ShawnW

Whats amazing about the whole thing is how much IS the same and then how much is completely different about these transmissions. You lay the pinion shafts alongside each other and until the extender rod out the back of the RX there isnt a damn thing different other than the diameter and shape of the pinion gear and the speedo gear drive on the 3/4 being different to compensate for the gear ratio. I will try to snap some photos soon. With no lab assistants and just the smell of hypoid gear oil lingering I really wasnt in the mood to expose my digi to the "environment".

You would probably be able to do the RX case, Legacy center case and VC and rear section. Downside would be custom driveshaft as these aren't identical in length to the older parts. No lab assistants all me. I didnt get anywhere today, I started pressing gears and couldnt get a gear off the legacy shaft (the 3/4 gear) so I quit before more bad luck came after me.

They swap fine and internally they are the same, I have rebuilt both. The wiring would be the only difference. Gotta be the torque converter where the fluid difference is and even those swap easily. Have yours rebuilt (TQ) while its out. If you wanted to you could take the tailhousing and front differential off the donor car tranny and bolt the original to the car differential to the trans. The 97 is a 1 year only trans but you can get around that with driveshaft change and minor external wiring changes.

Legacy trans disassembled. RX tranny disassembled. Cleaned both tranny's. Theres a TON of differences in these units. I see no need for the Legacy Viscous coupler. It looks like you can add the extender to the pinion shaft from the RX to make it still an "RX" trans with Legacy gears. I also see no need to grind the differential area in the case. He may have been thinking of the rear diff where you'd have to do that. Will take ALL of tomorrow to even come close to possibly getting the main case section back together. Im still exploring on whether the lo gears from a non turbo 5 speed will fit/work.

I wasnt accusing you guys of making racist comments just warning (moderating) that we wont tollerate anybody taking it a little further past the acceptable line.

We bought one last night too, used 03 black. Too early to comment on how much we like it but its certainly a big step up from the 97 Outback.

Be careful not to cross the line into racism with this post please. One typo in the FSM and the whole world publishes incorrect information. Example: Torque spec on the early EJ series engines crank pulley bolt. 40 pounds under what it should have been typed as. So where did you get that book?

Make sure its a DOHC 2.5. If it is swap your intake manifold onto their engine and you eliminate all the wiring concerns. The only other thing is the EGR, if JDM engines dont have it youre going to have to drill and tap the head to accept the EGR pipe.

No.

Not that terrible to swap out in the car. Id try the used one and then get a new one. I think they list around $500 for the part.

Thats news to me on the bolts but they have been real troublesome to remove in the past so maybe the allen heads will be easier.

Nice! Wish I remmebered what that even was (the page you speak of).

Kiss principle. Pull the plug wires at the coil pack about 1" away and crank the engine over. Is there spark going across the gap? Are the spark plugs wet? Do you have any check engine codes? You should if it wont start.

Try Napa or somebody that sells Moog stuff.

Is the Air hose from the air intake to the idle air control valve disconnected? They are hard hoses and tend to come undone easily.

Cone washer, flat washer, tie rods, and wheel balancing. Id start with wheel balancing especially if he has free with his tires.

From what I have heard the RX viscous coupler is much more durable but of course a lot harder to find. Ill keep it in mind as we build them though...how to do that.

Id leave the axles out in hopes of putting a 4.11 gear in that diff.

Nicely done. Lets do this thing! Let me see if I can clear out Saturday morning and early afternoon (gotta leave by 3:30) Requested Recruits will be PM'd. Please dont be upset if you arent asked I want to keep #'s down for this.

His hatch's little grey brother had that and didnt need it.

True, not nice meant only in fun anyway. And yes that would have totalled most of todays cars.

You know, Subaru did the necessary crash testing back in the early 80's and they aren't hiring any more dummies.

Sometimes helping is just moral support, helping carry stuff to the washers, check the FSM's etc. Ill be honest I don't want a huge crowd for this as it gets very distracting. Just a team of maybe 3-5 people be okay and once we get it figured out then maybe do more people around so it goes faster? I also have a 3.9 D/R 5 speed tranny torn apart in pieces so we could snag the low out of it if its possible. Mostly we just need a Legacy 5spd 4.11.

I have an RX box already but you definately should obtain the one you have a lead on in case mine is toasted. I need to do a similar swap for JMR052 so I obviously am up for it. I just need a 4.11 legacy to crack along side it. I would love some help figuring it out. I can't do it this weekend but maybe next?