Pros and cons of a cut and weld type AWD conversion, might need to move to OT, but it does relate to the celica.... Options

[stephen_lee]

Now THIS link started what i believed was a VERY good, and also very informative topic on a "cut and weld" type AWD conversion. Although it was a little heated, I think we need to continue this topic as it is very important to someone who is looking to do a cut and weld type conversion, skilled or not.

Now, I do believe cost and ease of mass production was a big factor in Toyota's mind when they sold the production GT4. Also weight is a consideration. So in many areas of the car, Toyota engineers may have designed a weaker than perfect setup to save cost, man/robot hours of production, and weight. Any GOOD fabricator/welder can build a system that will take a SH!T load of abuse without breaking, but an engineers JOB is to make a device thats capable of the same job, but using the least amount of materials, time to build, and over all cost/weight.

[czwalga]

This is pat richards rally car after he rolled it several times. They pieced the entire thing back together canabalizing another car. All rally cars are stitch welded along their seams becase the spots flex too much.