SpeedFactory Racing Billet FWD2AWD B-Series Gear Conversion Kit

The long awaited complete new replacement 1/2 billet shift forks are now available. This means you no longer need to send your stock fork in for modification.

The SpeedFactory Racing FWD2AWD B-Series Gear Conversion Kit has been created to provide you with the parts and modifications needed to easily retrofit a stock layout FWD B-Series 1-4 gear stack into your B AWD transmission with NO MACHINE WORK required!

Detailed instructions are included, and we recommend checking out our FWD2AWD & B-AWD YouTube Video for an in-depth install with component explanations.

Lose your instructions? We've got your back! Download the full .PDF here.

Why would you want to do this?

• The B AWD factory ratios were designed for a heavy SUV with a low 6.3k-6.7k rpm rev limit and feature a super short 1^st gear which does not work well with high revving high performance applications and creates major shifting difficulties due to the huge ratio spread on the 1/2 shift.
  
  
• The stock B AWD 1/2 shift forks are very thin and weak, often bending even in stock transmissions and are too thin for use with a FWD 1/2 slider.
  
  
• B AWD specific gear set options are very limited and retrofitting other oem gears used to require tedious machine work and custom spacer machining.

This kit now eliminates any need for machine work and opens your ratio options up to use almost any existing B-Series FWD gear set (either synchro or dog engagement that uses a factory style layout) and at the same time fixes the weak 1/2 shift fork issue by replacing it with a brand new replacement billet shift fork! 

Included Components/Services:

1. New Billet Steel FWD2AWD 1/2 Shift Fork - CNC-machined from high-strength chromoly billet steel, heat treated and hardened to withstand high-stress shifting

2. Custom SFR 1^st Idler Gear Split Needle Bearing - Previously if you wanted to attempt this conversion you had to machine the ID of the 1^st gear larger or machine the countershaft journal height larger. With this custom bearing no machining is necessary!

3. Custom SFR Precision Spacers – Needed to achieve proper component locations

1. Mainshaft Spacer (places under the oem flat washer under the mainshaft - retain the flex washer underneath and set endplay to factory specs)
2. 1/2 Hub Spacer (goes under the 1/2 slider hub)
   
3. Reverse Thrust Washer (goes under the reverse idler gear if you are using a short 41.9mm tall FWD 3.0 ratio idler gear. If you have a 45.8mm tall FWD or AWD 3.0 ratio reverse idler gear you do not need to use this washer)
4. Upper Cuff Shim (For use with Albins B Dog Set only, not used for synchro sets)

NOTE: You will need to use the mainshaft/input shaft, 1-4 gears, hubs, sliders, and synchros from the FWD sets. The pinion/countershaft and ring gear/bull gear will still need to be an AWD specific set – either the OEM B AWD FD set or OEM compatible aftermarket final drive set. (Note: The B AWD 2^nd synchro & 3^rd/4^th hub/slider/synchros can also be used as they are the same as FWD.)

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What Do You Recommend for Synchro Sets?

For a super strong and street-able synchro set we sell and recommend using the Albins Helical B Synchro set.

There are also plenty of other B FWD 1-4 Synchro gear sets on the market that follow the oem layout and work with this kit.

Other If you simply want the ability to run different ratios and don’t need the strength of a high quality aftermarket gearset, then the factory B16/ITR/GSR type gearsets will now be an option for you. 

LS gearsets are a NO-GO for several reasons - although the 1/2 are the same ratio as GSR, it lacks the dual-cone synchro on 2^nd gear and will not work well for a high rpm/fast shifting performance application. Also, the LS 3/4 gears are not compatible as they use a smaller 54mm synchronizer so you can't use those anyways.

What About Dog Sets?

For race car use we recommend the Albins 1-4 Helical B Dog set with Upper Cuff that we have used reliably for the last decade on our own record setting race cars.

If you are using an Albins 1-4 Helical B Dog set with Upper Cuff with this conversion  you will also need to have your 5/R shift fork diameter enlarged.

We have not tested any other brands of B FWD dog sets for fitment/compatibility with this conversion kit other than PPG B FWD Dog sets which are NOT compatible as they use a non-oem style layout on the pinion shaft. If your current dog set uses a pinion shaft that has factory style splines then it should be compatible, but we cannot guarantee that.

What About Final Drives?

You can choose to retain the short factory B AWD 4.562 final drive set or upgrade to an aftermarket B AWD specific final drive set that is compatible with OEM gear stacks and uses factory style splines. For high powered turbocharged builds we sell & recommend the Albins B AWD Extreme Duty Final Drive Set.

5^th Gear Options:

It is by far simplest to stick with the factory AWD 0.812 5^th gear and its matching synchro hub/slider/rings, and this is by far the most popular 5^th gear option. Another drop in option for a taller 5th gear is the Synchrotech 0.68 ratio 5th gear.

If you really want to run a FWD 5^th gear it can be done but is going to take alot of work and is not worth it in our opinion. Due to the larger diameter 54mm synchronizer ring used on the FWD 5^th gears, you will need to enlarge the fork diameter and thicken the pads on the AWD 5/R shift fork. You will also need to run the FWD synchro hub/slider/rings and slightly clearance the inside of the transmission case to clear the larger diameter slider, it will rub the case otherwise and hang up.

If you are using a FWD 1-4 Dog set with an upper cuff it will have a 5/R fork spacer that is FWD diameter and you will need to open up the diameter of the 5/R fork to fit as well.

NOTE: We no longer offer the 5/R fork conversion service due to lack of demand.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What about the 3/4 shift fork? - Your factory AWD 3/4 shift fork is the same thickness and diameter as the FWD sets and does not require any changes.

I noticed that the FWD input shaft is a bit shorter than the AWD input shaft. Does the FWD input shaft not reach the pilot bearing? - The FWD mainshaft pilot snout still reaches over half way into the pilot bearing which is just fine and doesn’t cause any issues.

What about the clutch spline length, I noticed that those are a bit different between FWD and AWD? - Although slightly different in length it works just fine with both single and multi-plate clutches.

Do you offer core used transmissions, gearsets, or other internal components? - Sorry, we do not offer used core parts.