but its not all bolt on believe me, and if you make a mistake it could be costly, its a fun project if you have the time money and resourses, but its certainly not cost efficient, you should buy an awd version to make it easier for you. thats my personal opinion. i wont be attempting my conversion for a while. i still have to get back and forth to work.

 

[KyleR]

thanks for all the pointers

i too have a first gen that i have been messing with for the conversion, what th moderator says is correct, the whole rear end of my 94 gs is very much different, theres a lot of work i have to do and dont have the time at the moment, i have all the parts i need there sitting at the shop at work, but its not all bolt on believe me, and if you make a mistake it could be costly, its a fun project if you have the time money and resourses, but its certainly not cost efficient, you should buy an awd version to make it easier for you. thats my personal opinion. i wont be attempting my conversion for a while. i still have to get back and forth to work.

as for this, I need to do some educational related things before i'm allowed to drive by my self, even though I am 16, and I don't plan on getting a job 'till I can drive, so the car being "offline" for while won't be a problem.

 

[AndrewD5418]

Hunt down a Galant GSX transmission instead of a turbo trans. heh.

 

[99gst_racer]

Hunt down a Galant GSX transmission instead of a turbo trans. heh.

Care to explain your reasoning behind this recommendation? (I'm just curious)

 

[shadow001dsm]

whats the diff with the galant trany? im curious too. and if you want to do the conversion it is possible and i will attempt it eventually, but for your first car and one that you says has sentimental value i would say not to do it. i would recomend you atempt it on a old shell or gather all the info from those that have done it and research it very carefully, both in how much it will cost all the parts needed, its time consuming and painstaiking. its not the same as a 2g. i have already done a conversion on a 2g on my previous car, our 1gs are diff, but by all means if its something you realy want to do and are confident you can seccessfuly do it then go for it, but i am doing mine outta boredom and just to say i did. i will say its not worth much, all you get out of it is a stock gsx will a not as good chasy, or uni body

 

[EVO]

The galant trans has a shorter gear ratio, so very sought after by street racers...

 

[KyleR]

buying a "new" car is pretty much out of the question so I think I'll just keep it FWD

 

[99gst_racer]

The galant trans has a shorter gear ratio, so very sought after by street racers...

If that's the case, then it won't mesh well with the traditional gear ratio of 1G rear end, right?

 

[AndrewD5418]

If that's the case, then it won't mesh well with the traditional gear ratio of 1G rear end, right?

As long as the final drives are the same it will be ok. But the reason I suggested a galant GSX trans was for it's gearing. Using a turbo trans without a turbo would make it bleeeh.