Hey gang

After extensive research, I'm starting to gather all parts required to do an All-Wheel Drive conversion on my '91 SE 5spd.

I will keep everyone updated as I go and post pics before, during, and after conversion and parts list as well.

I'm doing this conversion on a very small budget of $2000 and hope that I won't blow the bank within the first week of parts gathering. I've been hunting down all parts and have found some at my local junkyard.

I'll try to update every week, if I remember. This conversion will take approximately 2 - 3 months and with any luck, work flawlessly.

First things first, parts hunt under way. Thank god it's Saturday because I'm going to the junkyard to get my first few parts.

Wish me luck!

 

$2000?

Buddy, I'm mustering parts / research / designs+paperwork for a RWD conversion, and believe me, unless you are a Jack of all Trades...and can engineer, cut, fabricate, and know from back to front how every single little thing in your car works, it will cost more like $5'000 - $10'000. Worth it, but certainly not cheap or easy.
Then you have the problem of street legal (if applicable), stability, maintanence.

Don't wanna **** on your idea, but do some more research.
Here's what Im stuck on.
Fuel tank sits in the way (2004+ models have a "tunnel" that runs through the middle of the tank, and the tank uses more than 1 pump i believe).
The tunnel isnt big enough...it needs an A31, 32, 33 tunnel cut out and welded in, or the current tunnel modified...it needs to be bigger to allow swaying of the drivetrain.
Chassis bracing / reinforcing / mountings:
Rear; the suspension cant quiet fit, it needs some very light modification at the back, as well as bracing to prevent twisting
Front; You need to cut a bigger hole in the firewall for the transmission
; Crossmember mounting needs to be created
; Steering system - You'll need a new rack, fluid system, arms, etc (they can probably come off another Nissan RWD/AWD vehicle)

Theres some stuff to keep in mind that you probably missed, but hey, good luck. Its always good to see people atleast having a crack at something different, and not being a sheep. Now get ready for the rest of the forum to bash this thread to death.

 

good luck with enough you can make it happen, there is a guy out there with a 4wd sentra and civic. I think the rwd idea would be alot easier

 

lol at this thread

 

RWD > AWD.

 

gud luck dude

 

 

hmmmm

 

omg!!! it's actually NOT a GXE owner this time! but i temporarily renounce my North-Carolinianship.

Alright OP. What cars are you getting parts from? What engine, what trans, what front/rear suspension? Or are you just cuttig the bodywork off your Max and plopping it on top of a Legacy chassis and welding the body on? If you can't even answer those questions, then i'm glad to have been IBTL.

 

good luck but i am glad you are in north carolina so i dont have to be anywhere near that thing if or when it hits the road. I do hope you prove us all wrong though

 

You're probably right about the price but you have to keep in mind that stuff is probably overpriced where you are. If he says he's going to junk yards, there's no way the parts will come up to 5k-10k USD unless he were to purchase everything new. He's fabricating himself or so he says so I dont see how he'll end up spending that much on his own labor.

I understand where you're coming from especially if you're working on something that will not be half assed but you have to keep in consideration parts have different values in different parts of the world. Same goes for cars. You can pick up a 3rd gen here in the states in decent shape for probably $1500 while the same car in South Africa or Australia will be 3 or 4 times more..

 

Good luck with the transformation! I can't wait to see it finished!

 

First parts pickup are as follows:

Complete rear end assembly from '90-'96 Nissan 300zx
Suspension
Diff
Trailing arms
Half-shafts
Complete rear brake setup, including rotors and calipers

Total cost: $250

Budget left: $1750

 

Not changing the engine out at all. I'm still going to use my VG30E and doing an AWD tranny swap.

Back in the mid-80s, early 90s, Nissan produced the Stanza, which came with an AWD option. This being said, I have tracked down a complete 86 Stanza with AWD and plan on using several parts from this donor car, which is how I can keep my budget so low.

The rear-end of the car was donated by an early 90s model 300zx, which is only 1.2in wider and bolts up without any problems.

I have been researching this project for more then 6 months and have gathered all information I need.

As far as the gas tank, my Max uses a single pump centrally located in the tank. I have thought about swapping the tank from my donor Stanza, but haven't checked the actual pump psi to ensure that I will be able to start my Max.

 

when i went to NTI a few years back in NC, a guy there from NY blew smoke about having an AWD max, same gen as us but got the equipment he needed from japanese sorce. he also claim to race the highways there, and had rich parents, anyway didnt beleive him on bit but if you can and think you can make work, more power. i have found a few dozen stanzas with the AWD. it sounds good but ensure that they will hold up to the VG, i think they used the 4cyl engine even in the AWD. get ready to cross brace the hell out ofthe car!

 

I agree with 300z; are you sure the transmission would handle the weight of the car, and power of the engine? these are now my main concern.

also, is your source a manual trans? and are you going to do this to your current maxima?

 

wow man.. the rear end of the z32 is WAY different than the maxima's.. if you were gonna do something like that i'd have to say something like a subaru backend (for example the 2002-200x impreza) would be a MUCH closer match to that of the 3rd gen. at least the impreza has the same parallel-link style rear end.. the Z uses a backwards-assed control-arm looking thing.

 

Transmission choice? I know what mine would be, let's see if if we agree...

 

Agreed. the stanza AWD rear may be more feasable i think for road aplications. but for power you should soure a subaru. i checked my 86 z rear and it looks bulky and would need ALOT of fabrication

 

i would look into a AWD skyline if i was to do all this work, but that would be 2k on its own.

 

inb4mattdoessomeownage

 

 

hope its worth it

 

he might just let it slide. this is the first time anyone has actually bought parts even.. everyone else just talked and did NOTHING.... at least if this one goes bust he can say he tried.

 

Jordan:

PM me when you have pics of the setup, or at least some actual work done to the car. I'm locking this up for now before it gets to polluted with bs posts and ridicule..

Good Luck!

 

Pretty much what Greeny said. post pics and info when you're done. till then, :matt93se:

 

Done yet?