RWD conversion

[Famouspork]

Is there any way to makes an svx RWD only?

[Sean486]

Originally Posted by Famouspork

Is there any way to makes an svx RWD only?

Yes, Huck brought his RWD SVX to Reading this year.

[Famouspork]

Is it a very difficult process, or just a matter of disconnecting axles in the front lol

[Blenderhead]

It is a lot more involved than just removing the front axles. In fact, you have to leave the front axles in since they keep fluid from leaking out of the trans, as well as hold your front wheel bearings together. What is involved is taking apart the back of the trans, grinding off one side of the transfer clutch gears, and using pins to lock the clutch all the time.

[Famouspork]

Since the transmission normally outputs a maximum of 50% traction coefficient to the rear wheels on an occasionnal basis, is the rear drivetrain strong enough to push the car around at 100% capacity and be driven everyday?

[BoxerFanatic]

I suppose there isn't a standard RWD transmission that fits the bill...

I like AWD, but I have wondered if there is a manual, or similar automatic that runs in a RWD-only car, that would fit with a longer driveshaft. I also wonder if axle stubs could then be used to hold the front hubs together, without the axle shafts...

I'd be plenty happy with an AWD Manual Gearbox swap in an SVX, though, myself.

[NiftySVX]

Originally Posted by Famouspork

Since the transmission normally outputs a maximum of 50% traction coefficient to the rear wheels on an occasionnal basis, is the rear drivetrain strong enough to push the car around at 100% capacity and be driven everyday?

I would put pretty good money on it's not. Almost every component is too weak for prolonged usage. Starting at the reduction gearset in the trans, you would have to really beef up how the clutch hub attaches to the reduction gear. This is probably doable with some high strength bolts, assuming it wouldn't weaken the drive gear or the transfer hub. all of the torque would ride on however you attach that hub to the drive gear (they break off on awd cars already). I think that the splines on the clutch pack would hold up to a stock engine. Following that, I have limited confidence in the bearings in the driveshaft, the U Joints, and the mounting bolts to the rear diff standing up to full torque. Again, you could use high strength bolts there, but those won't help you if you can't keep the driveshaft still or the u joints from failing. Most importantly, I am almost certain that the rear diff will not stand up to it. It's a very small unit, which means the gears are small and not very strong when compared to one meant for RWD. Also, it holds very little fluid and doesn't have any provisions for cooling what little fluid it has. Most rear drive cars with a differential unit like this have cooling fins cast on the case, and on the back. The VLSD would almost certainly overheat in short order, most of them are shot after about 60,000 on an AWD anyway though. Finally, I'm not 100% sure that the rear axles are stout enough, they are again kinda smallish for a RWD only, but it it would probably be one of those "out of design limits but below failure rate" kind of things.

So, If you could find some way to really beef up that rear diff, and keep the fluid cool, you might be able to run an SVX as a RWD for an extended period of time.

I've thought about it too