[Reed]

one of the easiest ways to do a build of this level might be to find an entire front clip from any donor car and put it in the back of the recipient car. this would take care of your engine/drivetrain problem as well as the suspension prob. not to mention it would be a very well balanced car.

i drive an mr2 so i am partial to mid engine rear drive cars.

I hate to bring this up cause i hate the show but there was an episode of tuner transformation where they made a tercel into a rear drive drift car. if you could get a copy of that taping or maybe the dvd for that season ill but that might answer a lot of your questions.