4X4 VR6 TURBO

right folks ive got a mk1 golf running a 2.8 vr6 turbo engine fwd how much hassle would it be to convert it to 4wd and a guesstimate on the prices would be ace thanks in advance  :dontknow:

Assuming you could get a donor car (Mk4 4Motion or R32 would be best) then its probably around ?2000-?2500 in extra parts and custom stuff (I imagine you'd need to shorten the propshaft and driveshafts a little). Also another issue is you'd need a standalone ECU for the Haldex (they do exist, but are not that common compared to engine ECUs, etc).

Then there's a lot of fabrication work, eg creating new mounting points for the rear suspension, moving the fuel tank and maybe spare wheel well too, no doubt you'd need another custom exhaust system built to fit round the new stuff at the back. Its all possible, but you'd ideally want access to a jig and 4 poster to do a lot of the work. Maybe 300-400 hours work?

If you're running a turbo VR6 then I'm estimating your power is around the 300bhp mark, plenty of people (in the USA) are successfully running this still with front wheel drive. So, maybe you need to concentrate your efforts on getting more hook?

it runs a fancy lsd from the states but 1st gear launches are just wheelspin and its costing me a couple of seconds i ran a 5.3 second 0 to 60 the other day with 40 psi of pressure in the front tyres i imagine if the pressure was down to say 25 psi and less wheel spin i could get this down to high 3's what do you think

What wheel and tyre size do you have? And make/model of tyres?

4WD will only benefit you in the wet, and will hinder you almost anywhere else.

FWD is VERY capable of putting the power down if you get it set up right. I run a 400+ BHP Fiat Coupe turbo and i have no traction problems after 1st gear in the dry, and even in the wet, I have to provoke the car to get wheelspin in 2nd

To give you an idea of what its capable of (bearing in mind its a 1300kg car) I posted a 12.38 at Santa Pod last weekend. About the same as a Lambo Diablo, Cerbera 4.5 or a Ferrari 360.

My honest answer would be to stick with FWD and get it set up right - the inherent low weight of the shell will make for a staggeringly quick road car.

Having said all that, if you're chasing a fast drag time, RWD is the only answer - my car would post an 11.something if it was driving the correct wheels. There a re a couple of 4WD Fiat Coupe conversions, one of which is pulling 10 second quarters - this would suggest a VR6 turbo would be in the same bracket (when I was at the Pod last weekend, there was a staggeringly rapid white Golf, running about 500+ bhp through a 4WD conversion - but he reckons there was about ?40k of work and parts in the car)

the torque from a vr6t is massive, it will easily spin up all 4 wheels in a mk1 with haldex,  
don`t put off by prices if you do it yourself, youve done the hard bit, the rear section is easy, just lots of cutting and welding, no driveshafts need to be cut or subframes just the prop shaft,  wheel well needs to be removed but i would put in a larger tunnel, plenty of room left for petrol either side of the prop or behind the rear diff or even in the boot

paul_c said

What wheel and tyre size do you have? And make/model of tyres?

g60 steel wheels 15" 195 45 15 and there is 40 psi of pressure in the front 2 tyres

Make and model of tyres?????

paul_c said

Make and model of tyres?????

toyo proxes

i ran 15 psi at the pod in my fronts same size tyres dont go over 28 to 30 psi or it will be like driving an ice skate :wink:

Yeah you really need to lower the front tyre pressure (and raise the rears) for drag racing but it has an adverse effect on stability when you do this, hence its really only suitable for a straight line. Still 40psi is way too much, I'd look at 26-32 psi for the road and 15 or so for drag strip action. In fact, for the strip, change to some proper tyres eg drag radials, they're much softer and will grip much better, but wear quicker. Also their tread will be more or less useless in the wet. Hence you need to switch. You can purchase road legal drag tyres if needs be (eg you're in a road legal class, or need to drive to-from the strip and can't swap tyres at the event).

cheers for all the replies il try this out and let you know how i get on cheers