4 wheel drive to rwd conversion

[LEAKER]

So at this stage this is purely a theoretical thread but i'm thinking about rear wheel driving my celica. As far as i'm concerned this can be done the easy way or the harder/proper way.

Easy way: This i will be doing in anyway because it's easy, reversible and it will determine if i feel like keeping it rwd.

Basically unbolt the end housing on the transfer case, remove the old diff setup and replace with my spare set up which i will weld shut. Blank off cv outputs and machine down the old outter cv to bolt through the front hub to keep the wheel bearings tight. Easy to do, cheap and all that.

Hard way/Proper way:
Remove engine / Gearbox
Cut hole in fire wall and fabricate gearbox tunnel
Mount altezza 6 speed or W57 to 3sgte
Modify intake to accept north south engine setup
Custom exhaust manifold
Somehow (and this is the part i'm $&#$% on atm) re position the steering rack or source new steering rack etc (Advice, anyone?)
Modify driveshaft
Make new engine mounts
Make gearbox cross member
Drink 2 dozen beers and drown in sorrows when it turns to a mess.

Does anyone know what justins GT8 1uz twin turbo powered gt4 uses?


Cheers for any help or advice.

[levinguy]

Basically unbolt the end housing on the transfer case, remove the old diff setup and replace with my spare set up which i will weld shut. Blank off cv outputs and machine down the old outter cv to bolt through the front hub to keep the wheel bearings tight. Easy to do, cheap and all that.
.

you don't even have to do that. just lock the center diff, put the cvs back in the hubs and gearbox without the axles, and be prepared to go thru a diff every week. seen it done twice. also seen it put back to 4wd twice.. go figure.

[h8wrxs]

why not just buy some ceffy or skyline, itll be cheaper and easier

[1I1]

Potential rear axle/diff issues trying to put all of power through rear end instead of spread over front wheels as well as?

[touge_ae101]

Potential rear axle/diff issues trying to put all of power through rear end instead of spread over front wheels as well as?

one has to assume it has power to put to the ground

lol i'm $&#$% maggot

[GTTpower]

Not to mention weight distribution all funny due to transverse engine/box layout.

[Malcolm]

If you search "rwd conversion", check the box to search for posts containing ALL terms, and only search in the tech forum, you'll get 2 pages of results, at least 4 of which relate to converting an ST185 to 4wd, such as this one:
viewtopic.php?t=38736&highlight=rwd+conversion

Most of them turn into a shitfight of "it's pointless/stupid/waste of time/way more work than you think" versus "don't listen to the haters, awesome idea, bro that's so original it'll be awesome I see no reason why it wouldn't be a good idea and I know because I've changed a couple of oil filters and installed a new headunit in my car" etc.

edit: I wanted to include this gem I just found in another thread:

How Hard is A front skidda conversion to Rear Skidda?? Any Suggestions

Well you sound like a complete idiot, so I'd have to say that (for you) the conversion would be very difficult indeed.

The easiest way for you to achieve what you want is to drive backwards...

gold

[Adamal]

The easiest way to convert to RWD is to convert your car to money, and then convert that money into an MR2 or an Altezza or the likes.

[solitaire]

The easiest way to convert to RWD is to convert your car to money, and then convert that money into an MR2 or an Altezza or the likes.

I am seriously considering getting out of the mr2 business...

My mr2 keeps magically turning money into, well nothing really

[sergei]

If you are after skids sell GT4 and buy Sylvia.
This way you don't get to molest a good car.

Besides why on earth you would downgrade your car?

"my car handles too well, better drink my own piss"

[Bling]

"my car handles too well, better drink my own piss"

Well played

[RS13]

"my car handles too well, better drink my own piss"

Well played

Yeah, got a lol from me as well, can't help but picture Bear saying it as well for extra lols..

[LEAKER]

Man i don't care about weah weah buy a rear wheel drive to begin with. This isn't a thread asking for your opinion. I would like people that have done this sort of thing or have good experience to throw some ideas around on how to do it the proper way which eliminates all the problems with doing it the dodgy way. If you must know i want to do it because i like the idea of having a different car and being an engineering student it's good practice for me. I know that doing a dodgy rwd conversion is nothing new however doing a proper 3sgte north/south conversion on a st185 would be pretty cool and different in my opinion. So getting back on track i'm still a little stumped about how to get around the steering rack issue.

Cheers to those that can help.

[1I1]

Re steering rack you could speak nicely to matt dunn on here and ask what they did in their AE101 when putting a 1JZ in it

[LEAKER]

Malcolm just went through that thread and it's pretty much what i expected. The roll cage can be provided to accomodate for chassis flex as i expect that chassis twist would pose a huge issue.

[LEAKER]

Re steering rack you could speak nicely to matt dunn on here and ask what they did in their AE101 when putting a 1JZ in it

Good call, ta.

[wde_bdy]

For the rack, take a complete front crossmember from a RWD car and make it fit. Adapt as much of the front suspension as you can in order to match a factory setup in terms of geometry etc.

Callum

[cedwards]

viewtopic.php?t=73271

may be some ideas in here if you haven't read it yet

[levinguy]

series 4 rx7 stuff may work depending on how you want to work it.
subura legacy 4wd early 90's steering racks may also suit if you can find hubs with the connectors low enough (a31 cefiros are close)

[Sick Puppy]

Can I suggest buying a parts GT4 with an unmunted chassis? There aren't many decent ST185 GT4's left, and if this goes to shit, there will be one less...