AWD swap to FWD , is it Impossible ?

[1G8u]

I have a 1991 gsx awd turbo. I love the body very much, brand new red paint job, looks sick with the FMIC from fog light to fog light. Anyhow, I weighted the car, and my car weighs 3100lb. without me in it. A FWD weighs about 2400-2600LB without the driver. I think I will benefit from a FWD with my 20G setup.

Is it impossible ? Is it a mission ? I want to swap my AWD to a FWD. I am asking you DSM guru(s) out there, What do I need besides the tranny, ecu. Do I need a new set of axles ? During the swap, all the weight from the rear will be taken out right ? How much will it cost me ? Where can I get it done ? Is it expensive ? Is it worth it ? Am i asking too many questions ? I would rather be safe than sorry because I've heard with an AWD, there's too much to fix and you loose alot on the high end. Someone HELP meeeee !

 

[scotthidley]

This is a current thread in the newbie section:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151832

Before you worry about costs/feasability anymore, I suggest you look at dsmtimes.org and see for yourself who is still faster while running a 20g. There are plenty of things you can do for weight reduction, until those are done, why sacrifice 60' times, and the use of 2nd, probably even 3rd with that turbo. Besides just that conversion, you'd need a rear fwd suspension, fwd gas tank, the awd tranny would work, with modification,...

Some starters are deleting abs, power seat belts (Canadian are manual), removing the rear seats seat belts, rear wiper/washer bottle, spare, jack, miscaleneous engine brackets, such as the lifting bracket on the throttle body, and on the exhaust mani, exhaust heat shields,... There's over 200 pounds of savings listed right there. If you want to go further, get lighter wheels, the stockers are very heavy, fixed back racing seats, fiberglass or c/f hood, eliminated emissions equipment, light weight battery, a/c deletion, p/s deletion, flywheel, there's plenty of other things to go after before destroying your drivetrain.

 

[1fast97gsx]

youd be best off turning the car back to stock and selling it. Then buy a fwd and put the parts back on that. You'd probably not even lose any money assuming you still have the stock parts.

 

[Twizzle]

I have a 1991 gsx awd turbo. I love the body very much, brand new red paint job, looks sick with the FMIC from fog light to fog light. Anyhow, I weighted the car, and my car weighs 3100lb. without me in it. A FWD weighs about 2400-2600LB without the driver. I think I will benefit from a FWD with my 20G setup.

Is it impossible ? Is it a mission ? I want to swap my AWD to a FWD. I am asking you DSM guru(s) out there, What do I need besides the tranny, ecu. Do I need a new set of axles ? During the swap, all the weight from the rear will be taken out right ? How much will it cost me ? Where can I get it done ? Is it expensive ? Is it worth it ? Am i asking too many questions ? I would rather be safe than sorry because I've heard with an AWD, there's too much to fix and you loose alot on the high end. Someone HELP meeeee !

bad fxxking idea.

 

[myblack98gst]

as the owner of a tank weight moderate power FWD I can tell you that you do not want to get rid of the AWD for a FWD!! I am trying to sell my car to get a 1g AWD...


it sucks getting beat off the line by about everything RWD or AWD.. I spin in first, spin in second when the boost builds.. and about a 1-2 second spin going into third hard.... thats @ 15psi on a 14b!!!!!! even worse with 20 psi..

 

[EROK81]

I drive a 1991 TSi. It weighs 2700 without me. Still uses the AWD.

If all you are wanting is a lighter car. Strip it down. Like it's been posted, you'd almost be better off to just sell it and buy an fwd.

Personally, I'd rather have the traction and be heavier. Well, in my case lighter.

 

[pneumo]

FYI stock FWD weigh between 2750 and 2900. Typically the difference in weight between stock AWD and stock FWD is 250 pounds.

Do you really want to go through all that work to remove the best part of the car? Why not loose the weight by removing the useless parts of the car?

 

[Twizzle]

an alternate idea is to plug your front axles and convert to RWD. closer to 50/50 and who doesnt like an eclipse that drifts? and for your info, yes its been done.

 

[bigemrich]

If the only reason is to lose weight, there are A LOT better ways. A/C, power steering, abs will lose a bunch, not to mention all the interior. Take out all the rear (beleive,there is a lot of crap back there. On race day, pull the passanger seat. Also, have you looked into any carbon fiber?? If you are willing to spend money on losing the rear drivetrain, certainly you wouldn't mind throwing some money towards composite.
There are a lot better ways to lose weight. :thumbdown

--Kyle

 

[4NSPEED]

Lots of weight can be removed.....

as mentioned along with Heater core, seatbelt motors, swap the fuel talk for a cell.

Don't do it, as the prior owner of both a GST/GSX. You'll start hating the fact you can get traction. I had my GSX down to 2800 with me in it.

 

[volcom121]

If ya still want a fwd just ask a fwd. Most if not all would want awd. W/out a limited slip front diff, its a kick in the balls to get traction at high horse power & torque.

awd to wwd=

 

[boost05]

well, im going for 400whp on a fwd setup, I would like awd I think that would be sick but I guess having fwd with 400whp and being able to grip is another battle in itself and a lot of fun. and yea all of us fwd guys will tell you not to do it unless you like a lot of wheel spin

 

[venomx]

another question to the same direction:

i got a AT GST and the diffent between the manuel shift shut be 1 second
but has anyone build a AT into a 5way shift?

 

[92awddsm]

I wouldnt go fwd if it were me. If you take two equivilent cars, 1 being awd and 1 being fwd, race them from a dead stop up to top speed, the fwd wouldn't even begin to gain the extra 1-1.5 seconds it lost from the launch till about 120 mph. And then it would still take a while for it to catch up. Now, it doesnt really seem worth it, now does it.

On another subject, you do realize that your injectors are too small to take full advantage of that 20g and fmic, dont you?

 

[trbotaln]

If you are like me and race mostly from a roll and do a lot of street driving, then fwd is great and is less expensive to maintain. and faster from a roll!

 

[DSMJim]

an alternate idea is to plug your front axles and convert to RWD. closer to 50/50 and who doesnt like an eclipse that drifts? and for your info, yes its been done.

It has been done but it wont last. The transfer case is then being use to provide all the power to the rear wheels, you WILL eventually blow up the transfer case and they will continue to be destroyed because of the load they are now being forced to carry. You simply can not do that and expect it to last.

On a side note, my car weighs in a 3140 with me in the car (im 160) in race form so that 2980. THats still with AC and all working options in the car, just one race seat and no interior. I have done as much of the weight reduction items I could that don't kill me, now I'm going to start on one's that will kill me. I want to have the car under 3000lbs with me in the car and a roll cage and I honestly think thats possible and still maintain a perfect street car with no compromises.