lancek10

OK guys I need some tech.... I found a used Auto trans from a 93 Impreza 2WD. Can this tranny be adapted with parts from my AWD to fit in a 1990 legacy? I need the car to be AWD when finished. Thanks

The 3000 is for a reman unit from Shucks/Kragen. I have had estimates of 2400 for a bench rebuild and also the same from another place that said they could do the parts and labor for that amount. How difficult is it to remove the tranny from this car? I assume that I would have to pull the engine to remove the trans???? After looking at the way the trans and front dif are located in the car I have no idea how they make the front wheels drive!! I assume that the torque converter is in the bell housing then the it goes through the front dif and then into the trans. How the heck does this setup get power to the front?? Also what makes these trannies so expensive to rebuild, I had the TH350 in my truck rebuilt for under $300 and I am sure that the sub is more complicated than it but why so much money? I called some junk yards and I can get a used one for 650 that has a ton of miles or another with 91K for $850. I hate to put a used auto in it when it takes all the work to R&R and it could go out it a few miles. I know some one has a good parts car that they want to sell me........PLEASE LOL. Thanks for the responses guys.

Well I filled up the trans and it was about 2 quarts low. The slipping is gone, but the noise is still there. It sounds like a bad pump to me. Shopped around and sounds like I will need about 3K to replace it. The car is not worth that much so now I am stuck. Anyone close to oregon have a good used one for sale cheap??? If not I may be parting out a very nice car if you guys are interested. I would like to fix it but that is way too much money to invest into a car that is 14 years old. I do have a 86 XT with a 2wd auto sitting in my yard and I wonder if there is any chance it may fit in the legacy?????? Well I hope someone may be able to help me out and I will check back often. Thanks

Wow that makes sense. When I posted this I felt like such a fool. I am usually very knowledgable when it comes to cars but these subs try to cross over from car and truck and I lose focus sometimes. Thanks for the D/L Josh!!!

I just bought a 90 legacy and I am not sure what kind of ATF it needs. I pulled the dipstick and it smells like 90w gear oil to me. Is there a seperate transfer case that I am checking by mistake? I am not too familiar with these cars but I do know what gear oil smells like and I have never heard of a A/T using it. So can someone help this fool and tell me what I need. My car is not shifting well and making some awful noises in first and reverse, but it works fine after we get up to second and so on. Knowing my luck the tranny is probably giving up and I am waisting my time with this, but I would hate to rebuild because it is low on oil LOL. Thanks

Update for my frustration. I swapped out struts and shocks out of 2wd and also replaced spring washers on both sides. The new struts were 2 inches shorter below the lower spring perch than what I took out of the car. This dropped the front end of my car considerably. The suspension went back together so much easier due to the shorter length. Well here is the problem. The car appears to sit way lower on the RF. The axle nut did not back off again, but the car will put you in the ditch if you let go of the steering wheel. Pulls to the right bad. It also sounds like I might have a RR wheal bearing going out also. Could my car be bent? I know that it is unibody so wouldn't I be able to notice it in a body panel or something. I have not had the car aligned yet, but I know that there is not a whole lot of adjustment to be had with this suspension. NOW WHAT ???????????????????????????

The turbo car is thrashed!!!! The engine compartment is ok but the inside is destroyed. My 4wd car is really clean and straight. The interior has cigarette damage on all the cloth but the seat are good enough to refinish. I live in OR so rust is not a factor out here. I am going to dive into in this weekend. Swap struts, hubs and brakes from 2wd and see where I am at. I will keep you posted. Just for kicks all you guys should come to OR. Yes the jobs suck. but cars are everywhere and cheap. Wish me luck!!!!

I think you are right about multiple components backyard engineered into a lift kit. The car is really fun to rally race through our mountain roads , but it drives crappy on the freeway. I dont think the wear is bad enough on the axle to worry about. The hub and spring washer will defintiley get swapped out, but the axles are new and lifetime warranty so I dont want to use old hard boots again. I will just clean it up with a emery cloth. It is right behind the splined section on the outer end of the axle where it would contact the race of the inner bearing. I know the axles are installed correctly. I wonder how many of you have had the expererience of seized splines on the out put shaft of the rear dif. What a pain in the butt. I was just about to buy a used rear end when finally it popped off with a port a power. A job that should have taken a couple hours took a couple of days. That is the story of my life!!! I have more questions about the turbo swap. Should I just swap components onto my mpfi engine or is a complete swap easier. The parts car I have was wrecked in the front, but the engine does not appear to have any damage. It does not have a radiator in there anymore, but a brand new radiator, fender, and hood came with the car. What a deal huh all I had to do was haul it out of the lady's yard. I am not holding my breath, but the engine may run just fine as is and that would be so unlike my luck. Who knows maybe Subaru's will work out for me in the end. Thanks for all your help guys this site is cool. I am an avid off-road bbs reader and yours is just as helpful. They don't talk too much about subies there, but I am sorry guys they really know Samurai's lol. Is it OK to have love for lots of different brands ????????

Yes the caslenut keeps backing off. I have checked this little tapered "spring washer" out and it does show wear. As does the end of my brand new axle shaft. When the wheel backs off in the middle of nowhere that has any shop open you got to drive on lol. So I am going for the parts car front suspension. *sidenote: When I replaced the wheel bearings and seals I bought XT bearings, but had to get sedan seals that were smaller. So I am going to swap the complete front form the donor 2wd and the shocks from the rear to my 4wd car and hope that I can align it to 2wd specs. The control arms and steering all appear to be identical, but I have not torn into it yet. I just got the parts car a couple days ago. It was free all I had to do was haul it away, and it has a complete 4cyl turbo motor in it .

Well I replaced the all the cv axles, the ball joints, wheel bearings seals etc. The axle nuts keeps backing off and the wheel tries to come off. It has a cotter key and I have used loctite with a torque wrench to specs. Feel likes the cv axles are stretched out so much that they are rubbing. Bottom line the car drives like fecal matter!!!! The tires are pointed in all different directions the factory axles were absolutely destroyed when I changed them. This car has been driven like this far too much. It is no different or worse in 4wd. That system works fine. I travel for work and really like XT's so I have always wanted another one for this job. Can't afford a WRX , but I am good with a wrench and want to save this little sub!!!!!!!! I want to end up with a 4wd xt turbo 4 cylinder that is reliable and fun to drive. I want to swap in the cruise control also. Well that is my story and I am sticking to it.

Thanks for the welcome!! I don't have any need for your struts. I have a complete parts car that has all the suspension in tact. It is just 2wd and I wonder if all is interchangeable. As far as what is under my car now. This is my theory. It all appears to be factory subaru, but like out of a wagon or something that would be heavier that makes the springs heavier and taller. I dont know for sure, all I know is that is has paint pen jy marks on it and my car has an air suspension light in the dash. This setup would be great for offroad because it has a ton of ground clearance, but I need a freeway car for the snow and ice around here. Do you have any idea who the XT "guy" is? I used to know people that tinkered with brats, but I have lost touch with them. Well anyway I am in for a weekend of RD wrenching and hope it all works out. This will be the third time I will have taken the front end apart trying to rebuild and repair. I think it has to be suspension binding the vehicle. :cornfuzz:

I am looking for XT expertise here so any help will be appreciated. I have an 89 xt 4wd mpfi 1.8 5sp. I also have an 86 ( I think it is an 86 no title yet) xt turbo AT 2wd. The first question I have is about shocks and struts. My 89 came factory with air ride ( I think ). The air supspension is gone and some other subaru conventional shocks and struts are on it now. The problem I have is that the ride height is way to tall and the car pulls to the right really bad. I can not find a shop to align it because of the non stock supsension. The manual I have says that the air and conventional suspension is "identical" except for the spring instead of air. So can I use the 2wd XT suspension from my parts car ( front and rear)? After I work the suspension out I want to rebuild the parts car turbo motor and instal it in the 4X4. What all do I have to swap with it ie. the computer, lines, exhaust etc? Will I have to run the scooped hood with a turbo motor? Well I will worry about the suspension now cuz my mpfi motor runs good. I am new to Subaru, but have lots of other brands of toys to work on too. Thanks in advance for your help. :-)