AWD in a Neon (or SRT-4)?

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:23 am

Here's something I've been wanting to do, if at all possible (hey, anything is possible, if not with time then with deep pockets[which I don't have]

) Anyway, I want to make my car AWD, and I mean like an EVO or STi, not like this:

Is it even remotely possible to make a Neon or SRT-4 AWD? If so what do I need to do to employ it? I will most likely try it on the project SRT-4 I want to get (I let a good one out of my grasp because I couldn't save the money quick enough) before I do on my daily driver.

Post by **Diablo0** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:27 am

With enough money and time, damn near anything is possible. As to where to start, couldn't tell you since no one has really tried doing it

CrashTeam · Post by **CrashTeam** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:14 am

I honestly don't think the drive train could support it even with several thousand dollars thrown at it. If your serious you would want to look into swapping a AWD drive train into the neon chassis. Id love to see a STi motor shoehorned into a neon, or maybe you could squeeze in a 4g63 awd system from a older DSM.

Youll spend twice what you paid for the car though in parts and fabrication, that is unless you have the monster garage at your beckon call...

Good luck but take a SRT4 out for a spin and you will realize that AWD can be over rated

I know I had a 280hp WRx and the SRT is more fun to drive!

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:08 am

Instead of trying to swap something in the neon chassis. why not do something along the lines of what the civette guy did & use a Vette chassis engine, did some cutting & put the civic hatchback body. I think that way would be easier then trying to fit another engine + drivetrain into a neon.

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:13 am

an awd. 2.4t would be retarded fun.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:01 am

We'll in all reality, we could attempt this:
SRT 2.4
Caravan AWD trani
Caravan AWD transfer case
^^ driveshafts
^^ rear diff setup
Custom axles will probably have to be fabbed, but it could be done.....

-Devil- · Post by **-Devil-** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:33 am

i remember on the other org .. someone had a first gen with a subaru setup in it

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:43 am

Isn't the 61TE (?) 6 speed AWD capable? I think it will bolt to a 2.4 but don't hold me to it. Now weather it would physically fit in a Neon ?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:44 am

BlackRoseRacing wrote: We'll in all reality, we could attempt this:
SRT 2.4
Caravan AWD trani
Caravan AWD transfer case
^^ driveshafts
^^ rear diff setup
Custom axles will probably have to be fabbed, but it could be done.....

Get out of my head Chris!

I have been thinking about this for years. The major problems I came up with using this type of swap is...

1) I was told the Caravan diff couldn't handle a lot of power, I don't know this for a fact though...

2) The Caravan diff is pretty heavy.

I would think it could still be done "fairly easily" (comparatively speaking). I am planing on doing this one day...on the same Neon that is going to get the station wagon conversion

occasional demons wrote:Isn't the 61TE (?) 6 speed AWD capable? I think it will bolt to a 2.4 but don't hold me to it. Now weather it would physically fit in a Neon ?

The 6 speed trans is only used on the 3.8 & 4.0 V-6's. The 3.3 still uses the 41 variant. Since there isn't a 2.4 offered any more, I don't know about bolt pattern similarities. And for the record, the 6 speed is a 62TE.

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:31 am

It may not be able to handle a lot of power, but if the engine that powers it makes 200 - 230hp, and then the caravan probably weighs 4500 - 5000lbs in AWD form.

I bet you could easily push 250hp-275hp in our 2800lb neons pretty easily.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:48 am

I'm inclined to agree. The weight difference should be the deciding factor. Then there is the frame/drivetrain fabrication, but that's the fun part

slaw · Post by **slaw** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:59 pm

reminds me of the srt swap in the voyager on youtube
shit is bananas
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gWmMcId04YA

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:07 pm

You can use the transmission out of the liberty than ran a 2.4, or you can use an old 904 transmission, and put a transfer case behind it, with the adaptor plate on turbododge.com

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:53 am

Not another SRT swapped caravan

Anyways, the diff on the caravan can be beefed up using the pin savers and a phantom grip for the 3speed. The 3speed and 4speed diff's are essentially the same component and the phantom grip should work. Beef up the 4 speed trani using the proper technician who knows how to properly setup a trani. Use the AWD tranfsercase and components and that should lign the output shaft out just about down the center of the car.
At the rear end, modify the chassis structure that the rear lateral arms are connected to, to accommodate the rear diff..etc..etc...

srtminime · Post by **srtminime** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:04 pm

My parents have a AWD Town n Country and it feels gutless and has a constant shifting problem with the electronics. If you were to complete the swap this way you'd end up with a very unreliable platform.

I've thought about this alot and came to the final solution of progressing a FWD 1st gen SRT swap into a track beast @ 400whp and caged. Then when that gets old figure out how to clamshell the rear-end with a fiberglass one-piece. Once that is done remove the rear suspension and gas tank and put the srt setup in a longitudinal layout with the trans closer to the driver. That should minimize any transmission issues. Then run a carbon front driveshaft so if it breaks you get hit with spaghetti instead of a death stick. Custom rear driveshaft as well to diffs from a wrecked '96+ Subbie. Build the cage into the new suspension points and drop in the fuel system up front.

By then if you do it yourself the cost can be under 25K and you'd only need to work out the handling with coilovers. If you don't want the torque-biasing quaife you can always weld it up for a even 50-50 split. I'd want the quaife though, then adopt a Jag rear brake setup onto the timing side of the engine to adjust where the power goes electronically. Still not as good as a built Subbie or EVO, but for Much less in the end.

Hope you know had to fab...

Steve

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:21 pm

I seem to recall a 1GN already converted to AWD

srtminime · Post by **srtminime** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:24 pm

Yeah, it's called the "Neopreza", but it's a complete one-off design that makes comprimizes on the packaging. Of course that could be expected, but when your overall goal is to compete with STis and Evos your still lacking the suspension you need...

The Neopreza is a beauty though (seen it in person), never would think anything of it and probably feel sad for it if you walked by in a parking lot (three or more different colored body panels)...

Steve

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:33 am

http://forums.neons.org/viewtopic.php?t=248628

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:22 pm

nice triple posts

Post by **Diablo0** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:28 pm

I saw the Neopreza in person a few years ago too and have to say... it was a sight. You would never think twice until you looked inside and saw the custom tunnel lol

matguy · Post by **matguy** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:52 pm

I know I'm bringing up an old thread but...

You could always go the TwinStar route ( http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot ... ialty_file ) and mount a second engine. Seems to work best with ATX's and you might have a lot to sort out, but it sure could be fun!