Robust Transverse AWD Manual Transmissions?

Hair brained, alone with my thoughts, "thinking," on the drive home this evening got me to wondering...

Is there a GRM-ish source, for a FWD/transverse based AWD manual transmission that can handle moderate to large amounts of power, say conservatively 400 AWHP, and is mounted on the left, i.e. North American's drivers side of the engine. Bonus points for factory LSD in front. Locking, or some kind of LSD center diff/transfer case would be swell, but I figure I'm getting into custom bespoke, WRC stuff there. Curse Audi and their longitudinal arrangement.

My first thought was DSM, but they're all passenger side orientation, based on my Google searching.

What other options are there, Toyota Celica Alltrac/GT4, Mitsubishi Lancers/Evos, that's all I've thought of?

My initial thought is that the front wheels will spin the same direction as the engine, which is why you're seeing the orientation you are. Which means Honda might be your best bet - but I don't recall any reverse rotation AWD Hondas that made significant horsepower.

The original Mini had the engine mounted the other way around, but it also needed an idler gear in the trans to do it.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

I didn't specify, because I guess I was vague, but transmission orientation is important. Goal would be to "fix" a weakness, in a platform that has the ability to make gobs of power, and while was available with optional AWD configuration, it was neutered to do so. Plus the factory AWD bits are weak, and problematic.

More or less doing similar to what the Mazda 323 GTX folks looking to make power do, or at least I've read they do, swap the weak transmission for the Toyata GT4 unit.

The VW/Audi "A" chassis cars are transverse AWD using the Haldex system. The TT and A3/S3 got this, and I think there were some AWD versions of the the Golf/GTI as well. No idea what side of the engine bay it's on, though, sorry.

Chrysler A523/568 from a 2.2/2.5L Turbo powered car, AWD minivan PTO, OBX LSD.

You can make nearly 400hp on a decently prepped 2.5 (especially if converted to a DOHC head).

There was a Minivan being built on here with this basic combination. Not sure if its finished yet, but it should be possible if one is motivated enough.

bigdaddylee82 wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: I didn't specify, because I guess I was vague, but transmission orientation is important. Goal would be to "fix" a weakness, in a platform that has the ability to make gobs of power, and while was available with optional AWD configuration, it was neutered to do so. Plus the factory AWD bits are weak, and problematic. More or less doing similar to what the Mazda 323 GTX folks looking to make power do, or at least I've read they do, swap the weak transmission for the Toyata GT4 unit.

Understood. My reasoning was WHY you keep finding them on the passenger side - it may be related to engine rotation direction. Honda used to use the opposite rotation from everyone else, but they changed a number of years ago.

Yeah, I got one one the floor of my shop. Toyota Caldina, AKA "Celica GT4." The rear output is in the center. Front diff is LSD. Pretty bullet proof and would laugh at a mere 400 HP.

The DSM transmissions are pretty robust. People say they are weak because it is so easy to make too much power for them.

I have heard horror stories of people actually blowing the end of the case off with the Evo VIII's transmission. But they are at power levels that would explode most transverse transmissions and many longitudinals too.

Keith Tanner wrote: Understood. My reasoning was WHY you keep finding them on the passenger side - it may be related to engine rotation direction. Honda used to use the opposite rotation from everyone else, but they changed a number of years ago.

Honda chose their engine direction, I believe, because they had no pre-existing longitudinal RWD engines to stuff into a transverse application. So they mounted the engine on the left, so the brakes/steering can be on the right, over the trans. The engine rotation direction came naturally from that.

I'm not sure why they even bothered to change. It's not like they use other peoples' transmissions, or ever made any longitudinal drivetrains aside from the S2000, which has an engine that I'm still not up on its lineage since it shares an engine code with one of the "backwards" turning engines...

The '91 Impulse RS is transverse and the engine is on the passenger side while the transmission is on driver with a center output. Information about the center diff and lsd is all over the place. Some people swear it has a locking center diff. People pushing it break the rear diff past 300hp but have taken it to 400hp after disconnecting the driveshaft to the rear. You would be in uncharted territory as far as power limits but I could see replacing the rear diff with something beefier and trying it out.

Evo 4 and up had the transmission on the left.

Evo 4 front clip on eBay

Similarly, the later V6 Galant VR-4s did as well.

6A13TT (action is for auto trans version tho)

New Mazda CX-9 has a turbo 2.5 L engine AWD, don't believe it has a front LSD.

My rallykar Protege has a toyota GT4 box in it, wotta PITA that was. But it is hell for stout.