2006 Impala FWD to RWD Conversion

[RWDImpalaSS]

Hey guys, i need a little help.....

I have a 2006 Chevrolet Impala LT w/3.5L V6 (213hp 215lb-ft torque). I have a STS single turbo kit, KYB AGX adjustible shocks, Eibach pro-kit springs, Comp Cams magnesium Rocker Arms, and manual boost controller, and HP Tuners dyno tune (300whp, 320lb-ft @ 7psi).

I want to do a RWD conversion on it, but i cant find a Transmission that bolts up the the bell housing bolt pattern on the 3.5L V6. The 4L60-E is the closest i could find within the GM selection of transmissions.

The current FWD 4T65 holds up to 400lb-ft of torque, so controlling the power i have is not a problem, it still shifts fine, but obviously, torque steer is annoying. I wanna make a "Real" Impala.


Any help with this problem would be much appreciated.

[Hudson]

Finding a transmission should be the least of the problems here. The Impala's 3.5L V6 is based on the old Chevrolet 60-degree V6 (dating back to the 1980 X-body). The old engine was used in early S/T trucks (S10, S10 Blazer, S15, S15 Jimmy) as well as the early 1990s Camaros. I'm not sure how the new version would mate up to those transmissions.

What rear suspension are you looking at? How are you going to revise the front suspension? have you looked into engine mounts? How about gas tank placement? Is there enough room for a transmission tunnel or are you building one?

[Slideways]

Anything is possible, but if you want an Impala with 300rwhp, my suggestion is to buy a G8 GT, swap a Lumina nose on it, add some Impala badges, and be done with it. Probably a lot cheaper that way. :-)

GM built a RWD Monte Carlo several years ago using a Camaro floorpan. Maybe you could grab the transmission like Hudson mentioned and also use most of the lower unibody as well.

[RWDImpalaSS]

Originally Posted by Hudson

Finding a transmission should be the least of the problems here. The Impala's 3.5L V6 is based on the old Chevrolet 60-degree V6 (dating back to the 1980 X-body). The old engine was used in early S/T trucks (S10, S10 Blazer, S15, S15 Jimmy) as well as the early 1990s Camaros. I'm not sure how the new version would mate up to those transmissions.

What rear suspension are you looking at? How are you going to revise the front suspension? have you looked into engine mounts? How about gas tank placement? Is there enough room for a transmission tunnel or are you building one?

well im still in the beginning stages of this project, so this is my starting point. I know a few guys that can make me a custom driveshaft to fit whatever tranny and rear end i go with, i would probably remove the spare tire well and mount the tank there since there is plenty of room there, i would definnately have to build a transmission tunnel which is very simple, engine mounts can be fabed up to the existing sub-frame, etc. I havent actually gotten into the suspension part of it yet, but like i say, im still in the beginning stages and planning part of it. But any other help u could offer would be much appreciated.

[RWDImpalaSS]

Originally Posted by Slideways

Anything is possible, but if you want an Impala with 300rwhp, my suggestion is to buy a G8 GT, swap a Lumina nose on it, add some Impala badges, and be done with it. Probably a lot cheaper that way. :-)

GM built a RWD Monte Carlo several years ago using a Camaro floorpan. Maybe you could grab the transmission like Hudson mentioned and also use most of the lower unibody as well.

See, the thing is, that's basically what GM will be doing in the near future, leaving its W-body heritage. I want to make what GM should have made with the launch of the 2006 model Impala: RWD with big power, good for cruising on the highway with good economy (thus the desire to use the STS single turbo V6 rather than a V8, which i wouldnt mind if i had no choice), and still completely destroys the Charger SRT-8, 300C, and even the Challenger. (shooting for 500hp).

I realize it would take a lot of money to do it, but this is a dream that ive had since 2006, so u can imagine ive got quite a plan for it lol

[BlueChevyGuy]

How about a 1994-1996 Impala SS? You can find good ones if you look hard enough. Or is that just too large of a car for you. And if you do go that route, if the horsepower isn't quite enough for you, then do the turbo work and you'd have a sleeper Imp that hauls some major bootie! Good luck.

[RWDImpalaSS]

Originally Posted by BlueChevyGuy

How about a 1994-1996 Impala SS? You can find good ones if you look hard enough. Or is that just too large of a car for you. And if you do go that route, if the horsepower isn't quite enough for you, then do the turbo work and you'd have a sleeper Imp that hauls some major bootie! Good luck.

Thanks. But i really like the potetial that GM had with this '06-'09 body styling and I am really hard set on using it for my platform. Its gonna be hard, but nothing worth having is ever easy, right? lol.

Well, i have a STS turbo kit that i just put on and had tuned by HP Tuners in SC that put down 300whp and 320torque @ 7 psi, but i wanna make it RWD so that the power is usable in something other than a straight line.

[BlueChevyGuy]

I like the styling too (Monte Carlo SS for me though.) Good luck with the build!

[RWDImpalaSS]

Originally Posted by BlueChevyGuy

I like the styling too (Monte Carlo SS for me though.) Good luck with the build!

Thanks!

[73ChevelleSS]

Any pics of the turbo set up?

[RWDImpalaSS]

Originally Posted by 73ChevelleSS

Any pics of the turbo set up?

I'll get some up as soon as i can. Its pretty sweet and if i can find the website, im gonna order 2 of these CO2 based tube intercoolers that go in-line with the charge pipes. Its kinda hard to find a FMIC that will fit in the front bumper and be efficient, so i saw these in a Modified Mag issue and decided to give it a try....as soon as i find it again lol....i'll put up the website when i find it as well.

[newdude]

Anything is possible. If you can find help, or are capable of doing some of the work yourself, it can be done. Would it take a very good amount of fabricating? yep. Here are some W-body conversions that have been done:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/665715

That guy has a whole breakdown of what he used to do it.

Here is a Z34 RWD conversion: http://60degreev6.com/forum/f109/v8-...-w-body-t26346

Although not a W-body:

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

[nailhead425]

If you are a pro and great at fabrication, or better yet have a ton of money to pay someone else to do it, I would strongly advise you not to bother.

You will need to either jig the car or better yet cage it while you section in a RWD compatable floor pan. At best you'll fabricate a race car chassis into the new floor pan and existing bracing. Since you will be changing the chassis dynamics with a 400hp RWD set up I doubt that you'd be able to brace the existing structure without significant changes.

[2005 Equinox LS]

Why?

[GMCSonoma]

maybe utilize the awd u-van rear suspension with a cts type rear diff???

Just rambling!