i was flipping through last years SCC USCC with the silver r33 owned by justin sykes. it occured to me that the WRX and the r33 have the same (general) type of mechanical awd system, as compared to something like the AWD systems the new sti, r32, and r34 have. the engine sends power through the center diff then to the front and rear diffs. for the dyno test, Sykes dropped the front halfshaft, or drive shaft (samething? i cant remember the exact wording and item removed) to make it rear wheel drive. couldnt this be done to the WRX? not that RWD is better than AWD, but just for curiosity's sake :p . also, if you were tryin to win a dyno competition, say u dropped one half of the drive system, which would u drop to put the most power down? convert to front wheel drive or rwd? like how a FWD car has less driveline loss than awd/rwd, if you were converting the wrx awd to something else which would be the best choice (which system would you convert to for the least drive line loss?)

front wheel drive SUX.....
thats one more thing for the front wheels to do besides brake and turn...add power...

make it rear wheel drive...nothing out does a rear wheel drive car on a dry day...hence open wheel cart racing with big v12's or whatever and rear wheel drive....4 second dragsters....rear wheel drive...rear wheel drive is the best...FOR THE DRY...you may not hook up like AWD...but you wont spin them as bad as FWD

If you want good dyno numbers, then do FWD, but if you want a really cool smoke show!!! do RWD..

Jerry
www.twr-racing.com

There are a couple RWD converted older WRXes in Japan. If I could reliably convert my car to rwd for not too much money, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'll trade naggy understeer and killer 60 foots for crazy throttle-on oversteer and more power everywhere else!

So, to do it, you would remove your front axles. Would it be necessary to weld the front diff? Also, once you did this, I'm guessing it would severly shorten the life of your center differential - would it be possible to weld this too, thus creating a solid link between your transmission and rear diff?

Anyone think this would work?

http://www.chiptorque.com.au/105962.php

I thought that was one of the $12 eBay torque chips :lol:

It seems like converting to RWD would be a good thing. It would releive stress from the transmission.

Pete

Youll be doubling the load on the rear axles

something to consider

Drop the tailshaft housing and remove the center diff. Replace center diff with a unit either made or modified from the stock diff to only connect to the rear output and not the stub shaft to the front diff. Might need to modify the guts of the diff if there isn't a solid connection between the diff input and the rear output.

I'd only do this in something that is really light so as to make the stress on the monkeyd center diff as low as possible.

BTW you could allways get a T56 or other RWD tranny and go from there.

Originally posted by jmott
Youll be doubling the load on the rear axles

something to consider

Yup, you'd better have a beefy rear end, axles, and other misc parts because you've doubled the tq the rear sees. It'd be really dumb IMO. I'd just start with a different platform. I can't even guess how it'd feel in turns.

Originally posted by gpatmac
Anyone think this would work?

http://www.chiptorque.com.au/105962.php

I was just asking about this product for dyno testing only. Not for converting the car to RWD.

Cobb used to sell a custom machined center diff for $400...that would make it RWD reliably.,,,,,,,,,I wonder if they still have them?

Originally posted by sidewayz
Cobb used to sell a custom machined center diff for $400...that would make it RWD reliably.,,,,,,,,,I wonder if they still have them?


$400 for a RWD scoob?!! whoa

We converted Jeff Perrins wrx to rwd last summer. I dont really remember the details besides he spot welded the center diff. He got video of it doing some burnouts I think, I never saw it though. He didn't keep it rwd for very long, just a couple weeks.

Originally posted by Jerry Hong
If you want good dyno numbers, then do FWD, but if you want a really cool smoke show!!! do RWD..

Jerry
www.twr-racing.com

Why do you think that FWD gives more power than RWD?

Originally posted by Makara


Why do you think that FWD gives more power than RWD?

Less drivetrain loss, I think.

Originally posted by SykoFreak


Less drivetrain loss, I think.

How so?

theres no big heavy driveshaft to spin:)

Originally posted by Jerry Hong
If you want good dyno numbers, then do FWD, but if you want a really cool smoke show!!! do RWD..

Jerry
www.twr-racing.com


And if you want to actually "move" the damn car.....use AWD.:lol:

so does anyone actually know exactly what needs to be done to achieve this? besides buying the chiptorque piece? I have a spare center and want to try and figure it out.

Originally posted by CoastalDyno
so does anyone actually know exactly what needs to be done to achieve this? besides buying the chiptorque piece? I have a spare center and want to try and figure it out.


Contact Jeff Sponaugle or Jeff Perrin. I was at Jeff's house last night and he showed us the Diff they welded up for Jeff's car. Its not easy but can be done..

CT

how would I go about getting a hold of one of these guys? anyone got a number or email address?

Originally posted by CoastalDyno
how would I go about getting a hold of one of these guys? anyone got a number or email address?

They are both on these forums.

CT