4x4 Yaris

[myfirstyota]

I know we've gone over this before, but not quite like this...

I started a thread a while back about all wheel drive. We brainstormed some good ideas, but nothing really seemed feasible for cost and result. One of our biggest hurdles was sending power to the rear. Yes, there are native awd yari out there, in some markets. Yes, they can imported. Yes, its so much easier than building one.

But...

They have small engines, undesirable gear boxes and lets be real, the cost of importing one to North America wouldn't be worth it.

I have an idea of a v8 powered, AWD/4WD, solid axle beast of a yaris sitting on 31-33" tires. Imagine a yaris body on a jeep frame....but that would be too easy.

Now stay with me here guys.

Engine:
The chevrolet LS platform is a pretty nifty one. Good power in a tight package. People have shoved these engines into literally everything and jdm is no exception. They are also very easy to wire as a standalone setup with the oem ecu. Yes I know ill have to cut the firewall, and Floorplan...extensively.

Transmission and transfercase:
The go-to transmission for an LS engine in a car or light truck is GM's 4L60E. Naturally these transmissions are available in a 4x4 version allowing the installation of a transfercase directly to the transmission. There are many companies that make adapters from the 4L60E to a plethora of transfercases from other manufacturers.

After much research, I believe the NP242J is a good fit for a transfercase. It is found in jeeps from the mid 80's up till the 2000's and is known for its "select trac" option not found on other transfercases. The transfercase has 4 modes. 2wd, 4x4 full time (awd), 4x4 part time (4 hi), and 4 Low. In 4x4 full time the transfercase acts as an open diff sending 48% power to the front and the remainder to the rear. In 4x4 part time and 4 low the transfercase locks sending an equal split of power front and rear. It is also a manually shifted case which should make installing a shifter easier than making electronic shift selectors work in the yaris.

Chassis:
I would also imagine the unibody would not be up to the task of containing such a driveline so a custom framework would have to be made. I envision a framework that follows the underbody tightly, 2 frame rails front to back with crossmembers as required and attaching to the front subframe and rear axle mounts with factory fasteners.

Axles:
The 1996-9 jeep cherokee xj has a set of axles that I would deem just about right. Not too heavy, not too wide, but strong enough for the weights involved. Also there's is just about every option available for upgraded differentials, gears and axle shafts.

Suspension:
The jeep cherokee has a 4 link setup on the dana30 front axle. This wouldn't be hard to adapt to the framework with a universal 4 link kit. The rear axle leaf spring mounts would have to be removed as I think a triangulated 4 link would be a good fit for the rear. A universal kit would work well here as well.

This won't be a quick project. I actually don't plan to start it for a while. But I have started collecting parts :)

[myfirstyota]

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[Neinris]

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[Neinris]

OK I'm being serious now. How about a 2013 Suzuki SX4 AWD 6 speed manual? Supposedly had 150herspers.

[CrankyOldMan]

Why not go full People Eater and just put the Yaris unibody on a truck frame? I've got a rusty old 2500HD in the driveway and an Echo RS hatch with terminal body rot... =D

[myfirstyota]

Originally Posted by Neinris

OK I'm being serious now. How about a 2013 Suzuki SX4 AWD 6 speed manual? Supposedly had 150herspers.

if I'm gonna go through all the hassle of swapping in a driveline that has no business in a yaris, I wouldn't want to go through all that trouble for 50 extra hp. Dont get me wrong, it would be better on fuel than an LS...but im not after fuel economy. Im after the baddest yaris ever built. That would be hard to say with a straight face for the sx4 driveline lol

Also the sx4 works like a crv or rav4 when it comes to its awd. Its primarily a front wheel drive until the wheel speed sensors detect slippage. Then the computer transfers power to the rear. For simplicity sake I think would be best to use a transfercase with manual shiftng.

[myfirstyota]

Originally Posted by CrankyOldMan

Why not go full People Eater and just put the Yaris unibody on a truck frame? I've got a rusty old 2500HD in the driveway and an Echo RS hatch with terminal body rot... =D

I had originally thought of that plan. I think everyone's seen the corvette or camaro 4x4. The 1986 iroc thrown onto a blazer frame. Although cool, the frame always seems to look unnatural. The body just kinda sitting on top. Looks awkward to me. That's why I was thinking the custom frame to follow the floorpan. Tuck it all up in there.

Plus I dont see the challenge to dropping a body on an existing frame with suspension and axles. All you'd have to do is fab the body mounts, connect the steering shaft, hook up the brakes and gas pedal and youre done.

Im currently building an 1987 Oldsmobile cutlass Supreme. Added crossmembers, boxed the frame, gusseted control arm mounts and the like in an attempt to stiffen the frame. Doing all that got me wanting to do something totally custom next time around.

I aways seem to push myself further every build i take on. Keeps things interesting and keeps me on my toes lol

[Leegamer]

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