Front Diff or just inner CV joints? URGENT

[SVX ROO]

Tom
I have the '96 tranny now in the '94 SVX. Unfortunately the diff ratio in the front and rear diff's is different! Tranny seems OK; I will test it with all 4 wheels off ground today. With car on ground the rear wheels are skipping to compensate for the different ratios.

Secondly, the FWD fuse does not disconnect the rear wheel drive. Neither the light comes on nor does it disengage. Although the plug connectors plug in okay there seems to be some difference in the wiring.

I checked Tacoma Subaru parts lists and it says that both the '94 and '96 have 3.545 diffs. My dealer says they changed in '96. Do you know for sure one way or antoher? If they are the same this would indicate the '96 tranny is not from an SVX though I saw the car it supposedly came out of.

Any idea about why the fuse does not work? No, it is not a blown fuse.

I have a couple of options:
1. rebuild my '94's broken diff. Could be a lot of parts$$ and not enough smarts or time.
2. Guy that sold me the '96 tranny has a '93 tranny with about 80K miles. I can swap the '96 for the '93. Guy is willing to help me with the swap. I would still have my broken '94 tranny as a backup.
3. I could get the diff from the '96 as he is doing a 5-speed conversion. But I still worry that all the electrical circuits may not be correct.

Any advice? I think #2 is my most likely choice.
Ken

[svxfiles]

All American AWD SVX had 3.545 ratios.

[TomsSVX]

If it came out of an SVX then the wiring is the same also.... I mean just take a look at the wiring on the connectors and see if colors match up... Sometimes you may need to change around a few plugs when going from a different car but from an SVX should be plug and play. I have a feeling the transfer clutches are binding rather than having a different ratio. I am not sure, I would say tell the guy to give u the 93 trans in return for the 96 back since it is not working properly

Tom

[SVX ROO]

Tom
I think you are right about the transfer clutch. That would explain why the fuse does not disengage the rear also. With the car jacked up on all fours, I got speedo up to 40+. One front did not wanty to spin but slight resistance on the spinning wheel got the other going which seems normal for an open diff. But as it shifted into second it got a growling noise and did not sound good.
Yes, I am asking to swap for the '93. I do not look forward to all the work.

I plan to replace all of the seals and such before I tackle the job, but I will be looking for advice on doing the job, might be a Thanmskgiving project.

How easy is it to chane the engine rear main seal when the tranny is out? I know it leaks a bit and I will do it if it is a simple seal swap. Is it one piece? Can it be replaced without pulling motor apart?

[TomsSVX]

The rear seal is a sinch... Just pull the old one peice seal out and push the new one in... Couldn't ask to get much simpler... I may be able to lend a hand come thnxgiving but I will have a 6peed to do... a 5speed to swap out and a drag race to dominate in Maryland

Tom

[SVX ROO]

Tom
The following will get me started. What things do I need to do from the top of the engine bay and inside the car before I crawl under? Just a list will be good and any tricks that might go with any of them. Also, how much of the exhaust needs to get out of the way?

[Earthworm]

Are you sure this tranny came from an SVX??

[SVX ROO]

I saw the SVX is supposedly came out of. It now has a 5-speed in it. He had two other SVX's at his house and no Legacy, Outback, etc.

[TomsSVX]

1.Remove intake piping
2. remove throttle body
3.remove pitch stop(dog bone going from firewall to tranny)
4. Remove starter
5. remove torque converter bolts though access Plug(upper passenger side of engine by the trans)
6. Remove all electrical plugs(2 on top and speed sensor on passenger side)
7. Remove trans cooler hoses(both on drivers side of trans

The rest is pretty self explanitory but feel free to keep asking questions if u get stuck

My # is (609) 276 7279

Tom

[SVX ROO]

Tom
How about the shifter in the car? Does it need to come out or do you disconnect at tranny? Only think on your list that worries me is the torque converter bolts; I'm a stick shift guy.

I have a general Subaru book that covers the SVX, sometimes it is good and sometimes not.

[TomsSVX]

you will see what I am talking about when you pull the throttle body... there is a black plastic cover that pops out and will give you access to the tc bolts...then you can just use a big ratchet to turn the engine to get to them individually

Tom