Cheapest-best way to convert fwd suspension for rwd use in race car?

[Turbofreak]

Hello all....

I have a buddy who recently back-halved a 1988 Shelby z Daytona....

the car was missing all of it's good turbo parts already, but is super straight and nice.....

It currently sits with a new back half under it with a highly modded Chrysler 8-3/4 rear end with back brace and heavy duty ladder bar setup with Koni coilovers....

I am considering purchasing it for a RWD turbododge project ....

How do you convert the front suspension for use with a rwd platform?

Mustang parts and pinto rack?

Full tube chassis with strut front end?

any ideas or pics of old mopar performance conversion kit for this?

Thanks!
RYNO
OMNILET

[CD'sSuper60]

Here's a guy who made a RWD with a 2.2 setup,I'm assuming your talking about putting a V8 in it and making it street worthy,he did well with a 4cyl even though this is related to a drag car I figured it was worth posting about for its uniqueness or maybe some idea's or if you want to contact him.

http://morris.accesszone.com/rwdadapter/index.html

http://morris.accesszone.com/

[altered7151]

I'd probably go for the mustang II suspension on the front, would be fairly simple to install, and there's a huge aftermarket for parts.

[MachIIIRayzor]

A while ago I saw one for sale I think.
86 silver daytona with a 318, and looked bone stock with steel wheels

[Avenger]

To use the stock front end, you'd have to have something in the steering knuckle and hub, maybe just disassemble the outer CV joint?

[22dodge]

back in the old MP catalog was a Daytona RWD conversion K-frame. you may want to do some digging to find that pattern. If it was me, I would figure out a way to work around or modify the front K-member.... like you could try to see how things fit as it sits, modify oil pan, fabricate your own motor mounts, trans cross member, etc... if the k frame poses a problem, leave it bolted in, take out the rack, cut out the center of the k-frame, then modify as needed. Heck I've done A LOT of odd conversions over the years, there is NOTHING you can't do with a torch, sawz-all, welder, some steel and a little creativity... Like I installed a 2300 ford engine into a Vega chassis, a Buick Nail head into a 52 ford, a Dodge Aries rear axle assembly into a Pontiac grand am, 289 into a pinto wagon... and much much more.

I would, however, remove the heavy 8 3/4 rear end and go with a ford 8" if you are doing a 4cyl turbo setup. the 8" is quite a bit lighter, has LOTS of gear ratios and way cheaper parts. you can have custom axles made (or do it yourself) to have the same 100mm bolt pattern on all 4 corners. just install the outer CV joint into the front spindles. do a low cost coil over conversion on the front like I described numberous times

[SwiftTech]

I remember reading the old MP kit used special kframe w/ a Dakota rack and pinion and you had to switch the knuckles side to side. It had provisions for mounting a small block into it .

[Turbofreak]

I was thinking something like a Dakota or Pinto manual rack and swapping the spindles side to side would work.... Of course, reversing how the K frame sits open in the front to being open in the rear would be some work, but I don't see it as an impossibility at all...

Thanks for the tips on the rearends, but this thing already has a very heavy duty 8-3/4 inch in it, and it is set up with axles and all good parts in it already...

I plan on going mid 9's or faster with this car, whether it is with a turbo 4 or a nasty 498 WEDGE engine or I don't know what.... yet... depends on my current employment situation and money I guess....

If it gets a 4 cylinder, I can guarantee it will be a DOHC TIII or Masi or HYBRID neon headed animal..... somewhere in the 600-700hp range.....

Otherwise, I am even toying with the idea of a Toyota Supra 2jz-GTE engine with a Gm Turbo 400 tranny..... or even a trailblazer chevy inline- 6 -4.2L

I could run a stock block engine up to about 850whp with a great tune....

I would say that should be good for some mid to high 8's with a daytona like this..... and it would still be street legal....

I dunno, like I said, it is all a matter of getting a better job or living with what I have now... with a difference of about $1000 more take home per month at the better job..... They are on a corporate hiring freeze now, so I am having to wait it out... already been to a 2nd interview with them and they are very interested in me... I was 3 days away from hearing their decision when the hiring freeze happened...!!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

anywho...

Thanks again,
RYNO
OMNILET