So my dual range in my 1987 EA82 GL 5- speed is getting very hard to put in first gear, I almost have to stop before I can down shift to it. So I talked to AAMCO transmissions where I live and they can rebuild it for about $800. Is this priced Right? Anybody have a good DR they want to give up? I can build engines, trans are not my thing. Does anybody have a service manual for the transmission? 

What gear oil are you running? Put Subaru HPGO in it. 

GD

First gear is designed to be changed down to when basically stationary. Unless you rev match it won't go into first easily from second while moving. 

Fresh oil can make a huge difference too, especially if it hasn't been changed in many years. 

Cheers

Bennie

many folks report problems using full synthetic GL-5 in the newer cars (dunno if that applies to older trans ???), maybe you got synth in there?

 

walmart sells a GL-5 synthetic 'blend' that is cheap and has some happy users.

I have a dual range transmission that needs a home.

is it a 4 or 5 speed DR?

 Ive got an '84 4wd dual range wagon with the 4 speed MT and it recently developed some unhappy noises in the gearbox suddenly one morning. i was on the highway going 60mph (i just had gotten up to speed, i wasn't driving hard on it either) when suddenly it felt like i had momentarily lost all power, i thought i blew the motor. i felt a lot of rolling resistance and i was unable to maintain the car at a steady speed so i pulled over on the highway and the motor was still running, so i continued driving it. i noticed some growling and excessive vibration coming from inside the trans which could be felt when holding onto the gearshift. all gears still shift fine with no grinding synchros and the 4wd hi&lo still works fine. i had some service done to the trans about a month prior. I was thinking that maybe the DR lever was out of adjustment and it tried to pop into 4wd at 60 with no clutch. or perhaps the transfer case was dry? I'm not sure what exactly has failed or what caused the failure (could be the sheer mileage of the car @ 243,000 anything is possible) The noises were horrible for a week or two of driving and then they grew quieter and less serious sounding, though they still persist. i'm still having no further issues with it but i have no idea how long it's going to last. Living here in the Twin Cities of Minnesota these old subarus are practically unheard of. its hard to find even the 90s subarus in the salvage yards here. Finding an 84 gl here to pull parts from just isnt going to happen. Many people i meet have never even heard of or seen one before. With no chance of finding anything remotely close to me that i can scavenge parts from i'm realizing that i'm pretty well backed into a corner with this one unless i can find a replacement unit or all of the necessary components for a 5 speed DR conversion. 

Thanks in advance, 

Dylan (and Suzi)

check your front axles.

 

if those trans have magnets on the drain plugs, maybe look for 'chunks' instead of just a little sludge?