5speed rwd

[TomsSVX]

ok question for all u subaru gurus. Is there a way to set up a wrx 5 speed to run in strictly rear wheel drive? I am getting tired of the fwd and i want to sell my ride and i am looking to pick up a 92 w/ a blown tranny. But since the awd is such a drag on 5 speeds, is there a way to make the awd tranny convert all of the power comming in to the rear shaft? well get back to me guys, also i would prefer to have solid remarks, no guesses please.

[GreenMarine]

You might look into a Nissan 300ZX tranny... I hear that they might fit... Ya might need an adaptor plate and ya also might need a custom driveshaft and ya'd have to work something out about the rear Diff... Not sure that the rear diff was built to handle all of our 230 horses... :rolleyes:.... I'm sure that there is something that ya can do though other than taking out the front driveshafts of the auto... That would work if ya took the tranny down and welded the transfer clutches together... Then ya should be alright, atleast for alittle bit :):)

[alacrity024]

talk to Subafreak. it's possible to make an AWD car RWD simply by removing the front drive axles, but that brings a whole slew of possible ramifications, the least of which is reduced power output to the rear wheels and the most of which is a blown rear diff because it's not built to handle that kind of power.

to do it RIGHT you're probably looking at a $5000 Getrag transmission, and another $4000 worth of custom diff. and driveshaft work..

just guessing though..

[svxsubaru1]

You can convert the 5spd WRX trannie to rwd, and you dont even have to take out the front half shafts. Look in the last Sport Compact Car issue, they have a article about a rwd WRX and a company made a center diff that you can switch out in around a hour and its not a permant, youcan switch between awd, and rwd by switing the center dif out.

[GreenMarine]

IMHO.... That was one of the most retarded things that ya can do to a WRX though... If he wanted a drift car he should have gotten a 240sx or something... It's like a discrase to actually see a Subaru spinning anything less than all 4 wheels... :rolleyes: But like I said... IMHO :rolleyes:

[mbtoloczko]

You'd definitely need to upgrade the rear diff. The r160 is not up to the job.

[svxsubaru1]

Yeah i hate the idea of a new rwd subaru. I acully think the r160 would be able to handle the power, but the half shafts would be over stressed. Sadlyt there ahave beensome impreza and iam sure otherubes converted over, and i read that the r160 could handle the power, but the half safts were at the limit. The r160 is a pretty strong diff.

[Phast SVX]

Originally posted by svxsubaru1
Yeah i hate the idea of a new rwd subaru. I acully think the r160 would be able to handle the power, but the half shafts would be over stressed. Sadlyt there ahave beensome impreza and iam sure otherubes converted over, and i read that the r160 could handle the power, but the half safts were at the limit. The r160 is a pretty strong diff.

the r160 could hold about 160rwhp. In other words....no. the 200hp z cars used an r200 and 220 diff. All diffs are hitachi? i believe.
phil

[svxsubaru1]

The rwd impreza in sport compact car was pushing well over 300 engine horse power and dident break the rear diff. Arent there datsun 510s with r160 pushing over 300 hp?

[mikecg]

Why not just snag a iff out of a corvette. just have to make a custom drive shaft. Mate that to the 300ZX tranny and it could be a sweet RWD. The SVX could be a hot looking drifr machine. It has a look close to some of the most popular drift machines. (ie 240's)

[svxsubaru1]

The newer corrvets I thought had the trannie and the rear diff combined.

[deruvian]

Originally posted by svxsubaru1
The newer corrvets I thought had the trannie and the rear diff combined.

I've seen a Corvette chassis with just the engine, wheels and tires, transmission, halfshafts, driveshaft, and shifter. Not sure what year it was, but it had the 5.7 block bolted in. There was a very long shaft going to the tranny, which was rear mounted. The shifter had one hella long shift linkage going back to the tranny. It did appear as though the diff was inside the tranny. Very unique setup, for sure.

[svxsubaru1]

I am not a corvette expertby any means, but i think the trannie in the rear is on the newer c5 corvettes, i may be complety wrong.

[TomsSVX]

no ur right. my buddy is a gm mech and he works on them all the time. The newer c5 vettes have the transmission in the rear along w/ the diff. anyway, what you are saying is i would really only have to buy upgraded half shafts and maybe a new diff?? well anyway it would be wicked fun to have a drifting svx and i am really thinking about it.

P.S.- to all u 2wd haters, all i have to do is thrown the front half shafts back in and im wheelin away.

[GreenMarine]

As much as I don't like the idea of a RWD SVX.... I would really like to see one and would love to see what kinda fun it would be to drive...


Just courious that's all....


I'll always love my AWD :D:D:D

[svxsubaru1]

It would kind of be fun so to see one. You have to remeber that the way suabru set up the suspension you will have more wheel spin, sence the suspension was set up for AWD, but that only makes it easier to drift:D .

You would propbley have to upgrade the outputsaft on the trannie, thats what broke on the rwd WRX first, but that one had well over 300 hp.

[Subafreak]

I do know for a fact that Subarus have the same output shaft as a Nissan P.U. and a 77 280Z.:D Not big horsepower but both RWD.

[svxhunter]

Are you guys suggesting that a 300ZX tranny will bolt up to a 3.3L?

I think I may have found my project for next year's Grassroots Motorsports Challenge!!:D :D :D

[wawazat??]

Originally posted by svxhunter
Are you guys suggesting that a 300ZX tranny will bolt up to a 3.3L?

The problem with any transmission typically bolted to a "V" engine versus our "H" engine is the placement of the starter Paul. I looked in to it a while back and it would require a modified bellhousing for the starter.

I think a better path would be to use the stock automatic front differential housing for a bell-housing and bolting a regular RWD 5/6 speed to it. Tremec T-56 anyone!:D

Todd

[svxhunter]

Is there a RWD 5/6 speed tranny that would bolt up to the stock automatic front differential housing? Wouldn't this require closing up the front axle output shafts?

[svxhunter]

Originally posted by mbtoloczko
You'd definitely need to upgrade the rear diff. The r160 is not up to the job.

The current issue of Sport Compact Car features an SR20DET turbo powered 1971 Datsun 510 putting 335 hp to the rear wheels through a Subaru R160 LSD with 4:11 gears.

I concede that this car weighs only 2000 lbs. But an L model SVX weighing about 3400 lbs with the tranny weight differences and the front end drive component differences should be able to get under 3000 lbs- 2800 if you work really hard at it. But the 50% weight increase should be offset by the 50% hp reduction.

Are you sure the R160 is not up to the job?

-Paul

[Porter]

Just so you know, I have a source for adapter plates that bolt a Supra transmission to any Subaru motor.

Let me know.

[svxhunter]

Cool!

Porter: Is it cost prohibitive for the GRM? Any opinions on the rear diff issue?

[mbtoloczko]

Originally posted by svxhunter


Are you sure the R160 is not up to the job?

-Paul

Over at NASIOC, WRX 5MT owners are reporting failed R160's often enough to make me think that its not up to the job of transmitting power in a RWD SVX. Its likely that some or most of the WRX owners with failed R160s are thrashing on it, but it is an AWD car with a center diff that has a wimpy viscous coupling, so the R160 is only seeing 50% of the power at best. The guy who did my 5MT conversion has quite a bit of rally car racing experience, and he had his doubts about the R160 holding up in my SVX if I were to increase the HP to the range of 350 HP.

[GreenMarine]

Originally posted by Porter
Just so you know, I have a source for adapter plates that bolt a Supra transmission to any Subaru motor.

Let me know.

Porter's teh Shizzle :D:D:D:D

[svxhunter]

Porter:

Any idea of the cost of that adapter plate? How about the source?

Anyone else:

Anyone have actual experience hooking a 3.3 to a 300ZX, a Supra, or any other RWD tranny?

I've got an SVX with a bad tranny in the yard- We may try to take a pair of SVX's to the GRM Challenge next year!!:D :D The SVreX's encore plus a RWD drifter SVX!!

(We need one of those little dancing bananas smilie!!):D

[Porter]

I just got more info...

It's not an adapter plate, it's a custom bellhousing! :eek:

No word on price yet.

[GreenMarine]

Uh-oh... Does this mean that the Blue Beast may be turning rear wheel drive Jason?? :D:D:D Well if it does, let me know because I want to get my arse out there to help with the install :D:cool:

[svxhunter]

Originally posted by Porter
It's not an adapter plate, it's a custom bellhousing! :eek:

No word on price yet.

That might put it over the top for use in the GRM. Let me know, Porter. These boys are itching to build the first SVX drifter!!

[MotorsportWRX]

recently in one of those ricer mags they converted a WRX to RWD. all 5mt swap guys could do the same.

[svxhunter]

That is correct, but I have a couple of problems with a RWD SVX using a Subaru tranny. First, the tranny will have output shafts for the other 2 wheels which would have to be capped. The second bigger problem is that nothing about a Subaru drivetrain was ever designed to handle the full hp delivered to the rear wheels.

A Supra started as a rwd car, with comparable hp and torque ratings, as well as comparable curb weight. Plus, lots of people build them up. That would imply that it's drivetrain components would handle the load.

A hybrid SVX/ Supra seems like a good way to go on the cheap (although I wouldn't do this to a nice SVX).

[Matthewmongan]

yeah if i could get a price on a bell housing that would make my day... it would also be nice to know what year supra tranny it works with the older <ugly> modles are easy to come by. and do you think i would need a custome drive shaft. but yeah if the price is right ill do it. the svx awd system isn't much to my likeing as most of the power is always at the front. but rwd would be real fun. i had a dream about it last night .... hmmm rwd..... traci lords ...in a rwd svx.........

[Matthewmongan]

oh and haveing a supra drivetrain in a svx would make you the envy of every rice burner on the street. (except for the ones with supras but the point is still valid)

[svxhunter]

Just bought the Supra drivetrain!

Heh heh heh ;) :D :p

[Matthewmongan]

Originally posted by mbtoloczko


Over at NASIOC, WRX 5MT owners are reporting failed R160's often enough to make me think that its not up to the job of transmitting power in a RWD SVX. Its likely that some or most of the WRX owners with failed R160s are thrashing on it, but it is an AWD car with a center diff that has a wimpy viscous coupling, so the R160 is only seeing 50% of the power at best. The guy who did my 5MT conversion has quite a bit of rally car racing experience, and he had his doubts about the R160 holding up in my SVX if I were to increase the HP to the range of 350 HP.

i have a friend who owns a tuning company (westminister speed and sound) and he blew out the r160 while it was stock and mark quote "doesn't drive it like mario andreti" he said it was a design flaw and that particular year but he replaced it with stock last summer with out fault.

[Matthewmongan]

how much did the drive train run you

[Matthewmongan]

i do have some doubts about the r160 ... cobb tuning converted a 2.5rs to rwd with a fully ajustable center diff and the used to have a vid of the car doing a burnout what the vid also shows is the rear diff blowing up <during the burnout>

[Matthewmongan]

whats up with the bell housing has any one done it yet

[svxhunter]

Last I talked to Porter he was looking into it. That often takes some time. ;)

His source is in Australia, and I e-mailed them, but they didn't respond.

I'm just gonna be patient.

I am also exploring a low budget option to the same thing, but that will probably take 2-3 months.

If I learn anything, I'll let you know.

-Paul