Awd Conversion Options

[Nicholas B]

Alright, I don't drive an Eclipse, but I do drive the Dodge variant that is built off the same platform; the Neon. Considering the similarities in the two vehicles, I'm wondering if any of you Eclipse drivers out there would know if I'd be able to convert my FWD Neon to AWD, using the GSX parts.

[jonbonazza]

Alright, I don't drive an Eclipse, but I do drive the Dodge variant that is built off the same platform; the Neon. Considering the similarities in the two vehicles, I'm wondering if any of you Eclipse drivers out there would know if I'd be able to convert my FWD Neon to AWD, using the GSX parts.

No. The undercarriages and drivetrain are completely different. The only thing in the eclipse that was based off the neon is the motor, and even they are very different.

Also, the only trims that have the 420a (The motor based ont he neon's motor design) was the GS and RS trims. The only trim the came AWD was teh GSX and it had a mitsubishi 4G63T motor in it, thus has absolutely NO similarities to a neon.

[raveneon]

Everything said above is correct and just so you also know it's not easy at all to do a FWD to AWD conversion on a eclipse. So much so that everyone but a handful of people just sell their fwd and buy an awd. To do it on a neon would require much more custom work. Have you looked into converting the neon to rwd? That would probably be much easier.

[onesickgst32]

No. The undercarriages and drivetrain are completely different. The only thing in the eclipse that was based off the neon is the motor, and even they are very different.

Also, the only trims that have the 420a (The motor based ont he neon's motor design) was the GS and RS trims. The only trim the came AWD was teh GSX and it had a mitsubishi 4G63T motor in it, thus has absolutely NO similarities to a neon.

+1,000,000

[JuGs]

Everything said above is correct and just so you also know it's not easy at all to do a FWD to AWD conversion on a eclipse.

I slightly agree. all what was said is right. but for the FWD eclips conversion to AWD really isnt that hard. the hardest part is gettin all required parts otherwise it looks fairly simple.

[EMC 3000gt]

2004 neon = 2004 eclipise which does not offerany variation of AWD

[BigJohnson9796]

I would like to do the fwd to awd conversion but that attempt will be next year. I have seen a awd spider before it was pretty sweet. They converted it and when I seen it they was claiming it was the only one in the world.

[onesickgst32]

why? why try and convert when it is so so soo SO much more costly? lts pointless bc when you finally do spend all the painful time and wasted money you end up with....an AWD eclipse, which is.....a GSX....why not just buy one instead? and use all the money put into converting one istead into making a legit, powerful, clean car without having to worry about so many reliability issues if something in that long converting process went wrong.

[Az3g]

strongly agreed

[raveneon]

strongly agreed

x2

[BigJohnson9796]

1. I love projects. 2. I don have the money to buy a gsx. Where I am from the car is so rare its rediculous and they range from 7 to 12 grand. I picked my gst up for 3500. By next year when I get my last annuity check ill have a 280-300 hp gst. Then after converting it to a gsx illl have 280-300hp gsx. Thats if I decide to connvert it. Sure it will take a while and be tough but the end would be worth it.

[JuGs]

1. I love projects. 2. I don have the money to buy a gsx. Where I am from the car is so rare its rediculous and they range from 7 to 12 grand. I picked my gst up for 3500. By next year when I get my last annuity check ill have a 280-300 hp gst. Then after converting it to a gsx illl have 280-300hp gsx. Thats if I decide to connvert it. Sure it will take a while and be tough but the end would be worth it.

I agree projects car great. and its something u can say you have dont and was seccessful. I plan to attemp the awd conversion also that way i can say I did it and what not. but I also agree with the others, in a way its like turboing a RS/GS its better just to get a gst but the joyof doin the work is the intended point. yea it would be easy to just get a AWD but I rather say yea mines AWD but i have converted it to that with my hand, time and money. now how many ppl can actully say that? very few ppl imo.

[raveneon]

1. I love projects. 2. I don have the money to buy a gsx. Where I am from the car is so rare its rediculous and they range from 7 to 12 grand. I picked my gst up for 3500. By next year when I get my last annuity check ill have a 280-300 hp gst. Then after converting it to a gsx illl have 280-300hp gsx. Thats if I decide to connvert it. Sure it will take a while and be tough but the end would be worth it.

Yes projects are fun and if you wanna do this as a learning experience then go for it. Just remember that you practically need a donor gsx to do the swap or else a huge amount of forum swap/craigslist/classifieds research to collect all the parts. Some of the parts practically have to found locally too. I'm not sure how you get a used gas tank shipped(maybe that's not necessary on the 2g IDK.) Add the price of all that to the 3500 you've already spent and you're probably nearly at the 7k mark.
One more thing too: If you're only gonna run 280hp then why not stay fwd and buy better tires? With some clutch finesse and drag radials you shouldn't have too much problem hooking up at that power level. There are other tricks that can be done too such as bleeding boost in first gear with a solenoid or running a 2step boost controller to help out where the fwd fails. Remember, upto a certain power level the FWD is going to be faster cause it's lighter than the awd.

[JuGs]

Yes gas tank is needed for the 2g. and I had cam across all part needed for the swap but the gast tank for 400 to 600 bucks at max it will cost 1800 to get this done thats is at max if u find the right deals. me my self found subframe and rear diff axels pretty much a complete rear end for 300 granted i would of spent a half dau to drive n get it but hell for that price its worth it. and tranny and t cast will run approx 400, from what i have seen

[jonbonazza]

I slightly agree. all what was said is right. but for the FWD eclips conversion to AWD really isnt that hard. the hardest part is gettin all required parts otherwise it looks fairly simple.

This is true for converting a FWD spyder to an AWD spyder, however, converting a FWD coup to an AWD coup is much harder and requires A LOT more welding.

[JuGs]

This is true for converting a FWD spyder to an AWD spyder, however, converting a FWD coup to an AWD coup is much harder and requires A LOT more welding.

Only welding I know of is in the tunnel for exhaust/drive shaft brackets. other wise its all just unbolting and rebolting( granted you have to cut/drill holes to acess the subframe bolts but thats not to major )

[jonbonazza]

Only welding I know of is in the tunnel for exhaust/drive shaft brackets. other wise its all just unbolting and rebolting( granted you have to cut/drill holes to acess the subframe bolts but thats not to major )

Not on the coupes. They have a different underside than teh spyders/awd models.

EDIT: Trust me, I have a friend going through it right now. He is having a helluva time with it. You guys remember Chrispy. heis about 70% done with the swap. he has been working on it every day for the past couple months. he has almost given up so many times. He said he wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

[JuGs]

Not on the coupes. They have a different underside than teh spyders/awd models.

EDIT: Trust me, I have a friend going through it right now. He is having a helluva time with it. You guys remember Chrispy. heis about 70% done with the swap. he has been working on it every day for the past couple months. he has almost given up so many times. He said he wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

just to make sure your refuring to the 2g awd swap right? cuz i know that the 1g is more of a pain than its worth. but from what all i had read up on the 2g swap look s fairly simple as i had stated. but i havented attempted this yet so i cany say from exp.

[BigJohnson9796]

I found a donor gsx its the same year as mine it has everything but the motor and transmission for 1500 so I would have a gsx for 5k not 7 plus the cost of a transsmission. But I may want to go past the 280-300 mark. And I have a greddy emanage ultimate that will allow me to have launch control so that should take care of spinnin but thats takin power away until the car wont spin. In a awd car you dump the clutch and the powers there right? Plus like jugs said I would love to say its a gst but I built it and its a AWD gst now. Thats what ill call it when people ask me what I drive. A Mitsubishi GST AWD not a GSX lol. I built it....And hang my head high when I say it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grin.gif)

[EMC 3000gt]

Remember to hold your head high when it breaks