Open Class Rally Bench Racing- What Car?

Because bench racing and "what car" threads are fun- in NASA Open class, you can have forced induction, but need to run a restrictor. What if you want to compete with the Subarus/Mitsubishis without one? What powerful N/A, AWD cars are out there? I'm coming up pretty blank on this one- maybe flat 6 subarus? But that's boring... old V8 Audi? Typhoon with an LS swap?

Again, the parameters:
-All wheel drive
-No forced induction
-Engine swaps within same mfg allowed
-Preferably indestructible and cheap

Having a love/hate vision of a Typhoon rallying... even hough it's essentially the same thing a ratty dropped Jimmy w/ an LSx & AWD transfer case and cage I can see that being kinda awesome

In reply to DanyloS:

When I said "Typhoon" I of course meant a fake one made from a Jimmy

Other somewhat amusing things I've come up with:
-2GR 1st gen RAV4 or Celica Alltrac
-G35x
-AMC Eagle with a Hemi

I think the Olds Bravada versions only came with AWD if you want to start with this odd and retired badge.

Oh look, this bench race is trying to become a project already.

There is the e30 iX - not sure about 'cheap', but would meet the other parameters. I owned an automatic one at the same time my roommate had a celica all trac, and im pretty sure the BMW was slower but a much better handler. AWD system was much more effective in the snow as well. I'd probably still have it if it was manual. There are newer BMW AWDers too.

On the other end of the cheap spectrum - what about a jeep cherokee? Or other AMX/Eagle bretheren?

ORRRR - 1UZ in a toyota previa?

Mercedes E500 4matic

Passat 4Motion

Cadillac CTS4

Grand Cherokee WJ? EASY long travel suspension too. If 4WD isn't allowed at all(they have t-cases that can have AWD AND 4WD), they a t-case from another model can be used. Or lock it out of part time 4WD I guess.

Also regular Cherokee. The old one. Not the new Fiat abortion.

4wd is allowed, but if we're trying to make the thing sort of handle OK I think AWD with an actual diff in the middle is preferable. Also, being able to get close to the minimum weight of 3000ish lbs would be a bonus.

I love all the answers so far though

Take one of these AWD Exploders, (note magic 5.0 emblem on the fender) yank the engine, 4R70 trans with viscous center diff, front suspension and diff, and rear gears:

Graft running gear into this ('98-'02):

And you have a 4,000 lb missile of a 5.0 powered AWD Crown Vic that's ready to mow down some trees.

In reply to The_Jed:

Unfortunately, AWD cars are allowed to disable two wheels and run in 2wd, but 2wd cannot be converted to run in AWD classes.

Whoops, just read the 3,000lb-ish weight requirement. lol

It looks like you may have nailed it in your first post. It's going to be tough to beat an EG33 or EZ30 swapped Impreza.

In reply to The_Jed:

IDK, the idea of a 450hp lsx s10 Blazer is really growing on me... they can probably be stripped to like 3200lbs or so right?

Here are some cars, manual, awd that are not Subaru, Audi, Evo...

BMW 3 series
Eagle Talon twins
Volvo S40, V50
JAG X type
Dodge Stealth
Mazda speed 6.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Here are some cars, manual, awd that are not Subaru, Audi, Evo... BMW 3 series Eagle Talon twins Volvo S40, V50 JAG X type Dodge Stealth Mazda speed 6.

Oooooh, x type... mmmm.

Mazda 323 GTX

DSM cars (eclipse, talon, unsure if the laser was available in AWD)

Found this awesome picture searching for an x type rally car photo.

S-10 Blazer with LS? swap, 4l80e or t-56 with transfer case from 2500 truck. MS3 box for LS and MS box for full control of 4l80e, manual shift lever for t-case. Cheap, upgradeable, reliable, tuneable,plenty of room for cage and safety, done.

Thanks Ross

So you've settled on building this beast, plus suspension travel? Sold! Do it!

RedGT wrote: So you've settled on building this beat, plus suspension travel? Sold! Do it!

That brings bad thoughts to my head....

What are the rules for roll over values using an SUV? I know rallyx people cant run SUV's (IIRC!)

Sadly, the above "Blazah" is no more. Butch now drives a nascar style truck.

As far as rally is concerned, you'll gain more with quality suspension. While there might be a higher buy in to get it, your car will last a lot longer. Cars/trucks need to be built to survive repeated constant abuse. Power is nice, but don't get hung up on it. Next, you'll need loads and loads of spares. You'll want to avoid oddball unubtanium stuff, because you'll replace your whole vehicle before you are done.

The answer is Ferrari 308. Assuming you're made of money.

In reply to java230:

Stage rally doesn't give a berkeley! You'll eventually roll no matter what

In reply to sachilles:

I know, which is why I have an old Japanese thing with HotBits on it- but this thread is about stupid ideas! Plus, I don't see why the S10 chassis couldn't be made to handle abuse, and spares are plentiful...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: Plus, I don't see why the S10 chassis couldn't be made to handle abuse, and spares are plentiful...

I don't see why it couldn't either. My post was more of a general words of wisdom. For weight reasons, I'd suggest an extended cab pickup s10 over the blazer.