Just wondering if anyone has thought about doing some sort of AWD conversion. Any thoughts or info? i know obviously would not be cheap at all but for curiosity sake I figured I'd post it.

Seann

 

I would consider it, and have thought about it lately. I would just have no clue at this point on how to start. I might think that an all new power plant might have to be transplanted. Being my car is bare frame, I can really see how these things could be do-able.

 

Apparently, the Audi TT uses/used the same 6 speed Getrag box [except for it seems maybe the outer case....]. That is available in a sweet awd quattro config. Just a thought... . My buddy Will [@ M7] alerted me to this...

 

I wonder if you could dig up more info on the one that Getrag built. I would like to feel how that one gets moving, a lot more hardware to turn in an AWD setup.

I guess all you have to do is search...
http://motoringfile.com/index.php?s=getrag+awd

 

I would think the easiest way would be to look at an Audi TT set-up, since it uses a similar Getrag gearbox and retrofit the drivetrain pieces required.

But then again I might just be blowing smoke!

 

Anyone thought about dropping in a 1.8L Evolution VIII engine into a Mini then finding a reliable AWD system? With the added weight of the awd, I dont think that even a modded supercharged 1.6 Mini engine could put out enough power and torque to make the high cost of awd setup reasonable. But if you had a 400hp modded Evo VIII engine, awd, and a light weight Mini, that would be some serious fun/craziness.

 

If you could do that and keep the near 50/50 balance I'd say you are in for one fun ride in one serious track car!

 

Hmmmmm.....I have a Mazda 323GTX sitting in my garage....

 

how about a twinny MINI? Another 1.8 supercharged lump where the backseat used to be...

 

The Evo has a 2.0 turbo motor and it is an iron block like the MCS' 1.6 unit. So I doubt it's much lighter or heavier. Of course, the hard part is to get the AWD setup. The better choice would be to do the mythical 2.4 SRT-4 swap as supposedly the 1.6 and 2.4 are the same block.

 

The Srt4 is still FWD which negates the whole AWD point of this thread. Does anyone know if the Getrag stuff is available to the public? Was it designed to work with what year of MCS?

 

Best bet for ANYONE looking to do this to their car will be a custom front and rear tubeframe around the vehicle Major problems will be with fitting driveshaft and forming the floor for the exhaust. Ideally if you haveno passenger side care this could be achievable.
Rear MUST be a tueb frame though to achieve this assuming AWD transmission/Transfer case is possible.
Your looking at some fairly serious work at which point it would be much easier to just go for a full custom tubeframe and drop a Mini body on.
http://www.kimini.com
this is a good example of what a tubeframe dropped onto a body can look like.I have seen much stockier looking examples like what an acquantence of mine is doing to his 240Z. Basically bought an R33 and cut it up to build a custom tubeframe from that. it will have all the AWD Attesa system and the body will be dropped right on.

 

The haldex system used by the Audi TT & VW R32 is sweet....in each respective cars, but it has around a 22% drive train loss..thats almost double what the mini is losing now...The mini just doesnt make the torque to move that....your best bet is the Quaife lsd. I can compare both the Haldex & the quaife & to be honest, I am liking the lsd as much as the awd in my TT! Dont sell the LSD short, it makes the car so much more solid to drive!

 

erm.. you mean a 2.0 liter engine.. also it's turbocharged.. doesn't take much to get 400hp out of them.. the motor is named, 4G63, and has been around since the Evo IV I believe. also similar versions of the 4G63 has been found in many DSM's (Daimler Star Motors) also known as the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, and the Plymouth Laser. That is until Mitsubishi created the 3rd Gen Eclipse which is when they transferred to the inline four turbo engine out and put a V6 in.

 

Actually it's Diamond Star Motors to be precise.