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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
March 2004
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Celica FWD to AWD conversion - the facts?
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Sun, 12 June 2005 12:37
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Is it really possible to convert a FWD Celica to an AWD Celica? I'm sure some of us have seen or heard of the RWD Integra and the DIY Evo getting around... To the sane man, the sheer cost involved in procuring parts, fabrication and modification of the floor pan, upgrading ancilliaries such as brakes etc. would make this concept seem completely mad. Regardless, surely somewhere in the world *cough*America*cough* someone has tried and pulled this conversion off.
My reason for believing this is that a LOT of people are under the impression that an AWD conversion is a simple bolt-in job on any FWD Celica. I've even heard a mechanic suggest this once! Surely someone with more dollars than sense has tried it!
From what I gather,
- The floorpans are significantly different. The GT-4 has a much more rigid chassis and mounts for a rear diff cradle. I dont know about the 180 and 200 series Celicas, but there's no way one of those cradles would bolt into the ST162.
- Even if you were to sink the money into it, the suspension geometry would be a shambles and the car would drive like a pig, and generally perform poorer than a GT-4.
Oldie but a goodie:
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AWD Conversion in 5 Easy Steps
1. Open bonnet, remove radiator cap.
2. Remove FWD Celica
3. Install GT-4
4. Reinstall radiator cap, close bonnet.
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So what are your opinions? If it were possible to get pictures of the floorpans of the two cars side by side it would make for interesting comparison. What other technical / engineering points would need to be considered? Could you put a guess-timate on how much it would cost? Hopefully we can either confirm or deny this myth once and for all!
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