The beautiful and powerful front wheel drive coupe is ridiculously cheap at the moment - so buying another one in order to convert it into a 4x4 coupe integrale seems quite sensible, as you end up with a gorgeous pininfarina coupe with stunning all weather traction, handling and great ‘off the line’ performance as well.

In the past, a friend and myself have converted a coupe to 4x4 using the Lancia integrale running gear. We are now seriously contemplating converting another coupe to 4x4.

This time, we intend to take photos of the build and provide a detailed and practical how-to guide. We also thought we would gauge the interest in creating a 4x4 coupe integrale conversion kit (to go with the how-to guide).

Before we start, we need to decide if we convert the 16vt or 20vt.

The easier (and hence cheaper conversion would be using a 16vt coupe), so that gets my friends vote. However, I like the 20vt tuning potential and challenge of doing this on the 20vt, but which version would everyone else prefer to see a practical hands-on “how-to” guide for?

I say go with the 16vt. There are large cost implications to tuning the 20vt beyond a certain point.

And tuning a 16vt is cheap?

It would probably be easier for you to do another 16vt, but a 20vt 4x4 would be unique, and I'm sure they are far more 20vt on here than 16vt.

I'd love to see a 20vt 4x4, but a kit would easily be out of my price range and most others.

Good luck. I look forward to your build

Never owned one so I wouldn't know.
It just seems like there are more performance parts available.

So far we have;

2 votes for 16vt 4x4
2 votes for 20vt 4x4

BTW the parts don’t have to be too expensive.

You need the running gear (I just got a used front & rear diff and prop for £200) - which we will use for space modelling. I have sourced a Dedra Integrale for £600. This has all the running gear + the rear sub-frame that we need.

On top of that you need some drive shafts, new fuel tank and modified exhaust. The 4x4 on the16vt just bolts on (even the mounting holes fully align). It should cost less than forged parts for the engine.

The 20vt turbo is more of an engineering challenge, as it doesn't line up as neatly - but it should be possible, and shouldn't cost the earth, just take some extra careful engineering. The sump will need modifying (dry sump is a possibility but the costs go up) and the mounting holes will need some adjustments.

Any more votes, would you like to see a 16vt 4x4 or 20vt 4x4 coupe “how-to guide and test car available”?

Once the car is complete, we would be more than happy for careful fccuk members to take it for a road test.

Well I would love to see a 20vt 4*4. The fact that it presents more of a challenge is a good reason why you should do the 20vt and not the 16v

Not that I'm biased at all, but five cylinders is one too many. Four wheels, four cylinders.

Sorry Neil, as much as a sweetheart the 16V engine is , I'll love to see a 20VT 4 by 4

A vote for the 20vt 4x4 here!

Perhaps a mod could add a poll?

16vt gets my vote, would love to give this a go

You've already proved you can do a 16v so my vote goes for a 20vt.

So far, that's;

5 votes for 20vt 4x4 guide and test car
4 votes for 16vt 4x4 guide and test car

See tbh tho, wouldnt a 4x4 coupe, loss some of the appeal? Its gonna be slower in a straight line, its still gonna be front heavy aswell.

I would be interested to see it done, but dont think its the holy grail.

Ross

but the only thing the coop is really lacking is the cornering ability, so making a 4 wheel drive version would surely make it the ULTIMATE coop!?!
what would touch it if this could be done without costing in excess of +40K???

start with the 16vt btw!

20vt vote here

I'm curious... I'd like to see a T20 4X4

Five gears, five wheels including the spare, five cylinders!

Vote for 20VT from me.

lol

jowster, maybe i'm being silly....but if you have done the conversion before now, then where is the original that you put the integrale running gear onto...if someone out there is driving that car then i would be v. scared if i were a porsche/maserati/any other overly priced "supertourer"

There is more than one 4x4 coop around, non in the uk though. There isnt a 4x4 20vt I dont think.

Edit: And as nearly all 16VT's are sadly dead or dieing, the 20VT is the only way to go if you are serious about a kit Jowster

Yes there is, coupe_integrale on here

Ditto

Just to clarify;

The 4x4 coupe we did is coupe_integrale's car on this forum. This started off as a "gleam in our eyes" about 4 years ago. At that time, no one had done a 4x4 coupe conversion, but we thought that it should be possible. Armed with a tape measure we went and purchased a Dedra Integrale.

We took a 16v n/a coupe (with a broken engine) and transplanted the integrale running gear (with some mods) into the coupe. At the time, we didn't know if this would work or fit. With a little engineering it did! We made things extra hard for ourselves, as rather than put another 16v n/a in the coupe, we tried to save ourselves some money and transplanted the twin cam 8vt Lancia engine (which required a load wiring mods and replacing the engine management ECU with the Lancia unit). It would have been easier to start with a 16vt coupe - but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

This was an adventure into the unknown. It was an exciting “experimental car”. As such it had a 'home made' exhaust and a used fuel tank in the boot. Coupe-integrale has finished this off to a high standard. He has had a purpose built tank made and got the exhaust manufactured properly. So I think he is the only person in the UK to have a 4x4 coupe. The traction is great, it is wonderfully neutral, and not a hint of torque steer – basically lovely to drive. The worse thing we did was to sell it – money was tight at the time. However, we can start again and add a little more power this time

There are 20vt 4x4 coupes in the wild - but none in the UK. I believe there's one in Greece (but this is a drag car - no exhaust, very light). A couple of guys in Germany are putting some together. They are going for 500bhp 20vt 4x4 coupes

pic1
pic2
pic3

They haven't finished yet, I'm in contact with them. Juergen is doing a great job of modifying the sump, and we are helping each other out when we come up against engineering obstacles.

Anyway, the score so far is;
5 votes for 16vt 4x4 coupe guide and test car
9 votes for 20vt 4x4 coupe guide and test car

Should I base my 4*4 on the 16vt or 20vt? single choice
	16vt - original and best
	20vt - more of them around
Votes accepted starting: 23/02/2008 14:48 You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

of course I voted 16V -there are alot more 20V's on here so I think we can see where this poll is going to end

The 16v will certainly be easier using the Q4 or dedra gear.

I just know the issues Begbie has had trying to mate a 16v engine to a 20v 6 speed gearbox so assuming you plan to use the integrale box I guess the same will happen in reverse.

20VT

More power to drive all 4 wheels and more of them still alive to be converted.

I've voted 16vt.
It seems the 16vt's are cheap & dieing, this 4x4 conversion gives them a new lease of life.
I'm guessing a 4x4 conversion on the 20vt would be very expensive & because of the cost not many people would do the conversion.
It would be good to see a 20vt 4x4.

agreed would love to see

Another vote for the 20VT from me.