RWD conversion?

Famouspork · #1 08-18-2009, 10:57 AM

How hard would it be to convert my svx to RWD, and would the drivetrain be strong enough to withstand it?

huck369 · #2 08-18-2009, 11:15 AM

Depends on how you'd be driving it....
I'm running a 5-Speed converted to RWD in my SVX, and have had it in there about 3 years now....and it's doing fine, though I don't flog it (often

)
And the tranny I'm using came out of a 1.8 Impreza.

I can say the handling really went downhill with the RWD, as the car is just not set up for it....and it is basically useless in the rain/snow....but it is fun to be able to hang out the back end once in a while

Mephis · #3 08-18-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

but it is fun to be able to hang out the back end once in a while

The AWD does it just fine.

It just takes a little time for it to start stepping out.

I had fun in a parking lot the other night.

Alex-svx · #4 08-18-2009, 11:44 AM

That sound fun to have RWD on the svx.

But can you really use tranny from a 1,8L impreza?

Famouspork · #5 08-18-2009, 12:39 PM

do you know what was done to your car in order to make it RWD?
My front diff is broken, Ive purchased a couple of parts I need to make it 5sp and 4.44, but I dont have much money for now to have someone do the swap. I thought maybe it would have been one way of driving the car until later this year..then make it AWD 5sp for winter...

huck369 · #6 08-18-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex-svx

That sound fun to have RWD on the svx.

But can you really use tranny from a 1,8L impreza?

I am....Every 5-Speed swap I've done has used one out of a 1.8 Impreza....but Subaru used the same transmission for all the Legacy/Forester/Imprezas except the turbo models, so it doesn't really matter which one you use if you don't plan to race it.

huck369 · #7 08-18-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Famouspork

do you know what was done to your car in order to make it RWD?
My front diff is broken, Ive purchased a couple of parts I need to make it 5sp and 4.44, but I dont have much money for now to have someone do the swap. I thought maybe it would have been one way of driving the car until later this year..then make it AWD 5sp for winter...

you can weld up the transfer clutch pack in an Auto and run it as a RWD....but it won't hold up long if you flog it...but might get you by for a while...Ben and Dave ran the racer that way for a short while.

Famouspork · #8 08-18-2009, 01:39 PM

I see...
my problem is the front diff is noisy since a gear tooth broke inside.
There must be more to do than just weld the clutch pack, in my case anyway.I'm just tired of driving the windstar

NiftySVX · #9 08-18-2009, 01:55 PM

It is pretty simple, grind off the teeth on the pinion gear for the front drive and fuse the transfer clutch together. The rear drive section of the car is dramatically undersized for a 3500 lb 230 hp vehicle and I doubt that it would hold up to 100% of the power for long, especially if you were hard on it. The rear diff isn't even mounted all that securely to the subframe. And of course the suspension is not set up for it which is why the car is tail happy when RWD.

I would suggest repair of the front diff instead of a m/t swap unless you just really want a manual. Subaru's manuals are slush boxes and the ones that will fit, with the exception of the turbo legacy, are not strong enough to hold up to the engine long term

Famouspork · #10 08-18-2009, 02:04 PM

I got a legacy GT transmission, and I'm not too hard on the car, I rarely floor it.I want the AWD 5SP driving pleasure.For now I got the broken svx rage.Which is getting worse with time.

NiftySVX · #11 08-18-2009, 02:11 PM

What year legacy GT? I don't believe the new ones will fit, I think it has to be from back in the day when they still had 4 bolts, if I am mistaken the newer ones from like 97 on had 5 bolts. A RWD conversion would be very interesting if someone did it correctly, as our transmission is based on a JATCO (japanese auto trans company) design and is strikingly similar to those used by other manufacturers. A manual out of a 90s 300zx or the like could bolt up to the bellhousing but that is speculation on my part. Stiffer anti roll bars may go a long way in helping the handling as well. I have been planning to investigate this possibility as I may obtain a svx at some point with an issue like yours for next to nothing and grind the teeth off the gear as I mentioned and have a hardened reduction gear made so the transfer clutch hub will hold together when the clutch pack is welded.

huck369 · #12 08-18-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiftySVX

What year legacy GT? I don't believe the new ones will fit, I think it has to be from back in the day when they still had 4 bolts, if I am mistaken the newer ones from like 97 on had 5 bolts. A RWD conversion would be very interesting if someone did it correctly, as our transmission is based on a JATCO (japanese auto trans company) design and is strikingly similar to those used by other manufacturers. A manual out of a 90s 300zx or the like could bolt up to the bellhousing but that is speculation on my part. Stiffer anti roll bars may go a long way in helping the handling as well. I have been planning to investigate this possibility as I may obtain a svx at some point with an issue like yours for next to nothing and grind the teeth off the gear as I mentioned and have a hardened reduction gear made so the transfer clutch hub will hold together when the clutch pack is welded.

ANY EJ series transmission (manual) will bolt up to the EG33....the newer ones do have more bell housing bolts, but will still bolt up as 4 of th ebolts are in the same location......SEVERAL members are running the newer transmissions, enve a few with the STi 6 Speed....

SomethingElse · #13 08-18-2009, 07:42 PM

Here are instructions...http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=35610

I had to do the same thing for a blowed front diff...the car will work fine...just be weary of putting your car in park...i had 3 teeth broken off my pinion all next to eachother..when i put it in park it wouldnt catch 80% of the time....always use your parking brake.

Alex-svx · #14 08-18-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huck369

ANY EJ series transmission (manual) will bolt up to the EG33....the newer ones do have more bell housing bolts, but will still bolt up as 4 of th ebolts are in the same location......SEVERAL members are running the newer transmissions, enve a few with the STi 6 Speed....

Ok. So then you can use a Transmission that is all from 1989.??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine

huck369 · #15 08-19-2009, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex-svx

Ok. So then you can use a Transmission that is all from 1989.??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine

Not a EA series tranny, like in the Loyal, BRAT, XT, XT6, nor a Justy tanny...but ANY Manual bolted into a Legacy, Forester, Impreza will bolt up to a EG33...which the Legacy was the first to use the newer style bell housing, and "some" were produced in 1989, but were 1990 model cars