how to convert to RWD Options

[peroxwhysm00]

basically how do you go about to do this ?

[lagos]

about 20-40 grand would do it.
this is not a DIY type of project.

[devilsden97]

u first say "**** it"

then sell your celica and buy an factory AWD car.

honesly only a handful of people have done this, and its an ENORMOUS amount of work

[Hanyo]

I've always wanted to ask this question.. why bother converting to RWD when we already have the fwd components.

Might as well do all wheel drive.

[playr158]

I'm converting to RWD......

A)pick your motor
b) if you're lucky you'll find a tranny to bolt to it for RWD, in the case of the 3sgte u need a 2s bellhousing (hard to find)
c) well i havn't gotten to this part yet

its very very expensive....1 person has in on a 6gc his SN is hardtarget (?) with a 5sgte RWD but its a dragstrip car

why do we do it? why not do it? this community and cars for that matter wouldn't evolve if crazy things didn't happen

so yes it can be done DIY....but it takes LOTS of resources, money and experience


This post has been edited by playr158: Jun 4, 2007 - 1:27 PM

[devilsden97]

this coming from the man whos celica is a myth....i dont believe it exists..


suprica
to
shell
to
wtf are u calling it now dan? lol

<3's Craddle.

[Hanyo]

does the 6gc have a big enough transmission tunnel to accommodate a real rwd transmission?

[Kadett]

does the 6gc have a big enough transmission tunnel to accommodate a real rwd transmission?

Nope and thats why its not done very often

[Hanyo]

i always thought the main reason why it was not done because you needed a whole new rear end.

The fwd celica's has the gas tank right where the differential will need to be. So you would need to remove the gas tank and maybe cut away the rear spare tire well.

I guess a way to avoid the transmission tunnel modificatoin would be to use the AWD transmission and modify it to only drive the transfer case. Then you would pretty much be a GT4 that is rwd.

But this brings up my question again. If your going to do all the work for rwd, why bother when you already have the FWD components already. Might as well install the two front axels and get AWD!

[devilsden97]

i just noticed...y is this in the FI forum?

[coldbluesteel]

Funny to see this! I'm doing this now. Details not final, but doing it. I've had my Celica since 97 and am deeply in love with her. After I was hit by a drunk driver last year I started gutting it to completely restore it to better than new. The way I see it I would rather spend 10, 20, 30 thousand on my Celica than buy some new car that doesn't have any soul like my Celi. So while I'm at it might as well make it a beast since it's down to the unibody anyway. Something ridiculously powerful, rwd, fun to drive. I had the 5s built as much as possible a couple years ago (NA) and it was fun, but alot of traction problems and not as fun. I really enjoy driving my 4runner (rwd) more. So RWD it is.

[Supersprynt]

drive backwards.

[coldbluesteel]

drive backwards.

That's how I got hit!

[playr158]

^dumbnut


But no we do not know if the tunnel will fit the transmission, and it depends which tranny/bellhousing/motor combo you decide to use along with what rear end you decide to use.....

My setup for my personal goals and car use is going to be

ST205 3sgte
2s bell housing
Supra W58 rebuilt and fortified transmission
(and thats just the easy part to figure out)

I'm still not sure what rear end is usable (if the ST205 does thats awesome) otherwise gotta look for celicasupras or Corollas as a donor a$$
i know the celicasupra/corolla rear ends will mechanically work but fitment to the celica wise thats a different story.

this is a very very very very very 15/10 difficultly level project, that requires LOTS and LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of research, planning, and 100% accuracy in the work.

and MIgga

it was
~celica
~suprica
~suprica V2
~Shell
~Shell w/curren
~Shell w/curren + RHD
~ "this is the next step"

the current term for the car is "progress blocked by insufficient flow of money"

[Kwanza26]

But no we do not know if the tunnel will fit the transmission, and it depends which tranny/bellhousing/motor combo you decide to use along with what rear end you decide to use.....

No the tunnel will NOT fit a true RWD tranny. There is also the problem of the steering rack being in the way.

I'm still not sure what rear end is usable (if the ST205 does thats awesome) otherwise gotta look for celicasupras or Corollas as a donor a$$
i know the celicasupra/corolla rear ends will mechanically work but fitment to the celica wise thats a different story.

Celica/Supra (3rd gen celica are IRS like 2nd gen+ Supras) and Corolla rear ends are different (1st and second gen celicas have the smaller solid 6.5 rear I believe, like the early rwd corolla SR5's), likewise the ST205 rear end is completely different. For one... the Corollas are solid axle. IMO, the best and easiest rear end to swap in would be the ST205, and by easy I just mean easier than the other two mentioned. It's easier, or would be easier because all of the rear links and such along with rear frame already match up to the width of the body. The next easiest would be some sort of solid rear. The only issue would be some sort of custom 4 link and panhard set-up, along with a very custom shock and spring set-up. I don't think the stock locations are gonna work. That said... the corolla rear end (6.7) is way too small if you plan on anything more than 150-200 ft lbs of torque. I'd reccomend a 1st gen Supra rear end. 7.5 inch diff with rear disc brakes.

The 3rd gen Celica Supras are all IRS... but they're significantly different and will need a LOT of custom work along with a custom rear subframe for everything to work correctly. I'd rather source a ST165/185 rear end instead because they use a multi-link rear similar to the FWD models.

Anyway... no point to do this. You can buy a BRAND NEW car instead. A BMW 3 series is a nice FR platform.

[playr158]

sure there is point.....to do something that hasn't been done

my goal is to use the ST205....i only know the corolla rear would "mechanically" work because well i've seen them haha, but fitment wise like i said i have no clue about....i'm shooting for the ST205 rear end but like i said i'm stuck at purchasing the bell housing to do more research, learning and money gathering

[Kwanza26]

sure there is point.....to do something that hasn't been done

But it has been done before... just not for street use.

Anyway... that was never a good enough reason for me. Originallity can either be complete crap or completly pointless. Rarely is it cool.

BTW... rumors are Toyota is gonna build a new FR car based on the IS platform. I think it was in Road and Track or something... so you never know. Even Hyundai is gonna release a FR Coupe soon... with a FI 4 banger... Unfortunately it's a hyundai... but that's pretty cool none the less... and it'll probably be cheap.

This post has been edited by Kwanza26: Jun 4, 2007 - 5:06 PM

[Defgeph]

I have mixed feelings about the conversion. Being AWD or RWD.

Lets look at a few things. The majority of AWD swaps are for sale..... Why would you sell something that you put money, blood, sweat, and tears into. I'm dieing for another project car, but I wouldn't dare sell mine for one. Something is not right. I don't believe these AWD swaps are running correctly. Now, I said majority not all conversions.

I'm sure there are a couple that are running well. Those are not for sale. Think about it.

RWD conversion. Utterly pointless unless you are building a Pro import drag racer. Its going to take a ton of experience, time, and money. At this point you wouldn't be driving a Celica. You be driving a Mini tubbed drag chassis. Why else you would convert a car to RWD unless you were going all the way. If you want RWD, buy a factory RWD. We at 6GC will still love you even if you switch teams.


AWD or RWD conversion. Not easy.

[OrbitalGT95]

Buy my skyline powered s14 if u want a rwd car, 10k takes her

[celicaST]

the current term for the car is "progress blocked by insufficient flow of money"

aint that the truth

[devilsden97]

Buy my skyline powered s14 if u want a rwd car, 10k takes her

i just wanna see it. PM me pics?

[playr158]

My celica will be a road course raced car....with very mild street use (i don't really see it being 100% street legal, just considering the motor modifications)

But i'm really not worried about the end, i can promise it won't get sold, haha, but I'm more about the journey and the means to try something new than a money efficient, common means to the end.

and i'm already looking for a new car to weekend drive minor daily, and the M3 was on the list, along with the IS300, WRX and a few others....too many damn cars to pick from:(

but like everything i do there are haters, unopinionated, and supporters.....i don't expect 90% of people to like this idea....

This post has been edited by playr158: Jun 5, 2007 - 8:41 AM

[Supersprynt]

My celica will be a road course raced car....with very mild street use (i don't really see it being 100% street legal, just considering the motor modifications)

My cars about, 5% legal.

[playr158]

My celica will be a road course raced car....with very mild street use (i don't really see it being 100% street legal, just considering the motor modifications)

My cars about, 5% legal.

i can't get away with much in terms of modifications in fairfax county....when i drove the celica i used modification tickets as wall paper and was always followed around by a cruiser

[Supersprynt]

Oreo please.

Glass of milk also.

[lagos]

I have mixed feelings about the conversion. Being AWD or RWD.

Lets look at a few things. The majority of AWD swaps are for sale..... Why would you sell something that you put money, blood, sweat, and tears into. I'm dieing for another project car, but I wouldn't dare sell mine for one. Something is not right. I don't believe these AWD swaps are running correctly. Now, I said majority not all conversions.

x2

i just cant see how someone can spend a year or more building their awd dream celica, and then a few months later decide to put it up for sale. there must be something wrong with the car. no way that the owner of it got bored so quickly.

when its time for my awd conversion. i will do it in 2 simple steps.

[jcaron9gt4]

My celica will be a road course raced car....with very mild street use (i don't really see it being 100% street legal, just considering the motor modifications)

But i'm really not worried about the end, i can promise it won't get sold, haha, but I'm more about the journey and the means to try something new than a money efficient, common means to the end.

and i'm already looking for a new car to weekend drive minor daily, and the M3 was on the list, along with the IS300, WRX and a few others....too many damn cars to pick from:(

but like everything i do there are haters, unopinionated, and supporters.....i don't expect 90% of people to like this idea....

hmmm...M3, wrx, and IS300....doesnt seem like your short on money to me

[laff09]

I have mixed feelings about the conversion. Being AWD or RWD.

Lets look at a few things. The majority of AWD swaps are for sale..... Why would you sell something that you put money, blood, sweat, and tears into. I'm dieing for another project car, but I wouldn't dare sell mine for one. Something is not right. I don't believe these AWD swaps are running correctly. Now, I said majority not all conversions.

x2

i just cant see how someone can spend a year or more building their awd dream celica, and then a few months later decide to put it up for sale. there must be something wrong with the car. no way that the owner of it got bored so quickly.

when its time for my awd conversion. i will do it in 2 simple steps.

Step#1 Pay someone. Step #2 drink a beer and watch them bust their knuckles on rusted bolts?

[lagos]

I have mixed feelings about the conversion. Being AWD or RWD.

Lets look at a few things. The majority of AWD swaps are for sale..... Why would you sell something that you put money, blood, sweat, and tears into. I'm dieing for another project car, but I wouldn't dare sell mine for one. Something is not right. I don't believe these AWD swaps are running correctly. Now, I said majority not all conversions.

x2

i just cant see how someone can spend a year or more building their awd dream celica, and then a few months later decide to put it up for sale. there must be something wrong with the car. no way that the owner of it got bored so quickly.

when its time for my awd conversion. i will do it in 2 simple steps.

Step#1 Pay someone. Step #2 drink a beer and watch them bust their knuckles on rusted bolts?

close!

step 1: sell celica
step 2: buy an awd car
conversion complete!

[playr158]

I have mixed feelings about the conversion. Being AWD or RWD.

Lets look at a few things. The majority of AWD swaps are for sale..... Why would you sell something that you put money, blood, sweat, and tears into. I'm dieing for another project car, but I wouldn't dare sell mine for one. Something is not right. I don't believe these AWD swaps are running correctly. Now, I said majority not all conversions.

x2

i just cant see how someone can spend a year or more building their awd dream celica, and then a few months later decide to put it up for sale. there must be something wrong with the car. no way that the owner of it got bored so quickly.

when its time for my awd conversion. i will do it in 2 simple steps.

Step#1 Pay someone. Step #2 drink a beer and watch them bust their knuckles on rusted bolts?

close!

step 1: sell celica
step 2: buy an awd car
conversion complete!

haha you can't even get it right on paper

a) sell celica
b) buy RWD car

this is a RWD discussion not AWD

[lagos]

umm..i was talking about MY awd conversion. converting a celica to awd or rwd would be pretty much the same amount of work in either case.

[GTS13]

Since the loss of the Nissan 240 on the market there aren't any affordable RWD cars anymore. Ford however is planning on releasing a non-mustang RWD platform within the next 5 years. Now I hate to go domestic but if that's all that's available then I guess that's what I'm holding out for.

[playr158]

umm..i was talking about MY awd conversion. converting a celica to awd or rwd would be pretty much the same amount of work in either case.

haha AWD is much less work involved than the RWD...

AWD you can use ALL GT4 parts

RWD, you have to cut firewall/floor pan, create custom motor mounts, deal with steering rack issues, custom drive shaft....ect..

the RWD is FAR more labor intensive than the AWD

[GTS13]

Wouldn't it be a bit easier if you chose a smaller engine like a 4AGE? Since you could probably fit a Corolla tranny in there much easier? And with an ST you would probably only have to make some height adjustments to the stock mounts if you needed to.

[playr158]

the motors size isn't really what the concern is but the bellhousing/tranny area.

the space 3sgte or 4age will be pretty much the same no matter what.
and messing with the suspension to fit everything under the car would create a very poorly built/balance vehicle

only one way to go RWD and thats to start cutting

and spending +10 grand to go RWD why would you underpower it with some 1XXhp motor?
my goal is 500

This post has been edited by playr158: Jun 6, 2007 - 6:36 PM

[Defgeph]

my goal is 500

500 years or 500 thousand dollars

GL Dan

[tomazws]

drive backwards.

Sorry I just couldn't stop laughin at this....

[playr158]

my goal is 500

500 years or 500 thousand dollars

GL Dan

Haha, 500 years is looking like my finish line goal

I'm really really hoping to finish the car by 2010. But i'm working on a p/t college kid budget so things go SLOOOOW piece by piece, for the car being in the garage almost 2 years now (2 years in August) I'm actually pretty happy with the progress.

a) completely stripped to bare metal (including 2 paint layers)
b) black primer to protect the metal
c) remove anything that wasn't needed
d) Curren conversion
e) Right Hand Drive conversion

I do have to thank one of our New Jersey 6gc members who DONATED the remainder of his ST205 front cut to allow me money saved and the ability to do the RHD

[InfamousChappy]

So dangerous.. You're driving a car with most of the factory reinforcement removed. You could create new ones, but fail spots increase like 1000x. I wouldn't trust putting the g-forces on it taking turns, probably why the only RWD high hp celi only goes in a straight line.

[lagos]

my goal is 500

500hp, RHD, RWD, currenica, on a p/t college kids budget, just might take a while to complete.

[3WayStunna]

Why wouldnt the st205 rear end not work, as it would be perfect...bolt up, refit the gas tank to somewhere else, you can always fab up a driveshaft for less than 700 bucks, and the tranny issues/motor mount....

Well i figure that if you were to embark with this route, you might as well as get the idea that it wont be a walk in the park....besides toysport.com sells the conversion kit for it, or they def. have alot more knowledge on the matter
Lol, sometimes ppl make it seem like doing this would be uber-expensive and drop the idea. Or that they cant possibly do the work, or maybe them both...all i say is that willpower can get anything done simply put(along with some faith).....oh yeah, whomever is really trying to do this, why not pm the guy with the 700+hp (cant think of the actual numbers)5sgte...call me over-optimistic, but hey thats the attitude youll need to get this done right ? ^_^

This post has been edited by 3WayStunna: Jun 7, 2007 - 8:14 AM

[playr158]

i would NEVER EVER deal with Toysport again....they are a **** hole company that don't deliver and massively poor CS.

The ST205 rear end might not work do to gear issues, but i'm still investigating that.

[coldbluesteel]

Where would I go about finding a st205 rear setup? All I have found are front half cuts.

[stephen_lee]

go to japan, fing a rolled GT-FOUR, and import it as parts car
everything you need is there!
haha....

[coldbluesteel]

go to japan, fing a rolled GT-FOUR, and import it as parts car
everything you need is there!
haha....

LOL! well there's that! I don't need or want the whole car, just the rear differential, suspension, and axles.

[3WayStunna]

go to japan, fing a rolled GT-FOUR, and import it as parts car
everything you need is there!
haha....

LOL! well there's that! I don't need or want the whole car, just the rear differential, suspension, and axles.

talk to jarcoinc.com...they said they could hook me up with the front clip, rear subframe, driveshaft, diff, and suspension from a st205 for 5800 shipped.....

And playr, what "gear" issues do you mean?

This post has been edited by 3WayStunna: Jun 9, 2007 - 6:42 AM

[3WayStunna]

Rwd 3sg(t)e Link


here is one guys approach/take on this type of project......
makes you wonder if he considered some of the newer tranny/gearboxes that have been made since he wrote that article...

This post has been edited by 3WayStunna: Jun 9, 2007 - 7:22 AM

[playr158]

rear differential gear vs tranny gear

but thats a great link, its really going to help me a lot, thank you.
I hadn't even thought about motor angle yet. I still have a lot of research to do as can be seen. But the Aussi Corolla guys are REALLY helpful as well, since quite a few of them have done the RWD project or are doing it.

This post has been edited by playr158: Jun 9, 2007 - 11:58 AM

[coldbluesteel]

Hey Stunna... How did you contact Jarco? Did you call them in GA, or email? Do you have a contact?

[3WayStunna]

i called them...there is a number on there site...

CANTON, GEORGIA
194 GATEWAY DRIVE
CANTON, GEORGIA 30115

Tel: 770.479.4942
Fax: 770.479.4948

And yeah, the aussie guys are very helpful...i talk with the mr2 guys over there alot nowadays to help me with my build(s), but wow, never thought about diff gearing vs, tranny gearing..ill see what i can dig up....but have the aussie guys shed some light on what tranny/diff combo worksbest with the 3sg(t)e?

This post has been edited by 3WayStunna: Jun 10, 2007 - 1:50 AM

[playr158]

i called them...there is a number on there site...

CANTON, GEORGIA
194 GATEWAY DRIVE
CANTON, GEORGIA 30115

Tel: 770.479.4942
Fax: 770.479.4948

And yeah, the aussie guys are very helpful...i talk with the mr2 guys over there alot nowadays to help me with my build(s), but wow, never thought about diff gearing vs, tranny gearing..ill see what i can dig up....but have the aussie guys shed some light on what tranny/diff combo worksbest with the 3sg(t)e?

Well since the aussi guys use Corolla's they use their rear ends....which won't really work on a celica. since they are too narrow.

[b1gr3d]

steps for rwd

1. choose engine/transmission
2.choose rear end
3.do alot of fabrication and narrowing to get everything to fit

thats pretty much it, lots of little things to do like cut the hell out of your floor, lose trunk space, change springs ...lot of stuff. i might actually try a conversion in a few years, after i get my civic done

btw the civic is gonne be a rwd, mid engined, tube chassis, roll cage, IFS from a 90 civic in the rear, narrowed around 8in.

so far its cost about 1,000. doing all of the work myself. cost is for aluminum engine cover, aluminum dash, donor susp., 2002 suzuki gsxr 750 engine, sheet metal for rockers and console, tubing and steel plate

so 20-40 grand is expectible i think to pay someone to do it, otherwise IF you DIY it would be mostly the cost of running gear. I will try to do it for less than 5g's....how bout that