Just a few questions

1. what does DSM mean? [i had a 240sx SR20DET and now an Alltrac celica so i never really researched this]

2. i pretty sure that they never offered the eclispe in AWD[correct me if need be], isn't it expensive to convert a 1996 to AWD

3. ok and if you had an AWD tranny wouldn't it be possible only to convert it to FWD rather than RWD

i met someone with a 96 eclispe claiming AWD but adjusted the tranny to make it RWD, i asked if he replaced it and he said he only deactivated [i guess thats what you'd call it] the front two wheels

and says he gots 400+rwhp, i can believe the 400+ hp but could you go rwd

would there be any gains from this[rwd]

1) DSM = Diamond Star Motors. (Eclipse/Talon), basically. Use the search function if you want more information.

2) Yes, dsm's come in 4 body styles. [RS, GS, GST, GSX](eclipse) + [ESi/TSi/TSi AWD](Talon) the GSX and TSi AWD are awd.

as for the rwd issue, i dont know, you'll have to find someone else who knows more about custom fabrication. perhaps jake or kevin.

i don't know how you would "deactivate" the front wheels unless he just took the front half-shafts off and somehow plugged up the holes.

I would talk to Jake he'll know about the fabricating part and i dont know about the RWD never head of it.

With a solid center diff you can do either. Remove the front shafts (and find some way to plug the holes, good luck) and you have RWS. Remove the tcase, you have FWD. This is how AWD cars get on FWD dynos ;) THe problem is the rear drivetrain was never built to handle 100% of the torque output. You can get away with it if you do FWD, since you wont get as much traction (wheelspin saves drivetrains, unless it wheelhops of course). But why do that when you can just buy a FWD DSM. I dont know why people have such a boner for buying a car that is one drivetrain type, and then trying to change it to another.