Won't go into too much detail right now about how much it cost (a lot more than I anticipated), nor installation (I had the dealer do it). I will be more than happy to respond to any questions, though.

I decided that I wanted to break it in, at least for 250-500 miles or so. That's a good long way when you live on a small island and only work 2 miles from home. So I don't have any high-sped reviews I can make yet.

First impression: Clutch is very smooth. I bought a version 7 clutch and flywheel, used, from someone else. While the tranny itself looks like it's almost brand new, the clutch looks like it has maybe a year left on it. That's what my mechanic (sub-sonic on here) told me.

Shifting is very smooth. No more shudder. I know that this is another comment about the clutch more than the tranny, but it was something of note that I can't get past.

It is my gut reaction that I am so much closer to the power when just normal driving, ie tooling around and my short highway jaunts. While before, with my stock 5mt, it seemed like I had to be aware of what rpm/gear I was in if I ever wanted to hot-rod and make use of boost. Now, the boost seems like it's right there. I guess it's a direct result of the gearing being better able to make use of the available torque.

I only made one observation of mph vs rpm. 60 @ 2500. My friend Mach5 took me down to pickup the car from the dealer and while we were on the highway in his US STI, we noted 80 @ 3000. I'm going to have to pay more attention when I drive it today to see how fast my engine revs at more mph points.

Shifting into reverse is going to take some getting used to. I keep putting it in 6th when I'm trying to backup.

Last thing of note. I think that the route I went to mate up the transmission to my rear end is a good temporary option. I bought a ring & pinion designed for a '92 Legacy Turbo. I understand that this may have created a weak point in the spiders in the rear diff. I do plan on upgrading to an R180 rear end when I can (hopefully later as opposed to sooner). I believe that that should pretty much make my drivetrain pretty bulletproof.

Now, please bring the ?'s and I'll answer as best as I'm able.

 

Wow thanx for the detailed review.... if I only had the money...

jason

 

Some things to add.

The transmission was installed on a 2002 WRX wagon.

I got an awesome deal on the transmission and what sweetened the deal was that the seller threw in the shifter & linkage and driveshaft in for free. Had to buy the ring & pinion (What fits perfectly are the 2002 TS wagon ring & pinion; what fits with the additional purchase of the yoke that goes on the pinion is the '90-'94 Legacy Turbo ring & pinion.) Also had to buy the 'reverse lock-out' cable. Realized as soon as I picked it up from the service department that I'd need a new shifter ****. In the meantime, I'm using my stock **** with the bottom plastic piece of it dremeled off and inside of the **** I had to stuff with paper towel.

Anyhow, even though the tranny is STI, don't buy the the ring & pinion from the US STI. The rear end on my car is an R160. The rear end on the US STI (and JDM I believe) is R180. Much beefier. If I were made of cash, I'd have bought the entire rear end (diff and half-shafts) to complement.

Lastly, I bought a clutch & flywheel off of a JDM v7 STI. Now, it is my understanding that my stock clutch and flywheel would have been sufficient. I won't state an opinion because I don't know. I know that my setup is still working after 24 hrs, but with no real hard driving.

 

Great review!

It doesn't seem like you've gotten a chance to test yet, but I'd like to know if the 6 speed eliminated the LONG jump to to 4th from 3rd. It must be nice to do a 3rd gear pull and continue to pull through 4th and 5th. :banana:

 

Great review.

Does the six speed use the same trany mount as the 5mt?

Does the rear diff protector fit the six speed?

How much did the six speed versus the 5mt?

Is your rear diff open or lsd?

 

Chris,

We used the same tranny mount, I believe. I mean, Ed (sub-sonic) didn't put it on my invoice. One thing I left off of my review is that I now have a suspect rattling. Only when I take off in 1st gear does it make any noise.

I took it back down to Ed yesterday and he retightened all tranny and engine mounts. Right now, the suspicion is that it seems that everything is tight, but maybe the front half-shafts are a little loose in the front diff.

We used the stock rear diff, so there shouldn't be any problem with that protector fitting. I've never had the protector, though. As an aside, I think that if you have the money, I'd recommend getting the entire R180 rear end if you can. Although when you do that, my understanding is that the protector no longer fits.

Stock rear diff, so it's LSD. (at least that's what my research points out. I thought it was open for the longest time, but now I believe it's LSD)

 

Oh BTW this is gpatmac's WAGON!

http://64.119.173.9/forums/showthrea...threadid=34302

 

sweeeeeeet

i want to do this someday.
how much chickens would i need to sell to cover this swap?

 

Thanks for the review, Pat! I'd love to get a ride in that sucker!
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which starter are u using? wrx or sti? also wondering there were other clutch-related parts needed aside from the obvious...

i'm against reusing the wrx clutch. i hate the damn thing... the first time i drove an sti it was the very first thing i noticed was all that chattering was absent and it was like a godsend...

 

Didn't replace the stock starter. Also, I believe that the stock clutch/flywheel work fine, although I'd have to research to substantiate that. I bought a version 7 clutch and flywheel. Works awesome. The engagement is so much smoother, although I don't know if that's because of the adjustment or what.

 

wrx clutch and flywheel does fit from what i've read elsewhere here. sti clutch and flywheel will fit into a wrx tranny but u have to grind a big chunk of something out of the inside of the wrx tranny housing to make it clear.

anyway congrats... i'm so jealous

 

may i ask who was your parts source?

 

It was a private individual from Colorado who emailed me after he saw I was looking for the transmission. The clutch flywheel was from another guy.

I really do like the private 'for sale' forums.

 

sorry to make u slave here but can u do a parts/price breakdown list for us? labor too...