A new twist on the Manual Swap....

huck369 · #1 05-02-2007, 11:07 AM

I wanted to try something a little...different...so I made it a 5-speed REAR wheel drive car....with the stock 3.54 LSD rear diff....

SO it keeps the better highway RPMs and is a manual tranny.

I've updated to WRX motor mounts while I was in there, and an Excedy CLutch & PP.

So what do you think...?

I haven't decided if I want to keep it like this, or go back to AWD on it...

(Rear Wheel Burnouts are cool..... ...and I grew up driving Firebirds, which is sort of what it drives like now)

Give me your thoughts...

I've gotten some thoughts from the crew over at XT6.net, but figured this is where I'd get the most response....since it is in a SVX after all

Crazy_pilot · #2 05-02-2007, 11:14 AM

DO IT!

If you go full bore at this, could you remove all of the front wheel drive parts? Axles obviously, but could you also remove the front diff and anything else in the trans that's not needed? A 5MT is already a weight savings over the 4EAT, removing some parts would be even better, plus help the weight distribution.

Zeppelin · #3 05-02-2007, 11:17 AM

You need to post video!!!!

huck369 · #4 05-02-2007, 11:25 AM

I've already done it...no front axles, just stubs in the spindles to hold the bearings together....

SomethingElse · #5 05-21-2008, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

I've already done it...no front axles, just stubs in the spindles to hold the bearings together....

Does your speedo still work? I thought the front axles drive the R&P gears. What did you use for stubs?

lechnoid · #6 05-21-2008, 06:39 AM

Could you post some pictures from underneath the car? I've been contemplating this sort of setup for my miata project and would love to see some pics.

huck369 · #7 05-21-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomethingElse

Does your speedo still work? I thought the front axles drive the R&P gears. What did you use for stubs?

The front diff still turns, so the speedo still works....

for stubs, I just dissasembled a couple old axles I had laying around and used the outer section to bolt through the hub, to hold the bearings together.

I don't have any pics from under the car...but it's looks the same, other than the lack of front axles....if I have any reason to get under it, I'll try to snap some pics...

huck369 · #8 05-02-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeppelin

You need to post video!!!!

Maybe if I put on an old set of tires, so I don't trash my new ones....

JaySVX · #9 05-02-2007, 11:51 AM

Awesome, i was thinking about something like that, but i have a hundred things to try before. Just a rwd tranny strait back to the rear right?

huck369 · #10 05-02-2007, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaySVX

Awesome, i was thinking about something like that, but i have a hundred things to try before. Just a rwd tranny strait back to the rear right?

Pretty much, with a locked center diff...

SomethingElse · #11 05-02-2007, 08:59 PM

you beat me too it

ever since the auto rwd ive been wanting a 5 speed rwd to control the shifting becuase the auto will shift into 2nd even when in first so its hard to drive squirly. if only I could stumble on a 5 speed kit.

nice job!

Have you thought about the 4.44 rear end swap?

huck369 · #12 05-02-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomethingElse

Have you thought about the 4.44 rear end swap?

thought about it...yes.....but that takes money

I DO have a 3.90 rear diff, that may get built and installed...but for now I'll just leave the 3.54's in

Oh yeah...it'll be at the Dragon Meet in July also

svxistentialist · #13 05-02-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

I wanted to try something a little...different...so I made it a 5-speed REAR wheel drive car....with the stock 3.54 LSD rear diff....

SO it keeps the better highway RPMs and is a manual tranny.

I've updated to WRX motor mounts while I was in there, and an Excedy CLutch & PP.

So what do you think...?

I haven't decided if I want to keep it like this, or go back to AWD on it...

(Rear Wheel Burnouts are cool..... ...and I grew up driving Firebirds, which is sort of what it drives like now)

Give me your thoughts...

I've gotten some thoughts from the crew over at XT6.net, but figured this is where I'd get the most response....since it is in a SVX after all

That sure is different Huck. Trust you!! You're a Daddy again.

The father of the RWD SVX.

I think you should keep it for a number of reasons. Being unique is one, but it is also only the start.

If you decide to go forced induction, then you should end up with a very quick quarter mile car.

Without going totally "funny car" on it, I think the style of the SVX would lend itself to some sensitive modification at the back.

With all the horsepower now going through the rears, you should now be able to "grow" the rear wheels and give yourself more contact area for traction. Because you are not AWD any more, you could even consider having the rear a taller rolling radius, which also would help your highway RPMs.

[I would also consider a stronger and stiffer rear diff to keep the power down without breaking stuff.]

As you would be going wider with the wheels, this would mean a good excuse to grow the rear wheel-arch bulge. Not to make it an in-yer-face racer or ricer or drift style, just a bigger bulged version of the OEM wing [you guys call them fenders, sorry, forgot].

Oh how beautiful that would look on the road.

I know you work on a budget Huck, but I hope you do it.

Joe

huck369 · #14 05-02-2007, 08:47 PM

It is currently my "Daily Driver" so I don't plan on any real mods to the engine, maybe a Stage I Chip, but that's probably all.

And it's not a 3.90 Legacy Turbo tranny, it's a low milage 3.90 Impreza tranny.

I don't plan on really flogging it, really just an experiment I wanted to to try....so I think everything will hold up alright...I have spare parts for the rear diff, and rear axles if I do break something....

And if I keep liking it, it'll be at the 15th anniv. meet

Phast SVX · #15 05-02-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

It is currently my "Daily Driver" so I don't plan on any real mods to the engine, maybe a Stage I Chip, but that's probably all.

And it's not a 3.90 Legacy Turbo tranny, it's a low milage 3.90 Impreza tranny.

I don't plan on really flogging it, really just an experiment I wanted to to try....so I think everything will hold up alright...I have spare parts for the rear diff, and rear axles if I do break something....

And if I keep liking it, it'll be at the 15th anniv. meet

Good to hear! I was contemplating going RWD as well, to smoke the tires instead of the trans...