kimokalihi's 91 SS EJ20 Swap

[kimokalihi]

I just replaced my driveshaft carrier bearing mount bushings with Torque Solutions anodized aluminum bushings. Didn't notice any difference but they were pretty easy to do. 30 mins job. I'm about to order the rear diff bushings, subframe locking bolts and trans crossmember bushings. Got a horrible clunk on hard shifts and I can't stand it.

[Dominator]

Oooohh, shiny new parts. Too bad you don't feel any difference with them swapped in place. I'm sure it cleaned up some slop, and for sure you'll notice a difference when you swap out the other ones you mentioned.

I've always heard good things about these two items.

TiC Klunk Killer
http://turninconcepts.com/product_info. ... cts_id=187
Kartboy "Botox" Rear Subframe Lock Bolts
http://turninconcepts.com/product_info. ... cts_id=141

[kimokalihi]

I just bought those along with the transmission crossmember mount bushings. Super excited to put those in. Plus I have a WRX power steering pump that's in the mail that may or may not end up on my car and a 5MT Kartboy shortshifter!

TiC says the rear diff bushings only fit 02+ imprezas and when I emailed them about it all they would say was that the rear diffs mount differently on 02+ imprezas than my legacy which was pretty vague if you ask me. So I ordered them anyways and I'll find out for myself I suppose. If they don't fit I'll sell them on NASIOC.

[Deride]

The mounting bracket that holds the studs on the diff cover to the rear cross member is different. Back when 93forestpearl did his bushings I inherited his diff bushings for my 02 because they didn't fit.

This is the impreza bracket with the new bushings installed.

[kimokalihi]

What is different about it? I need those bushings replaced. Can I use a WRX bracket on my legacy?

[Deride]

Don't think you can use the WRX bracket and the bushings were too small I think to put into the tleg bracket. If I remember correctly the tleg bracket one end sits high one sits low its not straight across.

[kimokalihi]

Don't like the sound of that.

Something has got to work though. People bolt up WRX and STI rear subframes and diffs so maybe swap the rear subframe...that seems a bit crazy though. I guess I'll just replace the other bushings and see if that fixes it.

[Legacy777]

Yes, the legacy rear diff bracket is different, and yeah it does have one mount high and one low. I think you can still get some bushings to fit it though. Just need to figure out which ones.

I was going to replace them a while back, but never got around to it.

[kimokalihi]

Any idea where to get the proper bushings? I haven't seen any aftermarket ones so they'd have to be factory bushings which probably won't be very stiff and possibly not worth the money to replace?

[Legacy777]

Not any more. Here's a blurb from my AWD & Swap write up.

The first main issue I had was with the rear differential member or mount. I had ordered an STi differential mount for a 2002+ WRX. It turns out that the mount is different. The WRX mount is wider and the mount points are horizontal with the mount. The rear differential mount for the 1990-1994 Legacies is smaller in width, and the mount itself is mounted in the rear crossmember at an angle. I talked with Rallispec about the issue. There are apparently three different types of rear differential bushings. For the 1990-1994 Legacies & 1993-1994 Imprezas Subaru used a bracket that mounted to the differential and crossmember. From 1995-2001 the bushings were in the crossmember itself. In 2002 Subaru went back to the bracket, however as mentioned above, it's a different size and shape then the old bracket.

[Deride]

From my experience that is correct. My 02 Impreza is the horizontal bracket, my 96 outback has no bracket, and my t-legs have the offset bracket.

[kimokalihi]

So that means to upgrade the bushings I have to get a WRX rear subframe, correct?

[kimokalihi]

Installed my Kartboy WRX shortshifter today. It...is...AWESOME! Nice short shifts and the knob is probably sitting at the perfect height now. Not honda-low and not space-needle-high. Feels great and well worth the $40 I spent on it.

NOTE: If you buy the Kartboy SS for your 1st gen legacy and you have the stock shift linkage still you need to buy the 97-01 RS (pretty sure, might want to contact them first) shifter because the width of the bearing housing is not as wide as the WRX shifter is. I already have a WRX shift linkage in my car so I was able to find a used WRX shifter on the cheap.









I also installed my new-to-me 1.5 DIN compartment below my stereo and it looks much better now. Thanks Originalcyn!



Before and After

[originalcyn]

Looks good! My pleasure Kimo, I'm glad you finally got a 1.5 din.

[kimokalihi]

Me too. No more ghetto looking huge gap.

[Legacy777]

I need to do that shifter surround like you have it setup. I like it!

Regarding the rear diff bushings.....I'd keep searching. Honestly....I doubt you'll notice a difference. The main clunks come from the bushings on the front part of the crossmember T. If you do those and the rear subframe locks, you should be good.

[kimokalihi]

Thanks Josh. I think it looks swell too. LGT knob and boot I think with 04-07 sti trim piece.

I'll give it a shot.

[Florin1]

Aww so cute. A little 5 speed.

[kimokalihi]

Lol shut up you lucky bastard.

[93legacylsleeper]

LOL!

[kimokalihi]

Yeah this guy somehow found an svx with an sti 6MT in it.

[Danny-G]

Svx with sti 6mt... All it needs is boost now and it will be perfect.

[kimokalihi]

You start boosting an h6 and you better have deep pockets. I saw a pro shop build a couple of those motors and spend a ridiculous amount of cash and only wound up with around $400 whp. It would be cheaper, more reliable and make more power to build a 257.

[kimokalihi]

Emailed the place I ordered the bushings from and canceled the diff bushings since they won't fit. That saves me $38. Then I looked up the part numbers for the OEM bushings for our cars and they're $29.41 each and that's before tax and shipping and you need 2! $77.24 after tax and shipping. That's expensive for a couple of bushings that aren't even poly bushings or stiffer group N bushings either. I'll hold off on that until after I've installed the subframe locking bolts, diff outrigger bushings and the transmission crossmember bushings.

41322AA021

[Deride]

You really need to upgrade your steering wheel, lol