AWD - It's been talked about. Alot. Options

[Gildier]

So, I am purchasing a 1997 Toyota Celica GT with a silvertop 4AGE 20v (MT). I plan on slapping a 3SGTE and new clutch on it to handle the power, but here's the kicker:

I want AWD.

Why? I'm a GT-Four enthusiast. I know the '94 will be legal in 2019, but this is a project I want done before Christmas because it'll be a present for my father, who's been eyeing the GT-Fours for 13 years now.

NOW, the fun part. Do I care about price? To an extent. Please don't tell me "if you want AWD just go buy a subaru". No. Screw you. I want a GT-Four, lol.

Is it at all possible to ship a GT-Four sans internals and have US VIN marked parts such as a 3SGTE and tranny + diff etc dropped into it? Or would there be a VIN issue due to the VIN being stamped into the car itself and it being a japanese body not having a US standard VIN?

Maybe just order a GT-Four frame? Transfer EVERYTHING onto the new frame?

Or for the builders, fabricate a subframe and bolt everything to it and call it a day? Cut out the spare tire well, run a new fuel cell (ST205), extend the brake lines, and welding in drive shaft support brackets?

Just wanted some up-to-date info. Thanks guys!

[Nial]

With the vin plate, Japanese market car get a jap number along the lines of ST205 - 00004563 where as uk cars get a 16 digit vin number, don't know if either would help you though as neither would be left hand drive, you would need a European car for that and they are very expensive, five or six times the price of a uk or jap car.

Personally the easiest route would be to fabricate the rear sub frame supports, buy a rear sub frame etc complete from one of the U.K breakers of someone selling in the US, weld in the standard prop shaft supports which is easy with a few welds. Cut out your trunk floor and weld in the gt4 version and you are off to a good start.

I think you will be pushing your luck to get it done by Christmas, you might amas the parts by then but putting it all together, I would be pleasantly surprised if you could manage it. Then with the othe jobs, engine, loom, cooling etc it's some task.

If your dad is a real GT4 fan I would wait until 2019, it's not that long to wait and I am sure he would prefer the real thing, I know I would.