converting a mk5 to 4x4

[AndyJ2506]

would it be poss to convert a rwd mk5 to 4wd and if so what parts would i need i.e would i be able to keep my rear diff and just use a county gearbox and front driveshafts,hubs etc

[AndyJ2506]

or can i use a 4x4 cossie box with v6 cossie lump and use county front hubs then have some driveshafts made up

[Luke]

dont think the county front hubs will go on without raising the height about 12"

[AndyJ2506]

damn it so much for that idea I may have to pick a set up and see if i can have some customised or some new ones made up with different mounting points

[Luke]

why do you want to do it tho

[AndyJ2506]

I fancy a 4x4 van but i dont want the off road look s'pose its just something different as well

[Luke]

i wanted to make the cossy mk6 4wd - i'd even got the box for it but stu wanted it rwd would have been a lot eaiser on that as i could have used fwd hubs and just made some driveshafts up

[AndyJ2506]

how much work do you reckon it would be to fit some mk6 hubs to a mk5 or is this completely unrealistic

[Luke]

well ................... i did think about making mine 4x4 (it uses mk4/5 front end) - i looked at the standard hubs (the part with the spigot shaft) and it's fairly hefty - my idea was to machine that out to accept a fwd wheel bearing then use a fwd hub of something suitable

so fairly complecated but doable

i never botherd going any further because really i prefer rwd too i think it would be an interesting project tho

one more thing to consider is the position of the front diff - that might need relocating as the engine is higher in the transit that in the sierra/granada again not impossable to overcome

[Luke]

i actually did quite a bit of looking into this at the time i'd got all the parts around me as i was converting my mk1 escort into 4wd using sierra stuff

[AndyJ2506]

I think this is something i'll have to look into next year then after i've got it up and running with the v6 lump

[Luke]

keep your eye out for a v6 4x4 mt75 and a front diff and sump - the other problem is you'll need to match the ratios

[Eggski]

Sounds interesting!

If all goes well i've got the perfect doner vehicle for the second build!

[AndyJ2506]

Would be pretty cool to get this one working but itmight take a while. One project at a time me thinks

[Eggski]

It would be quicker the second time round as you would know how to do it!