Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

When I bought my car 5 years ago there were two main things I wanted to do with it: Restore the body and convert to a manual trans. A number of things have come up in the meantime, both mods and repairs. I replaced the engine last fall (Thanks Nate!), swapped in coilover suspension, replaced the original doors that were completely rotten, BBS wheels, custom exhaust, etc etc etc. (See my signiture mod list ;) )

This spring I finally had the opportunity to grab a 6MT with all the bits I need, and last weekend I finally started the swap.

Bring it all home:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...82064290_o.jpg

Last weekend I started the work, but had some other stuff to take care of on the car first. My parking brake had seized up a while ago, so new cables and rear brakes were the first order of business. I also picked up a set of front calipers, I've been doing impromptu rebuilds on mine since I bought the car and got a little bored with it. The calipers will end up black as well.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...9969794511.jpg

Amusingly, the parts guy couldn't believe that the calipers were for a Subaru. Between the size and the dual pistons he was sure they belonged on a Chevy half-ton.

Today I got a bunch done. I'll let the pictures do the talking:

Not long for you my old friend...

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...9969680791.jpg

4EAT out and meeting it's replacement! Anyone want it? Trans jacks are the **** by the way.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...7996932834.jpg

My sophisticated engine holding tool. Keeps it from falling forward without the transmission there. (It's one of the bellhousing bolts. Do not try this if you don't have a PWR rad!)

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...9969435611.jpg

Tomorrow is interior day. Get the shifter and stock pedals out, remove the TCU, all that fun stuff.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Very cool. Welcome to the club. :)

Any issues/questions so far?

What are you doing with the pedals? That part may turn out to be trickier than you think.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

No issues so far. It's amazing how well built these cars are; 20 years old and the only bolts that are stuck are the tiny ones holding the parking brake cable to sheet metal brackets. All of the bolts for the subframe, rear diff, suspension and everything else come apart like they were assembled yesterday.

The transmission came with one of YT's conversion kits, so I've already got the pedals sitting and ready to go. I may build my own transmission cross member down the road some time just because this one is a little rusty and I'd like to have things looking show-room underneath.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Nice pics! Good luck with the project, this is great motivation for me to get off my butt and start the 6 spd conversion!

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Can you please take pics of these things? I'd like to make a comprehensive m/t swap thread and those would really help. Also the shifter linkages. If you can, I will write it all up, and I'm sure it will help others in the future. Especially as the older members who have the experience become less active.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Absolutely. I won't be back in town for two weeks, but I'll definitely do that for you. I'd been wondering about a few of the details myself before I got the kit and saw how it all goes together.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Round 2: I'll be starting on the swap again tomorrow, but in the meantime I had a little bit of fun with some Brembos.

As YT found out a while back, the mounting lugs on the SVX knuckles are farther out than an Impreza's. The caliper mounts up, but with the added outward push my 17" STi rims don't clear them. Fortunately I just happen to have an 18" wheel lying around...

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...9969833041.jpg

The stock rotors don't work at all, so I just tossed the wheel on without one. It's a tight fit:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...9969863541.jpg

Hard to tell in that picture, but there's about 2mm clearance from the wheel to the caliper. Obviously with a rotor installed that would be better.

Soooo pretty...

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...7996989760.jpg

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Sunday (Canada Day for we Northerners!) Update:

Flex plate out, flywheel in, auto pedals out, TCU out, other misc stuff. The main thing today was pretty-ing up the transmission:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...7996995972.jpg

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...7997002614.jpg

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...8/DSC00602.JPG

Don't mind the broken engine in the background. :rolleyes:The colour is Rustoleum Hammered Black, it's basically a very dark grey with a beaten/cast texture. Looks really nice. I spent most of yesterday afternoon cleaning the transmission with a combination of wire brushes, degreasers, and other means. (Turns out electric toothbrushes make excellent cleaning tools :lol:)

Tomorrow I'll hopefully get the pedals mounted (I'm honestly finding this to be the hardest part of the job), the clutch disc/pressure plate installed, and maybe swap the R180 into the back end.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Having removed or put back the pedals at least 5 times, I can assure you that that is the hardest part. Without ever taking out any of the interior to do so. I am a skinny basterd so I can get away with stuff like that.

Try to make the hole for the clutch master cyl as small as you can. You'll appreciate it years later, I promise. Also, if you don't and you don't cover it up somehow either, your feet and the pedals will get hot on long drives.

MAKE SURE THAT NO PART OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL CUTS INTO THE WHITE PLASTIC THINGY that covers all the wires above the pedals.

That trans looks very nice. I wish I had had the forethought to paint mine. I have used that paint and it does look really good.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Love the paint color!

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

I am planning on doing a really comprehensive write-up on manual swaps, and since you're taking Lots-O-Pics anyway, can you make sure to take some pics of the following:

Auto and M/T pedals
Crossmember
Shifter linkages
Whatever you do in order to mount the lower shift linkage to the body
Whatever you do to seal the shifter area with the rubber seal or whatever
Master cylinder and especially the tubing going to the slave cyl
The wiring to the old auto harness (btw, making an adapter from the extra loom that plugs into the trans worked really good for me)
The wiring to next to the auto shifter (that 4-wire white plug you have to jumper 2 of the wires)

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Will do. I actually just took the shots of the pedal assembly to show what's modified, I'll grab the rest as I go.

:lol: I'm a skinny bastard too, but unfortunately I'm also 6'-1" with long arms and big hands. The contortions required to get in there are not the most pleasant.

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Thanks.

"Contortions" is the perfect word for that, lol. Yea, not an experience I'm looking to repeat.

What kind of 6-speed is it btw? Year/DCCD?

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

Did you use longer bolts than the standard flexplate bolts?;)

Re: Crazy_Pilot's 6MT Swap (Lots-O-Pics!)
 

It's a 2007 long-geared USDM. It has DCCD, but I haven't decided if/how I'm going to employ it. Honestly this swap is enough work at the moment, I'll worry about that once the car is driving again.

OMGWTFBBQSAUCE there are longer bolts?! ;) :D