Completed AWD Conversion

[1320Motorsports]

I converted my GST about a year ago, I have too much money into my car to get rid of it and buy a GSX, it runs as good as any factory AWD dsm does..

Matt

 

[Eclipsei95cl]

Thats good to hear

 

[MarkDML]

Boy, I hope this just a bad joke...

My rating of AWD conversions:

GS/GST Spyder – very good idea, you end up with a kick-a$$ convertible (NT vs. turbo not a major factor, because they both use Mitsu engines)
GST/TSI Coupe – not a very good idea, but doable if you are a skillful mechanic/fabricator and have an unhealthy attachment to your FWD car
GS/RS – Completely OUT OF YOUR MIND! (or just clueless…)

Quick comment:

GS to GST -- the nt is not the same as the turbo


I think the GS kind of have the setup similarity with the evo.

Same engine transmission possitioning, with a good mechanical skills

GST spyder to GST Spyder AWD - Great Idea

Well you know the deal with the GS/RS thing ....

Mark

 

[Tech9Talon]

I love my spyder, but I want an awd. Traction really sucks in the fwd. The only thing is if I would commit to the swap I would be stuck with the car, even if I got tire of it. It's still so tempting, but I can't weld.

 

[sjgYFZ200]

When my dad passed away, he left me this car. He was the 1st owner, the car has 50k miles, never seen the track or a hard day of driving. Thats my unhealty attachment

I honestly don't know why he didnt shell out and get the GSX, he was cheap I guess, although he drove 3 hours just to get this color...I'd really like to do an AWD conversion, or better yet, RWD. I might be one of the first/few to do it on a 1g. I'll keep you posted

 

[suicidal2af]

Quick comment:

GS to GST -- the nt is not the same as the turbo


I think the GS kind of have the setup similarity with the evo.

Same engine transmission possitioning, with a good mechanical skills

GST spyder to GST Spyder AWD - Great Idea

Well you know the deal with the GS/RS thing ....

Mark

GS Spyders have the 4g64, not the 420a. A swap in these I'd imagine wouldn't be too terribly difficult.

 

[FireyIce01]

... ANNNND if anybody has a spyder (doesn't need a motor... or drivetrain for that matter) I just got a 2g GSX, and I'd much rather find the spyder than try and fix the rear-end damage...

GS Spyders have the 4g64, not the 420a. A swap in these I'd imagine wouldn't be too terribly difficult.

Well, considering all the hybrid motors floating around now... I wouldn't see why you couldn't just do a stroker and swap the rest of the drivetrain and have a turbo stroker AWD spyder... now all I gotta do is find somebody that will make me a desmo MIVEC head that will fit that combo.

 

[MarkDML]

GS Spyders have the 4g64, not the 420a. A swap in these I'd imagine wouldn't be too terribly difficult.

There is a 1g eclipse/ talon that was recently converted to a rwd in sddsm... they even have a video with this kid burning rubber on it ... it was so cool how he did that ...

anyway ...

I think rwd is kind of a hassle coz you have to know welding and stuffs...

but it could be done

Later

Mark DM L

 

[GRNDSM]

You can convert AWD car into RWD with a simple center diff mod… That is not what these people are talking about here

 

[unior]

yeah, not only is the drivetrain different, but so is the engine!! a 2G NT to 4G63T swap isn't a very good idea by itself to begin with.

try impossible

this is rediculous

spend the 4k on bringin your stock awd to MINT CONDITION or FAST

 

[FireyIce01]

try impossible

this is rediculous

spend the 4k on bringin your stock awd to MINT CONDITION or FAST

Not impossible, just not financially sound... but if you happen across a gsx with serious frame damage, and you can get it dirt cheap, and you have a FWD already, and are willing to do the work yourself, it's net a bad way to get an AWD for a reasonable price... you've got to factor these things in... look at it this way, someone else might charge you $1500 in labor, or you could spend a week in the garage, and get it done yourself... When it comes to swapping things into cars, there's very little that is impossible, hell I've seen a S10 with a helicopter turbine engine in it...

But for the most part if you have a N/A FWD Hardtop DSM, you're better off looking for a deal on a GSX... I give this guy props for actually going out and doing this, and doing a writeup on it...

 

[unior]

hell I've seen a S10 with a helicopter turbine engine in it...

haha yeah i saw a 3g eclipse with a jet engine in the trunk

also a local performance shop is putting a built 4g63 into an s10 with a 350turbo trans

 

[suicidal2af]

Not impossible, just not financially sound...

I'm not sure I buy this argument. Everyone tosses it around(just like the awd conversion argument), but how hard can it *really* be. It's not like we're trying to drop a 4G63 into a cavalier...we're talking about swapping a motor into a body that it could have come from the factory in. Why would you need to fab custom mounts? What's wrong with ones the factory used for the GST/X?

You'd probably have a hell of a wiring job on your hands, but I don't see why this would be as difficult as everyone makes it out to be.

 

[Omega]

I'd love to see the CA vehicle inspectors with a turbo & AWD swap from a NA. THey wouldn't know whether to shit or go blind.

Sad thing is, that doesn't look like too much work. I don't know if I could do it in a weekend, but I have the welding and wrenching ability to do it.

If I can find a car for $1500, I wouldn't think twice.

If anyone in my area has the parts and some money to throw my way, let me know. I'll do the conversion for you.

 

[unior]

It's not like we're trying to drop a 4G63 into a cavalier...

HAHAHA

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/243243/3[/url

 

[FireyIce01]

I'm not sure I buy this argument. Everyone tosses it around(just like the awd conversion argument), but how hard can it *really* be. It's not like we're trying to drop a 4G63 into a cavalier...we're talking about swapping a motor into a body that it could have come from the factory in. Why would you need to fab custom mounts? What's wrong with ones the factory used for the GST/X?

You'd probably have a hell of a wiring job on your hands, but I don't see why this would be as difficult as everyone makes it out to be.

It's not that you have to fabricate it... it's that all the ancillary(sp?) parts that you need to make this work... like I was saying, if you happened apon a car cheap (eg, with a crankwalked motor or major body damage) then you would have all the parts you need, and the cost would be dramatically lower... but if you were to go out and buy each part, you would be spending a fortune, and better off buying an AWD

edit>

Also, I don't believe the wiring would be that difficult, as the AWD system really doesn't have any wiring involved, so, unless you're doing a 6bolt swap while you're at it (also not a bad idea) unless we're still talking about putting the 4g63 into a non-turbo car... then I re-iterate, having a parts car to get all the parts (and wiring harnesses) out of would make this job not only feasable, but also fairly inexpensive. I don't see it being a piece of cake, but I also don't see it being as bad an idea as many have made it sound in the past... I think the fairly complete parts car is the key though...

 

[aves911]

There are a couple of little parts that would be hard to find unless you had a parts car that make the job sooooo much easier. Like connectors, brackets, bolts, etc.

 

[XakEp]

My 95 tsi awd has alot of body damage on it. It's been totaled for hail damage, the side is knocked in and the paint is SO bad its horrible. I think that for the price of a spyder gs and converting, it would cost the same as the repair work and I'd end up with a convertible...

Hrmmm...

 

[FireyIce01]

My 95 tsi awd has alot of body damage on it. It's been totaled for hail damage, the side is knocked in and the paint is SO bad its horrible. I think that for the price of a spyder gs and converting, it would cost the same as the repair work and I'd end up with a convertible...

Hrmmm...

Now *THAT* is the way to go about doing the conversion

I've got a '95 GSX that was rear-ended... I picked it up with a buncha go fast stuff on it fairly cheap... right now I'm trying to fix it up, but really just waiting for a spyder to present itself in my price range (really cheap )

 

[Bostedquest]

HAHAHA

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/243243/3[/url

that's a Baretta, Not a Cavalier...

 

[Bostedquest]

I will add this to the arguement...
I live in Illinois bum *uck nowhere.
I see GS' all the time, a few GST's, but no GSX's, except in the junk yard. (it has no less then 5 1G's) Only one has exterior damage (rollover) all others were timing belts (as removing the heads showed)

I can price out 1/2G GS's all day long 500-3500 (In fact I spotted a 96 Spyder W/76K today). Good bodies, 5 speeds the works...
I have talked to a guy in West Virginia that gets them (GST's/GSX's) GIVEN to him with popped motors... and he would give me one cheap. However, I simply cannot drive the 800 miles there, and 800 miles back to get one. Trust me I would love to do so. I also do not have the 4-500 to have one hauled.

So as a first project, go 1G '63T swap. Then start collecting the needed parts for the AWD conversion... then do it.

 

[suicidal2af]

It's not that you have to fabricate it... it's that all the ancillary(sp?) parts that you need to make this work... like I was saying, if you happened apon a car cheap (eg, with a crankwalked motor or major body damage) then you would have all the parts you need, and the cost would be dramatically lower... but if you were to go out and buy each part, you would be spending a fortune, and better off buying an AWD

edit>

Also, I don't believe the wiring would be that difficult, as the AWD system really doesn't have any wiring involved, so, unless you're doing a 6bolt swap while you're at it (also not a bad idea) unless we're still talking about putting the 4g63 into a non-turbo car... then I re-iterate, having a parts car to get all the parts (and wiring harnesses) out of would make this job not only feasable, but also fairly inexpensive. I don't see it being a piece of cake, but I also don't see it being as bad an idea as many have made it sound in the past... I think the fairly complete parts car is the key though...

420a equipped cars have ECUs mounted in the engine bay. You'd be doing a whole bunch of rewiring.

 

[unior]

that's a Baretta, Not a Cavalier...

geez tough crowd!!

no comments on teh thing!!!

shit I'd rather pimp that beretta with a stock appearing body than convert a gs to awd

 

[Bastard1g]

Anyone feel like pricing out an awd conversion if you bought brand new parts? Brand new transfer case,tranny,driveshaft,rear end, axles, control arms ect...?

 

[unior]

Anyone feel like pricing out an awd conversion if you bought brand new parts? Brand new transfer case,tranny,driveshaft,rear end, axles, control arms ect...?

oh god no!!!

i think a tcase alone is 1200 MSRP