Tranny pump up-grade

[svxistentialist]

Randy or Eddycat or Subie or any expert.

Can anyone give me an ub-biased opinion as to whether it is worthwhile putting in an upgraded oil pump during rebuild?

For un-biased read not singing the Subaru anthem, not carrying the Level 10 card etc etc.


I have read posts that Level 10 put in or can forward an uprated pump. If so I might get one. My daily commute is an hour and a half of a run over a distance that takes 40 mins when traffic is light. So I am stopped and ticking over a lot. And the cooling is like ZERO.

Is there a better pump? Who supplies it? What does it cost?

Thanks

Joe

[Aredubjay]

Joe, let me preface by saying, "I'm in no way an expert."

Secondly, I believe you've read enough of my posts to know that I'm damn sure not going to sing the Suby anthem, nor, am I going to endorse Level 10 without more mileage on the trannies that have been installed. By the same token, I will not slight either of them if it's what I feel is "best" in my opinion.

Those things being said, I personally do not see the need of the added expense of an "upgraded" pump in a transmission that is used for average driving purposes. Mileage, cooling, other factors notwithstanding. The pump in the 4EAT has proven itself in many conditions and extremes and does an excellent job of fluid distribution and flow -- when nothing is clogged, of course. If you were going to race on a regular basis (notice, I said regular), there may be some advantage in the higher flow pump, but, for my money, for every day driving, I'd stick with the pump that the transmission was designed with. My suggestion would be to add the tranny cooler with the auxiliary, thermostatically controlled fan, if you're concerned about cooling.

Again, this is one man's opinion. We all know what "opinions" are like -- and we've all got one.

[svxistentialist]

Originally posted by Aredubjay

Again, this is one man's opinion. We all know what "opinions" are like -- and we've all got one.

First let me say there are no opinionated people on this forum, or I wouldn't be joining in.

Snigger snigger.

Your advice appreciated Randy, anyone who can nurse a Legacy tranny for months has gotta be worth at least two brass gongs.

Joking aside, I neglected to mention I do not propose to replace the '91 rad, which I am fairly sure is clogged, but I will add an auxialiary cooler on of about a million lbs GVW just in case. What I am trying to achieve is increased oil flow at the ridiculously low tickover the SVX sets itself to. If you think the stock pump is OK for this, I take that on board, but knowing a little about fluid dynamics, I have me doubts. What about that chap from Australia, he would hazard a guess would he not?

Thanks for the opinion

Joe

[Aredubjay]

<<What about that chap from Australia, he would hazard a guess would he not? >>

Yes, Martin Reiger would not only give you his opinion, he would let you know, in spades, how he arrived at it. I have a lot of respect for Martin. He is the main reason I have an SVX tranny in my car now, instead of a Legacy tranny tied to a Legacy rear end.