legacycentral bbs

I've been considering different options on drivetrains for my car in the future, because automatic FWD is really not my favorite. I would love to convert to AWD, but I'm really enjoying the power and gas mileage I get without all the parasitic loss. So I'm thinking of a compromise... a Loyale manual tranny that is FWD with the push-button 4WD. The traction when you need it and less power loss the rest of the time, plus I want a clutch again.

Does anyone have a clear answer on what it would take to do this? I've been searching around here and on USMB and haven't gotten it straight. Apparently there is an adapter plate designed for people to bolt an EJ engine into their EA82 cars using the stock tranny, but a few people have said things about needing a custom drive shaft and other possibilities. Any ideas?

And part two of the idea... assuming I can get it to bolt up to the engine without a problem, is there any reason I couldn't swap it in as a FWD tranny and just not turn on the 4WD until I figure out the rest of it? I mean, it's designed to be used selectively unlike the newer AWD systems. That would make the project more affordable for me (not spending money for everything at once) and I could take my time working out any custom parts I might need.

With AWD systems like that.....you're still dragging the axles, and have the majority of the parisitic losses.

I wouldn't bother.

Really? I would have thought it would shut off power to the rear wheel at the transmission... you'd still be carrying the dead weight of the axles but rotational mass wouldn't be an issue. Are you saying that's true and just wouldn't be much of a difference, or are you saying the rear end is actually still turning with the tranny and the wheels just aren't locked on?

The EA push button 4WD 5MT works just like the manual shifted part time 4WD it just uses a vacuum solenoid to do it, both disconnect the rear drive at the transmission. But the rear drive line, diff and axels are still connected to the rear wheels so the spin when the car moves.

Its a traditional 4WD system with no center diff so 4WD is for loose traction only. I guess 2WD mode would only be significantly more efficient compared to 4WD on hard surface.

Gary

If you were going to do all of that work, I would swap in a dual range transmission out of a GL...because you would have 2WD, 4HI and 4LO and none of the stupid vacuum shift crap that the pushbutton has...and you could have a wicked good crawl ratio with the torque of the 2.2