I had a very very bad idea
09-20-2012, 06:07 PM
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I had a very very bad idea
So I was cruising Something Awful's Automotive Insanity forum yesterday and read a thread where a guy switched out his GMC Canyon's Atlas I4 for a LS1 V8 and it got me thinking: there's a RWD transmission for I4s?
I then started digging, and while I couldn't find the name or part number of the transmission from the 2004-200X colorados/canyons with the I4s, but I was able to track down the name of the RWD trans they used in I4 S10s. The best part: it's called a Mini-Getrag NV1500 and as far as I can tell, the bellhousings are identical if not almost identical.
Then I went outside and measured the length, heighth, and width of the LSJ in my Ion Redline, and the LxWxH of the engine compartment, and, to me, it looks like this could be done very easily. I need to find a better measuring tape before I can confirm this though.
A better and more detailed outline of this trans
http://www.manualtransmissionpart.co...v1500-2012.pdf
GM Getrag 290 NV3500 Transmission illustrated parts drawings assiting you in identifiy parts. - Drivetrain.com
And then I discovered the trans in the Sky/Solstice: The Aisin AR-5 RWD RPO: MA5. And since it's bolted to the LNF in the Solstice/Sky, it obviously can be bolted to the LSJ with no problems. I think even the flywheel would be hunky dory.
1 2 3 4 5 R
3.75 2.26 1.51 1.00 0.73 3.67
vs our F35:
Final Drive 1 2 3 4 5 R
4.05 3.38 1.76 1.18 0.89 0.70 3.17
The Sky RL with the Turbo upgrade kit makes 290hp and 340lb-ft torque. I would imagine that you would have to use the Canyon/Colorado driveshaft and cut it down a little bit though the IRL and the Colorado/Canyon may be the same length in rear end department. I'm not sure if the bellhousings for the I4 AWD trans from the pickups would match up to an LNF/LSJ nor what their drive ratios are, but that would be even more fun and I don't believe it would require the engine to be rotated if it worked out. (My guess is that the AWD pickup one wouldn't work in this application.)
I know this idea would be quite time consuming and possibly involve quite alot of fabricating and yadda yadda might as well drop an LS1 V8 in there while you're at it yadda yadda but I think that I'd prefer to keep the IRL/CSS as stock as I could, then just RWD convert it. Plus I still love the way my IRL and how the CSS's looks, and for the Ion anyways, it would be THE ultimate boosted I-4 sleeper. If nobody at all expects a Ion to be fast, they certainly don't expect a RWD 320hp Ion.
Now to look into how much all of this would cost and how much time it would take. I'd seriously consider it for a summer project if it's within a level of reasonability, and in my case anyways, I could sell the new F35 that I just put in my Ion and buy a used AR-5 and driveshaft for around the same price that I sell the F35 for, though that could just be me dreaming.
The only real expense and issue that I could see would be the rear differential, I'm not sure how the Sky/Solstice's rear wheelbase compares to an IRL's, but if that's too skinny I feel like the Colorado is as wide as the IRL. Even then though, I'm not sure if you could even play with the rear of an IRL at all without completely tearing up the bottom of the body.
Anyone have any interest in this at all or is this the ravings of a lunatic?
I then started digging, and while I couldn't find the name or part number of the transmission from the 2004-200X colorados/canyons with the I4s, but I was able to track down the name of the RWD trans they used in I4 S10s. The best part: it's called a Mini-Getrag NV1500 and as far as I can tell, the bellhousings are identical if not almost identical.
Then I went outside and measured the length, heighth, and width of the LSJ in my Ion Redline, and the LxWxH of the engine compartment, and, to me, it looks like this could be done very easily. I need to find a better measuring tape before I can confirm this though.
A better and more detailed outline of this trans
http://www.manualtransmissionpart.co...v1500-2012.pdf
GM Getrag 290 NV3500 Transmission illustrated parts drawings assiting you in identifiy parts. - Drivetrain.com
And then I discovered the trans in the Sky/Solstice: The Aisin AR-5 RWD RPO: MA5. And since it's bolted to the LNF in the Solstice/Sky, it obviously can be bolted to the LSJ with no problems. I think even the flywheel would be hunky dory.
1 2 3 4 5 R
3.75 2.26 1.51 1.00 0.73 3.67
vs our F35:
Final Drive 1 2 3 4 5 R
4.05 3.38 1.76 1.18 0.89 0.70 3.17
The Sky RL with the Turbo upgrade kit makes 290hp and 340lb-ft torque. I would imagine that you would have to use the Canyon/Colorado driveshaft and cut it down a little bit though the IRL and the Colorado/Canyon may be the same length in rear end department. I'm not sure if the bellhousings for the I4 AWD trans from the pickups would match up to an LNF/LSJ nor what their drive ratios are, but that would be even more fun and I don't believe it would require the engine to be rotated if it worked out. (My guess is that the AWD pickup one wouldn't work in this application.)
I know this idea would be quite time consuming and possibly involve quite alot of fabricating and yadda yadda might as well drop an LS1 V8 in there while you're at it yadda yadda but I think that I'd prefer to keep the IRL/CSS as stock as I could, then just RWD convert it. Plus I still love the way my IRL and how the CSS's looks, and for the Ion anyways, it would be THE ultimate boosted I-4 sleeper. If nobody at all expects a Ion to be fast, they certainly don't expect a RWD 320hp Ion.
Now to look into how much all of this would cost and how much time it would take. I'd seriously consider it for a summer project if it's within a level of reasonability, and in my case anyways, I could sell the new F35 that I just put in my Ion and buy a used AR-5 and driveshaft for around the same price that I sell the F35 for, though that could just be me dreaming.
The only real expense and issue that I could see would be the rear differential, I'm not sure how the Sky/Solstice's rear wheelbase compares to an IRL's, but if that's too skinny I feel like the Colorado is as wide as the IRL. Even then though, I'm not sure if you could even play with the rear of an IRL at all without completely tearing up the bottom of the body.
Anyone have any interest in this at all or is this the ravings of a lunatic?
09-20-2012, 06:43 PM
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I see where you are going but I think honestly for the amount of time and money you would spend to make everything right, you might as well buy yourself a sky/solstice.
09-20-2012, 06:55 PM
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Just found these after a bit more searching:
I don't like two seaters that much, and if I were to get a two seater the only ones I would consider would be Corvettes and Vipers :naughty:
I would imagine that if you converted this to RWD it would be more akin to a Mustang, RX-8, Hyundai Genesis, and Camaro... That sounds pretty appealing to me
I would imagine that if you converted this to RWD it would be more akin to a Mustang, RX-8, Hyundai Genesis, and Camaro... That sounds pretty appealing to me
09-20-2012, 06:58 PM
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also: https://sites.google.com/site/gobaltss/
09-20-2012, 07:22 PM
#10
You still have to fabricate a driveshaft tunnel, custom motor and transmission mounts, custom built rear suspension, custom rear axles, custom rear end mount, chassis bracing, custom front end since the axles won't be going to the front wheels anymore. The solstice stuff isn't just gonna "bolt up," it's an entirely different car. The motor itself is pretty much the only similarity between the cobalt and solstice.
09-20-2012, 07:29 PM
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after reading through the thread though, I think that this would be doable but not for as cheap as I had previously thought
09-20-2012, 07:40 PM
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i just think the opposite, people think im nuts. i want to take a C4 and an LNF built and put that together
or cut up an Subi and a 4 door cobalt and med them togther
or cut up an Subi and a 4 door cobalt and med them togther
09-20-2012, 07:56 PM
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This was way more expensive than I really imagined, if I could get a hardtop Solstice I'd be happy with that over a RWD IRL/CSS haha. Well at least it was a fun idea
09-20-2012, 08:36 PM
#17
It would be easier and cheaper to just go buy a mustang. It would also be more reliable and have some resale value.
Your project pretty much involves building a new car that fits under the ion body.
Your project pretty much involves building a new car that fits under the ion body.
09-20-2012, 08:56 PM
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I would happily trade my cobalt and eclipse as well as pay 100 dollars more a month for a GXP solstice manual.... finding one is a different story.
09-21-2012, 02:51 PM
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You still have to fabricate a driveshaft tunnel, custom motor and transmission mounts, custom built rear suspension, custom rear axles, custom rear end mount, chassis bracing, custom front end since the axles won't be going to the front wheels anymore. The solstice stuff isn't just gonna "bolt up," it's an entirely different car. The motor itself is pretty much the only similarity between the cobalt and solstice.
I've done my research on this topic too! You're looking at crazy money just on fab work. Or if you are doing the fab work yourself you are looking at this being a project that takes up all your spare time and your patience. I will however say good luck!
It is not worth the money you will put into it. You might as well just go by a corvette...
