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View Full Version : FWD to AWD? Think it's possible?

wyatt p
11-23-2007, 11:28 PM
I am thinking about converting my car from front wheel drive to all wheel drive. It is possible! My neighbor and I Have come up with a plan to make it work. I am going to use the stock motor and transmission. I will keep you posted!
Gagt518
11-23-2007, 11:57 PM
I think your crazy :lol:. There are no known members that have done this before. Props to you though if you pull it off
boost21
11-24-2007, 02:49 AM
Is it going to be a 4x4? how do you plan on getting a drive shaft through the center and through the exhaust without tunneling the interior?
GL though keep us posted
tenspeed
11-24-2007, 02:54 AM
Move the exhaust pipe out of the way and use that tunnel.

Or maybe they are going to use electric or pneumatic motors on the rear tires.

Or have wheel covers that stick out and run a belt between the fronts and the rears.

:D
wyatt p
11-24-2007, 07:16 AM
Some mods will have to be done to the undercarriage. The engine and tranny will be turned longitudinal instead of transverse. I will also move the radiator to the rear along with the battery to try and get a 50/50 weight ratio on the car. These cars have a lot of potential. I am going to push the limit!
Trudgn
11-24-2007, 07:18 AM
Or have wheel covers that stick out and run a belt between the fronts and the rears.
:D
Tracks on a GA! That would be sweet!
sunrunner_pei
11-24-2007, 09:10 AM
Some mods will have to be done to the undercarriage. The engine and tranny will be turned longitudinal instead of transverse. I will also move the radiator to the rear along with the battery to try and get a 50/50 weight ratio on the car. These cars have a lot of potential. I am going to push the limit!

Are you serious?
wokeupscreamin
11-24-2007, 09:25 AM
wouldn't it be smarter and cheaper just to sell your GA and buy an all wheel drive car? not to mention the millions of safety factors.... This makes as much sence as the guys who dump $10,000 into a grand am to make it "fast" when they could just sell the grand am and take the $10,000 then buy a car that designed to actually be fast... and have a much better outcome.

Whats next? putting wings on a GA and calling it an airplane?
wyatt p
11-24-2007, 10:01 AM
Then that just wouldn't be GM thinking! Selling out to imports? I think not! Nothing would be more satisfying than watching a GA wax a supra or an evo in the1/4. This will be one of a kind.
TA^Guy
11-24-2007, 10:19 AM
Sure anything can be done with knowledge, tools, and money.
How do you plan on using a stock transmission? First off you can't just turn a transverse motor sidesways, what about the other output shaft? Going with a transfer case? You'll have to raise the motor up to get the front shafts to clear a new front differental then. Putting the radiator to the rear is a moronic thing to do. Why? To move 20 pounds to the back? You'll have the added weight of a big heavy axle to 'balance out your weight'. Don't waste your time, it's pointless.
If you are serious about doing this atleast be smart and save yourself a ton of fabrication. Buy a 4x4 S10, or AWD Astro and section the frame and drop the body of your GA on to it. You'll be done with your little project in a fraction of time plus if you get a 4.3 Vortec engine and with it you will have a much stronger engine and transmission to modify.
Then that just wouldn't be GM thinking! Selling out to imports? I think not! Nothing would be more satisfying than watching a GA wax a supra or an evo in the1/4. This will be one of a kind.Subaru = GM
wyatt p
11-24-2007, 10:42 AM
This is interesting! I am curious to hear everybody's thoughts. This is not your normal thread.
TA^Guy
11-24-2007, 11:08 AM
Normal, no. Have people said they were going to do this before, sure have.
Trudgn
11-24-2007, 03:07 PM
I'm just wondering what good the radiator in the rear end is going to do? All the cool air that comes rushing through the trunk is going to cool down the motor? Through lines that will have to be routed all the way back to the front?
Deggy Fresh
11-24-2007, 03:22 PM
why????? just buy a WRX
jayhawk
11-24-2007, 05:54 PM
I am thinking about converting my car from front wheel drive to all wheel drive. It is possible! My neighbor and I Have come up with a plan to make it work. I am going to use the stock motor and transmission. I will keep you posted!

I converted my car to AWD, here is how I did it:

Went to car dealership.
traded in FWD car.
acquired AWD car.

After that, I wanted to get more horsepower. So using a $69 cable, I plugged it into the ECU via a laptop and changed the ECU parameters. Now my car has around 25 more horsepower for the cost of $69.

You can redesign the wheel, or just concede that the guy who designed it may have gotten it right the first time. :)

Then that just wouldn't be GM thinking! Selling out to imports? I think not!

You are only limiting yourself with those thoughts.
Deggy Fresh
11-24-2007, 05:57 PM
I converted my car to AWD, here is how I did it:

Went to car dealership.
traded in FWD car.
acquired AWD car.

Response of the year right there ^^^
JBlack16
11-24-2007, 07:30 PM
ahhahah thats hilarious jayhawk
angrysk8r
11-25-2007, 01:24 AM
you dont need rwd/awd to be fast...there are single digit fwd cars (check out the grand prix boards)
daxx
11-25-2007, 07:57 AM
This is interesting! I am curious to hear everybody's thoughts. This is not your normal thread.

You're crazy. :D

However, with enough time, money and skill anything is possible. This is also something I've pondered at times, and this is how I'd do it...

Some of the GM crossover-SUV's (Buick Rendezvous and Pontiac Aztec?) use a 60 degree V6 with a version of the 4T65E transmission that has an output for a rear differential. That way you'd leave the engine mounted transversely and remove the need to repackage the entire engine bay. You'd need new mounts for the tranny, and have to make some wiring and programming changes to suit. You could also use the rear differential from the same vehicle the transmission came from, and maybe the drive shaft as well. You'd have to enlarge the tunnel that runs the length of the car, which would require changes to the lower dashboard and console, as well as the carpet, rear seats and fuel tank; to replace the fuel tank cut out the spare tire well and mount a fuel cell under the trunk floor. For rear suspension, I'd try and keep as many standard GM parts as possible, so raid the parts bin for the Rendezvous/Aztec as needed (still looking at parts for this) or weld in a set of Grand Am front suspension towers and use another set of front hubs and struts at the back.

Or go to your nearest Subaru or Mitsubishi dealer and trade your GA in against a WRX or Evo.
Matt95GT
11-26-2007, 12:20 PM
L O L

...that is all.
matts
11-26-2007, 03:07 PM
you dont need rwd/awd to be fast...there are single digit fwd cars (check out the grand prix boards)

kind of a moot point. there are also 9 second honda's. but which is easier to go fast in? a rwd camaro or a fwd honduh?
angrysk8r
11-27-2007, 09:21 AM
kind of a moot point. there are also 9 second honda's. but which is easier to go fast in? a rwd camaro or a fwd honduh?

obviously the honduh, its got teh vtack

anyways I guess my real point was you don't need to throw down all the time and effort into making the ga a rwd/awd car to make it fast, fwd is fine although it would be to your advantage to buy an awd/rwd car.
AHoltzberger
11-27-2007, 02:51 PM
i found some info on a grand am that is awd the used the aztec chasis components i just cant remmeber were i saw it if i find it i will post links or the site
sunrunner_pei
11-27-2007, 03:10 PM
i found some info on a grand am that is awd the used the aztec chasis components i just cant remmeber were i saw it if i find it i will post links or the site

You are thinking of the Autocross concept from 2004. Turbocharged 3.5L V6, AWD system from the Aztek.

More info: http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76963
Nighthawk243
11-27-2007, 05:06 PM
wouldn't it be smarter and cheaper just to sell your GA and buy an all wheel drive car? not to mention the millions of safety factors.... This makes as much sence as the guys who dump $10,000 into a grand am to make it "fast" when they could just sell the grand am and take the $10,000 then buy a car that designed to actually be fast... and have a much better outcome.

Whats next? putting wings on a GA and calling it an airplane?

Na... you don't even need wings.

Just type 'bubblecars' and 'chittychittybangbang' and you'll enter flying cars mode...



Crap... gotta remember that GTA:SA doesn't translate over to Real life... :lol:
urweak
11-27-2007, 07:35 PM
just buy this and save yourself the time and money.

http://www.hyundaiperformance.com/forums/sale-wanted/79637-famous-1998-twin-engin-twin-turbo.html
spy
11-29-2007, 09:23 PM
just buy this and save yourself the time and money.

http://www.hyundaiperformance.com/forums/sale-wanted/79637-famous-1998-twin-engin-twin-turbo.html

best burnout EVER.
Wstangland
11-29-2007, 10:10 PM
that was kinda cool. im impressed. i agree very good smoke show
GregFarz78
12-06-2007, 02:16 PM
wow this thread is hilarious good luck to you hope you have a big bankroll even GM engineers have said it would take a lot of custom fab and a ton of money...spend the money making it RWD with a LS1 now that would be something to see
matt rupke
12-07-2007, 05:41 PM
Then that just wouldn't be GM thinking! Selling out to imports? I think not! Nothing would be more satisfying than watching a GA wax a supra or an evo in the1/4. This will be one of a kind.

converting to AWD would not drop 5 seconds of your 1/4 mile time, or did you just want to wash and wax my supra?

the fastest GA only ran 12's i beleive, (someone correct me if im wrong please) and 90% of all supras and evos are not stock anymore, and run below 12's, so unless your doing a motor swap as well, i dont think you'll be beating any supras or evos. but you can come wax mine anytime you want.
spy
12-07-2007, 10:44 PM
converting to AWD would not drop 5 seconds of your 1/4 mile time, or did you just want to wash and wax my supra?

the fastest GA only ran 12's i beleive, (someone correct me if im wrong please) and 90% of all supras and evos are not stock anymore, and run below 12's, so unless your doing a motor swap as well, i dont think you'll be beating any supras or evos. but you can come wax mine anytime you want.

90% of evos not stock, and running below 12's, that's a false claim.
matt rupke
12-08-2007, 08:23 AM
90% of evos not stock, and running below 12's, that's a false claim.

maybe not evo's, but do you know how hard it is to find a stock supra?
spy
12-08-2007, 03:27 PM
maybe not evo's, but do you know how hard it is to find a stock supra?

I also see that comaring a supra and/or evo to a grand am as being pointless.

One car is rwd, one is awd, one is fwd.

the supra isn't exactly a cheap car to obtain, the evo to a lesser extent, and then you have the grand am.

How many stock supras do I see? Not many, I'm literally down the street from Virtual Works Racing, I dont' have the pleasure in seeing a stock supra, instead I tend to see the opposite end of the spectrum.
Deggy Fresh
12-08-2007, 03:31 PM
Supra = Apples

Grand Am = Oranges

no comparison
spy
12-08-2007, 05:05 PM
Supra = Apples

Grand Am = Oranges

no comparison

One's a full blown sports car, the other is just one step above a sunfire.
Deggy Fresh
12-08-2007, 06:10 PM
that exactly what im saying Spy.
spy
12-08-2007, 06:55 PM
that exactly what im saying Spy.

I was just nailing the point to the forehead, ya know, kinda like beating a dead horse.
Deggy Fresh
12-08-2007, 06:59 PM
we make a good team...haha
RazorDX
12-08-2007, 10:12 PM
Haven't we seen this thread before? ;)

Good luck with that... I hope you aren't butchering your daily driver or a car with any value.

Chance of success: Low
Chance of destroying any possible resale value: Extreme
Chance of giving your insurance company a way out if anything happens: Definite
spy
12-09-2007, 06:35 AM
we make a good team...haha

makes ya almost wonder where I've been all your life...
TA^Guy
12-09-2007, 09:26 AM
Chance of success: Low
Good reason to do it the easiest way you can.

Chance of destroying any possible resale value: Extreme
It's a 2000 Grand Am, what resale value???
Chance of giving your insurance company a way out if anything happens: Definite
Not if you get proper coverage for it.
norbit2
12-09-2007, 01:09 PM
Lets not forget about the rear wheel drive betty racer!
spy
12-09-2007, 03:28 PM
Lets not forget about the rear wheel drive betty racer!

you mean the trailor queen? the carpet queen? the car that all people have really seen from it is a burnout?
TA^Guy
12-09-2007, 04:57 PM
you mean the trailor queen? the carpet queen? the car that all people have really seen from it is a burnout?
or lack of a burn out.

FIrst time they couldnt even break the tires loose, then they got them spinning after a little water.
What a joke. Shoot my 4.3 does better smokies without even power braking it.
http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b204/TAGuy/Xtreme/?action=view&current=xtreme46.jpg
spy
12-09-2007, 08:45 PM
or lack of a burn out.

FIrst time they couldnt even break the tires loose, then they got them spinning after a little water.
What a joke. Shoot my 4.3 does better smokies without even power braking it.
http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b204/TAGuy/Xtreme/?action=view&current=xtreme46.jpg

With a little water, I'd be able to tear the tires to ribbons. With no water, lighting them up is still even an issue..

I forgot about the little detail where they had to "just add water"... what a joke of a car.