1.8 wagon, should I do FWD or stick with AWD?

[Ocard]

Hey guys, I'm in the process of getting a 1995 1.8 wagon that was originally AWD but currently has no tranny.

I was looking to keeping the car AWD but I'm not sure what to expect power wise with an AWD 1.8 :? cause of this, I've considered just going to FWD...

I guess I'm hoping to get some input from people that have driven the 1.8 engine in both drivetrains so i can get an idea of how the engine/car do with each platform and therefore make a a more conscious choice.

Another thing that might come into play would be is cost. Since the car was originally an AWD, most of the cost of doing an wad swap would be minimized but then again I'm not too sure (kinda new to subies)

The closest thread i could find on this was someone trying to do an AWD swap on a FWD car: http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13342


Sorry I can't provide more info on the car but I personally haven't seen the car. I'll be going to look at it tomorrow so I'll have a better idea by then.

Thanks

-Omar

[lminette]

Well depends on what you want. The front wheel drive will definitely be quicker however the AWD will offer more traction. So if you're good at carrying speed I'd say stick with AWD, if not I'd say go FWD. Really up to you.

[TOI]

I had a 1.8L FWD impreza. had TONS of go power with the little 1.8. i actually spent some time talking with some of the guys at allpro which is a subaru shop near where i live. and they were gunna hook me up to be AWD i have no doubts that the 1.8 would work fine with the AWD drive train. FWD was fun but it would spin like crazy then hook up and go. pretty much your getting almost the same power as the 2.2(i think thats the right engine) but it uses less gas.

shortened up im saying keep it AWD, and if the 1.8 isnt doing the job swap in a bigger engine.


but you could always just trade me that 1.8L wagon + some cash and i'll give you a Fwd jeep cherokee :mrgreen:


oh and bump for using my thread

[Ocard]

Thanks for the response TOI, i was hopping you would reply.
I'm hoping to use this car to rallyX and then eventually get into stage.
I was also interested in the cost of each drivetrain and how redely available they are but i really wanna keep it awd even if I'm slightly slower. I think being slower will help me drive better lines in the long run.

Im gonna go look at the car in a bit so I'll know what the extent of "no transmission" means lol i hope its just the transmission and not the total drivetrain

[TOI]

also you'll find more AWD trannies then Fwd trannies... well i did at least, which is why i had to give up my subie. i just couldnt find another tranny. and im not sure but wouldnt using a smaller engine keep your car in a lower class for rallyx?

[saturn]

keep it AWD! no reason to switch it to FWD, it isn't that noticeable

with AWD you'll put more power to the tires (more traction)

you'll lose a LITTLE but that is made up with weight loss, etc

[A1337STI]

with FWD and an open diff i could spin up one tire in just about any corner if i took it really well and stayed WOT. also your 1 wheel stage starts will suck ass.

@ Gorman i actually traveled backwards on a few stage starts, easily giving up 5 seconds before i could move 10 feet forward. an awd car won't have that problem.

BUT fwd is better for learning, even throttle control .

I have an Extra FWD transmission you can have super duper cheap. :) and i found a 93 FWD impreza in the carson pick and pull i plan to pull apart for parts... I'm going to be doing an AWD conversion i think after prescott (though kirk has dibs on a few parts) .. also i just saw a FWD manual 95 (sedan ) in tahoe, reno for like $700, running... maybe grab that instead. ? ?? :)

Either way the car is really slow , the AWD 1.8's have different gearing to make up for the extra mechanical resistance , but i think in 5th gear you are worse off, but don't worry you won't ever really get into 5th on a 1.8 (ask me how i know) :P actually i've gotten into 5th just barely at NNR, and @ prescott .. but the car couldn't actually accelorate in 5th ... hehehe

[socalximpreza]

if you do decide to go fwd, make sure you stay away from the 93 & 94 transmissions, they will be HELL trying to aquire all the parts to get your car moving (i did my 93 to 95 conversion, had to find a flywheel, clutch, and cv axles that would match)

[Ocard]

Oh crap! Alex, I had completely forgotten that you had that FWD 93 lol

I went to see the car today and I'm really excited!!
This is a picture I took of the car

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/6783/img00266201007081411.jpg

The guy is gonna throw in a set of steelies with some random tires, a set of prodrive springs, stut tower bar, wrx 4 disk brake conversion and some other stuff.

Like I said, I was more leaning more towards AWD until I talked to Kirk and he recommended FWD cause of lower overall cost and if I started staging i would need a FWD and all... so yeah, i still don't know what to do :?

Alex since you stage your FWD 1.8, any more you would like to suggest??

[saturn]

I think you can stage in AWD if it's not turbo... I forget, anyone know for sure?

[Ocard]

even if I would be going in as a rookie?


Oh and Alex, I'm sorry about not being able to go help with the Idaho rally. I would totally be down to do it but I just got this new job and I can't ask for days off yet... :-(

[saturn]

I think if you go to a rally school of some sort you can start off in AWD

that's how Block and Mirra got around the rule

others as well like Pat Moro

[Ocard]

I just called the DMV cause the car is out of registration and apparently its gonna cost $247 plus a smog is also needed to bring the car up to current registration... this is making me kinda reconsider... :-(

[saturn]

wtf why?

I'm sure there's a way around it. get a salvage title maybe.

[A1337STI]

I think the 1.8 fwd is the best impreza option, from a learning stand point.

dude buy this one, http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1790528504.html $350 !!! FWD!!! and it runs!!
YOU BUY NOW !!!! YOU BUY NOW !!!!!!!! might be gone though :(

btw Nasa Rally (which does 5 of the 8 south west rallies) will let you start in any car that passes minimum scrutineering, open class STI down to a stock 1.8l fwd.

if you converted an awd car to fwd, you'de be in Group-2 nasa/RA but could be in P-stock , for CRS if done correctly , you'll really really need a final drive conversion to be competitive though vs the top of the field.

but it can be a lot of fun even with a slower build. :)

[saturn]

I'm not against FWD at all, I just think converting an AWD car is more work than it's worth.

if you want to start off in FWD, get a FWD-only car like a Neon or a Focus - or hell even a Hyundai Accent. they will be cheaper and better for learning since you won't have to worry about converting anything or gearing... and typically they are easier to come by. even a Honda will be a lot better... VW Golfs are very popular as well.

[LURK]

Plus your friend LURK will help you with parts. TOI is right, the 95 trannys are better. However, i've found a lot of parts very easily for my 93 Impreza FWD..ebay or Nasioc.
All the NASIOC guys/gals are about building crazy AWD monsters, they don't want FWD trannys haha.. I got mine for free! :thumbsup:

You can compete in NASA with AWD/turbo, but why spend more on a car when you are going to beat the hell out of it and possibly roll it? I dont make much money so IMO the cheaper the better for me. I've been to a couple rally classes and everyone says start with FWD so later in life you won't NEED it. You will be able to beat Pastrana with your 1.8L! jk, thats not true. But they say you will be a better driver for it. So, thats the route im taking.:mrgreen:

AWD = more parts
FWD = less parts
less parts = less parts to break
less parts = less $$$

oh and you'll thank me when its time to replace your clutch. FWD clutch is soooo easy to do! Finishing up my new clutch install tonight! WOO!

[Ocard]

Shut up Kirk! nobody asked you! lol jk you speak truths my friend. Now i just need the car...

[A1337STI]

which car did you get? that craigslist one i found was a steal.

the bonus of using a fwd impreza is they are reliable, and you can beg and borrow parts from 50% of the other rally teams at any given rally. :)

[Ocard]

so i ended getting that same wagon for $300 and a bunch of free parts now I just need a FWD tranny to go with it. If anyone knows of where i can get a hold of one, I would really appreciate it. :thumbsup:

[TOI]

i hope you dont have the same issue i had, i couldnt find a FWD tranny to save my life over here. good luck!