Ok everyone... I'm curious about this. I did a search but I didn't find any topics relating to the subject, let alone all wheel drive wagons... so I'd like to pose this question for the people in the EF forum.

Is there anything major that would stop a person from putting the drivetrain from an AWD wagon under an EF hatchback or coupe? Obviously it's going to require some fabrication and a lot of hard work/money, but are there any show stoppers? Anything big that couldn't be worked around with some magic and/or ingenuity? Has anyone ever attempted this before? Are there problems with the AWD wagon drivetrain that would make it useless for someone with higher than stock output?

A friend and I were just mulling this over earlier this evening after I picked up some wheels and tires from him, and we couldn't come up with anything that would prevent a person from doing something like this... but we're both not knowledgeable enough about the EF hondas (I own a 95 coupe and he owns a 96 Jetta) to make any real judgements, so I figured I'd post it here and see what kind of responses I get.

Anyone care to comment? Possible? Maybe? No way?

 

http://www.superhonda.com/forum/show...ighlight=wagon

 

I was actually wondering this myself. Then again I have never seen this done and I'm sure we werent the first to come up with this idea. Therefore I dont think this is poosible OR it would just cost way to much $$$ and it wouldnt even be worth it. I guess this doesnt really answer your question though. Any1 else???

 

I cant access that link due to the fact that I'm not currently a member there. But I'm guessing that there is an AWD civic there?

 

no, they discuss it and basically say its not worth it.

 

the gas tank is where the rear end would go.
the exhaust is where the driveshaft would go.
from what i've heard, the suspension is somewhat different.
i guess the overall problem is that the chassis are different, mounting locations and such.
i've never owned a wagon, nor seen the underbelly of one, but food for thought eh.

 

the rear diff is tiny, it probably couldn't stand up to any hard launches.
this guy did it.

 

i have a couple of awd wagons and every time i see another i try to buy it. the one i am driving right now has a zc dohc in it, car has 210k miles on it and all the bushings are shot. i would have to say that it can be done if you wanted to do it. the tranny i would think is going to be the weak point. the trans is a cable shifter and will only mount to a d series block or zc. the rear assembly is like one big subframe. if you want to see pics i can put my car on the rack and snap a couple for ya. i may attempt it on a 4 door civic just cause i have both cars just sitting there.

 

i did research on this topic years ago and was told that the 4wd system could only handle a maximum of 150=170 lb ft tq before it would self destruct

 

I have a 2wd wagon that I put the 4wd stuff in. had to change alot. you would need the whole 4wd wagon. the driveshaft tunnel is larger, so you would need to cut it out and weld it into the swapped car, the pass side motor mount bracket on the frame is different, so you have to weld it in from the 4wd, and you would need to cut out the rear floorpan also and weld it in, as the rear suspension is different, but it can be done. I have pics of my setup going together, just haven't had time to finish getting them on my webpage. I've been told it won't handle over 200 hp or things will break, but not sure what will. I am contemplating seeing if I can use a crv drivetrain to accomodate a b-series, but haven't researched it enough yet. I have heard of people having the transfer case bearings go out in them some, that seems to be the most problem I have seen. check out this website if you're a yahoo member: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hondacivicwagons/, if not, join it, all you have to do is sign up. good luck.

 

after going from the "D"ark side to the B series way of life, i scrapped the idea of the civic wagon drive train. what i would consider now is the CRV drivetrain. my first concern (after making it all fit) would be changing the gearset out of the CRV trans with an SI gearset or preferably an ITR gearset and LSD. the reason i think the CRV drivetrain would work better is that it is much more stout. it has to hold around 140 horses and 150 pounds of torque (i think) stock. i would much rather run a whole CRV setup, with more horse power in the first place, than a single cam 1.5 liter setup. even with the CRV left completely stock, 150 ft lbs. and all wheel drive in an EF? that thing would be nuts!! you could launch it at fairly high rpm's and still keep traction, and if your car was high enough you could climb mountains! just think of the stump pulling torque possibilities! haha

 

tough. I think it would be better to just use a DSM system. They hold lots of power. They can do wheel stands! It will probably be just as much work.

-Dustin

 

Just realized something. Te wagon has a hydraulic torque converter in the drive shaft. If you left it out it would be like full time 4WD, if it is left in it is real time AWD.

-Dustin

 

I wondered that myself. I knew the old wagon system would be too weak from other discussions, but the crx is basically a civic chassis. the crv engine/drivetrain should mount into the civic or integra. My question then is the transmission. I would want a manual, but aren't all cr-v's auto?

 

Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies. It's definately food for thought, though it appears that the idea would be very expensive and probably not strong enough to hold up to the abuse that most of us have in mind.

Although, now that I think about it... the CRV drivetrain is starting to look much more appealing than the 4wd wagon...

 

i am not certain if the CRV ever came in a stick, i believe there are some out there. i doubt that the drivetrain is going to bolt up to anything other than the CRV, but obviously you will be doing quite a bit of fabrication to make any AWD system fit. my suggestion would be to have a custom tube frame chassis built with the same dimensions as the unibody, so that the unibody could be put back on top.....if you have a few extra thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket.

 

What about the JDM Integra or EG awd systems...I know it would cost more to import and then all the fitting but it could be worth it. Dose anyone have links on the 1st gen integra AWD systems or on the 92 EG j-spec Civics Ferio's that came with AWD??I know they are very rare so it may not be cost effective..

 

hey revhard! Thanks for the insight about the 4WD wagon. I live in Oregon and we get snow big time in the passes and I thought it would be killer to get a 4G 4WD wagon to go with the crx. I saw one in town that was in good condition and I liked it. I was wondering a few things. How reliable are they? especially the drivetrain portion. BTW Dropping in a ZC is a cool idea.

ctp