RWD-ing an EJ box

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:57 pm

i can spin the rear whilst stationary , no front wheel movement.Dont know how long the centre will last though.

KERAZY · Post by **KERAZY** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:57 am

dang.

alright, a run down of how I've understood this info:

If we were to one day set up an EJ20G MY for drift, the best way to do it would be to take out the front drive shafts, replace the 4wd selector and old diff (or a different one), keep it in 4wh, and hey presto. OR, take the front drive shafts out of the stock setup, buy a $900 spool to replace the centre diff, change the rear diff to something like a nissan diff, and thats it?

could there be ANY way of adapting a W58 or something from a JZA70 to an EJ20? this is throwing rationality out the window but, it's a discussion so it doesn't matter.

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:15 am

A Supra box is going to be huge and heavy and the conversion quite involved . If you are familiar with performance Nissan drive lines you would have an idea of which gearboxes lived in front of which diff - after all the diffs I've seen under MY/L series are Nissan IRS R160 and I think Rexes use the larger R180 Diff . Obviously weight is going to be important in a drift app and you have to keep in mind that once you strengthen the box other parts further south become the weakest link .

Honestly I think you'll save yourself a lot of grief and money if you stay with Subaru boxes that at least bolt up to the block . Plenty has been done with Rex boxes and its hard to imagine that some variation would not cope with rear wheel drive . The "spool" option is going to be expensive where the part time 4WD box will be reasonably cheap . I reckon you could afford to "use up" these boxes in a development path to get what you want .

Cheers .

KERAZY · Post by **KERAZY** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:36 am

righto.

the MY in particular has about 300-310hp.

does that help a little?

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 2:25 pm

KERAZY wrote:dang.

alright, a run down of how I've understood this info:

If we were to one day set up an EJ20G MY for drift, the best way to do it would be to take out the front drive shafts, replace the 4wd selector and old diff (or a different one), keep it in 4wh, and hey presto. OR, take the front drive shafts out of the stock setup, buy a $900 spool to replace the centre diff, change the rear diff to something like a nissan diff, and thats it?

could there be ANY way of adapting a W58 or something from a JZA70 to an EJ20? this is throwing rationality out the window but, it's a discussion so it doesn't matter.

I think your abit mixed up. There are two simple options;

1 - Use a bog standard EA L series or MY 4x4 gearbox. Remove front drive shafts, select 4x4 - done. (To use this gearbox you will need an adaptor plate to get it to fit the EJ engine).

2 - Use an EJ AWD gearbox. This needs the centre diff replaced with the $900 bit of metal. You will also need a custom shortened tailshaft (because the gearbox is longer). Also will need custom gearbox crossmembers and shortened shifter linkages.

***Upgrade the rear end!
The stock MY rear driveshafts and diff will not last long as they aren't designed to accept ALL the power of the motor, let alone a 300+hp one! You could mess around and try to retro-fit some type of Nissan diff or even a Ford 9" with a live axel. Might want to consider a custom tailshaft with beefed up uni joints too.

If money is an issue then just go for option 1 and don't even worry about upgrading the rear end. Just keep heaps of spares (they are cheap anyway).
If money is not an issue then get a different car which will actually handle well in a drift scenario, I don't rekon the extensive suspension mods required would be worth doing to an MY.

KERAZY · Post by **KERAZY** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:01 pm

no worries. most of my questions answered that. thanks guys.

Phizinza · Post by **Phizinza** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:01 pm

I talked to a guy who ran RWD with a WRX motor in a EA82 with standard PT 5sp box. He said it worked fine for the 5 months he owned it.

If I was going to do a serious RWD conversion I would remove the front diff and plug up the holes, then weld the centre diff.
But, why make a subie RWD? There are much better cars out there for RWD if you want it.

BTW, I've seen the insides of a 98(?) WRX gearbox and it looked the same as the single range EA82 box. There was engine that spot above the diff ready for low range gears. Also the 89 - 94 EJ D/R boxes are compatible on the inside with the RX turbo box and standard L box. So I'm a bit doubt full on this "EA82 gearboxes are weak and can't take the power" thing. Maybe it's just the PT gearset that makes them "weak."

waggaclint · Post by **waggaclint** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:45 pm

[quote="AndrewT"]

1 - Use a bog standard EA L series or MY 4x4 gearbox. Remove front drive shafts, select 4x4 - done. (To use this gearbox you will need an adaptor plate to get it to fit the EJ engine).

if ya do it this way you will lose engine power as the front diff will still turn just cause ya take a shaft out doesnt mean its not still spining inside the box the best way would to to put a spool in it..........as for that drift liberty there were talkn about i seen it at WA drift....it was pretty sad hey flat out spining the wheels let alone gettin it sideways.....