AWD swap or wait for a shell?

[boost97gst]

First off, im in no hurry. But i just found a guy with a 95 gsx with a TON of parts. He has every piece of the drivetrain: tranny, tcase, driveshaft, front and rear end complete. I think i can get all of it for under 500, maybe the whole car for around that. Then again, how hard is this job? I dont want to have to buy all new suspension either, I like the tein coil overs i have. This could get very very expensive real quick. Plus i need to get a new Comp stage 4 clutch and flywheel, cant use the one from my fwd right?

Whats a partslist that ill need to do the swap and in general, how hard is it? I know i have to use new fuel lines but do i have to swap brake lines out too? How crazy is this job? If i wait im sure i could find a nice shell for 1500 and swap my engine in and have a car with nicer interior and less dents, ya know.

 

[New_kid]

I would say wait for shell, it's completely less work, from what i have seen. All that you are going to need to do is just work with the engine, and transmission and maybe the inside. And with swap, its gonna take you a long time.

 

[boost97gst]

Or.... i could drop the 1500 for a quaife LSD and a tranny rebuild. But even now, its taking the fun out of the car. Hell, im peeling out on good pulls in third gear at 80! 2nd is all spin. I wonder if a LSD with softer tires could help put that power to the ground better. TBH, i dont really NEED awd, i just want to put allthat power to the pavement.

 

[bryanwheat]

I would say wait for shell, it's completely less work, from what i have seen. All that you are going to need to do is just work with the engine, and transmission and maybe the inside. And with swap, its gonna take you a long time.

The swap doesn't take a long time, it can easily be done in a weekend. Most everything bolts together with the exception of removing and installing 2 new studs for the rear subframe and welding on the driveshaft carrier mounts.

 

[gieri002]

Speaking from experience (I just completed an AWD swap this summer), I'd wait for the shell. It's also important to note that you must be comfortable with welding and cutting as this isn't a bolt on mod.

 

[95weclipse]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-drivetrain/353458-2g-dsm-awd-conversion.html



I d say do it! you would appreciate it more, plus a good project

 

[flawlessTSI]

Or get this http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/omaha-area-dsm-forum/449814-fs-awd-4g63-swaped-89-plymouth-colt.html

 

[miguelmcv]

If you are not satisfy with the interior of your car, I would say to wait for a shelf to swap the engine, But If the car that you are saying has all the part and interior in good conditions, I would buy the complete car and go with the swap.,,,

To find a shelf that suits your eye its going to be hard, specially if you are kind of picky with that.,

 

[boost97gst]

my car just needs a couple dings pulled and a new leather seats really. Its not bad and has zero rust. Unfortunately the guy has sold the entire interior and gutted a bunch of other stuff. Pretty much just the awd components. I could put 600hp down with 4 wheels better than 2 when i get to that level. Tough decision. I have a welder and the bass player in my band is a boiler maker so hes no stranger to welding just about anything. That part doesnt scare me.
I know how rusted these things can get and i guess im a bit nervous of random bolts breaking off etc etc..

Im gonna weigh the options out but this deal is so cheap its tough not to pick up the parts just in case!

 

[keveka2]

i would buy it just for the parts even if you dont use them you could always sell them and scrap the rest and get like 3 times what you paid.... and i dont think the swap is to hard.. like everyone said most of it is bolt on....

 

[markeski]

If you can do all the work yourself it could be economical to do the swap. I recently read a good posting of a guy who did an awd swap in 3 consecutive weekends on his spyder.

 

[boost97gst]

I got into reading the thread "where are all the fwd's at??" . Im stickin fwd afterall. Lsd and a built tranny and i can put down power well i believe. Soft tires up front and i could probably pull low 12s

 

[jdxnc]

The swap is not that complicated, but you do need the tools and the know how. I did mine over about 2 weeks, working a couple hours a day on it, probably around 30-35 hours total.

FWD Tien coilovers would work fine, that's what's on mine with no issues.