awd?

[neox.286]

so now that the speed3 has been out for a while I'm sure there are plenty of people wondering what the possibilities are for upgrading to an awd system?

there are a lot of people who are reaching over the 300 or even 350 whp mark now and as anyone who has raced a FWD car in the past knows, that means your traction will go out the window under hard accelleration

I've heard that there are a few ford or volvo cars that utilize the same platform as the speed3 which encorporate an AWD transmission....is this true? do they run the same motor? is it the same transmission with a different half-shaft assembly, or is it a completely different transmission (most-likely)?

has anyone done any research into this? I would be quite interested in seeing if a setup like this would be possible (though I know there would need to be a lot of modifications to the floor pans and rear suspension) and I also know of a few people personally who would be VERY interested in this kind of a setup =)

any positive input into this is appreciated! this isn't a thread to discuss how stupid it is or how much of an idiot one would be to try this (spank)

 

[1speed3]

awd

the only problem is in an awd vehicle the engine is mounted vertical not horizontal that way the transfercase/tranny goes st8 back. The problem with the ms3 is that the the motor is horizontal thus making it complicated. If u wanted to spend a good amount of money im sure you could build off the mazda6speed platform but it would cost you alot of money being you would have to replace all the steering and suspension components not to mention that you would have to cut them to fit the smaller unibody of the ms3. Basically it would be more cost efficient to get a mazda6speed

 

[udontknowjack]

damn robert....alrite planning and buying parts for a speed 3?

 

[acidbug]

I don't think this idea is worth doing.

Once you add in the extra weight and loss due to the awd conversion..your car will be slower than when you started.

-C

 

[ottawaP5]

the only problem is in an awd vehicle the engine is mounted vertical not horizontal that way the transfercase/tranny goes st8 back. The problem with the ms3 is that the the motor is horizontal thus making it complicated. If u wanted to spend a good amount of money im sure you could build off the mazda6speed platform but it would cost you alot of money being you would have to replace all the steering and suspension components not to mention that you would have to cut them to fit the smaller unibody of the ms3. Basically it would be more cost efficient to get a mazda6speed

The motor is horizontal on the Speed6, shouldn't be a problem for the Speed3.

Probably cheaper to get the 2009 WRX.

 

[tiagotiago]

Well the car can handle AWD since Mazda does offer it on the 3

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123696788

And I remember reading about this conversion in another thread but I can't find it.

DG Motorsports AWD Mazdaspeed 3

It can be done, but I have no idea of the cost. Hope this helps

 

[NCZ13]

the only problem is in an awd vehicle the engine is mounted vertical not horizontal that way the transfercase/tranny goes st8 back. The problem with the ms3 is that the the motor is horizontal thus making it complicated. If u wanted to spend a good amount of money im sure you could build off the mazda6speed platform but it would cost you alot of money being you would have to replace all the steering and suspension components not to mention that you would have to cut them to fit the smaller unibody of the ms3. Basically it would be more cost efficient to get a mazda6speed

not true.

My moms rdx has the engine mounted horizontally.

DG motorsports has a AWD speed3. i believe they took the parts from a cx7 which is based off of the 3.

 

[neox.286]

yea most all awd vehicles are not mounted that way, look at the evo or the sti....there are plenty of awd vehicles where the engine is mounted horizontally (I forget the exact word for it)

acidbbg: again, this isn't a thread to discuss how stupid or not worth it this would be

phil: haha, yes I am =P

tiagotiago: thanks for the links man! I didn't realize that speed3 from dg was AWD! and they live in so-cal, maybe I'll call em up next time I take a trip down there and see if I can stop by and ask some questions ;-)

so far this looks very promising!

 

[intak3_bLkMs3]

i bought the car over a wrx because it was fwd... loss of power through the drivetrain is not worth the better launch to me.. plus most of the racing i do is from a roll and at the track slicks we'll do just fine =D

 

[KaiserSoze]

Well the car can handle AWD since Mazda does offer it on the 3

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123696788

And I remember reading about this conversion in another thread but I can't find it.

DG Motorsports AWD Mazdaspeed 3

It can be done, but I have no idea of the cost. Hope this helps

I haven't heard of anyone else doing an AWD conversion, but as of June/July DG Motorsports DID NOT have an AWD MS3. Someone had taken some pics of the underneath of that exact MS3 and there was no rear diff/axles/drive shaft, etc. I emailed them about it and they emailed me some pics of the under side of some other car that was definitely NOT an MS3. So unless they finally put their money where their mouth is, there is STILL no AWD MS3 and their claim to have one was just a publicity stunt.

 

[tiagotiago]

I haven't heard of anyone else doing an AWD conversion, but as of June/July DG Motorsports DID NOT have an AWD MS3. Someone had taken some pics of the underneath of that exact MS3 and there was no rear diff/axles/drive shaft, etc. I emailed them about it and they emailed me some pics of the under side of some other car that was definitely NOT an MS3. So unless they finally put their money where their mouth is, there is STILL no AWD MS3 and their claim to have one was just a publicity stunt.

Interesting. I only knew what little I read here, but what I read doesn't seem impossible.

But

I do find it odd that on their page they're only concerned with selling body kits and carbonfiber bits for the cars, not really what I'd expect from a company with "motorsport" in its name.

From their show vehicles page:

The newest show car from DGM - the Mazdaspeed 3. This popular car goes Time Attack. Stay tuned for our story about turning this awesome car into an ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE time attack car.

Either they don't update their webpage often, or it still isn't done/finished.

I'm interested in what they tell neox.286

 

[NCZ13]

no the car is done. I know several guys taht have seen the car in person. Their shop is pretty local to me

 

[udontknowjack]

robert....by the time u pull this off...i know i'll be first in line for the next ms3 awd

 

[lil_red_wagon]

the sti actually has the motor facing forward, but it is an h4 set up, so it looks completely different. the evo, all of the volvos, cx7, fusion, etc. all have transversally mounted motors (horizontally mounted), so that isn't the issue.

the issue is the sub-frame and exhaust routing modifications that would have to be done. the tranny could just be pulled off of an ms6 and would fit up without any issues. it will be the drive train clearance that would cause for major modification.

 

[lil_red_wagon]

can we sticky an AWD thread on this forum? i swear that there are two new AWD threads every time i get on here

 

[neox.286]

robert....by the time u pull this off...i know i'll be first in line for the next ms3 awd

rofl, wanna be the guinnea pig? I know jake is down =P

kaizer: that is interesting...I'll keep you posted after I check the car out in person (if they are so kind)

lil_red_wagon: yes you are correct about the sti motor....sorry, it was 4 a.m. when I posted that lol....as for the subframe and drivetrain clearance, I'm sure there will need to be modifications for that however it is not entirely unfeasable and re-routing the exhaust will not be difficult at all...cost isn't really a factor here for me...but this is the stuff I'm looking to figure out: anyone know how different the mounting locations for the speed6 subframe is compared with the speed3? hell, is it the same part? car companies are out to make money rather than loose money, so if they can make parts universal between two cars they will...I wouldn't be surprised if the subframe is quite similar or at least mounts up the same...

intak3_bLkMs3: again, this isn't a discussion about whether or not it is a good idea...it is not for everyone, it is for those who wish to track their car a lot and those who will (and yes, that is a WILL not a might) have traction issues once they get above a certain hp range....again, as I said in the first post, this isn't a thread to discuss 'how stupid this idea is'

 

[LASERBLUE135]

YOU ARE ALL IDIOTS! Buy an MS6, you could probably trade your MS3 for one str8 up. morons. awd ms3 would cost 40K if it was done right...what a waste of space = this thread.

If you have money to burn on a science expirament, go ahead, otherwise don't waste your time or brain cells.

 

[neox.286]

can you read the first post?

did no one read it?

this isn't a thread for that s***, I don't care what you guys think about how stupid of an idea it is! geez, if you aren't interested in posting up information that would be helpfull to the task then stay out of the thread damnit

[/threadjack]

 

[LASERBLUE135]

enough money = anything you can imagine to a car...

of course it can be done, for plenty of money, time, and broken parts/awd that doesn't work properly.

Can I make a car that will fly to the moon? Answer: yes, enough money = anything you can imagine to a car

OK I'm out...sorry to piss on your dream.

 

[ALIEN3T]

the only problem is in an awd vehicle the engine is mounted vertical not horizontal that way the transfercase/tranny goes st8 back. The problem with the ms3 is that the the motor is horizontal thus making it complicated. If u wanted to spend a good amount of money im sure you could build off the mazda6speed platform but it would cost you alot of money being you would have to replace all the steering and suspension components not to mention that you would have to cut them to fit the smaller unibody of the ms3. Basically it would be more cost efficient to get a mazda6speed

I have both on ym Driveway. Ill take the FWD MS3 over the AWD MS6 anyday. lol

Thoughts from looking but i think it was the Volve S40 was the same platform. The rear fo the S40 shoudl work. THe company using my car had a MS6 Rear end lying around. WE have toyed with the idea. HE is knowing hte Volvos pretty well.

(ot the person that though the motor is front to back only for AWD, look at the MAzda protege AWD, 323 (grt, gtx) motor all mounted the same.)

It could be done. Not only rear end. BUt gas tank needs aa swap. and probably the tunnerl. THe mAzda 3 in Japan is offered in AWD but it is also a 1.6

THe race team i work with Races a FOrd Escort he has raced in Speed world challenge in AWD car.s Awd wasnt neeeded or is needed till hittong like the 5400hp mark.
BUT he races a Escort since suspension was done right a researched he at 150hp can give some cars a run for there money that are AWD. so set up and driver will change!

BUT alas. IT might not be just the expense factorBUT its the I have one factor.

another thought i have learned alogn lines from an old wrighter for SPort compact car, who now works at MAzdaspeed and well has a mazda 3 (1 of 2) that somehow didnt get crushed fromt he transport ship that tipped.
well the 5 speed Mazda3 tranny is a variance of the mazda G series tranny. just the bell housing end is diffrent.

Thought there. AWD tranny from a 323 since it was a cable shifted tranny also. and well change the bell housing half of it. and got a AWD tranny unless wanting 6 speed then a MS^ tranny will need ot be done.