AWD RB26 swap, what do you think?

[Nxsov180db]

My first fast car was a Chrysler Conquest TSi, made by Mitsubishi aka Mitsubishi Starion. Most people that see them don't know what they are only that they look really cool. I have always wanted a really fast one but the stock motor (G54B) sucks! I've always looked down upon people that do motor swaps from a different car company, but I think an RB26 would be a trick setup. Since the Conquest is RWD why not swap the AWD system? I know it will be a lot of work and I am no Novice when it comes to custom fabrication. I have been pricing R32 Clips for around $4500. I figure since I will have the suspention/hubs/control arms/axles/ect... I should be able to do it. I figure once the swap is complete I should be able to get in a Magazine since other people have done somewhat easy swaps in my eyes and gotten on the cover... I would like to hear everyones thoughts and what problems you think I will run into that I haven't alreay thought of...

[Joe]

you want my honest opinion?

I think youre crazy and dont realize how much work and fabrication is involved in this swap..

i GUARNTEE you will spend a minimum of $20,000 doing this.

[cvc9216]

Full-Race has built an RB26 AWD S14. but that is a far easier swap than into a Conquest. If you don't have the skills and resources they do, I wouldn't attempt it

[Nxsov180db]

I do realize how much work will be invloved... I have all the equipment and skills needed to do the swap so I don't understand how it will cost me so much money. I have done custom metal work my whole life, I am not exactly some 16 year old kid that just bought his first 200 dollar mig/flux welder from Harbor Freight and think's that he can do anything, lol. (No disrespect to any 16 year olds on this site) I have been thinking about doing this swap for a long time and have just recently decided on it. I have pretty much covered everything in my head that I could think of as far as what I will have to do to do this swap. I would like your or anyone elses opinion on what problems you think I will run into that I haven't already covered...

[74260zt]

Tracking, placement of motor over axles, electronics, just to name a few....

[Nxsov180db]

Electronics won't be a problem for me, placment of the motor is just a matter of fabrication skills...

[lucky7]

i think you're on PCP.

starion, conquest, starquest. anything DSM/turbo dodge = ugly pile of crap, waste of money, piece of S. i am indeed a far less than proud owner of a turbo 1gb, which has been rotting on my driveway for over a month now. but ofcourse, you are entitled to your opinion.

on a more serious note. 2jz may be a bit easier. not dealing with turbos, manifolds, downpipes interfearing with your stearing shaft.

[lucky7]

thinking about this again, youre considering the RB to go awd. 2jz obviously wont do. hmmm.

well, i guess i can only add to what the others have said. lots of cutting and welding. LOTTS. lots of money, and i wouldnt expect to complete it within the next year or 2. unless you've got alot of free time. just getting an RB25 into an S14 is not as easy as it seems like it should be. its very decieving IMO.

[maroon240]

Ill tell u this now U will have to contact some sorta engine import company and have them get u a r34 rb26dett and try toget a clip cuz they dont even stock those they only carry r34 rb25det's cuz there rear wheel drive and not many ppl want to have to spend a billion dollars doin that it will def cost u way mor if u dont get a clip cuz they will have to custom fab a front diff for u . I would tell u if u got the money to do all this then u should just go ahead and and by a r34 thought i saw one on the net some where for like 30 thousand not sure maby it was a r33 but i def saw a r32 for 12 thousand get that be sick *** hell all hail the r32 Gtr

[Carl H]

how deep are your pockets?

[Joe]

I do realize how much work will be invloved... I have all the equipment and skills needed to do the swap so I don't understand how it will cost me so much money. I have done custom metal work my whole life, I am not exactly some 16 year old kid that just bought his first 200 dollar mig/flux welder from Harbor Freight and think's that he can do anything, lol. (No disrespect to any 16 year olds on this site) I have been thinking about doing this swap for a long time and have just recently decided on it. I have pretty much covered everything in my head that I could think of as far as what I will have to do to do this swap. I would like your or anyone elses opinion on what problems you think I will run into that I haven't already covered...

what problems you will run into?

dude you say you have all this fabrication experience but then ask what problems you will run into?

your gonna have to basically create an entire suspension and drivetrain from scratch. you cant hack and weld stuff to make this work you are digging DEEP into suspension and drivetrain theory and design if you want a functioning CAR and AWD system. do you have a mechanical engineering degree?

im an *******, i know. but i am a realist. we get alot of people with pipe dreams like this.

my origional estimate stands. no less than $20,000.

[audtatious]

I agree. Sourcing the motor won't be cheap (I've seen RB26DETT kits for around $4200 which include RWD transmission, ECU, harness and such). AWD transmission and such won't be cheap. Then, if you are talking ATESSA AWD, you have to source all the electronics and such. Most of this stuff will need to be brought from overseas. Of course, you could get lucky and source an ATESSA E-TS AWD transmission from a G35x (or M35x), but those probably won't mate with a RB26.

None of this is cheap. If you can mock/frabricate it all, you will save money but this into a TSI just does not make sense.

Anything can be done with enough initiative and time. If you do it, keep us updated.

[Nxsov180db]

lucky7, Conquests were made by Mitsubishi, not DSM. The only thing the Chrysler Corporation made was the sticker on the hatch that said "Imported for chrysler by Mitsubishi". DSM didn't even make cars when my car was made.

maroon240,I have already locared an R32 clip that has everything I need for $4500. I love the way the Conquest looks and it was my first real car that why I am not just going to buy an R32...

Kamin,I am just asking for your opinion, I am not asking for help... No I don't have a mechanical engineering degree but either do a great many people that have done related things...

[the_momo]

why are you looking into making a car that is rwd into awd?

i understand that you like the starquest, thats cool i like them too.but things to consider1. the car is engineered to be a 4 cyl rwd. 6 isnt the problem, its driving the front wheels. making any car awd with the nissan drive system will never work as well as you want it to. its not designed to.2. more weight in the front, unless you do lots of odd fab to push it back (the rb26 sits pretty far forward, and the front diff goes through the oil pan, about midway in the motor. the starquest's front wheels are pretty far forward. youll have a nose heavy car)3. if magazines are your aspiration, do something proven and just improve it. or if you are hell bent on doing it, your best fact turbo option is to do what i was thinking of doing. get a 4g63 ( i knoww heaven forbid using a same sex motor, j/k) and use a mighty max 4wd trans. get it built, and make a front diff from a flipped rear of a eclipse or whatever. you can make a cradle and offset axles to compensate for the offcenter transfer case. and heres the best part, you can push the motor as far back as you want, the front diff isnt part of the motor. good luck, hope you dont hate me for my opinions. jsut giving you some insight.

[l0nestar]

Man, honestly, if you have a Conquest, just get an OBD0 4G63 and call it a day. You can do just about anything to one of them. I would probably avoid the AWD system and just go with the RB25 + RWD, or keep the Mitsu flavor and search out a 1g 4G63. It would be the easiest IMHO. Alas, if you want to go ALTESA like Kirkpatrick says "Good luck to you chief!"

Side Note: What year is your Conquest? I almost bought an 88 Conquest Turbo before I got my 240. The car was mint, leather and everything. But it didnt pan out, oh well! I love the lines and design of the Conquest \ Starion. Anyways, just my $0.02.

[the_momo]

oh and dont get discouraged about any project. if it were easy, it would be done already. i have many dumb ideas, most powered by a turbo hayabusas motor.(and oh yes, im making one in 2 months......1800 lbs, 4 wheel a arm susp, and 300whp at 13000 rpm.) look at the dax roadster. sexy.

[Gold Digger]

Alas, if you want to go ATTESA like Kirkpatrick says "Good luck to you chief!"

Fixed it for ya!

[Nxsov180db]

the_momo,The reason I want AWD in a starquest is because no one has ever done it, it would be bada$$, the car would launch like a %$#&, get in a few mag's? I know the front diff goes through the oil pan and I always thought that the front wheels sit pretty far rear-ward, the front valances on those cars get screwed up pretty bad actually from the front wheels not being as close as normal car to the front of the vehicle... I don't hate you, I appreciate you comments, thanks... I won't get discouraged..., and I am sure it will be anything but easy, but I know I can do it...

l0nestar,I don't want a 4g63, a lot have people have done it. If I were going to swap in a motor and keep the RWD I would go with a 2JZ hands down... Most the reason for the RB is the solid AWD system it comes with and to do something no one has done before. I have an 87 TSi now but I am selling it, I have had about 6 starquests, 87's, 88's, 89's... I love the design too and the interiors in those cars look like they are from Star Trek, lol...

[skylndrftr]

http://www.dpcars.net

read the whole design and construction log for this guy. He finally got it running about a week ago after several years of work.

It may sound different because hes building everythign, but your gonna be doing all of that too. The electronics on this will destroy you. The AWD controller is prettu much fully integrated with the ECU and the rest of the car. You will need to deal with all of that. Fabrication is the easy part its the design thats hard. making everything fit together. I don't know what age you are, but if your college age (or even if your not) research Formula SAE. I participate and do this once a year. we produce a car eveyyear and the team (30 people or so) work upwards of 40-60 hours a week.

Its just hard for people to accept your first post being somethign that many people have tried and failed at already.

[the_momo]

i think you should build it. i really do. this is what i also think.

you should make the front end (or the car for that matter) tube chassis. then fit the body panels to the car. you would be able to overcome the steering and suspension problems and make it super rigid and hella light. if you are going to all of the trouble, start from the beginning, and avoid a lot of problems.

and also, forget integrating the factory wiring in any way. eliminate it and get an 18 circuit painless wiring kit. youll have everything for all of the lights and stuff there. and itll work. thats always a plus. and itll be new. and itll work. thats what i did (for the most part) with my 240sx sbc inbred child car.

[Nxsov180db]

I understand it's my first post and all, first time I actually felt the need to post on this site, never had anything to say about Skylines or RB's untill now... I am an Old Timer on Starquestclub.com though and everyone on there knows I am good with building, designing, ect. I used to build hardpipes for people, made the first 4" exhaust for our cars, first one to take a 14b off a 1G Eclipse/Talon and fit it onto the G54B. My cousin was the first one to put a 1G turbo MAS on a starquest. I know all of these examples are nothing really when compared to such a complicated swap, just don't want you to think I am like a few people that I know that talk...and that's all the do, talk...

[s14 2510's]

Good luck quit taking about it and get R done! Anyting can be done with the correct amout of $$$. What ever floats you boat is what I always have to say. But your in for tons of this in that project. >

[the_momo]

i just hope it turns out the way you see it. there is nothing more dissapointing that doind something and it turning out to not be up to your expectations. ive had that happen before. good luck, and if it falls apart, you can always recoup money by selling your go fast goodies to we hungry wolves here.....