Subaru rear crossmember for RWD conversions

Hello gentlemen,

My name is Drew and I've been wanting to get into Rally for a while and finally am financially well off enough to make a go at this.

I've built and maintained few circle track race 4-cylinder cars for both myself and others, but I discovered racing every weekend is a good way to end up penny-less and potentially divorced.

Anyway, I hope that I won't be accused of trolling to badly, but has there been any attempts to convert FWD chassis to RWD using Subaru rear suspension pieces and the pretty-darn-tough R180 STI rear dif?

I've seen people using the TSS fab Subaru strut tower reinforcements and I wondered if such a thing has been grafted into the rear wheel tubs of something like a FWD Escort or the like?

I reckon it'd be easier to just lock the center diff on an awd scooby and yank the front half shafts while leaving outer CVs in yeah? That's what we do on audis anyhow, I imagine it's the same with a Subaru.

unless you already have a Subie or Datsun 510 the R180 is expensive enough that it's not really worth the effort. The Ford 8.8's seem to be the best cheap alternative for cost and final drive availability.

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-KTurner
Stomp down on the exhilarator and hold on to the wheel.

My thoughts were less about the differential and more about the installation of the Subaru style rear suspension, which has plenty of support for rally type components such as heavy duty bushings, struts, heavy duty lateral links and trailing arms.

I realize the Escort MK2 conversion parts are available as well if you wanted to use a live axle such as the Ford 8.8., which I guess would be cheaper.

Are thinking of converting your hornet/enduro/whathaveyou car into a rally car?

I will likely buy something already together to rally at first. Converting circle track cars for anything other than scrap metal is a bad idea. There is usually not enough car left to use.

Eventually I would like to build a RWD something or another. I know the Ford 2.3 and 2.0 fairly well.

I have a mini-stock Pinto with an over built 2.0 that isn't fit to ever see any form of motorsport again, Im just too attached to cut it up. So for know its just a place to keep the engine off the ground.

It's been done and is possible but will require a 100% custom subframe rather than adapting the factory subframe. Libra Tiburons were Subaru rear bits and Mitsu front bits. What shell are you thinking of building? I've had similar thoughts... Like Turner said, you'll want to setup your subframe for a Toyota 8" or a Ford 8.8". Your probably looking at a full one off subframe and custom axles.

Gotcha. I was just making sure that wasn't your thought. Maybe I'm misunderstanding or not seeing it, but what exactly are you wanting to convert to rwd? In the vw/Audi work, converting to awd involves swapping floor pans from and awd chassis due to lack of rear subframe mounts.

If I'd have known what I know now when I started my build, I wouldn't have built what I have. I would have picked a rwd chassis to begin with while adding good suspension, kept it NA and simple(=cheap) and drove the shit out of it. I've had many thoughts of cutting my losses on my car now and starting over with a 240sx or ae86 or something of the sort. I'd be on stage in a year if I went that route.... Having to build and design absolutely every little thing is seriously getting old and the thought of being able to just buy certain things out of a "catalog" for cheap is tempting lol! Plus it's less stuff to break or go wrong when the rubber meets the gravel. Just my .02.

What's wrong with a solid axle in a RWD?

Or maybe the better question is, what is right with strut rear suspension in a RWD?

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

I was thinking of hacking up an Escort. I thought a 2300 or 2500 (Lima series) rwd Escort with a t5 would be a blast so long as the rear suspension could be figured out.

If I could find a Merkur Xr4TI I would be quite happy, they are just few and far between. I know that overseas the Sierra was rallied successfully. I'd want to run NA until I got the feel for the car and rally driving in general.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a live axle, and I don't think there's anything "right" with a strut rear end. I was just thinking Subaru bits seem quite durable and plentiful.

put that 2.0 lima in a ranger and run it!

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I would rather drive a slow car fast as a fast car slow!
first rule of cars: get what makes you happy, your the one paying for it!

That motor is the German solid lift 2.0... A 8,000 rpm freak on a leash that is dead until 4,000 rpm.

Don't you need an extended cab truck to have enough room for a proper cage?

not really, but i would on a short bed frame
http://www.piercemotorsports.com/group-5-truck/





there is always a fox mustang or even a volvo 240 i believe they used a lima 2.3 block

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I would rather drive a slow car fast as a fast car slow!
first rule of cars: get what makes you happy, your the one paying for it!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2016 10:52AM by tdrrally.

and a nissan rally truck 2.4l
http://olddirtyrecords.com/about.html

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I would rather drive a slow car fast as a fast car slow!
first rule of cars: get what makes you happy, your the one paying for it!

Quote
tbolt64
That motor is the German solid lift 2.0... A 8,000 rpm freak on a leash that is dead until 4,000 rpm.

Don't you need an extended cab truck to have enough room for a proper cage?

The 2 liter in the Ranger is a Lima engine. It is a debored 2.3l Lima. It shares nothing with the "Pinto" OHC engine other than most of the bellhousing pattern and superficial design details.

Biiiiiiig difference.

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Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.