Hey all, I'm Monsterizing a BRAT.

 

I'm building a custom sub-frame. I am literally taking EVERYTHING from a 98 Legacy donner car and building it into my sub-frame that will eventually bolt onto the underside of my BRAT. (the brat dash, steering collum and all electronics are also going and will be replaced with the doner car systems)

The Brat gets a 3" lift and the fenders will be trimmed out.

 

Whew! that all being said. The car has an Automatic Tranny (that is blown) and planetary diff. I want to replace it with the 5 speed tranny from a GT or XT and eventually the LSD from one as well.

 

The problem is I want the VCD from the GT/XT's but I don't know what the tranny number / model number is or if it's the same as all other manual gear box Subaru's of that era?

I also know that there is a difference in 98 and up because the clutch goes to a push type rather than a pull type.

Also Is the drive shaft the same between Legacy's and impreza's? (the impreza has the correct wheel base for a BRAT)

 

So, any info I can get is helpful, and if you have some tranny kit around you're selling Please let me know!

 

The end goal is a look and stance like the Tamiya RC BRAT (I already have a custom roll bar made to be like this one)

 

Edited April 10, 201510 yr by dec0y13

message cwp8 

 

 

He and OZ (forum admin) are the masters and he is planning the Brat Legacy drivetrain. 

 

You gotta see his magazine Brat....

 

GOOD luck and keep us posted with a build sheet. What 3 inch are ya using haha. 

Using 3" Box steel w 3/16 thickness for most of the Subframe. BRAT body goes on top. Legacy Drivetrain and suspension on the bottom

More info will be brought by others, but the Impreza driveshaft is shorter than a legacy. otherwise will attach to the trans and rear diff without modification.

That's perfect! I need the Impreza wheelbase

Are you planning to offroad this thing? And how big do you want the Tires?

This is gonna be a trail ride. No heavy duty off-roading. I'm going for more of a rally setup. I have a lot of desert out here and I'm gonna be in the dunes every now and then.

 

The wheels I'm going for are 265/70/15's (currently looking at General Grabber AT2's)  These are reasonably close in size to the stock OD of the original wheels. Plus I'll be using the much heavier axles and suspension from the legacy.

265/70/15 is just about a 30" tire. That's quite a bit larger than stock size even for an Outback.

If you do a manual trans you'll want a 4.44 final drive, otherwise you'll be smokin the clutch trying to get moving on steep hills.

I was wondering about that same thing. Which cars have the the 4.44 final drive? Is there a tranny number or indicator?

at one time, folks were getting the dual range gearboxes from Australia - something like that still possible?

Edited April 10, 201510 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

All the dual ranges I've seen can't handle the WRX engine I hope to get in this thing next year. 

Unless there is something I haven't seen dual ranges endeed with the EA82's

 

I've heard the GT trannys are quite rugged and can handle a bit of horsepower. So I had to give up on a DR tranny. (this did break my heart a bit)

I'm going all EJ on this build.

 

I better check to see what Diff I have now

Edited April 10, 201510 yr by dec0y13

You won't find a specific trans number that encompasses all manuals with a 4.44 ratio.

4.44s were only found in the US in Turbo cars. US model Outback and Forester XT around 04-07ish

 

 

The push/pull clutch is non turbo vs turbo deal. Turbos generally have the pull clutch (WRX, STI, 05+LGT, OBXT, and FXT turbos will have pull clutches)

Push clutches change actuation method around 98, from cable to hydraulic, but that is interchangable. Push clutches can be either/or just be swapping the release lever and moving the pivot stud to the proper mounting hole on the case.

 

 

There are dual range units available from Australia or South America. 4.44 was an option in those but I think it was only paired with something like a 1.21:1 reduction.

There are 4.11 units that had 1.59:1 low reduction, which provides a lower overall ratio.

Some importers are now bringing these to the states with all the shift levers and cables needed for the swap. Search around the interwebz for "EJ dual range" and you can find more info on those.

does that mean my 06 WRX is 4.44?

 

if so, I can tell you there were some other small changes made starting in 06. better 1st gear synchro is the one I recall. Might be worth looking a little harder for an 06 or newer trans i guess?

how practical would this be?; http://scorpionsubaru.com/low.htm

 

about $1225 US BEFORE shipping from Oz.

Edited April 10, 201510 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

WRX is usually 4.11.

The cars with the big tires, Outback and Forester, were the ones that got the 4.44.

There were probably some JDM/ AUDM/ LADM models that had 4.44, but I don't know much about those.

Would the rear diff on the cars have a 4.11 stamp?

Edited April 11, 201510 yr by dec0y13

Stamp? We can wish they would make it that easy!

<p>nvrmd</p>

Edited April 11, 201510 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

You won't find a specific trans number that encompasses all manuals with a 4.44 ratio.

4.44s were only found in the US in Turbo cars. US model Outback and Forester XT around 04-07ish

 

 

The push/pull clutch is non turbo vs turbo deal. Turbos generally have the pull clutch (WRX, STI, 05+LGT, OBXT, and FXT turbos will have pull clutches)

Push clutches change actuation method around 98, from cable to hydraulic, but that is interchangable. Push clutches can be either/or just be swapping the release lever and moving the pivot stud to the proper mounting hole on the case.

 

 

There are dual range units available from Australia or South America. 4.44 was an option in those but I think it was only paired with something like a 1.21:1 reduction.

There are 4.11 units that had 1.59:1 low reduction, which provides a lower overall ratio.

Some importers are now bringing these to the states with all the shift levers and cables needed for the swap. Search around the interwebz for "EJ dual range" and you can find more info on those.

You can also swap the d/r from an ea81 into the ej d/r

Ok more questions! The tranny from like an 04 sti or 02 wrx is not gonna work with my 98 2.2 engine is it?

 

Also, will I need a new ECU from a manual car To work with my 98 automatic harness?

It'll bolt in, but some other things will need to be changed.

You'll need to use the turbo pull style clutch kit (the release bearing pulls the diaphragm spring out instead of pushing it in)

And you may need to swap front axles due to change in the inner joints that happened around 04-05ish.

 

No need to swap ECU.

That's perfect. I'd be pulling all of the linkage, pedals, and plumbing anyway. I'll just grab the axles as well