Team Chevelle banner
Cancel

all wheel drive Chevelle?

Jump to Latest Follow
1 - 20 of 35 Posts
big gear head

· Registered
Joined
·
6,573 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Has anyone built an all wheel drive Chevelle? I've been building some 7.2 IFS front differentials and 12 bolt rears for some guys in Poland who are running 1200 HP twin turbo small block Chevys in a Typhoon and an all wheel drive C3 Corvette that they built with the front frame clip from an S10 truck. Traction is poor in Poland because there are no drag strips with rubber on the starting line, so all wheel drive is the way to get traction over there. They're running low 9s on air strips with the Typhoon and plan on running into the 8s with the Vette. I had thought of doing this to an '81 El Camino that I had several years ago, but didn't have the time. I just wondered if anyone had built, or thought of building an all wheel drive Chevelle like this.
 
N

· Registered
Joined
·
18,121 Posts
#2 ·
well, i've got an AWD Astro that just happens to have the same front track width as my Monte, so the thought has crossed my mind.
but i don't have the shop or equipment to do it..
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
G

·
#3 ·
I've seen a couple of El Caminos done, they just put the body on a 4WD chassis. I got to tell you it looks real strange, one had big ass tires and you needed a ladder to get in:sad: :sad: :sad:

Not my thing but whatever floats your boat:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
big gear head

· Registered
Joined
·
6,573 Posts
Discussion Starter · #4 ·
What I was thinking of was something with a low ride height, like the GMC Syclone, but all wheel drive. Summit racing had a 30 something coupe built like this several years ago. I've seen a few other street rods built like this, but not a muscle car. Should have some great 60 foot times.
 
N

· Registered
Joined
·
18,121 Posts
#5 ·
i've heard of a few later G bodies with S10 front suspensions with Astro or Bravada AWD transfer cases.
but for a bigger car like an 77 and older A body, the complete front suspension from an AWD Astro would fit better, and it also has bigger parts that look more like a 1/2 ton pickup than an S10.
i've looked at it- that Astro of mine is either going to get sold, or i'm yanking that front subframe out from under it and stuffing it under the Monte. the steering linkage seems to be the trickiest part, since the Astro box is mounted pretty much straight up and down..
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
5

· Registered
Joined
·
205 Posts
#6 ·
Oh well 2wd isnt bad either with slicks. BUT there is a guy over here in Germany who runs his built 68 camaro dragger with a 650 hp bbc not under 14s a shame. (even with a dual stage nitrous system) As soon as she lifts the front a little he scared and lets of but then does a burnout to heat em up for grip??????(st..id))???ß
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
TTurbo565

· Registered
Joined
·
55 Posts
#10 ·
Freddie,
I have been looking into AWD for my Camaro project. The pictures above of the Chevelle pretty much describe the situation. With the lower hood line of a car relative to the wheel center line, the axle and pinion carrier push the engine back and offset to the side. One solution would be to use a portal gear setup to drop the pinion. Similar to how off roaders raise the pinion housing, but at the ends of the housing to allow CV axles. I have not found any equipment that meets the requirements and that I can afford. It would be one bad azz set up!!

Wow 7 years old!!
 
R

· Premium Member
Joined
·
900 Posts
#12 ·
Could you use the Trailblazer SS setup, the one with the front diff is part of the oil pan? Might make it a bit easier to do, not needing to put the engine back as far. I haven't had a chance to check out a TB SS up close so it may not work. Just a thought.
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
TTurbo565

· Registered
Joined
·
55 Posts
#13 ·
That is a great Idea Randy. The SS setup might work in a rear steer Camaro with an LS engine raised a few inches. I will look into it. My current projects are front steer (C5) LS and Big Block. The SS oil pan will run into my Rack and Pinion on the LS car. On the Big Block I was looking at dry sumping and mounting a HD truck front independent housing to the engine. Even with modifying everything to provide minimum clearance from the crankshaft to modified axle housing, I still need to move the engine up around 3 inches.
 
A

· Registered
Joined
·
9 Posts
#14 ·
Kaizen said:
Alex what transmission and transfer case did you use? Any issues with the pinion angle? what did youuse for the axle shafts and housing?
Click to expand...

The front is a Typhoon differential, rear is a 12 bolts . 3.73/1
Tyres are 255/45/17 and 285/40/17
The tranfer case is a NP149 with viscous coupling.
Transmission is a 4L80 with 3500 RPM billet converter.

Engine is a 355 SBC E85 with 310cfm Vic Jr heads, 255-262 @.050". Diamond 9.75/1 flat top pistons Pulled 1000 DIN HP at 14 PSI in 2WD, more to come as soos as we can put the power on the dyno.
 
1 - 20 of 35 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
About this Discussion
34 Replies
17 Participants
Last post:
65chevelle300post
Team Chevelle
A forum community dedicated to Chevrolet Chevelle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restorations, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Bench Racing Performance Engine Body Shop Chevelle Tech
Top