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drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:33 pm
by crisco
have a question for the gurus who have swapped out their trans for a different 5MT.

i broke my trans, and found one from a 2003 impreza TS. (really good price w/80k miles)

i think its a perfect fit due to:
-push type [EDIT: the legacy Turbos are pull types]
-almost identical gear ratios except slightly taller in second
-has 1:1 transfer ratio instead of 1.1:1 like the WRX

so this means i dont have to change my rear end (although it would have been nice to have to change to a WRX lsd if i had to cough cough but money is tight so maybe its better i dont have to find a rear diff)

so! the only question i have that remains is: will my driveshaft work fine in the trans? im thinking it would but i know there are slight differences in the lengths of the exhaust for example so would there be any issues in the driveshaft length?

thanks in advance for the info!

crisco

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:58 pm
by wtdash
Hi,
I don't know about length.

But 2 gotchas to watch out for:
1> If you do have to change driveshafts make sure you keep the rear section that attaches to the pinion flange on the rear diff. Sometime in the '90's the bolt spacing changed. You can swap the pinion flange too, but they're a PITA to remove.
2 > Did you verify the VSS - speed sensor will work? I know sometime around 2003-2005 the sensor's went electronic (and Internal to the trans, I believe) from mechanical. Read THIS.

Also, sometime in the later '90's the speed sensor that screws into the trans changed from a spinning cable to an electric sensor - that goes to the speedo head- BUT they are interchangeable so just use the one from your old trans.
GL,
Td

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:05 pm
by crisco
okay thanks - thats goo dinfo on the vss... i'll do some more research.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:57 pm
by Legacy777
As long as you use your driveshaft it should be fine. The part where the trans & driveshaft meet should be the same.

Since I have an 04 STi trans sitting in my garage with the screw in type electronic speed sensor, I would "guess" you should be ok with the 03, and can just unscrew the electronic one and screw in the manual piece. If you can get some pictures of the trans, it should be pretty easy to verify that.

Does the 2003 Impreza TS have a 3.90 final drive ratio?

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:19 pm
by wtdash
Opposedforces.com is a great resource for this info. On THIS PAGE it shows 3.90 under the Gear set-Hypoid.

Be aware you'll have extra mounting bolts/locating pins on the newer trans, but it'll bolt up fine. Also, may want to get the starter??? NOT sure, but I'd have one ready unless you read that the old one will work.

Td

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:21 pm
by Legacy777
Cool. Thanks Todd.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:59 pm
by crisco
yeah its a 3.9 with 1:1 transfer ratio... so i dont even have to change the rear end. all gears are identical but second is slightly taller.

actually i did check and im getting the starter with it.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:19 pm
by wtdash
Ok...showing my ignorance...I thought the Legacy SS had a PULL clutch? And if the TS has a PUSH, then is that an issue?

When I did my AT>5-speed swap (thanks to Josh again!) I just used a cable clutch setup w/the PUSH clutch setup...It worked fine. But I think yours and the TS are both hydraulic/hydro??

Just checking.
TD

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:51 pm
by Legacy777
It really doesn't matter push vs. pull.....as long as they're both hydraulic. That's all that really matters.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:13 pm
by crisco
true but its easier if they are both the same and yes - the '03 impreza TS is a 'push' types according to my sources.

The gen 1 legacy turbo is a pull type.

[EDIT: i fixed this to show that the legacy turbo is pull type]

please correct me if im wrong. cause im leaving to get it in 5 mins lol...

the WRX's are pull types.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:27 pm
by wtdash
Read THIS and also, I'm 99% sure that it's common to use the - 02-05 WRX Flywheels, which were Pull, on the Turbo 5-speeds.

The TO bearing will be much more $$ for the Pull type too.

AGAIN, I'm not clear on WHAT'S different, just that they're not the same. You sound like you're ready either way.

GL w/your purchase,
Td

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:52 pm
by Legacy777
crisco wrote:true but its easier if they are both the same and yes - both the '03 impreza TS and the '93 legacy ss are 'push' types according to my sources.

please correct me if im wrong. cause im leaving to get it in 5 mins lol...

the WRX's are pull types.
The All the first gen (91-94) turbo legacy transmissions utilize the pull type clutch setup, not the push type.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:51 pm
by crisco
ok that was good info. thanks - i will just have to mod this one to make it fit lol.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:02 pm
by crisco
so it looks like i might as well get a new clutch while im changing the trans. i will need the clutch, most likely resurface my flywheel (or replace?), and get a new throwout bearing. anything else?

i did end up getting the starter with the trans.

thanks again for all the help.

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:11 pm
by wtdash
^Pressure plate, pilot bearing, maybe the clutch fork, and are you stating to resurface the SS's FW? If so, I don't think it'll work w/the Push clutch on the TS.

While you're under there I'd replace the transmission mount and bushings.

Here's a PIC of the clutch setup on the TS.

TD

For future reference from Legacy777's website HERE. This is for a swap, but should be inclusive:

Manual transmission (Cable or hydraulic)
- Manual transmission crossmember
- Manual transmission driveline
- Clutch & pressure plate
- Flywheel
- Pilot & throw out bearing
- Shifter, linkage, and rear shifter support bushing
- Manual transmission clutch/brake pedal assembly (Cable or hydraulic)
- Clutch cable if cable operated
- Clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder, and hoses if hydraulic operated
- Manual transmission starter
- Possibly a manual transmission cruise computer
- Possibly a manual transmission ECU

Re: drive shaft question on swapped 5MT trans

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:14 pm
by crisco
ok so looks like what i will need are:

all the below for an Impreza TS from this page (thanks wtdash) http://opposedforces.com/parts/impreza/ ... on/clutch/:

3 Spring-release lever retainer
4 Clip-clutch sleeve
5 Bearing-clutch release
6 Cover complete-clutch
7 Pivot-release lever
8 Cylinder assembly-clutch operate
9 Disk complete-clutch
10 Lever-clutch release (already have and it looks to be in good shape)
11 Bolt and washer assembly
clutch alignment tool

the below for Legacy turbo:
-trans mounts and bushings
i will plan on getting all the above from the subaru dealer.

Also:
-might as well replace the shifter assembly with one from a WRX or TS