Finally... P80 AWD Delta Link Rear Suspension Swap

[bmdubya1198]

If it wasn't for the fuel tank nonsense and the lack of actual support for the AWD suspension stuff, I wouldn't mind having that instead of the Delta link set-up.

I mean I do custom stuff all of the time for my cars anyway, but I have other projects to direct that energy towards.

( I would REALLY like my 854 to be AWD, but it's just not cost-effective to keep them in service.)

Parts availability/aftermarket suspension options were my main drive for swapping to the delta link. The car sat way too high with lowering springs only up front, and I wasn't going to pay for the ONE set of springs available for AWD cars... which I believe are now NLA.

Only thing I still need to sort out is the exhaust. I would really like a good downpipe and a clean dual exhaust setup, since it looks dumb just having a single exit with my dual outlet bumper. I just can't justify the cost of custom exhaust work on this car.

[V50M66]

If it wasn't for the fuel tank nonsense and the lack of actual support for the AWD suspension stuff, I wouldn't mind having that instead of the Delta link set-up.

I mean I do custom stuff all of the time for my cars anyway, but I have other projects to direct that energy towards.

( I would REALLY like my 854 to be AWD, but it's just not cost-effective to keep them in service.)

Parts availability/aftermarket suspension options were my main drive for swapping to the delta link. The car sat way too high with lowering springs only up front, and I wasn't going to pay for the ONE set of springs available for AWD cars... which I believe are now NLA.

Only thing I still need to sort out is the exhaust. I would really like a good downpipe and a clean dual exhaust setup, since it looks dumb just having a single exit with my dual outlet bumper. I just can't justify the cost of custom exhaust work on this car.

I managed to lower my AWD with the BNE Dynamics adjustable spring perches, but it's kind of trial and error for what spring/shock combo works best, and it's not cheap.
Then, performance rear sway bars are NLA, all performance exhaust systems and downpipes are NLA, as is other suspension stuff like bushings and adjustable toe arms. Plus the fuel pump situation is less than ideal. Even though I've got a new driveshaft on order and have sunk probably over $1,500 in AWD-specific stuff so far, I'm very temped to just follow your lead here and delta-link swap my car.

[Chuck W]

Yeah, lowering could be handled in many ways aside from some tough to find OE springs.

Like I said, I'm not afraid of custom work, just have other projects that are higher up the ladder to direct that energy towards. I've already done a fair bit of tinkering on a car I "wasn't going to do much to".

[bmdubya1198]

I managed to lower my AWD with the BNE Dynamics adjustable spring perches, but it's kind of trial and error for what spring/shock combo works best, and it's not cheap.
Then, performance rear sway bars are NLA, all performance exhaust systems and downpipes are NLA, as is other suspension stuff like bushings and adjustable toe arms. Plus the fuel pump situation is less than ideal. Even though I've got a new driveshaft on order and have sunk probably over $1,500 in AWD-specific stuff so far, I'm very temped to just follow your lead here and delta-link swap my car.

Yep... it's too hard to do anything with the AWD suspension for a reasonable price. Or any price for anything that's NLA!
I'd keep running it AWD until something really goes wrong, I know you've done a ton to yours so far. BNE is about the only place to offer parts like that, probably more because he does primarily RWD stuff. The independent rear on the RWD 960s, etc. is very similar to the P80 AWD rear end.

[V50M66]

I managed to lower my AWD with the BNE Dynamics adjustable spring perches, but it's kind of trial and error for what spring/shock combo works best, and it's not cheap.
Then, performance rear sway bars are NLA, all performance exhaust systems and downpipes are NLA, as is other suspension stuff like bushings and adjustable toe arms. Plus the fuel pump situation is less than ideal. Even though I've got a new driveshaft on order and have sunk probably over $1,500 in AWD-specific stuff so far, I'm very temped to just follow your lead here and delta-link swap my car.

Yep... it's too hard to do anything with the AWD suspension for a reasonable price. Or any price for anything that's NLA!
I'd keep running it AWD until something really goes wrong, I know you've done a ton to yours so far. BNE is about the only place to offer parts like that, probably more because he does primarily RWD stuff. The independent rear on the RWD 960s, etc. is very similar to the P80 AWD rear end.

Yeah, that's the plan. Just have to see if this driveshaft is balanced. If it's not, I'm throwing in the towel. If it's good, I'll run it until something goes wrong that I can't fix for a reasonable price. Just hesitant to get any more AWD-specific parts I need (downpipe, exhaust, different rear shocks/springs, rear sway bar, toe bars) because I'm afraid something is gonna break

[bmdubya1198]

Yeah that’ll be the annoying part if you end up going delta link. I was just noticing today how my downpipe sits really low and scrapes on just about everything. I think the angle changed with my half FWD, half AWD exhaust system.

[V50M66]

Yeah that’ll be the annoying part if you end up going delta link. I was just noticing today how my downpipe sits really low and scrapes on just about everything. I think the angle changed with my half FWD, half AWD exhaust system.

Yeah the AWD downpipes sit quite a bit lower to make room for the driveshaft

[bmdubya1198]

Yeah that’ll be the annoying part if you end up going delta link. I was just noticing today how my downpipe sits really low and scrapes on just about everything. I think the angle changed with my half FWD, half AWD exhaust system.

Yeah the AWD downpipes sit quite a bit lower to make room for the driveshaft

Ahh, yeah, that would make sense. I was thinking as I looked at it that I don't remember the FWD downpipes sitting quite as low.

[abscate]

I’ve got a Bosal cat and exhaust on the Kat, I love the flange exhaust connection because I can drop it in 5 minutes

The stock AWD suspension is so much tighter than the FWD S70, and that isn’t exactly loose