legacycentral bbs

Hello,

I've been searching and looking for what kind of Subaru 5 speeds swap into a 1992 Legacy wagon.

I've swapped the AT out for a 5MT out of another 1992 Legacy that I put 423,000 on and the viscus coupling is toast. I pulled it out this weekend and had what I thought was good working spare in storage. It turned out to be junk. I dislike intensely UN-honest people who took my 200 bucks two years ago, "yeah it ran great, no noise or whines," but they really hosed me this weekend.

Know I can't find a local 5MT in salvage yard within 500 miles, and I need one bad. I have the 4:11 rear and a 3:90 LSD, I'm willing to go in either direction and even a newer Subaru 5 speed.

What are my options with newer 5 speeds please?

Can one of you toss a lead on a reasonably simple bullet proof build thread that worked with different and newer 5 speed.

I have two automatics sitting in two Sedan Sports, but after driving a 5MT for nearly 750,000 miles , I don't think I can bear the thought, short of no other choice but walking, to going back to an auto in this car.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

Hi Steve, where are you located? You can use 5-speeds from any Legacy, Forester or Impreza between 90-05 or so (whenever they changed the speed sensor to work off the ABS instead of a gear in the tranny).

If you get a tranny with a cable actuated clutch, you need to swap pedals from that car, along with the fork and cable of course. Otherwise (assuming you have a hydraulic setup already) you can use any hydraulic tranny up to whatever year subaru made the speed sensor change, with your pedals, master cylinder & slave.

If you get a 95+ Legacy or Impreza transmission with the electronic speed sensor, you unscrew the sender on the new tranny and screw your mechanical one in its place.

If the new tranny doesn't come with axle stubs, you can grab some off an automatic Subie. They come off with minimal difficulty. Replace the axle seals before you reinstall the tranny, trust me

Turbo transmissions through 05 use a "pull type" clutch, and non turbos (and 06+ turbo 5 speeds) use a push type clutch. What that means to you is you need a clutch kit matching your transmission, including the flywheel.

Forester and Outback trannys will make your speedo off by >= 10%, so try to find a "normal height" subaru if possible.

As you mentioned, match the rear end to the transmission's final drive. If the new diff doesn't have stubs, you simply switch to 95-99 Legacy axles.

Hope that helps.

Mike thanks for the reply.

Mt Location is Genesee Idaho. Which is near Pullman Washington or WSU, just across Idaho border.

My current set up is a a cable operated clutch and pedals. So I'm looking for a 95- and up Legacy or Impreza Subaru trans correct?

Do I need the new cross member, or will the old one off of the 92 work?

How about drive line? New one off new car or will the old one off of the 92 manual work?

Assuming "normal height" means Legacy or Impreza?

Thanks for your help.

Hi Steve, in that case you can use any 90+ legacy or impreza cable clutch tranny. They ended production of cable clutches before the switch to the ABS speed sensors. Use the crossmember that comes with it, or swap yours on to it, they are interchangeable. You reuse your driveline as well.

Yep, by normal height I mean any impreza or legacy, no outbacks or foresters - to keep your speedo as accurate as it is now.

Steve,
Sent an email.
GL,
Td