Question about a used Transmission

[Saxman]

I'm looking at buying the transmission out of a lightly crashed 1996 SVX with 84,000 miles on it. It's still in the car, and they say that it runs good and there's nothing wrong with it. I'm already planning on buying the ECUtune TCU right away, and the Valve body eventually.

Does anyone have any input on whether or not this transmission would be a good replacement? They want $1000 for it and it doesn't seem like they're going to budge on the price at all.

They upgraded the clutch packs after like '95 right? Should I bother going into the tail end of the transmission and replacing the transfer clutches? Should I buy the transfer clutch drum upgrade from ECUtune?

[davew833]

$1000 seems pretty high. It seems like for quite a bit less you could drop in a 4.44 trans and diff.

[steamer99]

I agree with dave, I just did the 4.44 swap with a good one (transmission and diff.) from a 97 legacy GT with only 57,000 miles that I got for $500.00 with a 30 day not dead warranty. I thought that the car was prefect before but it is better now, specially after adding the "Quick Change" module.

[Saxman]

I'm worried about it failing on me, it says right on ECUtune that the 4.44 has less, and weaker clutch packs, so it's just going to fail again right?

it's going to cost me the same amount to do a 4.44 swap, I'm worried about the solenoids being bad as well.

I really don't know what I should do. Most of my driving is on the highway, so the better city fuel economy doesn't really help me, and they say the revs are higher on the highway so I'm going to be burning more gas.

I was looking at a 4.44 transmission, it has 55,000 miles, and it's been sitting for a a few years or more. They want $700 for it and $300 for the differential.

[dragoontwo]

Originally Posted by Saxman

I'm worried about it failing on me, it says right on ECUtune that the 4.44 has less, and weaker clutch packs, so it's just going to fail again right?

Clutch packs are only part of the transmission strength equasion. I'm not speaking for or against the 4.44.

However, the 4.44 gearing will be easier to get moving than the 3.54 gearing. That part comes down to the mechanical advantage the 4.44 provides.

[bwb3]

I think a $1,000 is a good price for a relatively low mileage, late model SVX, especially if you do the upgrades. Not having to swap the diff is also a plus, and cost offset.

Did the ECUtune valve body quote include providing him with your old core?
Gene

[1986nate]

Originally Posted by Saxman

I'm worried about it failing on me, it says right on ECUtune that the 4.44 has less, and weaker clutch packs, so it's just going to fail again right?

it's going to cost me the same amount to do a 4.44 swap, I'm worried about the solenoids being bad as well.

I really don't know what I should do. Most of my driving is on the highway, so the better city fuel economy doesn't really help me, and they say the revs are higher on the highway so I'm going to be burning more gas.

I was looking at a 4.44 transmission, it has 55,000 miles, and it's been sitting for a a few years or more. They want $700 for it and $300 for the differential.

4.44 transmissions all have the same amount of friction discs in the clutch packs as an SVX. This is proven fact. Also, the 4.11 from a Legacy LSi 2.5 also has the same amount as well. The 3.90 from a 91-94 legacy turbo also has the same amount of friction discs.

Regardless, with 4.44 gearing vs 3.54, the friction discs don't need nearly the same amount of torque holding capacity as the gear ratio allows for less strain.

[Saxman]

with the 4.44 transmission do I have to change over the speedometer mechanism so that it will display the correct speed on the speedo?

[longassname]

92 SVX and genuine Subaru Remanufactured SVX transmissions 8 low reverse frictions
vs
other model years of svx -- 7 low reverse frictions
vs
other Subaru models 5 to 7 low reverse frictions, 6 being most common

92-95 or 96 SVX -- 6 transfer frictions
vs
genuine Subaru remanufactured SVX transmission -- 6 transfer frictions with kolene steels
vs
other Subaru models -- 5 transfer frictions

All SVXs including genuine remans-- 6 High Energy Graphite forward frictions
vs
other Subaru models -- 5 HEG forward frictions or 5 to 6 tan frictions

Originally Posted by 1986nate

4.44 transmissions all have the same amount of friction discs in the clutch packs as an SVX. This is proven fact. Also, the 4.11 from a Legacy LSi 2.5 also has the same amount as well. The 3.90 from a 91-94 legacy turbo also has the same amount of friction discs.

Regardless, with 4.44 gearing vs 3.54, the friction discs don't need nearly the same amount of torque holding capacity as the gear ratio allows for less strain.