Originally posted by unisys12:
1) Would cutting on the underbody, to make room for the tranny and driveshaft, create structurial instabliety? Could this be avoided by someone doing the welding that knows what they are doing?
2) Would this project call for custom subframes? I am sure it would, but since I have never been able to weld, all that sort of still scares the crap out of me. 
I dont believe that the amount that would have to be modded would hurt any as long as you left the frame looking things alone. If you were to put some kind of subframe connector along the bottom of the car then connect the two sides together you would probably have it end up being stronger then stock, if not a bit heavier. 
Im sure it would call for subframes. The rear would have to be IRS as well, unless you really want to remove the entire rear floorpan. There isnt enough room under the car to fit a solid axle and be able to give it any kind of compression or articulation. The pumpkin would quickly create a nice dent in the floor. ....so, IRS. Its going to be hard to use IRS with upper control arms too. That rules out the new Mustangs. Perhaps Corvette? You can pick up a Corvette rear subframe with the torque brace for $800-$1000. The brace would probably help to transfer the lifting more near the tail of the trans instead of where the fuel tank was.
The steering rack will most likely need to be moved so you now need to figure out how to suspend the front of the car. Perhaps you can modify a Mustang front subframe and then build some intermediate plates to make it bolt to the Contour. If that wont work, you will have to build a custom front subframe. Perhaps you can follow the Mustang's suspension geometry and copy it to the new subframe?
My friend and I have thought about this project quite a bit. We were planning on using a turbocharged Zetec, a T-5 and obviously the Corvette rear. We never thought into the project enough to figure out a front suspension, but Id stick to Corvette again to make it all the same. My reasoning for the Zetec was that with a Zetec/MTX computer, you could do some electrical trickery and make the car *think* it was still FWD. All your guages would still work as stock, and when it came time for emissions, they would just plug the OBD-II scanner in under the dash. 
In the long run, I figured that there is a reason shops do this but charge people their first born. Instead I picked up my ClubCab for $200 and am going to mod it. Its already RWD, it already has Chrysler's strongest tranny, a decent axle, and a good engine (that runs). Best of all, I can haul parts in it. 
Cliff Notes: Even if he is giving you the labor, it is still going to cost a fortune and youll run the risk of having him mess up and end up totaling the car.
