Repair-It

I was thinking AWD.

There are reasons for this that aren't "The STI is the BEST!!!!!!!".

The Mazda3 most likely doesn't have room for a longitudinal transmission. There also isn't really any rear end for the car to handle real power.

So back to AWD.
The Volvo S40 is AWD and "I think" mostly the same chassis, so the rear might bolt on to my car. I could get the Volvo gas tank also.

Up front, I was thinking LS4 because everyone hates them, so they are cheap. I need a transmission/transfer case though.

I haven't been able to find anything until this:
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/thread ... pd.400080/

I need to research this more.

A quick tally of ebay parts:

LS4: $650 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/06-CHEVROLET-MO ... 9e&vxp=mtr

Trans:
New: $1,094 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-F40-6- ... 88&vxp=mtr

Used: $695 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-NOS-2-0-Tur ... 6e&vxp=mtr

SAAB Transfer Case: $595 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFER-CASE-0 ... 8f&vxp=mtr

So about $2000 if all used.

plus everything else...

Found this also:

LS4 5.3L V-8 bolted to the ultra rare TH125-AWD transmission/transfer case.

"Ultra Rare" doesn't usually mean Ultra cheap...

https://www.facebook.com/EngineeredPerf ... =1&theater

Further research shows that this is similar / the old generation of the Aztek trans: 4t65e transmission. This does look transverse.

I don't think the Saab F40 trans or a TH125 is going to be terribly happy with LS4 levels of torque.