Subaru Transmission into 914, DAMN that turned out good!! Options

[DBCooper]

Some photos of my 914 being fitted with a WRX transmission. I'm sorry, we replaced bushings, adjusted and aligned three times and that 901 never even got close to being acceptable. The WRX motor was such a huge improvement over the VW that it only seemed logical to make the transmission just as modern. And "while we're in there" the air-to-air intercooler is being replaced by a water to air. You just don't get the air flow in the back of the car you'd want to make big power, and the next step with this car will be an STI motor. Power is addictive. Yes, I know better and you've been warned.

Anyway, the WRX five speed with Quaife gets introduced to engine.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145993.1.jpg)

The forest of jackstands as positioning is worked out.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145994.2.jpg)

The WRX transmission axle outlets are a little closer to the flywheel than the 901, which meant the engine had to be moved back to keep the axles aligned with the stubs.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145995.3.jpg)

Flipped manifold. Enough space in there now for an EZ30 six, easy. Nice looking hellhole too, don't you think? Still needs detailing of course, but first things first.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145995.4.jpg)

But moving the engine back meant he had to box a small part of the rear trunk. That's OK, this car isn't for hauling luggage anyway. Or lawn tools. Or groceries.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145996.5.jpg)

Cable shifter at the transmission. Beautiful work.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145997.6.jpg)

And inside the car, the modified MR2 shifter. Feels notchy, accurate, and good, which is what this is all about. That and more strength, especially in first.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145998.7.jpg)

A video of the shifter, still in the prototype stage, showing the action in the front and the rear.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncmaxYd1WNI


Ask Abby what she thinks of Grandpa's car. She likes to show off those pretty new teeth.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145998.8.jpg)

The water-air intercooler. It will go just ahead of the engine on the driver's side.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268145999.9.jpg)

In the car, you can see part of the new cradle, just tacked for the moment.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268146000.10.jpg)

Axles are aligned.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268146001.11.jpg)

Business end, seen from the rear. It looks so good we'll probably go without a valence, it's gotta be seen. I can't wait until in the rearview mirror I see another 914 guy who's pulled up behind and is trying to figure out what all happened back there.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268146001.12.jpg)

This work is being done by a wizard at a shop called 40-Thirteen in Modesto, CA. Quality of work is unmatched. If you're curious there are a lot more pictures of this transmission project, the engine cradle, what the car looked like with just the WRX motor before these changes, or more pictures of that beautiful granddaughter in an album at: http://photobucket.com/Corinthiano

More to come later. It was a monster before, but you had to be real gentlemanly with the shifter. To hell with that. I can't wait.

.

[DBCooper]

Hmm... anyone know how to embed a video, or am I going to have to just use a link?

[SirAndy]

Hmm... anyone know how to embed a video

The FAQ knows ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy

[DBCooper]

Wow, that FAQ really does know! Thanks, Andy, now I feel so .... smart!

[rick 918-S]

That is one sweet looking engine and transaxle mount. Nice work.

[budman5201]

That is one sweet looking engine and transaxle mount. Nice work.

i swear i have seen that "kinda" mount before....wait its under my car and its dark brown...

Yeah i would love to see more pics!. Oh by the way, your going to LLLOOOVE that water to air intercooler. Boost levels possible on pump gas are amazing!

[rickthejetman]

what brand of intercooler are you using? i am also in the middle of putting a wrx engine with subbie trans (wish it was an sti) into my 914. and i was going water to air as well.
p.s. very nice mounts mine did not come out nearly as well (first fab project)

[DBCooper]

i swear i have seen that "kinda" mount before....wait its under my car and its dark brown...

Really? I'm sure yours is still there... we didn't take it, I swear! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I don't think I've seen yours but we didn't copy, honest. I've also been told it's like Renegade's, but it's not a copy of theirs, either. The engine/transmission cradle concept originally came from Red Dawg's V8 version, but I think once you see any cradle it's obvious and hard to imagine doing it differently. It's easy and effective.

By the way, you can see the previous cradle in that link to the Photobucket album. We incorporated what we learned from that one to make this one better.

That is one sweet looking engine and transaxle mount. Nice work.

Thanks, Rick. That's high praise coming from you and Alien country.

what brand of intercooler are you using?

Sorry, I don't know what brand it is, it's a generic from e-Bay.
.

[Zundfolge]

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/00engine1.jpg)

But moving the engine back meant he had to box a small part of the rear trunk. That's OK, this car isn't for hauling luggage anyway. Or lawn tools. Or groceries.

Hmm...that almost looks like there's room for a radiator in the engine compartment. I wonder if electric fans would move enough air through one there.

[rickthejetman]

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/00engine1.jpg)

But moving the engine back meant he had to box a small part of the rear trunk. That's OK, this car isn't for hauling luggage anyway. Or lawn tools. Or groceries.

Hmm...that almost looks like there's room for a radiator in the engine compartment. I wonder if electric fans would move enough air through one there.

no way turbo engines make lots and lots of heat. your better off with the radiator in the front. it could be done with side scoops on the car and 2 custom made radiators to fit the sides of the engine bay, but thats way more trouble than its worth.

[dlo914]

What's involved in flipping the intake manifold? Our EJ22 motor's throttle body is literally an inch away from the front of the rear trunk area. Would it be less work to just cut out that area and box it in or to flip the manifold?

[tat2dphreak]

that looks great man!!

[budman5201]

What's involved in flipping the intake manifold? Our EJ22 motor's throttle body is literally an inch away from the front of the rear trunk area. Would it be less work to just cut out that area and box it in or to flip the manifold?

if you look closely his manifold has a small section below it and the head thats about and inch and half high. His flip is a lot easier than mine and a ej22. I dont think you have that spacer. My manifold goes all the way to the head itself.

[DBCooper]

Hmm...that almost looks like there's room for a radiator in the engine compartment. I wonder if electric fans would move enough air through one there.

I doubt it. That's a pretty sheltered location without much airflow, which is why we're changing to a water-air. This is where we had the air-air before:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/firstrunning006.jpg)

Not enough airflow there. One thought was to put a scoop on the bottom of the firewall, forcing air up, and if we found out we needed to we could compliment that with a ducktail spoiler at the back of the roof to create some low pressure over the engine lid, plus fans, of course. But wait a minute, take a step back and think how silly that is, to do all that just so you can put your radiator in that particular location, where it will still probably only work half-assed anyway. So we just put the intercooler radiator in the front in its more natural location. Done and dusted. Better aesthetically and more functional as well, so win-win.

This is where it will be, cute little thing, hidden in front of the engine radiator in the front of the car. An engine radiator where we originally had the air-air intercooler would be even more problematic.

(IMG:http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh154/LOW145/1972%20914/Intake038.jpg)

What's involved in flipping the intake manifold? Our EJ22 motor's throttle body is literally an inch away from the front of the rear trunk area. Would it be less work to just cut out that area and box it in or to flip the manifold?

It's pretty easy to flip the manifold. It's symetrical, so just turn it around so the throttle body's on the front, solves a lot of problems. You may have to grind off some bosses, I don't know about yours. Play with it. You'll also have to adjust the plumbing and cables, but it's not a big deal.

The new intercooler plumbing layout:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/Intake007.jpg)

Seen from car level:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/Intake028.jpg)

More later.

.

[Porcharu]

Damn are you reading mind? That is almost exactly what I have planned for my mounts - mine will be hard mounted to the engine and trans and then soft mounted to the body. Any pics of the flanges and axles installed???
BTW we have a nice thread on Subaru transmissions here The thread it would be nice if this was part of it.
Steve

[DBCooper]

Damn are you reading mind?

No, I didn't, I swear. In fact I used to be married, where it was proven that I'm a really REALLY bad mind reader.

Any pics of the flanges and axles installed???

Not yet, maybe next week.

BTW we have a nice thread on Subaru transmissions here The thread it would be nice if this was part of it.
Steve

Sure, not a problem. That thread is already over thirty pages, a lot of reading for someone who's just curious. We're getting close on this one, so I started a new thread that's just one project, start to finish. Thinking was that it's easier to digest this way if someone wants to cut to the chase and see what's involved and how well (or not) this works. But I could certainly post this there as well.


.

[Sleepin]

Wow! Whoever does the welding on that stainless does a nice job! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

Very cool project! That is going to be a fun car with the new trans! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[lucky14]

Hi,

How much hp can that transmission take?

[Bno]

Hi DB.

Your car is looking great.

Do you have some contact info for 40-Thirteen, in Modesto?


thanks,
Bno

[DBCooper]

How much hp can that transmission take?

I think the Subaru guys start breaking them at 300-350 hp, but that's dumping the clutch drag racing with four wheel drive. With a lighter two wheel drive car we should be good, even with the Quaife. One way or another we'll be finding out pretty soon now.

Hi DB.

Your car is looking great.

Do you have some contact info for 40-Thirteen, in Modesto?

thanks,
Bno

Thanks. Sure, PM me. But understand that he's not really in business to do this, does it mostly for pleasure, projects that he thinks would be cool.