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1986 Subaru GL Wagon
Finally, the Top Scoob competition on Nasioc had a catagory I could enter the wagon in.
I made the top 25 to be in the first round. I’m hoping I can hang in their long enough to make round 2!
Vote for me here: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1937559
It has been a week since Dan and I swapped the transmission on the Beast (along with a handful of other things).
I have yet to hook up the vacuum solenoids needed to activate the center differential locker, I also have yet to finish wiring up the transmission sensors. I did find some good info on the wiring on the USMB here: Thread on RX trans wiring
The biggest driving force to move to AWD, was to curb the loss of traction I was experiencing driving the EJ22 around in FWD. I’m happy to say, that this problem is solved! No more do I have to work the go pedal like a top fuel drag car, hunting for traction. Car hooks up, even in the wet. I did lose a bit of off the line pep, mainly the difference between 3.7 and 3.9 overall gear ratios. However, I make up for this lack of pep to be able to go WOT right off the line.
The gear ratios seem to be better matched to the power band of the EJ22. I often felt the gearing of the old transmission didn’t allow me to take advantage of the wide power band the EJ22 has available.
Another improvement was running on the highway. Car seems to run about 500rpm lower at 60mph in 5th gear than before. Definitely nice to not have the engine screaming, and the exhaust blaring quite as much.
Aesthetically, I have some issues with the install. When we installed the RX transmission we re-used the old shift linkage. Given the fact that the RX transmission only has 2 positions for D/R, and not 3 like the stock tranny, the lever sticks up higher than it did before. The gear shifter tilts forward a bit more than it did before, which means I hit the interior plastic piece when shifting into 1st, 3rd, and 5th. For the time being, I’m driving with that off.
In short… the swap was worth it, and I’m loving it. I still however, have a couple of items to attend to in order for it to be 100%.
Ever since I put the EJ22 in, traction has been an issue. I traded my swampers out for a more streetable tire, but to no avail. FWD just sucks with these cars.
So, I hatched a plan. Swap the Beast to AWD and retain some offroad ability. Its an inarguable fact, that the stock 5spd dual range (D/R) transmission the Beast had was the best option for pure offroad performance, especially when paired with a welded rear differential (like the Beast). However, driving on pavement, in FWD, was never great… even with the stock 95hp EA82.
Since I swapped in an EJ22 it would have been easy to swap in a EJ style AWD tranny as well. I’d get excellent onroad performance of Subaru’s legendary symetrical AWD, and I’d lose the adapter plate/weak XT6 clutch combo. I would also have my pick of several different overall gear ratios… like the often talked about 4.44 or 4.11. However, with all that good, you get some bad… no D/R, and no “true” 4WD. Thus, not very good offroad performance.
Now lets consider the somewhat rare RX transmission. The RX transmission is a 5spd D/R transmission with a user controlled center locking differential. Meaning you can change it from AWD to a “true” 4WD. The final drive is a bit higher than the stock tranny (3.7 vs 3.9 stock).
Given the options, I went out and found a RX tranny (helped it was a great deal too). I also sourced a 3.7 LSD (versus the welded which is bad for the street), and turbo axles for the front. That was everything needed to go from a 3.9 welded diff Beast, to a slightly more tame, more drivable 3.7 AWD Beast.
Finally, after collecting and sitting on parts for more than a year, I was able to get together with my good friend Dan and swap the transmission in the Beast. I also threw in the car some new front radius rod bushings, and new brakes for the rear. Might as well put them on since I had them laying around!
