mr.radon

I'm going off the service manual data. How can I tell? I have not checked my rear end, how do I tell? Is it stamped on somehow? Let me know and I'll double check before I reinstall the driveline. Thanks for bringing this up!

DEPENDS: I just checked. For the 4WD Sedans and 3-doors the rear diff was 3.7 for a 3AT. But for the Station Wagon & Touring Wagon the rear diff is 3.9 for any tranny. Therefore Station Wagons don't have to swap this out, I'm not doing this. If not, tell me now before I really bind up my car!

I noticed that the steering wheel was real easy to turn with the car off. I was pushing the car back and forth to get it into position before I lifted it. It seemed like there was really very little turning resistance normal with power steering units. Anybody just install a bypass loop in the power steering unit and use it as a manual? What would the harm be? I can't see any negatives, then I can run a single belt. The owner manual shows this installation.

I'm leaving the power steering in. I don't have the time to look for a non-powered steering gear. Anyone know how common non-PS cars were? With everything out of the engine compartment it would be easy to replace. The valve covers gaskets were hard as rock and crumbled as I removed them. The ventilation hoses to the heads are also in need of replacement. Is there an off the shelf substitute? Or do I have to go to a Subaru dealer? Also, did the non-A/C cars come with a two belt alternator pully instead of a one belt?

Update: Tranny: Cleaned and then cleaned some more. Looks nice and shinny now. Found the drive shaft I left my mistake at PAP. Tranny is ready to go in. I noticed there is a cover plate with the 3AT shifter. by removing it I have the opening I need for the 5 speed D/R shifter. Cool, I don't have to cut. Parts store sold me the wrong clutch plate. Engine: Pulled it last night. Both oil seals were bad. The front one was really bad. Lots of oil in the timing belt covers. One timing belt was minuets from busting. Several cracks through 80% of the belt's width. Scary. Cleaned it as much as I could. Gauge Panel: Should I swap out the gauge panel? Is it worth it? Connectors the same?

Interested. Do you just plug the hydrolic oil ports or do you swap out the steering gear?

UPDATE on my conversion..... :D Junk Yard (PAP): Pulled a 5 SPD D/R out of a 180K mile 1985 Subaru. However, I left the darn drive line at the yard. I was in a rush to get out by 5PM. Easy 3 hour job, however, I wish my kid was there to hand me tools. I thought the pedal box was pretty easy to remove by myself. The tranny was a pain since I couldn't use a jack and the rim (supporting the front of the car) under the cross-member stopped it from sliding out. The yard lifted the car and moved the rim for me, nice of them. The donor car has the hill-stopper option, is it worth while to go back and grab it when I pick up my drive line? I’ve never driven a car with one of these. Are they a maintenance/adjustment nightmare? Also, anyone know the weight difference between a 5 Spd D/R and a 3AT? My 1988 Subaru: So I have all the parts minus my aforementioned driveline. Last night I removed the original 3AT. Anyone want it? Remember no R or 3rd. I can drop it off anywhere in the Seattle area, but you have to also take the torque converter, drive line, shifter, speedo cable, and pedal box to; charge $30. The torque converter is in A1 shape. Send me a PM if you are interested. You'll have to act fast. I won’t keep it longer then a week. Wiring: I looked over the wiring on both transmissions. 3AT: 3 electrical connectors, 1 vacuum connector 5SPD: 2 electrical connectors The 2 connector shells on the 5SPD match connector shells on the 3AT. The switches look similar so I guess they perform the same function. Reverse switch & 4WD switch? What is the extra connector on the 3AT for? I know the vacuum line is to engage 4WD. Also, the micro switch that senses "4WD LO" on the D/R shifter (inside the car) anyone know how to wire this switch up? Does Subaru use a standard wiring harness? Would my 3AT car have the breakout for this switch? If I have to wire it to the gauge cluster manually, how do I do it? Gauge Panel: Is worth while to swap out gauge panels? Are the interface connectors the same for the different gauge panels? I have to get behind the gauge panel to plug in the speedo, right? My EA82 Engine: I’m pulling the engine tonight. I’ll do a full tune up: rotor, plugs, wires, filters. Besides checking/changing timing belts, valve cover gaskets, front & rear oil seals, what other seals/systems should I check/replace? Front Drive Shafts: I noticed that the right axle may be messed up. When I get ready to reassemble this I wouldn't mind an expert looking it over. The axle was very hard to get out of the rotor and a sleeve came out with it. I think it’s missing a bearing pack or something. I'll post pictures tomorrow. Everyone: Thanks you very much for the advice on this tranny swap. I’m sure I would have been very much flustered had I found this message board. I had no idea that there Subaru made a D/R 5 speed, I’m sure I would have just grabbed a plain old 5 speed. I’m quickly coming up to speed on Subaru’s, I’m liking these cars more and more. Although, I can swap a clutch in a VW in less then 2 hours, I think the D/R 4WD will make up for this inconvenience. On the side: Met the Subaru rally team last year at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which was before the fatal accident. The drivers and crew were great. Our pit area was across from theirs. I loved the driver’s power slides into the pits. They would lock up the e-brake, spin 135 degrees and shoot up their ramps. First time our crew saw it we all just started to clap. Great drivers. Would like one of their race engines.

Thanks for the pictures. I looked in my owners manual and it showed a picture of the non-A/C routing. What I had suspected. I will run with two belts, even though the mentioned tensioning issues. I'll have to look for a non-A/C Subaru to salvage this part. I dislike my current set-up. Since I'm heading into the dash to install my XM radio system I'll remove the extra A/C evaporatior. I also found out in the owners manual that two different types of A/C comprssors were used. One mounted inboard of the alternator, the other outboard. Interesting. I've got an update on my 3At - 5SPD D/R conversion.... BTW that is one clean engine, I take it you just rebuilt it? Sweet.

Well into the conversion now. Located a 5spd D/R to replace my 3AT. To loose some weight and free up some parasitic load off the engine I removed all the engine compartment A/C parts. Questions: Cars that came out of the factory without A/C was there just one belt? If so can someone post a picture of the setup? I looked at the junk yard but didn't see any without A/C so a picture would help. If it is a one belt system I think I just might put new pullys on my car to loose the extra weight of the double pullys I now have. I'd also like to see how they mounted the alt. It looks dumb hanging way outboard without the A/C compressor. I made a bracket to support the mount that bolted to the A/C compressor. I got to find a car without A/C and rip off that mount, picture would be helpful. In place of a picture a link to a shop manual will be just as useful. Thanks, -When I'm done with this conversion I'll write up a do's and don't

Thanks for the advice. I looked around and found some more posts on this topic. Thanks for all the posts so far. BTW for manuals what does D/R stand for? Update: About the current 3AT. I honed the governor, it is still doesn't engage R nor 3rd gear. I then adjusted the shift linkage, no effect. It also leaks tranny fluid. Selective 4WD works and the engine runs real smooth, better then my '91 Legacy. The body is 100%, all lights and options work, no rust, only minor scrapes, brand new traction tires, new brake pads, good rotors, CV joints all look good, nice interior. However, no spare tire. Another item to add to the list. I'll stop by PAP for parts, and check E-Bay for shop manuals. Good advice guys. I'll post the progress of the conversion. One last question. When I pulled my '91 Subaru engine to replace the rear main oil seal I thought of removing the A/C system all together. However, Subaru integrates the A/C compressor with the alternator, mount wise and belt wise. I thought this would take some machining time so I just slaped it back in and forgot about the doing a quick de-convert. This '88 uses two belts and it looks like I can remove the compressor pretty easy. However, do they make a bracket to support the alternator without the A/C compressor? I don't need A/C. I want to save the weigh and engine Hp for driving.

First off I used to be a big VW "82-86' nut. However, after driving a friends Subaru and doing under the hood work on the car I got my own 1991 Subaru Legacy 2WD which I fell in love with; the car was a steal due to the rear main oil seal leaking. After pulling the engine to fix it I liked the car even more. They are pretty well designed. My problem with the Legacy is that I really needed a 4WD to get around in the winter. I ski & ice climb a lot, drive to Canada every weekend. The 2WD with chains just sucks. So I got a 1988 Subaru GL 4WD on the cheap with the 3AT tranny. Cheap because the tranny won't go into reverse nor shift to third. 4WD works, engine runs pretty good. Instead of rebuilding the tranny myself I want to swap out the 3AT with a 5 speed manual. I've checked the board for previous threads about the conversion, however what I was looking for was this: Can someone send me or post a list of parts/problems they had converting. I'm worried about the clutch pedal installation and 4WD selector switch installation. I got all summer and fall to fart around with this car so time isn't a problem. Is there a web site that show pictures of a conversion? Whats the going price for a 5speed manual? I'm also thinking of rebuilding the engine. I've done dozens of VW rebuilds over the years, any particular concerns or suggestions on rebuilding the 1.8L H4 MFI/FI engine I have? Good place to get a shop manual? What s the best out there?