RWD Conversion
12-23-2001, 05:59 PM
#1
RWD Conversion
Hi. Did anyone actually do a RWD conversion. A mechcanic today told me it is impossible with the motor on its side...like we have. I am interested in info if someone actually did it. I did search but found nothing hard core.
Thanks,
Erik
Thanks,
Erik
12-23-2001, 09:14 PM
#7
U wanna try me young boy?
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 1,024
Originally posted by tifosiv122
Well, he said it "can" be done, but the motor would have to sit straight, like any other RWD car. I am just wondering if this is true.
Erik
Well, he said it "can" be done, but the motor would have to sit straight, like any other RWD car. I am just wondering if this is true.
Erik
You can convert basically any car to RWD but you have to overcome the main obstacles...
- Engine must be mounted inline, not tranverse.
- Remount/rewire all engine bay components
- Is engine bay long enough? Is hood high enough?
- Need RWD tranny
- Need bellhousing to match engine to RWD tranny
- Reworx fron knuckles for no driveshafts
- Convert steering from rack-on firewall to rack-under-engine design
- Custom propshaft
- Transmission tunnel need to be installed for RWD propshaft
- Reroute exhaust if it is in the centerline
- Throw away the stock rear suspension
- Install rwd suspension, axle etc
- Match brakes etc with new RWD hubs and wheels
- Doing all rear suspension work to be structurally sound on a unibody...
Other than that, it's a walk in the park. I personally suspect the engine bay would not be long enough, and not high enough at the nose, so the engine would have to be mounted really low, which is great for handling but notsogreat for ground clearance.
I suspect that this would be a project done only by a person who's imagination and mechanical skills are exceeded only by his wealth and firvilousness. This is not a weekend project - this is a job that would probably take a single machinic with an otherwise full-time job about a year of test-fitting, fabricating parts and cursing yourself for being so stupid as to start this project.
12-23-2001, 09:17 PM
#8
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Originally posted by Scruit
Anything is possible. However some of it is pricey!
You can convert basically any car to RWD but you have to overcome the main obstacles...
- Engine must be mounted inline, not tranverse.
- Remount/rewire all engine bay components
- Is engine bay long enough? Is hood high enough?
- Need RWD tranny
- Need bellhousing to match engine to RWD tranny
- Reworx fron knuckles for no driveshafts
- Convert steering from rack-on firewall to rack-under-engine design
- Custom propshaft
- Transmission tunnel need to be installed for RWD propshaft
- Reroute exhaust if it is in the centerline
- Throw away the stock rear suspension
- Install rwd suspension, axle etc
- Match brakes etc with new RWD hubs and wheels
- Doing all rear suspension work to be structurally sound on a unibody...
Other than that, it's a walk in the park. I personally suspect the engine bay would not be long enough, and not high enough at the nose, so the engine would have to be mounted really low, which is great for handling but notsogreat for ground clearance.
I suspect that this would be a project done only by a person who's imagination and mechanical skills are exceeded only by his wealth and firvilousness. This is not a weekend project - this is a job that would probably take a single machinic with an otherwise full-time job about a year of test-fitting, fabricating parts and cursing yourself for being so stupid as to start this project.
Anything is possible. However some of it is pricey!
You can convert basically any car to RWD but you have to overcome the main obstacles...
- Engine must be mounted inline, not tranverse.
- Remount/rewire all engine bay components
- Is engine bay long enough? Is hood high enough?
- Need RWD tranny
- Need bellhousing to match engine to RWD tranny
- Reworx fron knuckles for no driveshafts
- Convert steering from rack-on firewall to rack-under-engine design
- Custom propshaft
- Transmission tunnel need to be installed for RWD propshaft
- Reroute exhaust if it is in the centerline
- Throw away the stock rear suspension
- Install rwd suspension, axle etc
- Match brakes etc with new RWD hubs and wheels
- Doing all rear suspension work to be structurally sound on a unibody...
Other than that, it's a walk in the park. I personally suspect the engine bay would not be long enough, and not high enough at the nose, so the engine would have to be mounted really low, which is great for handling but notsogreat for ground clearance.
I suspect that this would be a project done only by a person who's imagination and mechanical skills are exceeded only by his wealth and firvilousness. This is not a weekend project - this is a job that would probably take a single machinic with an otherwise full-time job about a year of test-fitting, fabricating parts and cursing yourself for being so stupid as to start this project.
You are one knowledgeable newbie!!
12-23-2001, 09:19 PM
#10
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Originally posted by Scruit
This is not a weekend project - this is a job that would probably take a single machinic with an otherwise full-time job about a year of test-fitting, fabricating parts and cursing yourself for being so stupid as to start this project.
This is not a weekend project - this is a job that would probably take a single machinic with an otherwise full-time job about a year of test-fitting, fabricating parts and cursing yourself for being so stupid as to start this project.
12-23-2001, 09:41 PM
#12
U wanna try me young boy?
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 1,024
Originally posted by Craig Mack
Are you a mechanic/study cars or maxima's ?
Are you a mechanic/study cars or maxima's ?
I don't do much work on Maxima's - I came here from the Ford Taurus page after I traded my '95 Taurus for a 5spd '96 SE (reminds me of the UK, where over 90% of cars are stickshift) that I purchased because I knew of it's reputation for reliability and understated speed. Maybe I'll get a second maxima to work mods on, but my wife is very strict with me - no 'modding' my daily driver.
Yes dear.
12-23-2001, 09:47 PM
#13
All YOUR grammer belong to me
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
Originally posted by Scruit
Maybe I'll get a second maxima to work mods on, but my wife is very strict with me - no 'modding' my daily driver. :Poice:
Yes dear. :rlleyes:
Maybe I'll get a second maxima to work mods on, but my wife is very strict with me - no 'modding' my daily driver. :Poice:
Yes dear. :rlleyes:
So you can't even clear out those ooglie orange corners eh? ... Women
12-23-2001, 11:01 PM
#14
So basically, he was right, the engine would need to be straight. Thanks for clearing that up.
Erik
Erik
Originally posted by Scruit
Anything is possible. However some of it is pricey!
You can convert basically any car to RWD but you have to overcome the main obstacles...
- Engine must be mounted inline, not tranverse.
- Remount/rewire all engine bay components
- Is engine bay long enough? Is hood high enough?
- Need RWD tranny
- Need bellhousing to match engine to RWD tranny
- Reworx fron knuckles for no driveshafts
- Convert steering from rack-on firewall to rack-under-engine design
- Custom propshaft
- Transmission tunnel need to be installed for RWD propshaft
- Reroute exhaust if it is in the centerline
- Throw away the stock rear suspension
- Install rwd suspension, axle etc
- Match brakes etc with new RWD hubs and wheels
- Doing all rear suspension work to be structurally sound on a unibody...
Other than that, it's a walk in the park. I personally suspect the engine bay would not be long enough, and not high enough at the nose, so the engine would have to be mounted really low, which is great for handling but notsogreat for ground clearance.
I suspect that this would be a project done only by a person who's imagination and mechanical skills are exceeded only by his wealth and firvilousness. This is not a weekend project - this is a job that would probably take a single machinic with an otherwise full-time job about a year of test-fitting, fabricating parts and cursing yourself for being so stupid as to start this project.
Anything is possible. However some of it is pricey!
You can convert basically any car to RWD but you have to overcome the main obstacles...
- Engine must be mounted inline, not tranverse.
- Remount/rewire all engine bay components
- Is engine bay long enough? Is hood high enough?
- Need RWD tranny
- Need bellhousing to match engine to RWD tranny
- Reworx fron knuckles for no driveshafts
- Convert steering from rack-on firewall to rack-under-engine design
- Custom propshaft
- Transmission tunnel need to be installed for RWD propshaft
- Reroute exhaust if it is in the centerline
- Throw away the stock rear suspension
- Install rwd suspension, axle etc
- Match brakes etc with new RWD hubs and wheels
- Doing all rear suspension work to be structurally sound on a unibody...
Other than that, it's a walk in the park. I personally suspect the engine bay would not be long enough, and not high enough at the nose, so the engine would have to be mounted really low, which is great for handling but notsogreat for ground clearance.
I suspect that this would be a project done only by a person who's imagination and mechanical skills are exceeded only by his wealth and firvilousness. This is not a weekend project - this is a job that would probably take a single machinic with an otherwise full-time job about a year of test-fitting, fabricating parts and cursing yourself for being so stupid as to start this project.
12-24-2001, 10:54 AM
#20
Since we are in fantasy land here, why bother to orient the engine in a N/S fashion? Might as well use the AWD tranny from the SunnY GTI and make the maxima AWD instead. It would probably be less work. Or use the Jaguar AWD tranny and rear transaxle. I know for a fact that they used the Duratec in an E/W engine configuration
12-24-2001, 10:57 AM
#21
Originally posted by Jeff92se
Since we are in fantasy land here, why bother to orient the engine in a N/S fashion? Might as well use the AWD tranny from the SunnY GTI and make the maxima AWD instead. It would probably be less work. Or use the Jaguar AWD tranny and rear transaxle. I know for a fact that they used the Duratec in an E/W engine configuration
Since we are in fantasy land here, why bother to orient the engine in a N/S fashion? Might as well use the AWD tranny from the SunnY GTI and make the maxima AWD instead. It would probably be less work. Or use the Jaguar AWD tranny and rear transaxle. I know for a fact that they used the Duratec in an E/W engine configuration
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