Help Me Pick a Direction

[DrkZide]

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?

[Austin@STM]

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

[terrets]

Ya Id go AWD Its way cooler.

[DrkZide]

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.

[x2percentmilk]

carbon fiber driveshaft ftw

[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.

[DrkZide]

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.

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.

[RL7]

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.

[RAI]

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.

[Austin@STM]

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.