jkinneberg

Now some old timers are going to scoff at the thought of a All Wheel Drive C5 Corvette, although has anyone ever seen a drive train modification of this extreme executed? Could such a massive drive train modification be done, we all know the built in traction control would be totally thrown away.

No after market manufacturer would allocate a production line to create a kit for such a modification as it would not sell well do to many reasons many of you are no doubt going to comment on.

Lately I have been toying with the Idea of modifying my 99 C5 although clearance for starters is going to be a huge stopper although does anyone believe this is possible, or have any helpful comments?

P.S. yes it would simmer my rear tire burnout rate

gyoung

What's to gain other than added weight?

jkinneberg

Not alot, just one could race on a track with corners

Well Now I've just made Friends

Really can anyone comment seriously on the aformentioned question?

Evil-Twin

You can bolt a C5 body on a four wheel drive frame, like a monster truck, but you could not have a low to the ground, visibly pleasing C5 with front and rear wheel drive.. there is just no room under the car for a transfer case, or a front drive differential.You might be able to do it with a transverse mounted V6 like a VR4 or a Dodge stealth, But not with a V8.

c5chris

It would be a good idea, an AWD car would be great in the rain or slick roads. But I dont drive the C5 in the rain, in fear that it will melt.

Seriously, the added weight would be offset by the other advantages of an AWD car. To have an idea of it, drive an Infiniti G35 sedan (RWD) and its AWD brother, the G35x. You can rocket out of the corner with the G35x and the AWD feeling of it is transparent - but it is there. It behaves like a RWD (20/80 ratio F:R) until it feels slippage. Then it can go 50:50 on the traction if it needs to.

This cannot be a DIY job though with all the sophisticated electronics of the C5.

kaapuni

Okay...just for the fun of thinking this thing out....

There's not enough clearance to do it right...

You have to find room for a transfer case (to provide driveshaft rotation to a front differential), a driveshaft to the front differential, a front differential, shafts to the front wheels.

Due to a C5s design, including closely packed components, flat bottom, torquetube, hydroformed frame...if you wanted to do this wihtout jacking up the car....

Due to integral trans-diff design, the hardest part is going to be getting the same drive ratio off the trans to the t-case...or figuring out a ratio that would eliminate difference...

You may be able to do all kinds of things...whack the floorpan and replace the rear trans with an engine mounted trans with a ujoint convertor input to the rear diff or t-cas convertor plate attached to rear diff, run the front driveshaft through a tunnel hacked into the floor pan...use a 1:1 tcasesomewhere in the chain...use custom a-arms on the front/cut and box c-notches in the front frame/use chevy truck spindles-shafts....you'd have to find a place for the front diff...hard with the room you have....

I have seen this done to a 32 ford frame and body.......using components from the turbo'd v6 Typhoon and Cyclone trucks and SUVs...so yeah...it 'could' be done...but as stated you are going to have to cut the frame and hack holes into the passenger compartment to make room for components, and suffer other things like...the a-arms being too far out for wide fronts and...there may be nothing available out there currently for some of your parts needs...some custom manufacturing....

You could go to custom manufacturing to design the parts with space allotments...still have to do some floorpan and frame cutting...and I'd still say you couldn't build components small enough to fit in the spce requirements that would also handle the power...

I see nowhere to put the front differential...that's a toughy...you've got to remember...these cars were maximized for their intended use...and it wasn't awd or fwd...

I'd say...the easiest way...would be to hack the springs, differentials, and tcase off a fullsize 4wd, custom fab frame mounts...and jack that puppy up to clear the components...

95BLKVette

I think you probably have way too much free time on your hands

jimmymc

u think

blu00rdstr

FWIW, Acura considered putting lightweight 50hp electric motors on the front wheels of the NSX. Instant 100hp e-boost.

You can't put std 4x4 on a C5, nothing will fit under that oil pan or in front of the crank pulley.

acrdakota

The only guy I can think of who could accomplish such a thing is Troy T. Of Rad Rides by Troy. If that **** can may a 32' hi-boy AWD anything is possible. And I dare any of you guys to race that thing 0-60 slicks or not cause from what I hear it runs it in 2.9 on street tires.

leaftye

Not worth AWD for the Corvette for all the reasons posted above. I've heard rumors of AWD for the next GTO. I hope it's true.

Lancer033

even if the advantages to AWD were enough to consider this being a worth project, there just isn't enough room to fit all the hardware and the LS1 under the hood.

Ls1Rat

you might want to look at the 4WD C4 at the NCM for a starting point

corvettebob1

Don't know if it's the same one, but we did build 1 at GMPG back in the late 80's and it was powered by a 4.3 with turbos if I remember correctly.

xtream1

The Silverado SS already has all the componants needed but there just isn't any room available in the vette amongst other things (like the rear trans/torque tube). Now, you might have better success with a camaro body/driveline but it would still be difficult to fit.

leaftye

Well, there is plenty of room if you jack it up like a truck. Vette Doctors already runs a solid axle in their drag car. Stick another axle up front, mount a F-body tranny to the engine and a transfer case in the middle and some custom shafts, and we'd have a 4wd Vette truck!

Paras

I'd love to see someone do it. I want the cornering of a WRX and the power of a Vette without turbo...

Cobra4B

WTF... have you ever even tracked a Corvette, let alone a Z06? Come out the VIR and I'll show you how bad a C5 is on a road course.

quick99ls1

leaftye

Like I mentioned before, AWD is best for the porkly GTO. The last thing we need is extra weight. The Audi's are already aluminum and AWD. Look how much it costs for an aluminum frame on the C6 Z06, then tack on another $10K for AWD....no thanks! Now on the GTO, a car that will never be fast enough to compete with the Mustang, AWD would put it into a different category....one that I'd strongly consider paying for.