Help Me Pick a Direction

So I have a '94 SL. My dad and I bought it wrecked and worked together to repair it. It's one of the few times we've done a project together due to his time dedicated to his business and my military endeavors. As is, we don't see each other very much. This car is obviously a salvage title and will not bring in the amount of which I value this car. So I have decided this is one of those vehicles I will most likely never sell, for both monetary and sentimental value.

So here's the question/scenario. I hate FWD and am looking into fabbing up the necessary components to do a true RWD conversion. Same motor family but different transmission and custom components to mount it to the vehicle. At the same time, I also wonder if it'd be better to just restore it and buy a VR4 and upgrade the drivetrain with SCE TorSen parts. I'm looking for an all around car that does well in drag, autox, road race, street but mainly Rally's (think Bullrun/Cannonball).

What do you guys think?

If anything, do an AWD swap, it will be good all around, and you wont have to cut up the car to do it.

Ya Id go AWD :D Its way cooler.

Are the SCE parts any lighter than stock? Part of the reason I wanted to go RWD was to try and cut down on weight as well.

carbon fiber driveshaft ftw :)

How are you going to go RWD? Turn the motor 90 degrees?

Honestly, if you're going to be making power any time soon, I'd just throw in a non-3/S transmission and go RWD. So much fun. I think I've been babied by AWD for a bit too long. I drove my buddy's C5 down the track, and it was fun going sideways doing a burnout.

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Originally Posted by RAI

How are you going to go RWD? Turn the motor 90 degrees?

Honestly, if you're going to be making power any time soon, I'd just throw in a non-3/S transmission and go RWD. So much fun. I think I've been babied by AWD for a bit too long. I drove my buddy's C5 down the track, and it was fun going sideways doing a burnout.

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Actually, yes that was the plan. Turn the motor 90 degrees and stuff a Corvette drive train in there since most of it is in the rear. It seems like we have more room to play with back there. I don't want to lose fuel capacity though, so it'd take some thinking.

I was contemplating something similar recently. Mitsubishi does make a r5m31 transmission that was used behind 6g7x rwd pickups and Pajeros, but it's pretty difficult to find (unless you are in austrailia- http://shop.ebay.com.au/?_nkw=triton+gearbox). There is also a r5m21 for 4 cylinders and possibly an r5m41. That transmission looks large, so fit would be an issue. The corvette drivetrain sounds like a good idea. I say do it for sure. Sounds like a fun project.

There are WAY better RWD transmissions out there than Mitsu trannies.

It sounds like a lot of work, but if I had the ability, I would.

Ya rear wheel would be fun for sure, just make sure your ready to see this project through whatever you do. All to often people start a huge build, and then months later there is a part out thread, or a project car for sale.

Well I'm hoping the sentimental value itself would keep me from parting her out. It'll be a long road though. My old fabricator is back in Albuquerque so I'd have to find a good one here in Denver.......or ship the car back.

You could take an AWD tranny, weld the planetary gears, and then get oil caps for the front drive axles. RWD. You can also add the front axles and have AWD, or take the transfer case off and have FWD.

Honestly man I would go with AWD with the SL. My Vr4 sticks to the road in every corner and keeps your body glued to the seat on every launch. But on the other hand my Iroc gives you the ability really hug those corners as well with the option to really loose control any time with a tap of the pedal and thats one hell of a rush. You can pretty much take performance vehicle awd or rwd and turn it into a well rounded car for drag, autox, road race and street. As long as you are comfotrtable and know your car limits and your own. Take the newskyline and the vette,One is awd other is rwd. Yet the vette did just as well if not better in all events even with the disadvantage of rwd. Check the video out edmunds. Just stay away from fwd, theres no fun in that crap.