Rep Power: 246

Hello. Just so you all now, I live in Colorado and have about 2000ft elevation change up a hill and most of the year we have snow. I usually can get up my hill, but there are times when I struggle. Usually I can get up the hill while the dummies with awd/4wd plow into mailboxes and go sideways down the hill.

But I was thinking how much happier I would be with an AWD or maybe something that could be disengaged on nice days like 4wd. I know it would cut my gas mileage down, and I wouldn't get very much HP, but I am not a speed demon. I would rather have a nice slow car, than a fast uncomfortable car.

Basically my question is, is it possible to do? How much do you think I would be looking at cost wise if I were to do it myself/friends or if I had some shop do it? I imagine it would be a pretty big undertaking and maybe the re-arrangement of the back end parts like fuel tank or something. I am not particularily handy on my car, but I am friends who are, and like money!

I did see this thread: https://www.civicforums.com/forums/p...500-post6.html

but I didn't really see the solution. The solution in there was for someone who wanted to go fast. I want to go slow, but with traction.

Any help would be appreciated.

 
Rep Power: 379

Step 1 - Sell Civic
Step 2 - Buy Subaru

 
Rep Power: 287

you'd have to integrate AWD honda drivetrain and that wouldn't be possible because honda doesn't make AWD cars.

 
Rep Power: 251

Tsudocivic all over again?

 
Rep Power: 246

, well yeah, but scoobies are expensive.

My first car was a subaru, and I loved it, but I love my civic more. I have everything just the way I want it in my civic. And I think it would be semi-unique.

So is it impossible or just very very difficult and not worth it? I know that I would give up a lot for minimal gain, but around here AWD is almost a must. Like I said, I can live with FWD, but would rather have AWD.

 
Rep Power: 424

There is no D series transmission to drive all 4 wheels unless you're planning on importing it from Japan, but by that point, you coulda bought a Subaru and then some.

 
Rep Power: 287

yeah.. sorry bro... not possible. civics are econ boxes.

 
Rep Power: 0

um, think about it again lol.

crv... ridgeline... pilot....

and the uh.. the old 1980 awd civics, http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1904524

 
Rep Power: 246

Referring to the WRX engine swap thread? https://www.civicforums.com/forums/7...ine-civic.html

So there are AWD Honda's in Japan? Importation is no problem. My entire car is imported. Canadian built, imported to US. I have connections in 日本, as well as 中國, so I am not afraid of freighting something over if possible. If there are AWD civics or Honda's in Japan, then I may just buy one of those and ship it over... hmm.

I love my econ box! I just wish it had an option for all wheels to spin!

 
Rep Power: 246

I assume that the first 3 since they are trucks are completely different. And I am not sure I want to put a 27 year old tranny in my new car!

 
Rep Power: 0

People swap the 1980's awd system into their hatches and it works fine (with modification) that would be cool though.. awd hatch, no more getting stuck in winter.

 
Rep Power: 285

It can be down with the proper tranny from the older civics and custom drive shafts but you'd have to make a hump on the floor for the drive shaft. Prolly all new suspension in the rear. Anything is possible but it would just take so much money.

 
Rep Power: 0

acura is releasing the TL type S w/AWD (intelligent at that) it could maybe be adapted w/the k24 swap.

 
Rep Power: 320

this is the best and cheapest option.

sell the vic for 8k-10k and buy a used wrx for 14k-16k.

The amount of time and labor associated with welding a transaxle to the rear end of the civic, would defeat the purpose of having a civic in the first place. If it possible yes, does it make sense economically no.

 
Rep Power: 263

Cheapest option: buy good winter tires, if not enough, get some tire chains, if still not enough, move to somewhere without that kind of a hill

 
Rep Power: 263

btw, I know someone that did this on an integra, he used CRV motor and tranny but it cost him a lot of $$ and time

 
Rep Power: 239

aside from the whole new tansaxle, you would need to cut a tunnel down the middle of your floorboard to run a driveshaft. to answer your question, maybe its doable, no it is not a good idea.

 
Rep Power: 259

amost 100% sure there is a 7thgen civic, not here in the states, with awd. its desiel powered, if i come across the link ill let u know, but it will cost an *** load to import. the link was on 7thgen a while back so search

 
Rep Power: 248

Yeah, you're right. There's a Euro 'vic that's AWD.

The "cheapest" option would be to buy a few-years old CRV and pull the engine and drivetrain out of that. But it would be incredibly labor-intensive.

 
Rep Power: 311

the CHEAPEST thing to do is just suck it up, and dont touch anything.