Garage Built AWD Camaro
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 168
Likes: 1
From: Fort Campbell, KY
With only 2"-3" of engine block sitting over the rear axle, I think a 2007 truck oil pan is gonna work great for my set-up. No mods required and they can be had on the cheap. There's afew more $$$ saved in the total budget.
Here's a pic of the oil pan I found in one of our conversion stickys...
Here's a pic of the oil pan I found in one of our conversion stickys...
I hate to be a pessimist, but odds are good this will end up like the rest of the budget AWD setups that show up.
That said, I wish you good luck. Would certainly be interesting of successful.
That said, I wish you good luck. Would certainly be interesting of successful.
damn you now i'm thinking of a rear engine camaro ! 
why don't you look into a porsch twin turbo AWD trans?
your engine/trans layout would change but it would free up some space inside .
look up G96-50 trannies , they incorporate the rear diff, transfer case and trans all in one compact package ( slightly bigger than a T56 ) and they give you the correct power bias front to rear. the only drawback is that you would need to convert the rear suspension to IRS .
why don't you look into a porsch twin turbo AWD trans?
your engine/trans layout would change but it would free up some space inside .
look up G96-50 trannies , they incorporate the rear diff, transfer case and trans all in one compact package ( slightly bigger than a T56 ) and they give you the correct power bias front to rear. the only drawback is that you would need to convert the rear suspension to IRS .
Last edited by 1dirtyZ; Jan 3, 2012 at 01:06 AM.
here is how it looks mated to an LS1
and how the output from the trans looks :
another pic og the same type of trans but flipped to make it a mid engine setup ( no AWD):
and how the output from the trans looks :
another pic og the same type of trans but flipped to make it a mid engine setup ( no AWD):
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On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 168
Likes: 1
From: Fort Campbell, KY
And yes, at one point I was considering the porsch set up, I was even using your build thread as reference. I decided against it because I felt that would throw too much of my engine aft. Plus with what I'm doing for engine placement, it's nice and centered under the back glass.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 168
Likes: 1
From: Fort Campbell, KY
Had to sell my last hot rod just to recover from my college debt
I'm set up now, so I won't be letting that happen again.
Looking through the pictures of that vette that was converted... there is no way the driver had room to comfortably sit or drive that car if the frame they pictured and the body were mated together. The foot-box would be almost non existent. The forward drive shaft looks like it sits right where the drivers leg should go.
If you're trying to get everything to fit, you're going to have to get that engine as far back and low as possible. I don't see how you could even consider a truck oil pan, those things hang below the cross member by like 3 inches.
If you do it, this car could be cool because it's different... but I don't see how it would perform any better than a nicely set up 4th rwd gen. You're using a truck transfer case... I just don't see anything light and performance oriented about a truck transfer case. All I can think is how much more complicated Audi, Evo's and WRX's mid diff's are compared to this and how if effects their handling. I hate being negative, but I just don't get it.
K.I.S.S. ... just sayin'
If you're trying to get everything to fit, you're going to have to get that engine as far back and low as possible. I don't see how you could even consider a truck oil pan, those things hang below the cross member by like 3 inches.
If you do it, this car could be cool because it's different... but I don't see how it would perform any better than a nicely set up 4th rwd gen. You're using a truck transfer case... I just don't see anything light and performance oriented about a truck transfer case. All I can think is how much more complicated Audi, Evo's and WRX's mid diff's are compared to this and how if effects their handling. I hate being negative, but I just don't get it.
K.I.S.S. ... just sayin'
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Ive had a blast recklessly throwing subarus into four wheel drifts for the short five years that ive been driving, a well set up awd drivetrain is impressive. The bw 4472 case is more than race proven by the syty guys i think its the best choice for a high hp awd car.
1dirtyz, that porsche setup is the best tech presented in this thread besides what the OP has proposed. I think that what you are trying to do is far from impossible Turbinesurgeon, but I bet the G96 would be the better performing/cost effective route.
That said I now see what you are getting at with placement in the car, id actually pictured it like the porsche setup would be with the engine basically in the hatch/gas tank. I still think the porsche setup will give the best 1/4 times, the car would hook up really well.
There was a holden monaro that used a 4l60 with an awd setup. It may have not been a production vehicle but might be worth finding out what the factory used for a front diff.
The noise is going to be awesome haha
1dirtyz, that porsche setup is the best tech presented in this thread besides what the OP has proposed. I think that what you are trying to do is far from impossible Turbinesurgeon, but I bet the G96 would be the better performing/cost effective route.
That said I now see what you are getting at with placement in the car, id actually pictured it like the porsche setup would be with the engine basically in the hatch/gas tank. I still think the porsche setup will give the best 1/4 times, the car would hook up really well.
There was a holden monaro that used a 4l60 with an awd setup. It may have not been a production vehicle but might be worth finding out what the factory used for a front diff.
The noise is going to be awesome haha
Looking through the pictures of that vette that was converted... there is no way the driver had room to comfortably sit or drive that car if the frame they pictured and the body were mated together. The foot-box would be almost non existent. The forward drive shaft looks like it sits right where the drivers leg should go.
To the original poster, best of luck to you. Seems like a really cool idea.
Be careful - that truck pan is really really deep. There are similar more shallow rear-sump alternatives from the F-body, LS2 Corvette and CTS-V.
I remember hearing speculation about a build like this, it got a lot of similar criticism.
That said, i know you know whats going on turbinesurgeon, ive seen your posts before; my only qualm with the build is the same as dirtyz/smurray, i think the porsche trans would allow for less weight, better packaging and (most importantly to me) proper power bias. with all of this fab work you plan on anyway, couldnt you achieve a nice "engine under glass" effect while also keeping a more rear-heavy/rear-powered (read:fun/performing) car? Id imagine that would achieve an awd-monaro-on-a-diet effect, but without having to pay outrageous prices for stock parts (porsche tax excluded)
Dirty and his thread have all the info on the german stuff, but heres the monaro setup aka cross trac, along w the cadi setup and this gent's try at an awd 1st gen: http://www.projectawdcamaro.com/parts.html
That said, i know you know whats going on turbinesurgeon, ive seen your posts before; my only qualm with the build is the same as dirtyz/smurray, i think the porsche trans would allow for less weight, better packaging and (most importantly to me) proper power bias. with all of this fab work you plan on anyway, couldnt you achieve a nice "engine under glass" effect while also keeping a more rear-heavy/rear-powered (read:fun/performing) car? Id imagine that would achieve an awd-monaro-on-a-diet effect, but without having to pay outrageous prices for stock parts (porsche tax excluded)
Dirty and his thread have all the info on the german stuff, but heres the monaro setup aka cross trac, along w the cadi setup and this gent's try at an awd 1st gen: http://www.projectawdcamaro.com/parts.html
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 168
Likes: 1
From: Fort Campbell, KY
Been having fun fabbing up the plates I'll be welding in for the square tubing and reading afew post. Lots of good ideas coming out, and by all means keep them coming. So little information is floating around about AWD conversions, and the work it takes to make them happen.
It's been said in quite afew builds on this site, and it is very good advise. "Once you plan out your project, stick with it. Changing the plan as you go more often than not leads to a failed project." I'll be sticking to my outline as much as possible, and here's a better veiw of what I have in mind
I'm no auto cad drafter, but I do all right with paint. I made afew pictures to better show what I have in mind. I think these locations should be fairly close to what I have marked off in the car. The seat backs will be just in front of the bell housing.
The part I'm laying out now is the frame work. Putting a backbone down the center of my car using square tubing. It's easy to work with and not a whole lot of special tools required. I've got my car stripped down to the frame, so I can see all the structure built into the unibody. The frame work will tie the drivetrain to the car.
The "space to be had" I'm looking for can made raising the floor, mounting the seats farther apart, flush mounting the seats to the floor, and by rear-mounting the engine under the glass. I'm 6'4", and before I took the car apart the roof was 3" above my head. I'm confident I can make it all fit nicely.
Irish350 added the link to another good AWD Camaro build, that like mine isn't finished yet. Check it out
It's been said in quite afew builds on this site, and it is very good advise. "Once you plan out your project, stick with it. Changing the plan as you go more often than not leads to a failed project." I'll be sticking to my outline as much as possible, and here's a better veiw of what I have in mind
I'm no auto cad drafter, but I do all right with paint. I made afew pictures to better show what I have in mind. I think these locations should be fairly close to what I have marked off in the car. The seat backs will be just in front of the bell housing.
The part I'm laying out now is the frame work. Putting a backbone down the center of my car using square tubing. It's easy to work with and not a whole lot of special tools required. I've got my car stripped down to the frame, so I can see all the structure built into the unibody. The frame work will tie the drivetrain to the car.
The "space to be had" I'm looking for can made raising the floor, mounting the seats farther apart, flush mounting the seats to the floor, and by rear-mounting the engine under the glass. I'm 6'4", and before I took the car apart the roof was 3" above my head. I'm confident I can make it all fit nicely.
Irish350 added the link to another good AWD Camaro build, that like mine isn't finished yet. Check it out
When comparing these 3 pics is that throws me off. Those forward drive-shaft hoops look like they'd be right in the middle of the floorboard right through the gas pedal area, and yet there's not even a recess for it.
