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3rd Gen rear wheel drive swap.

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Old 08-29-2010, 09:29 PM
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3rd Gen rear wheel drive swap.

I have a 89 max. And i just got a hold of 1 grand. and im trying to decide to turbo it, or make it rear wheel drive. anyone do it? sounds like a lot of work... Could i use the VG30E? and how would i mount it. could i use the same tranny? no? any info would be awesome
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:35 PM
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this has been asked 1000000 times. if you do not know you cant use the same tranny, youre not close to being ready

yes, its possible. you could put a 13b rotary in a 3rd gen and make it RWD even, anything is possible with enough money. to make a 3rd gen RWD, you would need around $10,000+ with labor, and its not worth it. you would still have the understeer, have to have a crapload of custom fabrication, the works

few people with any car have done a FWD to RWD swap, some people have done Civics but they made enough in shows and drifting to make up some of the cost, would be best to get a 1st gen Max thats already RWD and put the money into it
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:39 PM
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Save half of it for maintenance. Then put the other $500 towards exhaust, intake, bushings, etc.
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:42 PM
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i dident think i could use the same tranny. but i was just making sure. couldnt i just find a 300z tranny to bolt up, make some motor mounts, cut the fire wall, move the exhaust, and just find a 300z axle setup?
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:43 PM
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or put the money to a better paint job/doing that bodywork better
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by robsterzallan`
i dident think i could use the same tranny. but i was just making sure. couldnt i just find a 300z tranny to bolt up, make some motor mounts, cut the fire wall, move the exhaust, and just find a 300z axle setup?
its not that simple, if i remember correctly you have to relocate the gas tank and a bunch of other stuff. if you can, get i think it was Augusts issue of Import Tuner, it has FWD to RWD swaps in it and you can see a EG Civics RWD swap, it takes a ton of fabrication

just get a Z31 turbo for $1000 then, you get RWD, VG30E, turbo, and everything for way cheaper. theres a reason all the fully built 3rd gens are FWD, a RWD conversion is ridiculously impractical
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:46 PM
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i know the body work is ****, but im a kid that is into making a cool car. and that goes over my head. im for sure getting better brakes. but i need to know bout the rear wheel drive, and if i dont want that ill just turbo it, get injectors, and a ecu so i can run a lot of boost.
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by chrome91
its not that simple, if i remember correctly you have to relocate the gas tank and a bunch of other stuff. if you can, get i think it was Augusts issue of Import Tuner, it has FWD to RWD swaps in it and you can see a EG Civics RWD swap, it takes a ton of fabrication

just get a Z31 turbo for $1000 then, you get RWD, VG30E, turbo, and everything for way cheaper. theres a reason all the fully built 3rd gens are FWD, a RWD conversion is ridiculously impractical
where could i find one? thatd be pretty sweet. but i think im just gonna buy a T3/T4 turbo and a ebay turbo kit for 800 bucks, and buy a mani, down pipe, injectors, and ECU from someone on here.
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:49 PM
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nows the time to get it straight, theres no point in RWD converting a car with a crappy shell
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:52 PM
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Dude throw the RWD idea out the door! hahah look ima kid too only 18 years old sooo i know what you mean by trying to make it look cool but dont waste your money on stupid sheit like a RWD swap and your gunna need more money than 1000 to do a turbo broski
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
your gunna need more money than 1000 to do a turbo broski
some people have done it for less than a grand, you can get the Z31 turbo parts for a few hundred, get the custom fabrication done with connections for a bit, and do the install yourself for less than a grand. to get a shop to do it youre looking at alot though

when i was 17 i wanted to RWD convert as well, after a few hours of research i found out how pointless it is and gave up on that quickly

trust me, just keep the money to keep the car running, work hard and make money then get everything done. last winter i worked 6-7 days a week long hours just so i could get all of the suspension and engine work i wanted to get done in one shot. im going to be getting something $800ish and RWD to drive when im turboing my 3rd gen, something like a Cressida, S13 or SR5
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Old 08-29-2010, 09:58 PM
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nahhhh. ebays got ****ty kits that will work for 10,000 miles. i could get one of them for 700 and buy the injectors mani down pipe and ecu on here
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:00 PM
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dont touch the Ebay kits, 99% are made of crap parts and still require lots of custom fabrication. the Ebay kits will crap out after a few weeks, and youre back to square one with less money
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:01 PM
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and your right. i just gave up on RWD haha. I was just thinking how funny itd be to pull up to a mustang or something, and have them thinking ha this is a waste of time and just do a huge brakestand in front of um with rear wheel drive. but, im gonna junk yard turbo it, get a rear door, trunk lid, fendor flares, and rims i guess and call it good.
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:02 PM
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I guess im just thinkin of a nicer setup with better internals and NOT ebay parts but yeah i suppose he could turbo it for a grand if he found a bunch of sweet deals but his sheit is prolly gonna faecking explode on him.... just saying hahahah
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:02 PM
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well they cant really crap out, i might go through a BOV or timer but the kit will be alright
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
I guess im just thinkin of a nicer setup with better internals and NOT ebay parts but yeah i suppose he could turbo it for a grand if he found a bunch of sweet deals but his sheit is prolly gonna faecking explode on him.... just saying hahahah
nah the VG30E can handle a lot of power, i just need injectors and a tuned car and itll be alright.
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:03 PM
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even better, dont touch the exterior, turbo it properly, hide the intercooler, make it a sleeper, smoke Mustangs and such, profit

dont do fender flares, hard to pull on a FWD car and you need good fitment or else they look horrible
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:04 PM
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Dude go for it man i dont think anyones thrown some fender flares on a 3rd gen before... besides the cheap chrome ones. you should buy a stillen kit too bro
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:04 PM
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Originally Posted by robsterzallan`
nah the VG30E can handle a lot of power
get the engine built up first though, all you need is to boost the car and afterwards have the engine blow up
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by robsterzallan`
nah the VG30E can handle a lot of power, i just need injectors and a tuned car and itll be alright.
This coming from the guy that asked if anyones lowered their max before ??? sorry bud i had tooo lol
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by chrome91
even better, dont touch the exterior, turbo it properly, hide the intercooler, make it a sleeper, smoke Mustangs and such, profit

dont do fender flares, hard to pull on a FWD car and you need good fitment or else they look horrible
thats a good idea... im liking it. i was gonna make a good fitment and paint um to match. it'd be alright.
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
This coming from the guy that asked if anyones lowered their max before ??? sorry bud i had tooo lol
ha its alright. i know they have, but i wanted people to seee that and help me
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by robsterzallan`
thats a good idea... im liking it. i was gonna make a good fitment and paint um to match. it'd be alright.
its hard to get the good fitment though on a 3rd gen, my drop is already pushing 3rd gens limits and i cant pull fender flares. 3rd gens design doesnt allow for much lowering
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
Dude go for it man i dont think anyones thrown some fender flares on a 3rd gen before... besides the cheap chrome ones. you should buy a stillen kit too bro
not sure ill have the cash after the turbo for a kit...
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by robsterzallan`
thats a good idea... im liking it. i was gonna make a good fitment and paint um to match. it'd be alright.

Get some wide wheels to fill those fender flares or else it will just look flat out retarded lol
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
Get some wide wheels to fill those fender flares or else it will just look flat out retarded lol
exactly.

the guy who did all of my suspension/engine work is trying to get 245's all around on racing rims for my 3rd gen, combined with my drop i'll see if flares are even doable since a 2.2"/2" drop and 245's is maxing out a 3rd gen
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
Get some wide wheels to fill those fender flares or else it will just look flat out retarded lol
or wheel spacers? i plan on rims also
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:13 PM
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Yeah i think that the flares are gunna be too much... youlll prolly have to get spacers and a 9" rim to make it look flush at all
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
Yeah i think that the flares are gunna be too much... youlll prolly have to get spacers and a 9" rim to make it look flush at all
think of the handling after thhat tho
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:16 PM
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Hahah what about it ?
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Jcarryl
Hahah what about it ?
The traction with 9 inch rims, and the steering being that wide? insaine lol. but the plan is, turbo, fendor flares, rims, tires, spacers, e brake cables, rotors, done.
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:26 PM
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oh i forgot and a short throw
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Old 08-29-2010, 10:26 PM
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hahaha sounds like a plan bro! Good luck gettin all that with one grand teehee
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Old 08-30-2010, 03:59 AM
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The 3 of you should start your own club.
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Old 08-30-2010, 04:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Hectic
The 3 of you should start your own club.
this...
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Old 08-30-2010, 06:35 AM
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what the ****?
sell your maxima, get a rear wheel drive car.

or quit trolling, i don't care which.
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Old 08-30-2010, 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by chrome91
exactly.

the guy who did all of my suspension/engine work is trying to get 245's all around on racing rims for my 3rd gen, combined with my drop i'll see if flares are even doable since a 2.2"/2" drop and 245's is maxing out a 3rd gen
Do you still really think your drop is that low? Your drop isn't even as low as Intrax, so it's not like you're in uncharted territory or something..
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Old 08-30-2010, 09:04 AM
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im about $10,000 into this build ... with 350whp @ 9psi totally rebuilt everything... this isnt all of what a RWD setup would cost for a "built" one, then if you did go RWD ... you'd have to do something to the motor to give it some power ... then ur looking at even more money ... plus if your shell sucks ... thats more too ... so pretty much your looking to spend money and if you only have $1000 ... your not going to get far. i'd say save your money if you dont make alot. plus if you really think its that easy as " moving the fire wall and making custom mounts just try it and tell us how it goes ill be waiting for the details
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Old 08-30-2010, 12:07 PM
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ha im past the rear wheel drive idea. im just gonna go turbo. but the picture i saw, he got rid of everything and put on a custom intake manifold, relocated the over flow and battery to make room. is it posible to run a turbo off one mani???
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