VW Caddy Rabbit Drift Build

[Draklore]

Hello Driftworks members

to start my name is Shane Drake, I currently am stationed in GA, at Robins AFB.
I have been an enthusiast in the VW/Audi community for some years now and own a featured Audi A4
With a ton of work done-

(On the left)

Anyways, on to the caddy, I bought it a couple years ago just as a fun little project truck.. But being FWD and having around 40HP from the factory just wasn't enough to satisfy my needs.
heres how it was when I got it:

Over a year it transformed to this:

(lame pic I know)

Anyways, The truck was great but had some electrical issues and I started to really take an interest back into drifting, which I hadn't practiced since highschool.
This prompted me to start thinking about what kind of crazy swaps I could pull off:

 

[Draklore]

Ok so on a whim and with my old iPhone 4 in hand I drove two hours from my house and traded the old phone for a 5.4 triton motor from a 2003 F-150. (260HP-350TQ)

Quite happy with my trade

And then I broke down haha

The tired truck motor probably realizing its soon to be fate:

But I finally made it home:

And started stripping down the bay:

Starting quite the ambitious project seeing how you're not even allowed to change your oil on base...

The old heart:

Now at first I was thinking I would easily fabricate mounts and a tunnel ect... But then realized that would be a ton of work.. But for the time being I stripped the bay thinking I would use it

Just having fun:

Bringing home some new tools:

Ok at a certain point I realized that I would need a donor car with a modular motor... So for 500$ I bought this running 94 Ford Thunderbird with 80k

Started stripping it down:

 

[Draklore]

The 4.6 and 4R70W out of it:

Here's my influence

Everything on the TBird covered in "GA Clay"

At the same time as the swap I would be doing a Euro "round" headlight conversion, which requires all new fenders and panels

Stripping out the TBird interior:

Then started working on the 5.4 Triton:
Ac delete pulley:

Test fitting the new front:

Stole the 4.6 intake manifold, for its shorter height and TB location:

Which requires these adapter plates for the 5.4:

Running into fitment issues with the EGR:

Who needs it:

Swapping on the shorter 4.6 pan and sump:

Starting on the wiring:

 

[Hazzles]

Interesting! The T-Bird looks kinda cool as it is.

 

[Stavros]

Cool, hope it goes well.

There was a red RWD CA18DET engine VW Caddy at Gatebil when I went a few years ago.

 

[Draklore]

New headlights:

Plugs:

Now at a certain point I realized that the amount of work required to fabricate a new tunnel, firewall and front clip would be extraordinary... So here is the route I decided to take, which is actually the same method used by the Swedish Caddy 1Jz swap:

Point of no return:

OEM 3 piece grille arrives

And now to work on the TBird-

And to give you an idea of how
Crazy I am:

The plan:

And a stop to the local steel mill for 80' of 1 3/4" .095 DOM tube-

Tubing roller=fail
Now before you proceed, this is not going to be entered into competitions, just a fun hobby build, the "Cage" is meant for structural rigidity, and a fun little project, I am in no way saying the cage I make meets or
Would ever pass any tech inspection, and if I intended for it to, I would have had it built by someone who knows the regulations and has years of experience.

So, now that is out of the way. I made modifications in a pipe bender and filled the tube with sand to prevent kinks int the bends.
I am vet happy with my results

To show you the idea behind the modification:

 

[Draklore]

Sealed with sand

Ugly but functional:

I have a tubing notcher but ended up not using it:

DIY sheet metal break:

More fitting:

Originally going to use these B7 seats... Untill I realized they wouldn't fit with the door bars :/

I had to make this steering column:

Ford hub:

Wiring support:

MSD goodies:

From template to reality:

Skinning and framing:

Original hood hinges:

 

[Draklore]

The front clip welded together to create an easy serviceability:

Me going blind helping my daughter

Door bar fabrication:

Corey approves:

COULD IT BE:

In the sun

And back out already haha:

Some mocking up:

Stock pedals for now:

Stock location the motor sits closer to the PS tower.

More fitting:

Going for a good lift like so:

Well I meant to pick up an 8.8 and ended up with this 7.5 from a V6 mustang:

Rebuilding it:

Stock gears for now, probably going 4.56 or an 8.8 later:

 

[Draklore]

A new unblocked PS vent for more airflow:

The rabbit hollow axle next to the ford. Rember the caddy came FED!

Cut off the stock locators

The leaf springs ARE TEMPORARY. Until I can mock up a real suspension:

Cobra R (Saleen) Wheels on 10" wide

The width without rotors on:

The plans are for a Lincoln Locker, when that blows we will see

Made a faint line with the help of my wife;":

Made this:

After making one I copied the template:

Mustang front hubs:

Just tacked on for the moment:

And starting on the fronts:

Yah yah I can hear it now:

Moog

And that's the progress, I started the build mid November!!!

Been a lot
Of progress and fun so far. Shouldn't be long untill it's finished

Thanks for comments and questions welcome

 

[Draklore]

Interesting! The T-Bird looks kinda cool as it is.

Haha it did, some redneck really enjoyed that thing

Cool, hope it goes well.

There was a red RWD CA18DET engine VW Caddy at Gatebil when I went a few years ago.

That's awesome, there is a rear engine caddy here as well, that was at Sowo12, it was partially responsible for this build, but his was a
Pretty weak motor. I wanted to do something never done before

 

[Draklore]

Mustang hubs on:

Mustang slotted rotors ordered for the front and rear, rear GT calipers ordered.
Mustang Performance Radiator ordered, and 2X12" fans

Threw on the wheels... Really really needing those smaller tires!

I might machine down the wheels for a bit of a deeper offset. Looks like I have a few inches to play with before the caliper, or spindle are in danger of contact.

Cheers and goodnight

 

[Magic21]

great work there mate, love the leaf blower

 

[Stavros]

Seriously fucking awesome work. Love it

 

[93s13nick]

love it, always wanted to RWD a caddy with a big V8 in it

 

[Dantagonist]

Wow, I seriously didn't think that was going to get in there. Great job!

 

[xxcammichaelxx]

looks so sick! i love it

 

[JoeS13]

fair fucking play

 

[PikeyMike]

Fucking Hero.

 

[Draklore]

Thanks guys
Today I got he driveshaft out of the TBird.
10" too long.

Once I get the wiring harness out I can tow away the shell

 

[Draklore]