converting awd to fwd

[vag05]

hey there guys,

i've lost the hunt to find a 2G FWD transmission and get it from the states, so i'm changing my strategy and going for a AWD box and converting it to fwd...we know so far that we have to take the transfer case off and weld the centre diff to the housing.

what i need to know is:
- has anyone attempted this ?
- where abouts on the housing do we need to weld?
- do you have to use a VCE ? cause i've heard and read some things about this that i shouldnt use one
- and pretty much anything else you can help me with


cheers
vag05

 

[Missile]

these things help :wink:

http://www.cvap.com.au/?Search=lock&Submit=Submit&Display=1

 

[vag05]

thanks for that.

but i'm trying to steer away from anything like a VCE as i need for street trim and not just a Dyno..

so really i'm seeing if anyone knows how to convert a awd to fwd with welding it to make it perminent.... that way parts are easier to source rather that having to go to the states to get whatever i need

cheers again

 

[to4garret]

follow these instructions to remove the centre diff from the gearbox

http://www.geocities.com/spencerhut/talon/center_differential_repair.htm

dismantle the centre diff, remove the spider gears. get the inside of the centre diff welded like this.



notice in the above picture, the centre diff is apart.

while the gearbox is open, remove the transfer case output shaft, put a frost plug in where the transfer case output leaves the gearbox (bellhousing area)

assemble gearbox with welded centre diff, you dont need to re-install the VCU.

now you have a converted 4WD -> FWD box.

oh, thats my welded centre diff in case your wondering.

p.s. 2G FWD Gearbox's are shit anyway, 4WD converted is mucho stronger.

 

[kayarubin]

whats wrong with the VCE?? what does this thing actually do :?:

 

[to4garret]

whats wrong with the VCE?? what does this thing actually do :?:

a VCE (Viscous Coupling Eliminator) just does exactly what its name suggests.

using one however, loads up the centre diff spider gears, under shock loading conditions its possible to smash the spider gears to bits like this



the better, long term option is to weld the centre diff, for FWD rather than using a VCE.

if you dont know what a Viscous Coupling is, read up here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscous_coupling_unit

 

[kayarubin]

and so if you try and run the box without the VCE or welded diff the car will not move :?:

 

[to4garret]

and so if you try and run the box without the VCE or welded diff the car will not move :?:

now your just confusing yourself.

VCE = Viscous Coupling Elimintor.
VCU = Viscous Coupling Unit.

you either have one or the other, stock you have the VCU, its job is to distribute power (roughly) 50:50 front and rear.

if you install the VCE you are "Eliminating" the VCU, by replacing it with the VCE

basically, doing that locks your centre diff, creating a true 50:50 split in power front and rear, the car will still roll, albeit very hard to push and tight low speed turns suck.

 

[to4garret]

and so if you try and run the box without the VCE or welded diff the car will not move :?:

sorry just re-read that, if you do not have a VCU/VCE installed and have not welded your centre diff, the car will not move, well it might, but not very far and would be like having a massively slipping clutch.

 

[kayarubin]

i meant just running the box as per stock. just without the transfer case on there...

 

[to4garret]

i meant just running the box as per stock. just without the transfer case on there...

in that case, its just the same as driving with a really badly slipping clutch.

i had a friend who did that for a while, revs would go up really fast, but the car wasnt going really fast :lol:

whats happening is the gearbox is sending most of the power to the place of least resistance, which because there isnt a tranfer case driving the rear wheels anymore, the least resistance is the gearboxes output shaft to the transfer case.

that gives the sensation of a slipping clutch.

which is why you need to some how lock the centre diff if you are going either FWD or RWD

 

[kayarubin]

does anyone know if an "ADELIA" VCU is normal?? it looks totally different to the ones in the pics.... aftermarket perhaps??

 

[to4garret]

pic?

cant find anything on google.

 

[kayarubin]

pics.

 

[to4garret]

wow, that does look cool

looking at it, doesnt look like its a Viscous one.

i wonder whats under those bolts hint hint

 

[kayarubin]

appears to be some clutch in there. i'll see if i can get a pic....

 

[kayarubin]

close ups

 

[kayarubin]

i will not be surprised if the rest of the box has straight cut gears in it after seeing this!

so what do you reckon? clutch type one? if it makes any difference i cannot for the life of me move the diff at all. it is toight as a toiger....

 

[to4garret]

so what do you reckon? clutch type one? if it makes any difference i cannot for the life of me move the diff at all. it is toight as a toiger....

yea probably some sort of clutch type, you shouldnt be able to move it anyway, the stock viscous is pretty much impossible to move as well.

are you using that box for your nimbus?

 

[kayarubin]

lol yeah. its gonna go in the old girl. i will need to mod the chassis a bit to get the box to fit tho...... :roll:

whats one of these clutch type VCD's worth these days anywho? :?