Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

I'll be starting my swap in about 2 weeks, I'm planning on taking about a week to have it done (did a 5 speed swap in my Legacy in 3 days)

I've got:
06 6MT
Shift linkage
Shifter bushing
Starter
Flywheel
Clutch
Clutch hydraulics
Pedals
Front axle seals
6MT tranny mount
Helicoil kit
Beer
A few friends

I've got a welder, planning on building my own crossmember by modifying the one for the auto.

Stay tuned for pics!

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Do you have the R180 rear diff and axles?

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

No, using the stock rear diff. It should hold up fine, I was using an R160 in my 280whp impreza for racing until recently.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Hold up fine, maybe. Work...definitely not. The 6MT doesn't use 3.54 diffs like the SVX. It has 3.90 diffs, with a 1.1:1 reduction in the AWD transfer gears, giving a final drive of 3.54. With the SVX rear end you'd have a 3.54 front and the equivalent of a 3.22 rear.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

I think you misunderstand how the reduction gear works. The front diff is unreduced, 3.9 final drive. The transfer gears reduce the driveshaft speed 1.1:1, and sends it to the 3.54 final drive rear. 3.9 front = 3.54 * 1.1 rear

The 06-07 STI comes stock with a 3.54 rear diff

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Oh really? Well there ya go, guess I had misinterpreted what I'd read. Thanks. I'll keep an eye on this thread, since I'm also planning on doing the 6MT thing this summer.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

6 speed should be arriving tonight, putting it in on saturday. Got the bolts and bellhousing soaking in penetrating oil right now. New axle seals are sitting waiting.

Anyone have any tips on modifying the shift linkage?

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

TomsSVX and the guys that work with him can set you up with a kit that includes shift linkage, pedal assembly, and tranny mount. It will save you alot of time and effort. They've done a few conversions and have the custome stuff down pretty good.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Naw, I know about that stuff but I'd rather do it myself. I have all the equipment to do it, I custom fabbed everything I needed for my rotated 20G in my Impreza. Was just looking for some measurements.

The trans crossmember is cake to do, same with the pedals. Just not totally sure on the linkage, looks like it needs to be cut and rewelded with a 2-3 inch rod. Not sure how that works with the reverse lockout cable either.


Trans arrived this morning, incidentally. $3000 canadian for everything.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

The clutch that came with the trans was toast, so now I'm a little stuck on what to do.

I'm thinking about using an Exedy OEM replacement WRX clutch (I have a spare WRX flywheel), seeing as the WRX is around equal in power levels to the SVX. A new STI clutch is way, way too expensive for what I'm willing to put into this job.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Stock pedals are out, shifter is out, automatic trans is seperated from the motor by about an inch, knuckles are beat to crap from working under the dash. Bleh.

FYI, you can do the swap without cracking brake lines if you unbolt the master cylinder from the booster

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Linkage is a bit tougher than the 5mt linkage but still workable. Everything is going to need a 3.5" extension. You will need to lop off the end of the cable and carefully weld in a 3.5" shank. Also cutting the cable mount at the bend where it retains the cable and pushing that forward 3.5". Careful when you do the actual linkage. It is easy to misalign the forks ever so slightly and have the shifter tweaked in the console.

Tom

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

So, how'd the weekend's work go?

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

ermm...

It didn't. We got drunk and crashed cars into each other instead :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...J/IMG_4382.jpg

I'll pick away at the swap evenings after work this week.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Getting ready for the upcoming, summer-fair, bumper car season? :D

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Bleh ok.

Pedal box is in, after much damage to my knuckles and the firewall. Need to do a little more grinding before the master will fit.

Trans is most of the way out, but unlike the imprezas and legacys I'm used to, turns out you can't drop the trans with the cv axles still attached and have them pop out, so now I have to do some wiggle work to get the axles back out.

I'm probably around 6 hours into the swap so far, I figure tomorrow I should get in another 6 hours, hopefully finish dropping the 4eat and get the 6mt shimmied into place.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Auto trans is out, speed sensor is swapped over, new seals in the 6MT (you don't need to remove the backlash plates for this) axle stubs are swapped over, just about ready to put the 6 speed into its new home!

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

6MT is in, pedals are done, axles are in, driveshaft is on, new trans crossmember is 50% done

basically all tahts left is welding up the crossmember and the shifter extension :D

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

So after roughly 20 hours I'm pretty much done. Just some wiring to take care of, should be driving it tonight with any luck.

I strongly advise anyone who tackles this to just buy the damn kit from Tom, fabricating the extended shifter turned out to be a major hassle.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Been driving it all day, needs some fine tuning but wow, a manual trans totally transforms the car. It's like night and day.

Anyone know what wires to jump to disable the ignition lock? I see lots of threads where it mentioned but no one says what colour wires :confused:

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...x/IMG_4467.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...x/IMG_4468.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...x/IMG_4469.jpg

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

What a great day you had for your test drive. I'm just a wee bit jealous...:rolleyes: I seem to be burning thru gas these days, so I'll have to bite the bullet and get the plugs changed during spring tune up this week. I'm going up island mid week, so getting the oil changed, tires rotated etc before I leave.
Make sure she's ready for the open road.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

just unplug the shift lock control module under the center console to get the ignition lock to work properly.

Tom

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

I did and its not working :|

UPDATE:

So I just plugged the auto shifter back in, hooked the interlock system back up, put it into park and pulled the key out.

You might want to add a note to your 5 speed swap instructions to make sure the auto is in park when you remove it... The funniest thing about this is that I did the same exact thing 3 years ago when I did my 5 speed swap in my turbo legacy, lol. I was searching for an answer and I came across my own post from back then, lol.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

He he, the first time I put the key in the SVX after removing the auto shifter I unplugged the shift lock unit and tried to take the key out and it wouldn't come out. I played with it for a while, gave up and went inside. About 20 minutes later I went back out and figured it out, I forgot to push in on the key to turn it all the way back!

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

haha thats awesome :)

When I was trying to install the brake booster I tried to put my hand through the windshield to tighten up the nuts on the other side.

:lol:

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Nice job I was wondering. using the 6MT, are you using the stock rear diff and axel?

Your just changing the transmission and everything else is stock right?

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

It only works to use the stock rear differential if you get a WRX 6 speed that has the step down center differential, otherwise you need to change out the rear differential as well to match whatever transmission you get.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

which model wrx 6 speed has the step down centre diff?
i might start hunting for one :D

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

US 07+

Tom

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

I'd remove the wooden pallets from the back before I lost my head!

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

My 06 has the step down

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

did they start in 06?? I have been saying 07 as a safety:o

Tom

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

I was pretty sure it was 2007 as well...

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

According to This thread it's 06-07


And the transmission I have is definitely from an 06 and it's definitely a step down center trans.

Does that mean all 06s are step downs? Not necessarily. But the one I have is.

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

My SVX isn't getting much love because of the Impreza hogging all my time

If I were to put this up for sale, would anyone be interested?

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Whole car or the trans? :eek:

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Whole car.

I'd probably want around $6000 for it (Canadian)

It's a US spec car tho

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

I wish I had money.

A 5-speed claret for sale in another thread, now this black 6-speed converted car...

I want a manual-gearbox converted SVX, and ideally a 6-speed just like this one. But I don't have money.

Unless you want to trade... I love my Legacy, but the though crosses my mind to make a deal. :D

Re: Splinter's 6 Speed Swap
 

Straight across trade? :lol: