924Board.org

[skemcin]

DISCLAIMER
I know nothing about engine transplants - so poke fun, make comments, do whatever makes you feel good - just, at least, eventually answer the question. Thanks.

So, a friend owns a junk yard and recently aquired a rolled Subaru WRX. The engine and transmission are in excellent shape. Long stroy short, I think it would be fun to have an all wheel drive 924 - dub it 924x. So, for this sort of idea, would the suspension on a 79 have to change to accommodate the all wheel drive - or - if it was possible, would swapping the engine and tranny be enough (if it fits).

Any ideas on this? I am suspecting that the first replies will be - HA, why not get an rolled Audio Quattro - it will fit better/more easily.
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Sitting on the new 924.org
1979 924 84k – summer daily driver
1979 924 8k – patiently waiting its resurrection

[924guy]

I love the idea of an awd 924 based rally car, its been done a few times with the audi 5cyl i believe, but its a massive job requiring major mods to the body to make it work from what i understand.none the less its been on my to do list for many years. i owned a quattro 4000s for a few years, awesome cars.
Then you have the subaru in wrx attire, very well put together beastie with impressive performance, i think the sti version puts out something like 300hp iirrc. . I dont know jack about them, i do recall the 80's sub awd sedans though, engines were quite compact and fairly simple, and very reliable. one of my sisters had one and finally retired it after about 300k . still ran well, the body just rusted away. I have no idea if a modern Subaru drive train would work, id imagine it would also be a pita to adapt to a 924, as its a transverse mount in addition to all the other headaches involved. But id bet youd end up with a quite a little monster if it ends up reliable..
_________________
Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
http://www.cardomain.com/id/924Guy
Performance by Pasha

[skemcin]

I figured there would be extensive work involved - especially with Subaru's boxer style engine. I am just guilty of the glassy-eyed notion of AWD in my 924 and making it my year round daily driver - man that would be FUN!

Anyway, thanks for the reply - I guess I just needed to "hear" what I already knew.

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Sitting on the new 924.org
1979 924 84k – summer daily driver
1979 924 8k – patiently waiting its resurrection

[das push]

that would be a nice project, but very extinsive. the suburu's actually a longitudinal mount engine(all of them were, like audi's longitudinal setup). In our family we have owned 14 subarus. the most recent is my brother's 2006 STi(305hp u.s. spec., 350hp jap. spec.). the big problems will be the width of the car, remember the boxer engine has exhaust out the side like aircooled vw. another issue is the subaru engines have very deep oil sump and pan. on the web there are some vw conversions, but they have to do major mods to sump and pan to keep them from scraping the ground.

good luck if you do it.
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1982 924 NA 85K owned since 1992
82 nicknamed das push"the push"by my kids.
lots of electrical problems 1st yr of owner ship!

[Adie]

Start by measuring wheelbases and go from there, measure 5 times, see the possibility of grafting the body onto the chassis rather than make the rest fit. It has been done with things like UK sierra cosworth 4x4 and escort Mk 1 shells. (not US variety). You would need detailed measurements on waist height and location points, you may even be able to pick the body off the 4x4 and make mounting points to fit the 924 frame on, however you are then making a heavy car. Also 2 useful measurements would be strut top heights and strit top widths as if you are refabricating new front mounts you may as well build a new chassis, if there is only a slight variation you could get away with adjustable top plates and lower arms.
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944 V8 tow car with tow bar
924 V8 race car,
Back from some well eared rest.

[turbobob9242]

Renegade hybrids did a suby engine swap into a 914. Yuo might be able to use something from this?
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Bob Ward
Crystal Lake, IL
80 931, Buick powered

[Darin81T]

Forget about it... you will spend more than the WRX is worth to make this idea work.

[macBdog]

This will be a massive amount of work to make happen.
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1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI

[N-Dub]

The Subaru motor is horizontally opposed, like a 911. I doubt that it would fit between the wheel wells of a 924
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'79 924 now Totaled! Carrera GT bodywork for sale!
'87 951

[moone924]

Would be a better project to put the WRX engine into a water-boxer VW Vanagon
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Ryan Moone
1982 931

[N-Dub]

OT: If you are going for the vanagon approach you could do it like this guy:

http://videos.streetfire.net/category/Porsche/3/8b2e0f0d-b5ca-4854-912c-989400eba4f4.htm

VW Bus with a 993 twin turbo motor! Ha Ha ha
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'79 924 now Totaled! Carrera GT bodywork for sale!
'87 951

[Martijnus]

I think the problem is the torque involved with this.
The front wheels are not designed to put power on the road, so the suspension isn't too.

On the other hand, braking is the opposite of putting power on the road so that wouldn't be a problem... but it's a force in the opposite direction...

anyway.. that's the first thing I thought about.
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"Rule: Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun." (C. Bell)

924 "50-jahre", 1981.
MSII/extra, LPG, ITB's, 5lug.
To be turbo'ed in a while.

[Rasta Monsta]

Does your buddy still have this? Put it in a 914!
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Instructor, Cascade Sports Car Club

• Shaggy (1980 931) - Mine
  
• Red (1987 924S) - Hers
  
• Gonzo (1979 924) - Gone