Repair-It

This person did the AWD conversion. Even got a tank instead of a fuel cell! This is pretty interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8AWaPB28o

More explanation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pWXgVvhlKs

Wasn't this maintaining the transverse FWD driveline layout? This doesn't help with the V8 stuff or anything longitudinal.

It puts a rear end with independent rear suspension in the back instead of the live Mustang rear. Not sure the power it can actually handle though.
Yes, I'd still have to figure out the front.

Also, the gearing in the front diff and rear need to match, and the tire height needs to be the same in front and back for AWD.

It looks like the axles on the Mazda3 would match the front diff of the trailblazer ss. Inboard for the trailblazer ss axle and the mazda3 are the same - 26 spline. The outboard is different as the Mazda is 28, on the trailblazer SS it is 27.

So to stay w/Mazda wheels, if length works, the Mazda axles would remain.

You sure the diameter is the same?

Probably see if you can get specs for both axles. Length and diameter.

None of them have diameter, just spline count...

Also, length differences are irrelevant until I know the difference between the inputs on the Mazda trans, and the GM front diff. I think that difference is more important as the wheel bases are also probably different.

In other words, when the trans is removed, how far apart are the axles, and does the GM diff bridge the gap?

Continuing this.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a1 ... rt-review/

Example:
I thought you would like this Used 2017 Ford Fusion for $16,109 on Autotrader

http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/2111eef0

2017 with 39k for $16k. 0-60 in 5.1 and 1/4 in 13.7 @ 101.

To be honest I'd much rather go with a G37 AWD because it runs similar numbers with no turbos and is in a better platform. And they are probably easier to find. And cheaper because they run way older than 2017 obviously.

In fact a few pages back I showed an 09 AWD auto that did 13.9 @ 102. So about the same. The AWD G37 is also 214 lbs lighter than the Fusion Sport. And is on a real RWD-based platform. The Fusion is probably more spacious with a better trunk for what that's worth. But if the standard is an 09 Mazda 3 then you can't really get much tighter as a sedan....

I don't know where I am at... Part of me wants to do the swap, part of me knows it will take a crazy long time, and I'll be driving the RAV in the mean time... ... ... oh man...

The Fusion has some amount of sleeper status, which is cool. 16K is on the high side of what I'd want to spend. It is probably time to look around at where things are at again.

Could get a Charger R/T AWD from 2007 through 2014. They ran it a bit later in the police cars but still with the old Mercedes 5-speed auto and 4Matic system. Problem is they are no faster than a G37 because they are like 4500 lbs. The G37 is going to drive way nicer. And probably be more reliable.

A 2011 WRX still ends up in the same 13.8 1/4 mile range. https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/impreza/ ... the%20road.

Except it traps under 100, and you have to launch it at 6000 rpm to achieve these results. It says it right in the article. So realistically, the WRX is slower than both the Charger R/T AWD and G37 AWD.

For trucks you have the Trailblazer SS AWD and first gen Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. But I don't think these are even that much faster than this 13.8 range.

Nope.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/jeep/gr ... okee-srt8/
13.5 seconds at 101.6 mph

Same basic range, again.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/co ... son-tests/