VW Caddy Rabbit Drift Build

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:

 

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:

 

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:

 

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:

 

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:

 

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:

 

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

 

Haha it did, some redneck really enjoyed that thing

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

 

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

 

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