Stupid dumb maybe impossible idea. AWD to RWD conversion?

I had basically a shower thought today where I went down the rabbit hole thinking about how there were really no cheap RWD manual transmission sedans out there that I could afford. Midsized or smaller anyway. Then I remembered a RWD converted wrx on craigslist that I really wanted about a year ago when I wasn't ready to pull the trigger. Well I'm still not ready but for the future of all mankind(well, me anyway) what does the hive think about how hard it would be to permanently convert(meaning removing the front drive mechanism or at least disabling it completely) on any random AWD car. My thought being that if I could do so, any of those badass small sedans and hatchbacks with AWD and turbos could be fresh meat 5 to 10 years down the road, and finding a RWD desirable car would be much easier if I could create one from an AWD car.

From what I've been lead to believe on Subaru boards, it's fairly simple with them because of the way the AWD works. I think it really comes down to how the AWD system is setup on the vehicles though, so some will definitely be easier than others.

Jaguar may be another easy one because all of their cars are meant to be RWD, but I could be completely wrong because I know they offer AWD cars and that's the extent of it.

Pulling the axle shafts and welding up the diff outputs is not that hard- Subies have been doing it for years. (Assuming, of course, a longitudal engine layout)

But it doesn't exactly give you a RWD car. As a minimum, you are carrying a pretty big weight penalty for all the extra crap that once made it AWD.

Bmw e36 and e46 are cheap as hell now, and less of a pain than welding center diffs and whatever else you got to do. Also keep in mind most awd cars use tiny rear diffs because only half (less or more considering torque split) the power goes there so asking it to do double duty may be fine or may not. Just something to think about

and the E36/46 is a much better balanced car than a Subaru with half it's drivetrain inoperable

In reply to gunner:

The problem with your plan is that most current AWD systems are built off of FWD drive trains. It works on subies because they have a longitudinal engine. Audi's do too, so they might be another one to consider. For that matter, AWD BMWs are adapted from RWD, but you could just buy a RWD bimmer to start with.

With enough ambition, talent and welding equipment you can turn any FWD car to RWD. There was a kit at one time to put a 5.0 into a focus, and SBC powered Subaru's aren't unheard of.

Taking the front drivetrain and moving to the back a lá the Toyota mr2 or Pontiac fiero is another option.

What, exactly is the goal you're trying to achieve?

AWD or FWD is not a detriment to performance driving or enjoying yourself behind the wheel.

Poor suspension, drivetrain and ergonomics can be huge detriments to an enjoyable car.

Go drive a bunch of stuff in your price range and pick the one you enjoy the most.

If you truly must have a RWD sedan, there are still some around, but you may need to search further afield or outside of your comfort zone or even out of the box.

i had a rwd v8 swapped wrx. it ruined everything the wrx is. i pulled engine and put in proper rwd vehicle and moved the wrx on to someone else for parts.

I'm with Pat^^

Having spent a lot of time with Subarus, I never want anything to do with a RWD converted Subaru.

Just as I have no desire to ever have a RWD Yugo.

It would ruin everything the car was good at.

The rear diffs in most Subaru's will not handle this for long either. They were designed to share the power with the front diff. When you start putting all the power through them you will lunch them, unless you track down an R180 diff.

Ah I see. My thought was Something more modern than an e46 but less expensive buy in than an e90 with the ability to get it tail happy and not have AWD get in the way. probably not worth it all in. I had thought of (and I really like) the RWD focus conversion but it's way beyond my current talents and it seems as if after procuring everything the cost would still be pretty high.

If you want the dynamics of a RWD car, then you need the weight distribution of a RWD car. Most AWD cars have the engine entirely in front of the front axle, so that they don't have do crazy things like put a differential inside the oil pan. Converting them to RWD by removing the front & center diffs doesn't really change the weight distribution, so it's not much of a win. The Focus conversions are way more complicated (and thus expensive) than that, and involve a new subframe, longitudinal mount engine & transmission, etc.

We had one (06 wrx/sti) on a movie I just worked on and I drove it hard many many days. Apparently it wasn't heap to do it right but it wasn't bad for what it was.

I'd recommend a 240sx e36/46 etc over it though.

There will be a RWD-converted WRX at the rallycross East Coast Championships this year. I fully expect to beat it with my 130hp 1985 e30, even though I know it has a good driver. My daily is a WRX and I can't see how it would possibly be fun to drive with RWD and its current weight distribution, or handle particularly well.

If you want to 2WD convert a WRX, do a FWD conversion....than at least your weight is on the correct wheels.

I had a G35x. You could pull a fuse and make it rear wheel drive. It stopped the electronic clutch in front from engaging. it was cool because the car was designed as a RWD. I wanted to hook a switch up to the fuse to make it RWD on command in case I felt the need to do donuts in snowy parking lots.

I knew a guy who built a late-90's Impreza coupe into a RWD hooner / autocross car. I don't even think it was turbocharged, just some bolt-on power adders.

It was always breaking something. It looked like a hoot to drive, but it was basically an exercise in finding out what the next weakest link in the drivetrain was. And it was a Brighton chassis that had been further lightened, not some heavy boat.

In reply to irish44j:

Well that makes sense. Which would not work for me anyway. FWD manual cars are easy to find, even with 4 doors. FWIW I have been talked down off the ledge, and I'll be searching out another RWD car next time.

I appreciate it, Hive.