Adding AWD to FWD 2023 Corsair Reserve

[Emo Jim]

Hey guys, I just bought a 2023 Lincoln Corsair Reserve III with the 202A package. I'm looking into adding AWD to it. Looking into it a bit, it's pretty easy to do. The only thing that will take a little time is making the Harness for the Module, Transfer Case & PTU aka rear diff. Now this being said, i think it will be very easy to do as i will not have to change the transmission. The transfer case will bolt on to it with no issues. I will then need to change the passenger front axle shaft as it will need a shorter one after adding the transfer case. I will have to get the AWD module that is located under the passenger seat, rear sub frame for AWD, rear diff with both axel shafts and I will have to get both rear spindles/knuckles that bolt to the upper and lower control arms. So, this is what I bought so far just so you guys know the cost involved. Front transfer case $256.00, the drive shaft from Town Car to RD $120.00, the interior body wiring harness which i will use to cut the wiring out for the AWD to make the harness $175.00, the complete rear sub frame wiring harness $84.00, rear sub frame $250.00, rear differential unit $155.00, PTU wiring harness $75.00. Keep in mind these are junk yard low millage parts, not new. The only 4 things i need to source out for my project is the two rear spindles/knuckles and rear axle shafts and that's about it as far as parts are needed. If anyone else has done this project, let me know. (Compare Notes) I will keep you guys updated. I can tell you this much. My Corsair only has 7,000ish miles on it. I will not be doing this conversion until my warranty is over. In the meantime, I will be making the wiring harness to connect into my harness. That will take a little time for that.

 

[C Krohn]

Why didn’t you just buy an AWD?

 

[Emo Jim]

Well every one I wanted to buy with the options and color of the vehicle, they were only FWD :-( I wanted the tow package option as well but i didn't get that either. That's not a big deal as i have another van that does have the tow package. So i would just use it to pull anything i might need to tow.

 

[MattMacMan]

Hey guys, I just bought a 2023 Lincoln Corsair Reserve III with the 202A package. I'm looking into adding AWD to it. Looking into it a bit, it's pretty easy to do. The only thing that will take a little time is making the Harness for the Module, Transfer Case & PTU aka rear diff. Now this being said, i think it will be very easy to do as i will not have to change the transmission. The transfer case will bolt on to it with no issues. I will then need to change the passenger front axle shaft as it will need a shorter one after adding the transfer case. I will have to get the AWD module that is located under the passenger seat, rear sub frame for AWD, rear diff with both axel shafts and I will have to get both rear spindles/knuckles that bolt to the upper and lower control arms. So, this is what I bought so far just so you guys know the cost involved. Front transfer case $256.00, the drive shaft from Town Car to RD $120.00, the interior body wiring harness which i will use to cut the wiring out for the AWD to make the harness $175.00, the complete rear sub frame wiring harness $84.00, rear sub frame $250.00, rear differential unit $155.00, PTU wiring harness $75.00. Keep in mind these are junk yard low millage parts, not new. The only 4 things i need to source out for my project is the two rear spindles/knuckles and rear axle shafts and that's about it as far as parts are needed. If anyone else has done this project, let me know. (Compare Notes) I will keep you guys updated. I can tell you this much. My Corsair only has 7,000ish miles on it. I will not be doing this conversion until my warranty is over. In the meantime, I will be making the wiring harness to connect into my harness. That will take a little time for that.

Just want to let you know.....a PTU is a Power Transfer Unit. It is bolted to the transmission. It is NOT a rear differential. The RDU (Rear Drive Unit) is the rear differential. Theres also a TON of module programming and firmware differences in the modules you already have in your vehicle. Youll need to flash the firmware in your ABS Module, in your BdyCM, your TCM, PCM, in addition of adding CAN network wires to connect to your GWCM so the new modules can have communications established with the rest of the vehicle. Plus youll need to make sure you don't have to re-route your exhaust (some vehicles such as the MKZ and Fusion have completely different exhaust systems for FWD and AWD since the exhaust shares the tunnel with the drive shaft). Its going to be a much bigger project than you think. Let us know how it goes!

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[Emo Jim]

Hey Matt, Thanks for the heads up on the programming of the modules. I have a 2016 Ford Focus Titanium that i added Adaptive Cruise Control, with Brake Assist and I added an electric hatch made from a C-Max and I also added Active Park Assist 2.0 to the car as well with rain sensing wipers as well which they didn't put in these cars in the US. I also added Electric Factory folding mirrors on it as well. I have a program called UCDS that is a CAN BUS programming software used for Ford and Mazda cars and trucks. I'm sure that software will allow me to program the module to tell it it has AWD now. I really do appreciate you helping me out with this info.

 

[Emo Jim]

Oh i forgot to mention that I looked into the exhaust already and they are the same for either AWD or FWD. I was told I want to make sure that the rear diff and the front transfer case is the same gear ratio as the transmission. Because if they are different ratio's, things will not work very well. I checked on that and my gear ratio in the transmisison is 3.81 so I made sure the diff and Town Car i bought are also 3.81.