Two Wheel Drive

[mccroz]

I have looked at a Rav4 '95 3 door with a view to entering the mcc Lands End event ( No 4x4 allowed )

I read the post on making one front wheel drive but would like to make it Rear wheel drive. ( I know - All a bit more complicated ! ) Does anyone have any experience of this ? Would taking the front drive shafts mean I wont go anywhere ? And with no oil ? A Rav 4 would make a great trials car for this kind of event with its short wheel base and 2 l engine and ground clearance. The rwd cars tend to be much more competative.

Thanks in anticipation, Croz

[bothwell_buyer]

I have looked at a Rav4 '95 3 door with a view to entering the mcc Lands End event ( No 4x4 allowed )

I read the post on making one front wheel drive but would like to make it Rear wheel drive. ( I know - All a bit more complicated ! ) Does anyone have any experience of this ? Would taking the front drive shafts mean I wont go anywhere ? And with no oil ? A Rav 4 would make a great trials car for this kind of event with its short wheel base and 2 l engine and ground clearance. The rwd cars tend to be much more competative.

Thanks in anticipation, Croz

I think 2 wheel drive were exported to USA....and other countries. If you've got mega bucks, you could swap the gearbox or engine/gearbox to give you rear wheel...but the 3SFE engine was I think mainly front wheel drive. The MR2 of the same age was a rear wheel drive but then it was rear mounted as well!!

Never heard of a rear wheel drive - and don't see how you could use the existing set up without major surgery. What about disconnecting the rear prop shaft and driving in reverse the whole way!! :lol:

Interested tho - have you tried RAV4worls as they have guys across the world who have done daft things to RAVs?

[anchorman]

You would have to get a pair of drive shafts and dissasemble them to use just the "stub ends". The inner ends would have to be fitted to contain the oil and the outer ends form part of the hub assembly. I wouldn't expect any imbalance problems so close to the axis. The important thing is to use only the fixed ends as you don't want any unused part of a shaft flailing around. The shafts will come apart quite easily.

You would then need to leave the diff lock permanently engaged to ensure drive to the rear wheels. I guess you would do better with a limited slip rear axle but you will have to delve outside the normal spec of the RAV.

Good luck.

[mccroz]

Thanks anchorman & bothwell buyer for your helpful posts. The very low milage 3 door I looked at has sold ! However there are lots around. Think I will get a drive shaft from a breaker and have a play with it.

Have found a 3 door with a snapped cam belt - Do you know if the valves hit the pistons or not ? If not it may be a good buy for me.

Thanks again,

Croz

[anchorman]

Croz

This shows how to disassemble the drive shaft;

The timing belt is interferance so it will most likely have damaged the engine. Only stripping it would tell for sure.

Good luck

PS Used to stay at the Manor Inn when I was visiting Dennis Specialist vehicles!

[bothwell_buyer]

Thanks anchorman & bothwell buyer for your helpful posts. The very low milage 3 door I looked at has sold ! However there are lots around. Think I will get a drive shaft from a breaker and have a play with it.

Have found a 3 door with a snapped cam belt - Do you know if the valves hit the pistons or not ? If not it may be a good buy for me.

Thanks again,

Croz

chances are the engine is well bent. However 3SFE engines come in around £200 + fitting. I think I might have a spare 3SGTE but its the bare engine and manifolds but no sensors.

[Robert6920]

Not sure if I've got the wrong end of the stick (as it were) but you can easily buy a 2wd Rav4 here in Ireland; many of them are front wheel drive as they were built down to a price, because vehicles cost a lot more here than in the UK. My better half has a 2005 Rav4.2 1.8l 1ZZFE vvti two (front) wheel drive

It looks just like the 4wd (well, not from below, obviously)

Good luck in your quest

[bothwell_buyer]

I think the happie chappie wants rear wheel drive to do some serious drifting?????

Could always lift off the bodyshell and turn it 180 horizontally. Just means it would be rear wheel steering