speedo cable vs. wheel revolutions - or a dogbox?

[isotopeman]

Could anyone check something for me the next time their speedo cable is disconnected?
I'm trying to figure out how many revolutions the cable makes per wheel revolution.
I know that there are four magnets in the speedo for the reed switch, but not about the cable. I'd check with mine, but the gear that drives the cable doesn't work.
With the reed switch moved to the axle with eight magnets, the car was often already in 3rd gear at 15mph. This can barely get my car up my steep driveway, or any other steep hill, at a low speed. It started to smell like burning oil when driving, so I disconnected the wire thinking it would be as it was before. This was a mistake. I found myself suddenly in first shortly after getting onto the highway from doing that. I reconnected the switch, and went back home, but a head gasket is blown.
I'd like to have this right before replacing the head gasket.
This is making me reconsider the transmission as well. There is a 96 outback legacy wagon in the salvage yard with AT and AWD. I have only FWD, so there'd be some other changes to make before I could use that.
But what's a dogbox? Is it less expensive? Simpler to install? More fun?

[Bheinen74]

you can replace the speedometer driven gear inside the transmission for minimal cost, and all you have to do is pull the axle out from the transmission, remove the bolt for cover holding axle hub assembly, count number of turns in to bottom out, thread out the cover, pull axle stub out, pull bearing, replace plastic gear.
here are the part number and price info
32715AA040 GEAR SPEED 25.98
AND A LATHE SEAL 31363AA030 3.53

most shops can do this repair, but they will be reluctant. I did on my car and speedo works again. it is about a 2 hour job.

b

[BAC5.2]

I did all of the calculations with Vikash a while ago. There's a post in the drivetrain forum about it.

You probably don't want a dogbox. It's basically a race manual transmission. There is zero margin for error, and it can be extremely violent.

[isotopeman]

That's great info. I was informed that the transmission would need to be disassembled to reach that part. The dealer was offering to do the labor for 850$. The part itself was <13$. I didn't suspect it could be replaced as easily as you described. I'll find a cheap digital camera soon and note the procedure.
Thanks!

[BAC5.2]

I really hope you lined up the cap EXACTLY where it was. If you didn't, you'll need a new transmission soon enough.