Big Mike

More or less anyways...By popular demand of resident gramar and spelling as well as acuracy in tech talk ****, Jesse, I'm cross posting this from Escortracing.com...

I think I've become pretty much the authority on this particular subject through extensive research.
Can it be done? yes
Can it be done easily? depends on your definition of easily...

Basically usdm 323 GTX 1.6 drivelines dont fit very well, BG 323 and Laser TX3 drivelines FIT, but they require modifications. Our floorpan is not the same as a stock 4wd model, the front of the car is where the biggest differences are. 4wd models use a 2 piece engine cradle and the rear section replaces part of what is sheetmetal floor pan in our cars. Basically, to do the swap you need the rear diff/carrier/suspension/knuckles/brakes etc, the driveshaft, the shifter assembly, gas tank, and transmission. The main things you need to do is make a custom rear tranny mount to work with a USDM cross member, and possibly modify the crossmember itself for clearance, next you would need to relocate the power steering rack higher on the firewall and use longer tie rods to keep the toe correct to fit the driveshaft through, you'd also need a second access hole and a means of controlling fuel pump #2 in the hump shaped 4wd gas tank, finally the 4wd carrier bolts to 2 of the 4 carrier bolts from the usdm rear suspension carrier, but you'd have to add the other two as they arent in the right spot. It can be done far easier than alot of cars which would require an all out custom job as we have the driveshaft and carriers and such sized correctly for our car available. It may also be possible to hack out part of the leading edge of the firewall section and swap in the appropriate 4wd version. Here in the US the only bolt in way to to it is if you own a 90-91 protege 4wd and swap out the engine and tranny, then you have a true BG GTX Familia sedan...a JDM gtx ecu can control all this stuff, but its gauge cluster and dash wiring is on the wrong side.

sirfei

Hey all,
I've heard a bit about these GT-X conversions and whatnot dealing with a 4wd Protege. I've owned (and am the second owner of this vehicle) of a '90 4wd, 5spd Protege since 1999. It's not in the greatest shape (a couple bumps and bruises here and there, but nothing that can't be fixed fairly easily), and I'm currently working to fix it up and make it a more flashy vehicle (some of you might have seen my posts in the audio forum section).
I was wondering what this GT-X conversion was as I am looking to increase the HP in my protege to give it more of a bite when accelerating and top speed. Any suggestions? Or pointers to other forum posts?

4WDSlug

can a gtx tranny and transfer case be swapped into a 4wd pro to make it more durable, without a motor change, that would be nice....

Big Mike

I don't like to conjecture, but it should work, the B8 and BP use the same bell housing patterns, you might need front CVs or flywheel/clutch assembly from a 4wd BPT to make it work right, but the tranny will bolt in and its just a matter of collecting up the extra pieces.

limpgtx

heres a 4wd (so they say) protege.
http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/v...r=&cardist=153

Big Mike

it probably is since they also mention it has a Jspec VLSD tranny, which is a real GTX tranny, so aparently the swap can be done with a B8 motor still in it <which sounds feasible to me>