MaxP

Also, are there any models newer than 1999 that can have the drive shaft removed and still work ok? And is the reason that the manual models won't work because they use a viscous coupling center differential to couple the transmission to the drive shaft going to the rear differential? What do the automatic models from 1990 to 1999 use? Is it electronic based? Thanks again! Max.

Hi johnceggleston, Thanks for the quick reply! I thought asking this question might prompt a question like that. I am hoping to convert a gasoline car to a plug-in hybrid car. My initial idea was that I would take a FWD car, leave the front end as is, and then modify the rear end to allow me to put in an electric motor, transmission, controller, battery pack, etc. to have the rear axle electrically powered. I would then just use one drive method at a time (electric for short city driving, ICE for longer trips), by putting the other transmission into neutral (and not turning on the ICE when using electric). Cutting up the back of a FWD car, and putting drive axles into wheels that weren't intended for drive axles sounded like a pain in the neck though. That's why I'm now thinking I'll take an AWD car, remove the drive shaft and rear diff, and put the motor, transmission, etc. in. I think some people will think that I'm ruining a perfectly good Impreza if I do this, but it sounds easier to do it this way than the other way. Thanks, Max.

Hi desertdreamer, I know this thread is old, but I was wondering if you still had your 1996 Subaru Legacy, and if you were still driving it as a FWD car? If so, has there been any problems from doing that? Johnceggleston, I know you said that if you leave the front section of the drive shaft in place to prevent fluid from leaking out, that it works fine as a FWD. Is there definitely no negative repercussions? And does that apply to all of the Subaru models, or is it only automatic Legacies of this generation (second generation)? The reason I'm asking is because I'm hoping to do the same with a second generation Impreza - take out the drive shaft, or at least part of it to make it FWD. Thank in advance!