Cavy Mid engine... Possibly..

LPlanert · #1 01-13-2007, 01:00 PM

anyone have any Ideas on making a 92 Cavy into a mid engine rear wheel, or have a website to give me Ideas? Im geting creative here, and thought this would make a nice, long (dont forget possibly expensive) project car when I get my new one.. but would like to start looking up things now so I know what im up to. I would love to just gut my car, and basically put it in the back seat, but dont know how things like this really work... I have some other ideas, but I want some help from peoploe who know what there doing...

Schister66 · #2 01-13-2007, 06:24 PM

no...just no

Technically a mid-engine rear-drive car has the engine mounted before the rear tires. In order for this to happen in a Cavalier, you would have to mount the engine half way between the rear seats and the trunk. Although I admire the thought you may have given this, it is not at all practical in any sort of application. Also, if you were serious about doing this, you wouldnt need to ask the questions. As heinous as this seems, i'm sure someone has attempted/completed this. I know that it has been succesfully attempted on a 94 Honda Del Sol w/ an H22 swap in the rear. Doing this requires an immense amout of work. The car needed a roll cage and an entire reworking of all of the systems on the car. The engine harness had to be moved to the rear, the fuel tank had to be relocated and the car had to be strengthened so that the middle of the car could support the extra weight and stress of and engine.

If you do decide to try it.....good luck

LPlanert · #3 01-13-2007, 09:05 PM

yea I knew it would take alot of work, thats why I thought of doing it... I all ready figured I would put the engine in the back seat, or where it is.. I ask these questions only for the reason that there might be something I missed... I planned on the roll cage, moving all the required things, I knew there would be alot of work, thats why I specified it as a project car... as far as the weight of the car, I would probly chop up a frame from a truck, I just want the Cavalier look, and more specifically second gen, with my rust ass panels, because no body likes geting passed by a rusty peice of shit looking car...

I do have it in my head to do it, yes I know I will have problims, and probly want to give up. I know it will cost money, and take years to do, but man when its done.... lol

millrtime · #4 01-13-2007, 09:50 PM

haha that would make an ls1 rwd conversion look easy......dont forget about how ur gonna get air back there. u would proly have to enclose the "engine bay" in the back from the cockpit to avoid horrendus noise. so look forward to some fiberglassing/metal work on the exterior also. what kinda engine are u thinking about putting back there? surely not the stock one u have?

Schister66 · #5 01-14-2007, 12:57 AM

honestly i think it would be a huge waste of money...not to put a damper on your idea, but think about it as an investment. You would invest a lot of money into the project, but when you planned to sell it, you would only get a fraction of what you put into it.

LPlanert · #6 01-14-2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millrtime

haha that would make an ls1 rwd conversion look easy......dont forget about how ur gonna get air back there. u would proly have to enclose the "engine bay" in the back from the cockpit to avoid horrendus noise. so look forward to some fiberglassing/metal work on the exterior also. what kinda engine are u thinking about putting back there? surely not the stock one u have?

Well I was thinking of enclosing the cockpit up pritty tight yea, a few buddys do metal work and welding, adn I tlaked to them and they said to put up a dual metal wall, help somewhat keep the noise and heat in the engine area, and out of the cockpit, and they said they would weld it up for me no problim.. and as for the engine, hell no im not gunna keep the stock one, I want this car to be bad ass remember?? lol jk but nahh, ill definetly go with somethign bigger, V6, possibly 8 for even more power, as for the air, that shouldnt be to hard compair to fiting a small block in the back seat

LPlanert · #7 01-14-2007, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schister66

honestly i think it would be a huge waste of money...not to put a damper on your idea, but think about it as an investment. You would invest a lot of money into the project, but when you planned to sell it, you would only get a fraction of what you put into it.

If I do complete this.. why the hell would I sell? look at it this way, I have a one of a kind, rear wheel drive, small block (possibly) V8 Cavalier. It would be light, with just enought weight to keep me on the road (might have to experiment with this as the time comes), so It would be quick, nimble, one of a kind, I wouldnt possibly sell it, who else out there can raise kids, and show them a car that they basically fabricated with there own 2 hands? not to mention, if I do it right take this car to the strip and blow the rust off of passer by's... If it gets done, ill be siting on somethign with more sentimental value then any old clock or set of china that has been passed down could possibly have.

You guys, Im not doing this for any other reason then I want to, again, I know its gunna take money, I know its gunna take time and work. But what I persinally will be geting out, is more then worth it to me. My dad built a race car when he was younger too, but crashed it when he tried raceing a guy in december on icy roads. I saw pictures of it but never got to see it, and I would have loved to take it for a ride. Thats what I want out of this, not just to turn around and try to sell if for money... I will be bury'd in the fucker if I want to be

notaricajustfasta · #8 01-14-2007, 06:51 PM

My only real input is that if I had that kind of time and money I would be doing something jsut as BA as that. People like schister66 like to talk you out of it cause it will be hard and because they like their Honda's and not Cavys. But judging from your last post you should definitly go for it. I think it would be tight and you should post some pics of the progress once you start up on it.

Schister66 · #9 01-14-2007, 09:51 PM

I wont lie, i do not like Cavaliers and would never own one...i'm not a fan of the style of the Cavalier and i really don't see it as a tuner car like my GSR.

The only reason i wouldn't do this is i would personally much rather spend my money on something with resale value. I wouldn't really be all that impressed by seeing an MR Cavalier. It is a cool idea, but not at all practical. It is your money so go ahead and do whatever you wish. All that matters is that you like it....it doesn't have to be approved by me

LPlanert · #10 01-15-2007, 12:20 AM

Well, Ill be sure to post pic's Wehn I do this.. key word when... At the moment I dont want to be ripping apart my every day driver.. not to mention I dont have the money right now... and its too cold out.. so lets say this summer... hehe (oh and I need money to get a camera.. I dont want to take them all on my camera phone..)

Schister66 · #11 01-15-2007, 01:45 AM

Good luck...i want to see step by step on this. Any thoughts as to what engine you're going to use?? It had better be fuel injected!

LPlanert · #12 01-15-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schister66

Good luck...i want to see step by step on this. Any thoughts as to what engine you're going to use?? It had better be fuel injected!

not sure yet... when the time comes im gunna go to the junk yard and find a fram I can hack up first, then possibly buy an old ish kinda truck and take out the engine... and why Fuel injected? that takes the fun outa it.. lol jk

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