converting a fwd to awd

[Blackhawk]

in the process in choosing a rear end. would a 1st gen dodge stealth rt/tt rear end w/ rear steer assist bolt up to my 2nd gen sl ?

[anyonebutme]

Nothing will bolt up. It is not that easy to convert these cars. You'll have to match the rear end gear ratio with whatever transmission you intend on using.

[CoopKill]

1st you need to figure out if you are going 5spd, or 6spd.

[green-lantern]

in the process in choosing a rear end. would a 1st gen dodge stealth rt/tt rear end w/ rear steer assist bolt up to my 2nd gen sl ?

No it won't, lots of work to convert it.

http://www.3sgto.org/transmission-suspension-drivetrain/54-awd-conversion-engine-build.html
My conversion thread.


One day AWD conversion finished! (lots of pics) - 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center (http://www.3si.org/forum/f1/one-day-awd-conversion-finished-lots-pics-449870/)
shooters conversion thread

[Blackhawk]

i currently have a 5spd but if its not worth it then ill just get a vr4 or a rt/tt as a secondary. and use my sl as a daily just seeing how much work it would be

[green-lantern]

i currently have a 5spd but if its not worth it then ill just get a vr4 or a rt/tt as a secondary. and use my sl as a daily just seeing how much work it would be

That's what I'd recomend, you need an AWD trans anyway. Your FWD trans will not work.

[CoopKill]

^^That^^ He knows first hand wut is wutz...

[green-lantern]

^^That^^ He knows first hand wut is wutz...

Most of the time people that have done the conversion don't recomend it :lo5l: and I did it the easy way.

[IPD]

Most of the time people that have done the conversion don't recomend it :lo5l: and I did it the easy way.

+2

even if you have the, parts, time, expertise & patience...it's still a PITA when you want to get it insured for declared value. you can do it--but it's a pain. much easier to start with a vr4/tt.

[green-lantern]

+2

even if you have the, parts, time, expertise & patience...it's still a PITA when you want to get it insured for declared value. you can do it--but it's a pain. much easier to start with a vr4/tt.

Honestly the insurance part is pretty sweet because it's cheap but all and all it's just best to start out with the AWD platform. Stronger, easier and it is a vr4.

[IPD]

Honestly the insurance part is pretty sweet because it's cheap but all and all it's just best to start out with the AWD platform. Stronger, easier and it is a vr4.

yeah, it's cheaper. because the insurance company thinks you drive a 100% stock FWD N/A; not an AWD TT with a bunch of mods. according to the insurance company, my car is only worth about $1500 totaled out.

too many damn illegals & uninsured drivers out there for me to feel comfortable driving it without properly insuring it for what it actually is.

[Uniuno]

This reminds me that I still need to make a thread on my AWD conversion. I used Shooter's formula for the most part but modified it a little. It took a few months working on it whenever I could, a lot of weddings and things got in the way. I had NG as a deadline so I at least knew when I had to have it done.

If asked if I would do it again I would quickly say no. Yes, having cheaper insurance is nice as well as having the fun building it, but VR4s are getting so cheap now anyway.

There's a lot of part sourcing and setbacks with little things that crop up that will set you back (time and financially). I also have never had a VR4 before or even really worked on one so I was just kind of making it up as I went.

[green-lantern]

yeah, it's cheaper. because the insurance company thinks you drive a 100% stock FWD N/A; not an AWD TT with a bunch of mods. according to the insurance company, my car is only worth about $1500 totaled out.


Correct, I never had full coverage on it. I'm not going to get back what I have in it anyway. If I wreck it I'll part it out. If it's stolen I'm just screwed I guess.


This reminds me that I still need to make a thread on my AWD conversion. I used Shooter's formula for the most part but modified it a little. It took a few months working on it whenever I could, a lot of weddings and things got in the way. I had NG as a deadline so I at least knew when I had to have it done.

If asked if I would do it again I would quickly say no. Yes, having cheaper insurance is nice as well as having the fun building it, but VR4s are getting so cheap now anyway.

There's a lot of part sourcing and setbacks with little things that crop up that will set you back (time and financially). I also have never had a VR4 before or even really worked on one so I was just kind of making it up as I went.

Would love to see a thread. Did you take a lot of pics?

[Uniuno]

I took ALLL the pics. lol

I think that's why I went through 4 HTC Ones. I kept getting little metal fragments in the speakers causing them to go bad. After I finished I've had the same phone for like 5 months now lol

This is relevant because when I backed up the phones I wasn't the most organized about it, I used whatever PC was closest to me at the time so I need to get all the pics together and uploaded to PB.

[green-lantern]

I took ALLL the pics. lol

I think that's why I went through 4 HTC Ones. I kept getting little metal fragments in the speakers causing them to go bad. After I finished I've had the same phone for like 5 months now lol

This is relevant because when I backed up the phones I wasn't the most organized about it, I used whatever PC was closest to me at the time so I need to get all the pics together and uploaded to PB.

I know what you mean, I still have a bunch of NG pics I didn't upload lol.

[Desperado]

Late on the tread but I totally agree, especially now, just buy a vr4. When I first bought my car, it wasnt new but the first car I bought with my own money. Vr4's at the time were priced about the same as Supras if that gives you an idea. I love my car and I will never ever sell it, they say everything has a price but I can assure you no one would ever pay what it would take to make that happen. My car is my Millennium Falcon. Having said that, if I had it to do all over again I would just have just saved and bought a vr4 down the line and had both. Sense I didnt I'm going to make the car I've always wanted, but unless you are looking to punish yourself and learn way more about your car than you ever wanted to I wouldn't recommend it. I don't care if someone gave you all of the parts for free your not going to come out ahead. No one in my area had a vr4 when I had first done mine, and only a few ppl like Gatecrasher and Bob the Great had converted theirs. When I would ask about it I got a lot of it can't be done, not worth it, don't waiste your time, and honestly I just thought they were being dicks about it, but they were right for the most part. So unless you are attached to your car as I am save yourself the time and cash. For the amount of time, money I spent I could litterly have bought my na, a vr4 and a supra and come out ahead

[reses]

Well, I'm in the same boat, I think that I have a reason because in my country you cant legally import any 3Ks (NA/TT/VR4) or Japanse cars with the first VIN character as J since 2008, I got a 94 SL (with all the paperwork in order), my other options is to switch the VIN with a VR4 and thats not an option for me lol...

[mb3000]

Your location says Nevada...

[reses]

Woops, not any more, fixed.

[strchld]

Well I was thinking about this conversion,my Stealth is an ES the previous owner converted it to an RT wiring and body. I wanted to make it a tt and awd , buttons how expensive is it are we talking a under or over a 1000.00,I'm rather attached to it but money is short

[IPD]

Well I was thinking about this conversion,my Stealth is an ES the previous owner converted it to an RT wiring and body. I wanted to make it a tt and awd , buttons how expensive is it are we talking a under or over a 1000.00,I'm rather attached to it but money is short

not for 1 grand. not unless someone is giving you all the parts for free.

[Uniuno]

Well I was thinking about this conversion,my Stealth is an ES the previous owner converted it to an RT wiring and body. I wanted to make it a tt and awd , buttons how expensive is it are we talking a under or over a 1000.00,I'm rather attached to it but money is short

If I were to throw a dart at the wall I'd guess it cost me around 5k to do the TT and AWD conversion. NOT including 2200 for wheels and tires. It really would have been cheaper to buy a VR4, but I'm special like that.

Check the link in my sig to see SOME of the work required in doing the AWD conversion.

[green-lantern]

If I were to throw a dart at the wall I'd guess it cost me around 5k to do the TT and AWD conversion. NOT including 2200 for wheels and tires. It really would have been cheaper to buy a VR4, but I'm special like that.

Check the link in my sig to see SOME of the work required in doing the AWD conversion.

Great job man!

[sergechronos]

If I were to throw a dart at the wall I'd guess it cost me around 5k to do the TT and AWD conversion. NOT including 2200 for wheels and tires. It really would have been cheaper to buy a couple VR4s, but I'm special like that.

Check the link in my sig to see SOME of the work required in doing the AWD conversion.

Fixed that for you ;) 7k invested in that swap could've gotten you at least 2 driving VR4s, or one good one :P Even without selling your current 3S

[R/T93]

Fixed that for you ;) 7k invested in that swap could've gotten you at least 2 driving VR4s, or one good one :P Even without selling your current 3S

I dont think anyones pride and joy is a 3.5k vr4....

From the phone.

[CoopKill]

Mine started there!

Sent from the Man Cave!

*\( ^o^ )/*

[anyonebutme]

I dont think anyones pride and joy is a 3.5k vr4....

From the phone.

False

[green-lantern]

False

Some peoples pride and joy is a $500 Honda civic. :lo5l:

but Yeah you're not going to get a great VR4 for 3.5K, not without putting more money in it and NOT including 2200 for wheels and tires. :D

[Granny]

I put a lot of money in VR2.
I'm still sad about how it ended but I moved forward with Elvis.
It's strange at times but I wouldn't change any of it.

[familyMAN]

$4500 for my vr4 with very nice original paint and clean interior (minus chewed up driver bolster).

Unless you really want to do the work, I don't see the reason to convert. That said, everyone enjoys the hobby in different ways. I've done many things others would question I'm sure also.

[green-lantern]

Honestly my AWD conversion was very cheap, just lots of work. Not as much work as Uniuno but a lot. I came out cheaper but I still say buy the VR4.

[IPD]

I'm with paul. It's never worth it. Not unless you're hopelessly emotionally attached to THIS SPECIFIC 3/s.

[Uniuno]

I actually enjoyed doing the work and the outcome was great of course too. That being said, I'll probably never do it again. Also it was my first and only 3s ever until I got the VR4 shell. My car was a lot cleaner and would have taken more work to strip the shell, paint it, and put all my stuff into it. I would have had to do the headlight buckets for my robo/halo 2nd gen headlights, the dash was cracked, etc, etc.

[green-lantern]

I guess you can say I enjoyed some of it. It felt good to accomplish it.

[Granny]

It's hard to find a VR4 shell in good condition that hasn't been raped.
I feel very lucky to have found mine so close to home that fit what I needed.

[reses]

I got the rear subframe (not a single sign of rust, factory paint still intact) with rotors, calipers, sensors axles, diff (looks like new), 2 ECS struts, 25 spline 5 speed tranny (worn OS), transfer (same as the OS, some rust on the spool) the tranny was inspected and it looks fine other than the OS, all these from a 100k rt/tt for 800dlls.

Then I bought the mounts from a 3si member, he cut all the plate for me and gave me the mounting bolts (lots), bushings, plates for 150dlls.

120 for the SS brake lines, 120 for the AWS delete.

Still need the clutch, fork, flywheel, tranny shields, bracket (rear), mount..
Maybe I could have bought a VR4/TT with that money but damn, I'm crazy and stupid.. lol