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

[Crazy_pilot]

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.

[SVXMAN2001]

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

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

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.

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.

[Crazy_pilot]

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.

[Crazy_pilot]

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...



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



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...

[Crazy_pilot]

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:







Don't mind the broken engine in the background. 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 )

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.

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

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:

[pic]

Don't mind the broken engine in the background. 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 )

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.

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.

[Subix]

Love the paint color!

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

Sunday (Canada Day for we Northerners!) Update:

Flex plate out, flywheel in,

Did you use longer bolts than the standard flexplate bolts?

[Crazy_pilot]

Originally Posted by icingdeath88

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?

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.

Originally Posted by svxfiles

Did you use longer bolts than the standard flexplate bolts?

OMGWTFBBQSAUCE there are longer bolts?!

['E']

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

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...



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



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...

i really like this style of wheel