I was wondering how feasible it would be to convert a '92-'00 civic to AWD by using the rear differential, center differential and all other drivetrain components from an '88-'91 Civic AWD/4WD. At the very minimum, would the rear differential in the '88'-'91 AWD/4WD civic fit on a '92-'00 civic?

 

Why use a 88-91 wagon parts? Why not crv stuff? Do you have the parts already? Tranny is the big issue.

 

Well I'm just wondering if it's possible at all because the Civic doesn't have a transmission tunnel I don't think so I was wondering how it'd be possible. But yeah, I hadn't considered the CRV stuff..

 

they have a thread that already covers this, so the answer is yes u can use both with the crv driveline requiring more alteration and fabrication but easier to source, there are 4wd civics but they are harder to source

 

Honda RT-4WD doesn't make use of a center differential, hence it being 4WD and not AWD.

Amusingly, the Honda SH-AWD also lacks a center diff, but that is its own strange design with its "Acceleration Device" allowing it to act as if it had one.

 

I have a '91 Toyota Land Cruiser and it is 4WD yet has a center differential as well. So no, having a center differential doesn't make it AWD...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_wheel_drive

Not that I actually wanted to start a term war. Honestly, I just wanted to point out that the Honda RT-4WD system lacks a center diff. Nothing more.

Good luck with the build, should you chose to actually do it.

 

So in a sense, it's an AWD vehicle unless it has a Center Differential lockup which AWD seem to be lacking (subarus, crossovers, etc.). The act of having the front and rear differentials locked up is what makes it 4WD and having them not locked up makes it more like AWD. So it is inappropriate to call the Land Cruiser an AWD vehicle since it is capable of 4WD and since cars' are designated by their capabilities and not how they're actually driven in practice. Hmm I guess if you could add differential lockup to these consumer vehicles, they'd then technically be 4WD vehicles.