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#1
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Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
I took my car to Tom (OT) to check out the delay in shifting and other issues that have cropped up recently. The most alarming is a noise usually made when I've got my foot on the gas, that sounds rotational. It reminds me of one of those spinny wheels on a board game with a plastic clicker that slows it down. Tom likens it to a baseball-card-through-bike-spokes sound. The next thing that concerned me was an oil leak. The least troubling noise is what seemed to be a buzzing from loose heat sheilds or maybe exhaust tips.
The rotational noise is caused by a missing tooth on the ring gear in the front differential. Tom found the tooth when when he drianed the dif. fluid. To replace the gear or to replace the differential, I'd have to pay more in labor than if I replace the whole transmission. Therefore, I have a tranny swap looming in the near future. The buzzing sound, Tom now thinks, is actually coming from my flex plate. One of the sources of the oil leak is the main rear seal. Those both can be conveniently replaced during a trans. swap, but otherwise would be labor-intensive to replace. The shifting issue - Tom determined it was skipping 2nd gear - is a story in itself, but that would obviously be resolved by a "new" transmission. I'm driving the car until the transmission fails or I'm ready for Tom to do the swap, whichever comes first. This SVX is a FWD model. Tom informed me that unlike the AWD's, it has a 3.7 gear ratio. The good news is that I don't have to use an SVX transmission. (I don't want to go manual.) Tom said it can be any 1990-1997 FWD Subaru transmission with one other constraining factor. I think that is that it has to have a 3.7 gear ratio too. (Is that right, Tom?) Exactly which models/years does that leave me to choose from? Does anyone have other suggestions, advice, or a transmission laying around that fits the bill? Tom could find one for me, but I want to have more than one option so I can balance out price and quality as best as possible. Also, why can't I use an AWD transmission on a FWD car? Is it incompatible, a TCU issue, or is it just that I would get a less expensive and probably less worn one if I stick to FWD versions? |
#2
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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You can contact him here. svxrepairs@aol.com. Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
#3
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
Thanks, Harvey, but an AWD conversion would cost a lot more, what with the rear diff, TCU, axels, rear subframe, etc. I don't have the extra money to do that. When I brought up using an AWD transmision, I meant w/o further conversion. That's just because I thought I might be more likely to find an AWD transmission, since there are probably a lot more Subaru AWD ones than FWD...that definitely goes for SVX transmissions. (Plus, if down the road I decide I'd like an AWD conversion, I wouldn't need another new trans.)
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#4
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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If I read correctly, he is already working with SVXFiles on the trans issue.
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1991 SVX L JDM |
#5
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
#6
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
To be honest, Tom is going to be able to source you a better transmission with less mileage for a better price than just about anyone. A lot of times I cannot come up with what he can and I buy from him as well. It is going to be tough to find a better deal.
Tom |
#7
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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#8
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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The engine size can be 1.8, 2.2, or 3.3. Justys will not work, and Loyales will not work.
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www.svxfiles.com The first SuperCharged SVX, the first 4.44 gears, the first equal length headers, the first phenolic spacers, the first Class Glass fiberglass hood, the first with 4, 4.44s in his driveway Fiberglass Hood thread My locker 4.44 Swap link |
#9
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
Thank you, Tom!
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#10
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
I have a FWD trans for sale. Shifts perfect, just needs a new front diff. Trans was rebuilt abotu 25k miles before I took it out. There's about 146k miles on it all together. Make me an offer if your interested.
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bLAh
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#11
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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When I searched 1997 Legacy FWD A.T.'s on car-part.com, 1998's came up too. Does that mean they're also compatible? Quote:
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#12
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
As far as I know there were no more FWD Legacy's or Imp's after 1997. The 98 tranny's would be compatible, but AWD.
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
#13
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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Tom |
#14
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
what THEY ^ said.
As I remember Subaru had about 500 1997 FWD Legacys, that they discounted/rebated heavily to complete the changeover to only AWD. I would go for the newest one (to get the improvements)with the lowest price. YT has a point about the "extra" clutch plates, but it has been the heaviest Subaru with the biggest engine.
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www.svxfiles.com The first SuperCharged SVX, the first 4.44 gears, the first equal length headers, the first phenolic spacers, the first Class Glass fiberglass hood, the first with 4, 4.44s in his driveway Fiberglass Hood thread My locker 4.44 Swap link |
#15
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Re: Looming FWD transmission failure!...options?
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