legacycentral bbs

I recently bought a pair of Turbo Legacy cars. The first one is a sedan with a bad motor and the second one is a wagon with a bad tranny. So I have decided to swap the good tranny out of the sedan into the wagon. Both cars are 1993's. Both cars have turbos/automatics. These are my first subaru's and this will be my first time working on an all wheel drive car.

Is there anything that I need to know to make this swap go smoother. Special tools? What size is the axle nut? I'm assuming it is easyest to just drop the tranny out of the bottom. Is there an order that things need to be done?

I've had the engine/tranny out of a bunch of other cars including Mustangs, Taurus SHOs, Bugs, Saturns so I know what I'm doing. Just looking for Subaru Tips, Etc...

Thanks,
Ef

The flexplate bolts are accessed on top of the motor through a hole in the engine casting.

The motor will tip forward when the trans is gone.

The torque convertors are very tricky to line up the oil pump shaft, and prone to damage if excessive force is used.

Pull the driveshaft like a RWD car, and the halfshafts like a FWD car. Front halfshafts have roll-pins and the stubs can stay with the transmission so no leaking fluid if your careful.

Front diff has a dipstick and uses gear oil. Transmission part uses ATF, like normal.

Problably more, but that's the top of my head.

Keep the torque converter w/ the tranny, if possible. If it does come out, be sure to pull the torque tube w/ it (it attaches to the back of the tq conveter).

I've always thought it easier to pull the motor out and then the tranny, or the whole thing as one unit and split it on the floor.

id pull it all and put in the sedan. or is the sedan a bucket?

The wagon is definitley in better shape than the sedan (and the registration is up to date).

For the halfshafts, do I need to disconnect them from the Wheel/Hub assy or can I push out the roll pins and leave them attached to the wheel/hub assy?

Do I need to drain the front diff? ...is it self contained?

Is the Haynes manual worth buying? Is there a better manual that is worth the $$$?

Thanks,
Ef

I have a 5sp trans and I left my half shafts attached to the hub assy. I don't know if it's different for the 4eat.

And as for service manuals, nothing beats a set of Factory Service Manuals IMO. You may find a set on ebay or in the Parts Shed for around $100.00 give or take. But the haynes will do it for cheap.

That's all I got....

The tranny swap has been completed! Thanks for the help.

Now I just need to decide if I'm going to keep it or sell it. Anyone have an idea of what a turbo wagon would go for these days? I tried looking in the classifieds and didn't see many to compare them to. Mine has about 141k miles on it, the interior is pretty nice, the body has a bunch of little door dings etc...

what are your plans for the bad motor?

The "bad" motor runs but has slightly lower compression on two of the cylinders (previous owner said it had a bad head gasket).

My crazy plan is to put it in the back seat of a chopped top VW Bug using a 2WD subaru tranny and have the radiator where the original bug engine was. So once it is mounted/installed in the bug I will go through and rebuild it and get it into the 230+ hp range.

Turbacy wrote:The "bad" motor runs but has slightly lower compression on two of the cylinders (previous owner said it had a bad head gasket).

My crazy plan is to put it in the back seat of a chopped top VW Bug using a 2WD subaru tranny and have the radiator where the original bug engine was. So once it is mounted/installed in the bug I will go through and rebuild it and get it into the 230+ hp range.

Your crazy plan is awesome and I demand you keep us updated with progress and pictures

After doing a tranny swap in my wagon. I would definatly pull the motor next time. Expecially since yours are both autos. That tranny is heavy as hell and I could see it being a bitch to put back in from underneath. Glad your keeping the wagon over sedan, better subarus imo.

dang
well if you decide u dont want the engine keep me in mind lol
but sounds like and awesome plan

Wagon > Sedan

Turbacy wrote:The "bad" motor runs but has slightly lower compression on two of the cylinders (previous owner said it had a bad head gasket).

My crazy plan is to put it in the back seat of a chopped top VW Bug using a 2WD subaru tranny and have the radiator where the original bug engine was. So once it is mounted/installed in the bug I will go through and rebuild it and get it into the 230+ hp range.

u mean like this...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=1834501

brand wrote: Your crazy plan is awesome and I demand you keep us updated with progress and pictures

I'll keep you updated. I'm sure I will have a bunch of questions along the way. BTW... the bug is already chopped so at least that part is out of the way!

mv420xx wrote: u mean like this...

Not quite like that... I want to mount it as a mid engine so that the subaru motor is litteraly in the back seat of the bug with a 2WD subaru tranny behind it. That will also free up a bunch of space where the motor used to be for the radiator etc...