FWD to AWD conversion

[elninoalex]

How hard is it to make this work? Vehicle is 90 Legacy, but I imagine its the same with the SVX. Oviously it's swapping the tranny, rear suspension and crossmember/diff. But what about the prop drive shaft mount for the carrier bearing? Is there one or do you have to fab it? I've been spending all my time under this other 90 Legacy I bought this weekend and swapped over the motor and a bunch of other things from my parts car. This one has a good int/ext at 209K, but the motor was about as bad as it could be, and still run. But it's FWD, and I've got this extra AWD running gear that I'd like to put in, if possible. Thanks.

Stephen

[elninoalex]

Wow, the gas tanks are totally different as well. I think the exhaust as well. Guess I'll leave it. This one will only get an EJ25.

[Manarius]

Read this:
http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/swap/swap.html

He did it...was costly and takes effort.

[elninoalex]

That's funny. I just found the same link and was going to post it but you beat me to it.

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by elninoalex

That's funny. I just found the same link and was going to post it but you beat me to it.

The guy who did that swap is a regular over at http://bbs.legacycentral.org. If you have any questions, just ask over there.

[elninoalex]

Originally Posted by Manarius

The guy who did that swap is a regular over at http://bbs.legacycentral.org. If you have any questions, just ask over there.

Cool site! Ah well, I'm sick of torque steer already so I guess I will be doing this.

[NikFu S.]

Originally Posted by Manarius

Read this:
http://www.surrealmirage.com/subaru/swap/swap.html

He did it...was costly and takes effort.

That is one fine looking Legacy.

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by NikFu S.

That is one fine looking Legacy.

That Legacy went from being a N/A EJ22 FWD 4EAT to a EJ22T with AWD and 5MT. He's rebuilt almost everything on that car.

[elninoalex]

OK, I have got everything I need out of the donor car. I pulled the rear crossmember in one piece with everything attached to it. Of course, the strut towers won't clear so I'll have to separate those. I'll probably need to hit the junkyard for a AWD sedan fuel separator since they are all different.

[elninoalex]

Originally Posted by NikFu S.

That is one fine looking Legacy.

Yes it is, but how could someone spend $6000 on this swap? My two 90 Legacys only cost me $700 and the swap shouldn't cost me more than $50. Of course, I did convert my SVX to 5 spd for less than $0.

[elninoalex]

Well, I got the AWD gas tank and crossmember into the FWD car. Today I'll finish bolting in the suspension and hook up the rear brakes. Then it'll be on the road as a FWD car with a rear diff, but no driveshaft. Then Saturday I'll swap the trannies and install the driveshaft and hope everything works. I never drove the donor car more than 5mph because of a glazed clutch disc. But what could go wrong???

[NikFu S.]

Originally Posted by elninoalex

But what could go wrong???

Everything that can?

[elninoalex]

Originally Posted by NikFu S.

Everything that can?

Actually...nothing. Everything turned out great. Car feels much more solid and balanced than before. Ass end sits up about 2" higher because I think the other rear springs were pretty well sagged. So the headlights point where they should now. I swapped the tires as well so the car tracks straighter now. The AWD exhaust is quieter than the FWD, even though its rusted out. The AWDs have a better feeling shifter(mounts up higher) than the FWDs. Oh yeah, handling and traction are better too. So this worked out all the way around.

Stephen

[NikFu S.]

Cool beans.