AWD Conversion... is it possible?

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Old May 14, 2005 | 10:34 AM
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AWD Conversion... is it possible?

Just saw this on eBay today...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=46104

Don't know if their claims are legit, but it got me thinking anyway: Can a TSX actually be converted to AWD with the right parts in a pretty much bolt-on project? Or would heavy modifications (welding, fabbing, cutting, etc.) be required?

It would seem to make sense that the AWD systems from something like a CR-V can be adapted to the TSX, but I just wonder if there's enough room under the car.

Not that I would try this anytime soon (at least before my warranty runs out)... but an AWD TSX with added HP (Comptech S/C maybe?) would kick ass. Any thoughts?
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Old May 14, 2005 | 10:40 AM
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Anything is possible. But, it will cost a whole lot of money, time, and heavy modification for it to work. It will not be a simple bolt-on affair.

If you want power and AWD, just buy a Subaru Legacy GT or Mazdaspeed6. Either of those cars will likely blow away a converted AWD TSX w/Comptech supercharger while costing about 1/3 of the price.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 11:01 AM
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R U Retarded

Why would you buy a TSX and spend the money and time to make it AWD? Why not buy a real AWD in the price range like Suburu, G35, Audi? I'm for mods that make sense but sometimes I seriously question the sanity of some of the ppl here. I cringe when I see ppl buy Civics and spend $15k to mod it when they could just buy a TSX or much better car instead. But different strokes for different folks I guess.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 11:03 AM
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I remember when Car and Driver took a Le Car Turbo and converted it to AWD with a SECOND turbo motor in the back. The gas pedal controlled both throttle linkages.

These sorts of things never make sense. When I was in high school there were people who told us how it made no finanical sense to build a Baja Bug (1980, SoCal).

But I think the guys who did had more fun than the ones who didn't...
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Old May 14, 2005 | 11:20 AM
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Hehe. Thanks for the responses guys... I obviously know it makes more sense to just buy an AWD vehicle straight from the showroom. The idea is that this would be a fun project to do and not an economically or financially logical thing to do. Still, good points made by all.

Like I said, it's probably not even feasible. But it's just fun to consider the possibilities, right?

scl23: By the way... retarded... No. Stretching my imagination... Yes. Lighten up, man. Isn't a forum a good place to just discuss ideas?
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Old May 14, 2005 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by McGriddle
Isn't a forum a good place to just discuss ideas?
Isnt that what he was doing?

If you start posting really outlandish things like converting the TSX to awd your going to get some responses your not completey happy with. Learn to deal with it
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Old May 14, 2005 | 11:35 AM
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i/h/e or hondata i can do. but convert the tsx to awd is where i'd draw the line.

sure, anything's possible...but it's not worth the time unless you're a total car nut. like everyone else i waiting for the acura thing to play out - maybe they'll have awd tsx, rdx, and tl by the 2008 model year.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by GIBSON6594
Isnt that what he was doing?

If you start posting really outlandish things like converting the TSX to awd your going to get some responses your not completey happy with. Learn to deal with it
Actually, now that you point it out... you're right. Ah well... my bad. Maybe I am getting a bit retarded!
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Old May 14, 2005 | 12:10 PM
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If you were serious about the conversion, you could actually just convert to RWD instead of using an AWD. THis way you'd save some weight.
Although i dont really see the point unless you're pulling 300+hp. Then you would need more them FWD.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by McGriddle
Just saw this on eBay today...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=46104

Don't know if their claims are legit, but it got me thinking anyway: Can a TSX actually be converted to AWD with the right parts in a pretty much bolt-on project? Or would heavy modifications (welding, fabbing, cutting, etc.) be required?

It would seem to make sense that the AWD systems from something like a CR-V can be adapted to the TSX, but I just wonder if there's enough room under the car.

Not that I would try this anytime soon (at least before my warranty runs out)... but an AWD TSX with added HP (Comptech S/C maybe?) would kick ass. Any thoughts?
The answer is yes.

There are some JDM versions of the CL7/CL8/CL9 with AWD.

But the thing is that it is JDM, and I bet you'd have a hard time doing the swap unless you got a totalled AWD Accord shipped over here. Seeing how just swapping my AT to MT in my old Accord was already a challenge if it was to be done professionally and under some sort of warranty, I would say this project would be 2 to 3 times more difficult.

But you know what? The rewards of succeeding those kinds of projects don't add up in numbers, so if you really want to do it, it's up to you and the means you have for it.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 01:54 PM
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The TSX should be AWD or RWD STOCK!!! Honda are you listening? Oh I forgot you cant hear me too much money in your ears.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by sauceman
The answer is yes.

There are some JDM versions of the CL7/CL8/CL9 with AWD.

But the thing is that it is JDM, and I bet you'd have a hard time doing the swap unless you got a totalled AWD Accord shipped over here. Seeing how just swapping my AT to MT in my old Accord was already a challenge if it was to be done professionally and under some sort of warranty, I would say this project would be 2 to 3 times more difficult.

But you know what? The rewards of succeeding those kinds of projects don't add up in numbers, so if you really want to do it, it's up to you and the means you have for it.
I think it's just the CL8 that's AWD.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by McGriddle
Like I said, it's probably not even feasible. But it's just fun to consider the possibilities, right?
Originally Posted by elduderino
These sorts of things never make sense. ... <snip>...But I think the guys who did had more fun than the ones who didn't...

I agree. It's fun to speculate. There are some people who have actually created some pretty cool frankenstein cars:

240sx w/ the Skyline RB26DETT motor

Mercedes 300E w/ a Lingenfelter V8

3 series BMW w/ the 750iL's V12 motor

Even the first AMG supersedan (The Hammer) was a wild ass conversion 300E with a 5.6 liter V8 from a 560 mercedes that they developed 4 valve cylinder heads and added twin cams to.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan Martin
I think it's just the CL8 that's AWD.
CL8 is wagon right? So no Sedan AWD?
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Old May 14, 2005 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by sauceman
CL8 is wagon right? So no Sedan AWD?
The CL8 is just the chassis code for the AWD platform. They have both sedans and wagons with the CL8 code.

UA-CL7 - K20 engine, FWD, 5AT only, 155hp, sedan and wagon
LA-CL8 - K20 engine, 4WD, 5AT only, 152hp, sedan and wagon
LA-CL9 - K24 engine, FWD, 5AT only, 200hp, sedan and wagon
LA-CL7(Euro-R) - K20A engine, FWD, 6MT only, 220hp, sedan only
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Old May 14, 2005 | 03:12 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Dan Martin
The CL8 is just the chassis code for the AWD platform. They have both sedans and wagons with the CL8 code.

UA-CL7 - K20 engine, FWD, 5AT only, 155hp, sedan and wagon
LA-CL8 - K20 engine, 4WD, 5AT only, 152hp, sedan and wagon
LA-CL9 - K24 engine, FWD, 5AT only, 200hp, sedan and wagon
LA-CL7(Euro-R) - K20A engine, FWD, 6MT only, 220hp, sedan only
Right.

So in theory with all the right parts, this is a doable project.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by sauceman
Right.

So in theory with all the right parts, this is a doable project.
I have a feeling that the CL8 has a different chassis to accommodate the driveshaft to the rear wheels.
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Old May 14, 2005 | 10:09 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by sauceman
Right.

So in theory with all the right parts, this is a doable project.
JDM parts from the CL8, tranny from the CR-V, and something like a custom driveshaft if necessary... hmmm... might be onto something.

For me, I would figure that it might be a project I might want to do with my TSX sometime in the future once my warranty's expired and when I'd be looking to add new cars to the family anyway. Rather than sell the TSX, I'd rather turn it into a project car.

It's just the right size, has great handling, and has an awesome interior. A car like the TSX, with AWD, 300+ horses (using FI) would be a sweet ride. Yeah, it's kinda crazy since it'd be $$$$ for parts and labor... but man would it be fun!

I guess if an AWD TSX comes around later on, the conversion would become much easier...
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Old May 15, 2005 | 03:26 PM
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sorry to lash

retarded was a bit strong but nonetheless, give me ur tsx and the money for the coversion and I'll convert it to an RL w/ $1000 in modifications for you
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Old May 25, 2018 | 11:59 AM
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It is in fact possible, and less costly than some might think.

What year are you talking about, first?
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Old May 25, 2018 | 01:38 PM
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2005 would be my guess
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Old May 25, 2018 | 01:41 PM
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Nice assumption...

I'd love to know how you drew that conclusion when he said "At least not until my warranty is up"...
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Old May 25, 2018 | 01:43 PM
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Try checking the post date

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Old May 25, 2018 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by James James
I'd love to know how you drew that conclusion when he said "At least not until my warranty is up"...
From the date of the first post....2005.
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Old May 25, 2018 | 01:52 PM
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Hmm

Oh, you can see that, too...?
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Old May 25, 2018 | 02:15 PM
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you might as well tell us the parts that make the conversion possible. Go Go James James Gadget!
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Old May 25, 2018 | 02:55 PM
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Is there even room for a driveshaft to go to the back of the sedan? If not, that thing would be sitting pretty dang low.
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Old May 25, 2018 | 03:01 PM
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You might need to fabricate a tunnel for the shaft to go through.
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Old May 25, 2018 | 03:02 PM
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Or, now that it's 13 years later, it might be easier to add electric motors to the rear wheels to get AWD.
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Old May 25, 2018 | 03:06 PM
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or... just keep it as a now 13 year old, $3000 beater, and drive it like it's stolen, until the engine seizes due to lack of oil changes

Bonus points if you drive it like the ol' General from Dukes of Hazard...
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Old May 25, 2018 | 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by cu2wagon
You might need to fabricate a tunnel for the shaft to go through.
naw ya can't. Not unless you can change the interior as well. It'll likely impact the rear seats and trunk, to some degree. I don't know what the bottom of the TSX looks like, but you can't just create a tunnel out of nothing... I imagine the floor will need to be pounded upward (), distorting a bunch of stuff, inside.
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Old May 25, 2018 | 03:16 PM
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screw the middle row.. who sits there anyway
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