Transaxle... What mods 2 swap to rear wheel drive?

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 11:23 am

Hello all,
I was thinking of creating a hack due to the fact that i can get my hands on a FREE "at deaths door" 92 liberty sedan. (did anybody say drift?:twisted:) is it a case of simply removing the front drive shafts, or, as i suspect much more difficult than this?
Cheers

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:23 pm

You'd also want to lock up the center differential somehow. If it has a manual transmission, you should be able to just weld up the center differential. If it has an automatic, I don't know of a good way to do it; you might be able to get away with just disconnecting Duty Solenoid C.

Removing the front driveshafts entirely may expose certain parts to the elements when they shouldnt be, so you might actually be better off cutting off the axle at the inner joint.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:56 pm

I thought our rear diffs cant stand up to this kind of torque?

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:01 pm

The latest Sport Compact, I think has a rear-drive WRX in it, just took the front axles out and made a special center diff for it. Car has xtra boost too, rear diff is fine, I presume...

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:03 pm

Well, yes, you are going to be pushing twice as much torque through the differential as it was specified to handle.

But as far as I know the differentials for turbos and non-turbos are the same... Based on simple calculations in my head I'd say if the Liberty sedan he's talking about is a non-turbo he'd be pushing about as much torque through the rear diff as a Liberty RS producing around 300 hp.

People do that without breaking differentials, don't they?

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:09 pm

Datsun 510 guys run our differentials and they are rear wheel drive.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:15 pm

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone with a failed rear diff on a Subaru. I'm sure they must happen, but not that I've heard.

Steve

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:30 am

yeh its just a stocker sedan and my mate wants to rip out the front drive. i did a bit of reading last night and figured out that u would, in fact, have to weld up the center diff. (yep 5 speed) and maybe do somethin about that solenoid. the dif should be fine (we did those calculations aswell and no of a bloke whose RS is sportin 190kW at the wheels with stock diffs) just an idea but thanks for the help

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:59 am

Duty Solenoid C is on automatics. Welding the center differential and cutting the front axles is all you should have to do.

I know on 5-speeds there are oil seals right where the axles mate to the transmission. You can't leave those exposed because they protect the front differential. And you can't just let the differential fluid leak because it's shared with the gearbox.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 1:10 am

Couldn't you also remove the front diff and output shaft to save weight?

Steve

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 1:12 am

I think you could just remove the front axles. Remember there are stubs in place, the seals ride on the stubs. Maybe put a cover over the stubs to keep dirt out but I dont think you need to leave the inner joint in place.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 1:14 am

The front differential is integrated with the gearbox. I believe that's what the term "transaxle" means. The "output shaft" is internal to the transaxle. That's why the diff and gearbox share lubricant.

It's plausible that you could remove the front differential's parts if you pulled the transmission apart, I guess.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 2:28 am

vrg3 - that's what I mean. You'd have to split the case. You'd need to add more fluid after, too of course. I wonder if being rwd only would reduce case flex on the transmission, too, therefore making it a little stronger.

Steve

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 6:31 am

So when are we going to see a RWD BC/BF drift car?

Does anyone know if the DCCD (like on the '04 STI) can deliver power to the rear wheels only?

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 6:55 am

hahah cheers for all the help. as i said i havent got the car (any car

) so i havent got a chance to actually take the bastard apart. i just thought i'd throw it up in the air and see what came down. sound like u guys no ur stuff. i was talkin to some of the boys at a local jap import shop and they said a bloke came in with a leone wagon with an ej20t (rex motor) converted to rear wheel drive. so it can be done i assume. leones/sport wagons run a transfer case (i think?) which allows u to swap between front or all wheel drive. (the leone also had liberty suspension, power steering, 5 stud and brake conversion sounds sweet eh?)

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:01 am

So when are we going to see a RWD BC/BF drift car?

Soon as i get my hands on the mighty sedan

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:29 am

Weld the rear diff locked.

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:30 am

Noodles - what year is that Leone wagon with the ej20t? Just curious because I would love a rwd '84 coupe.

Steve

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:42 am

arrrrr shit i dunno it was in the trading post. i think it was bout 86 (?). its in oz though and i can probably find out where it is. ur in the U.S of A arent you mate?

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:51 am

Yeah, I'm a little far away, he he he. I was just curious to see if some other maniac had done almost what I'd love to do someday (along with an XT speedster).

Steve

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 12:26 pm

hahah yeh theres a few blokes out here runnin rear wheel drive wrx's. the only other option i can think of is getting rid of the whole transaxle setup and dropping in a rear wheel drive box. disconnect everything in the front end (driveshafts CV's, uni's i got no idea whats in there

) and sumhow retro fit a rear wheel drvive box. maybe sumthing like an ae86 box... just a little rear wheel drive setup and run that into the rear diff. no doubt somewhat more complicated but the ideas there.
just outta interest, whats an XT speedster?

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 6:50 pm

I thought the XT was called the Xt there... Maybe Alcyone? It was the wedge shaped sports car they made in the eighties. I want to weld the doors shut, remove the roof, cut down the windshield, redo the interior, and some more unique bodywork to make it look like a show car (a real show car - think Turin, not NOPI). Don't worry - no rice. I did go to school for automotive design. I haven't figured what to do with the exterior exacty yet as all my ideas keep getting stolen by manufacturers.

Steve

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 10:30 pm

hahah yeh i think maybe alcyone. say wedge and subaru in one sentence and you can only be talking a bout 1 car. i thought thats what ya might mean. didnt get much of a warm reception here though, front wheel drive autos as i recall... only here for bout a year or so. have u had a look in misc... show us what ur dream liberty/legacy would be like eh

just a question but whats a stocker gx wagon worth in the U.S.A?
(this threads gunna get locked down soon hahah i think we're just a little off topic

)
and i agree with you no rice!

Noodles · Post by **Noodles** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 10:32 pm

oh yeh and that rwd leone is a four dour station wagon not a coupe. whats an 84 coupe look like? are they sorta like a 323 panel van? (2 door old skool wagon, bout 84-85 i think)

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 10:56 pm

I have a picture of a 4-door I owned under Picture Gallery, the threads called My Ex-Girlfriends.

Steve

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Transaxle... What mods 2 swap to rear wheel drive?

Transaxle... What mods 2 swap to rear wheel drive?