LSD VS AWD ... Overall Performance.

[RockSolidGST]

Hey all my fellow DSM' Lovers , I have been part of this community for awhile , Reading and learning .... Ive done some very limted mods to my car so far , Just the basics

MBC
Intake
3'' turbo back
Guages
IC piping

Now my next mod i am thinking about is a LSD/Cluth/Flywheel .... or an awd conversion

It would be very helpfull if some people with LSD could tell me if they feel the purchase was Worth it , VERY worth it , not worth it , etc ....

Now at first thought almost everyone would say , AWD!!! But i myself are more into track , highway pulls , backroads .... not straightline shots where an awd launch really helps , I do understand awd will help with corning , But how much?

Im not trying to make my car a monster , My future plans for upgrade include ... DSMlink , Front mount ic , evo16g w/supporting mods ( or possibly a diff larger turbo nothing crazy though ) , Tubular mani .... Then of course coilovers , Front/rear strut bars , front/rear sways , And the at the most possibly cams or a built head... my goal is around 350whp......


Well thats enuf for now , any feedback or suggestions will be appreciated...


- Andy

 

[99gst_racer]

I've never owned a running AWD car before, so I can't comment on that driveline.

But my GST has a Quaife ATB differential, and I love it. Of the parts on my mod list, it offers the most noticable benefits. The difference it made was huge. I still spin off the line, but once I hit 2nd gear, I have complete traction - on the track or on the street.

If you decide you want AWD, then I would opt to sell your GST and buy an AWD. If you keep you GST and you get the LSD, I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

 

[RockSolidGST]

Thx , Well i dont do 1/4 mile racing , or i do very little , So id be more interested in other aspects of how it benifits you.... ( I also live in bosotn , so the snow up here with 1 wheel squeel absolutly sucks. )

 

[Rob10_99]

AWD, your car will handle a LOT better on the backroads.
Pullin through corners, even have more fun when its wet out(oregon here).
but if you are willing to do the work I would say go for it!

 

[Greg Collier]

AWD "is" all it's suppose to be handling wise. I have a Dogde Ram V10 AWD and it's great. I seem to do ok at the track though with my FWD and Kaas LSD. But... I have a suspension setup to die for...

 

[Dragon Talon]

AWD rocks with traction, launchs, and getting power through the wheels to the road..

 

[RockSolidGST]

Ok in that case an AWD conversion , If i perform the labor will cost around what 1,500 in parts right ? Can anyone give me a link to a faq , or the best way to go about this im guessing trying to pick up a gsx in a junkyard but im not that familar with whats involved in this . Thx

 

[Strm Trpr]

You and I have pretty much the same exact goals except I'm gonna skip the evo316g and go straight with a BB50Trim and a nice fat Hahn Race Craft FMIC.
I live in California, and the fuel out here sucks, but we pay the most in the nation, WTF?
I have a link at work with the perfect VFAQ.
He breaks it down, and gives you a shopping list.
I'm gonna have new axles installed soon, and perhaps a quaife, clutch and a new lightened OEM Flywheel.

Man, I'll tell you what, you'd be better off keeping your GST, you've built it this far, you know it pretty well right now, why sell it and start over.
I kept up with an EVO while getting on the freeway one day, 3rd gear on up to 135 mph where my top speed limiter kicked in..... he never got more than 20ft ahead of me til then.

 

[Strm Trpr]

Here's that link <a href = http://www.automotivearticles.com/AWD_Conversion.shtml> AWD Conversion</a>.
The hardest part of the whole job is said to be locating a donor car....

 

[ceedawg]

Not worth it at all!It's just too much time ,energy,$$ and wrk. Check ebay or autotrader.com for an AWD 2g for dirt cheap!

 

[Talesin]

AWD is the way to go for stability, handling, launches, and so on. The GS-T is better for highway speeds and cruising, thanks to the taller gear ratio... GS-T also gets better gas mileage than the GSX, thanks to the taller fifth... cruising at 65 on the GSX is 3000-3500rpm, my old GS-T could do it between 2000-2500.

Taking the GS-T through the twisties, the back end tended to float and slip out very easily... didn't feel very solid at all. The GSX is a rock... running the same twisties about 10-15% faster, and holding the line with zero problems. Only difficulty is when it hits the wall... the back end on mine likes to 'hop' out, instead of smoothly release. Very jerky and unpleasant.
And it'd be tough to beat AWD in the snow.

 

[jtmcinder]

A higher 5th is available for MT AWDs.

- Jtoby

 

[knighteclipse1]

Given the choice AWD is the way to go, although I love my GS-T and LSD is on the way! It will never equal a AWD for racing if that is your question, but you can probably get it close with enough money invested in your ride and EXTREMELY good driving.

 

[2deep]

I don't really care about 5th gear, what I'm going to miss most, switching from a fwd to an awd is 3rd&4th gears. Those gears pulled like crasy in my fwd.

 

[napkinthief]

If you were to go AWD, it may be easier to buy a blown engine gsx and just swap the engine from yours to the shell.

 

[Talesin]

Give me information, Jtoby! If I can get one that'll bring it to 65@2500 in fifth, I'll probably get it rebuilt at the same time. The gas savings alone will pay for it within a half-year at this point.

As a side note, third still pulls like crazy in AWD. I might be an off case, but for some reason fourth feels slower than fifth... I can skipshift it and accellerate faster, for some reason.

 

[jtmcinder]

Either TRE or Shep will sell you a taller fifth for a MT AWD. I think it comes from a Galant or something. Or maybe that's the taller first. In any event, taller firsts and fifths are both available.

- Jtoby