I didn't see it mentioned, but did you do the awd swap from the GT-Four Celica or are you stock?Originally Posted by Jrally
Observer
I didn't see it mentioned, but did you do the awd swap from the GT-Four Celica or are you stock?
Adventurer
My Celica year, was before the body/chassis change to mostly fwd. The All-trac and GT4 Celicas are based on the fwd chassis. '85 on back, they where all front engine, rwd cars, loosely based on the truck drivetrains. The engine is a 22rec (2.4L OHC 8v), mated to the W58 tranny which was used for the Celicas, the Supras and the 2wd and 4wd pick-ups. The original axle is what fell short, it was basically shared with the Corolla, 6.7" ring gear. The first rear axle I built was a 7.1" ring gear axle out of a Cressida wagon. This new axle, 7.5" ring gear, will be much stronger and the parts easly found, since it's the same as the light duty 2wd pick-ups.
-Jon
Observer
I knew that they moved to fwd in like 86, but didn't realize the rwd models were sort of truck based, nor that all-trac models were not available on the rwd cars. Have you thought about going fully 4wd/awd?
Sasquatch
iMTB, thanks for that excellent Subaru candy! Some of them appear to be nicely rigged up for overland adventures:
Subaroo.JPG
Others in that thread appear more for wheelin’, but are still awesome:
Roo wheeler.JPG
I look forward to continued progress on the Subaru builds here at Expedition Forum.
This Porsche Type 597 Jagdwagen is probably too off-road capable in stock form to meet my intention with this thread, but it is cool and it is car-like so here’s a picture:
3203788718_849ddfc9fb.jpg
Getting back to more standard sedans, crossover SUVs, minivans and the like... Popular Mechanics put seven crossover SUVs through an off-road sand dune test, which you can read about here. Interestingly, they evaluated the Durango as the best off-road performer.
Cee-Jay
2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor XLS
2001 Infiniti I-30t
Adventurer
I have thought about it many times. But where I live, in the desert SW, it just isn't needed enough to warrant the hassle of building something so far from what it was meant to be. I would literally have to reinvent every piece, at least to make it to my satisfaction. The car has no chassis, it's a unibody, so hanging a transfer case under it, plus a front diff, is just too much work for a toy right now. If I was to do it though, I've already researched most of the parts for it, divorced TC, Nissan front diff, maybe front hubs from a Kia Sportage or Suzuki something or other.
-Jon
Observer
Anyone here with Outback Sport, Justy, or Baja as their overlanding/soft-off-roader?
Observer
The Durango is no more a crossover than the 4runner or Grand Cherokee(which it incidentally shares a platform with) ind Yes it is a unibody platform, but last I check that platform is still pretty capable vs the others. Would actually make sense to compare it with cars likes of the 4Runner, Xterra(seeing as the Pathfinder now is fwd crossover), and it's old nemesis the Explorer(though now a crossover).
Last edited by bloodycape; 06-01-2012 at 06:57 AM.
Sasquatch
Maybe... I think this is one of those vehicles that really straddle the line between SUV and crossover.
The Durango has been getting more car like over time and one can make a reasonable case that the latest generation (the one reviewed by Popular Mechanics) has become a crossover. Unibody construction, car-like driving position, road-biased handling, full-time AWD, front and rear independent suspension and finally approach and departure angles that are not particularly off-pavement friendly all point to a cross-over verdict. Motor Trend and many other publications are calling the Durango a crossover.
That being said, contrary to most crossovers, the Durango is based on a rear wheel drive platform and delivers 6200 pounds of towing capacity. Also, although full-time AWD is standard, there is an optional transfer case that provides AWD Low (Lock), Neutral and full-time active AWD. Further, as you noted, it shares a number of drive train components with the Grand Cherokee which many people still consider an SUV - though more and more media outlets are starting to call the Grand Cherokee a crossover too! The Popular Mechanics story ends with the verdict "The best three seat crossover is not a crossover", implying that they felt the Durango was stout enough to be considered a full-on SUV; they seem to agree with your view.
Chrysler says the Durango will deliver SUV capability with crossover versatility. It sounds like they very consciously designed this as a tweener, a vehicle that at base level makes a capable crossover but that with a few options can be a satisfactory SUV. The old Durango was supposed to be the middle ground between small and large SUVs while the new one is the middle ground between crossovers and full-on SUVs. So I think it makes perfect sense that some would consider the 2011 Durango a crossover, while others might consider it an SUV.
I expect that the line between a crossover and SUV, which has always been somewhat indistinct, will continue to be blurred. Trucks and SUVs are evolving into better and better road performers while certain cars and crossovers are delivering better towing capacity, stouter drive trains and better off-road capabilities.
Last edited by Cee-Jay; 06-01-2012 at 04:59 PM.
Cee-Jay
2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor XLS
2001 Infiniti I-30t
Expedition Leader
There are some pretty darn sweet set ups in this thread. I have thought about making a car a slightly modded AWD/4WD. This thread just feeds that addiction
'92 Range Rover
'93 Range Rover LWB
'71 Mercedes 220 Diesel - The daily Beast
Here's my Impreza navigating some exciting Alaskan terrain in a couple adventures of mine.
Crossing a river to head home from a few nights of camping:
Stopping on the Dalton Hwy to pick some blueberries on the way back from an Arctic Circle camping adventure:
This is on a non-lifted Impreza with Fozzy tires, for the moment..
'93 Impreza Wagon:
It's seen some adventures, and has the trail scars to prove it.
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