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  #1  
Old 05-01-2009, 07:57 AM
Famouspork Famouspork is offline
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RWD conversion

Is there any way to makes an svx RWD only?
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  #2  
Old 05-01-2009, 09:18 AM
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Sean486 Sean486 is offline
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Re: RWD conversion

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Originally Posted by Famouspork View Post
Is there any way to makes an svx RWD only?
Yes, Huck brought his RWD SVX to Reading this year.
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  #3  
Old 05-01-2009, 10:30 AM
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Re: RWD conversion

Is it a very difficult process, or just a matter of disconnecting axles in the front lol
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Old 05-01-2009, 10:39 AM
Blenderhead Blenderhead is offline
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Re: RWD conversion

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.
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  #5  
Old 05-01-2009, 10:47 AM
Famouspork Famouspork is offline
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Re: RWD conversion

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?
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Old 05-01-2009, 11:03 AM
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Re: RWD conversion

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.
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Old 05-01-2009, 12:47 PM
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Re: RWD conversion

On mine, it is made up of a Standard Impreza Manual Tranny, that has the center diff welded up....then I disassembled the front axles and used the outer stub to hold the wheel bearings together, and the inner stub basically as a "Dust cap" on the tranny, as the axle seals are on up inside the tranny, and won't leak with no axle in them, but would allow dirt and grime onto the axle stubs....and I plan to return it to AWD one of these days (been saying that for about 3 years now)
The car is basically useless in the rain or snow (I almost looped it once on the way back from Reading in the rain)....but it is fun to play around with...
Handling sucks, as it really needs a MUCH bigger front sway bar to run RWD, and maintain decent handling...I've been considering trying to mount one off a Trans Am onto it to see how that does.....with the stock suspension, it is REALLY easy to have the back end pass the front end.....


You need to keep the front diff gears in place if you want to have a speedometer...
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Last edited by huck369; 05-01-2009 at 12:51 PM.
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  #8  
Old 05-01-2009, 07:17 PM
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Re: RWD conversion

I've been toying with this idea, and have a spare transfer clutch to eyeball. To do this PROPERLY all the plates in the transfer drum should be welded together, in multiple places. To facilitate this one would drill 3 holes in all the plates, in place in the drum. then disassemble the plates. Set the 1st plate back in one spline out of place. Weld up the 3 holes, grind them flush, then set the next one one more spline out. Keep going like this, and you'll have a solid set of plates. The alternative is to have a spline shaft made to fit the inside diameter of the drum, and the outside diameter of the output shaft.

I told you I've been toying with this idea. Why the heck FHI didn't do a nice, simple mechanical diff setup is beyond me!
As for the handling, coilovers and stiffer springs would help. I'm betting that off throttle, a RWD SVX is an understeering beast! On throttle however...WHEE!!!! an SVX drift car!
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  #9  
Old 05-02-2009, 12:15 PM
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Re: RWD conversion

RWD conversion is a piece of cake--buy a Mustang.

Lee
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  #10  
Old 05-02-2009, 12:23 PM
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Re: RWD conversion

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Originally Posted by lhopp77 View Post
RWD conversion is a piece of cake--buy a Mustang.

Lee
Ford=Fail
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  #11  
Old 05-02-2009, 05:23 PM
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Re: RWD conversion

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Originally Posted by 1986nate View Post
Ford=Fail
Changing a perfectly good AWD SVX to RWD=Fail

Lee
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  #12  
Old 05-02-2009, 05:33 PM
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Re: RWD conversion

There's a JUN center diff on ebay right now that'll make any Subaru 5 speed RWD. You don't even have to remove the axles.
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  #13  
Old 05-07-2009, 10:06 PM
NiftySVX NiftySVX is offline
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Re: RWD conversion

Quote:
Originally Posted by Famouspork View Post
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
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  #14  
Old 05-08-2009, 05:06 AM
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Re: RWD conversion

Been running mine for 3 years with no issues.....
But I don't thrash it all the time...but will push it on occasion (which a little was shown at Reading)

So if driven as a "Daily Driver" I think everything will hold up fine.
But if driven like a "Boy Racer" all the time, it'd probably require a new piece now and then. My Guess would be the rear diff would be the weakest link, as long as the rest of th edriveline is in good condition to start with...and you could always swap in a R180 rear diff from a STi....

But basically if you're going to "Race" the SVX on a regular basis (or ANY car for that matter) you can expect to be breaking things on a regular basis.
"You gotta Pay to Play"
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