Alright so here's the deal. I am purchasing a 02 WRX from someone and the tranny is shot in it (no surprise here). I talked to Neal and Will at Subaru of Gwinnett and pricing on new tranny moved me lol. They both told me that going with a STI tranny would be the best thing to do. Well i saw the Slowwrx posted few weeks back that he has one and WRX-WRC had a non-ra STi tranny (same thing as sti?). I know i don't want to rebuild the old tranny with OEM parts + labor is arm and a leg. I am a Newbie to WRX (1st one i am getting) so don't know what's the best thing to do at this point. What other parts would i need to swap STi tranny in 02 WRX...STi axles, STi rear diff, shift linkage and....???? Or should i go with STi Standard Ratio Gearset with a revised dual cone upgraded 1st synchro & hub set for WRX or STi Type RA Synchromesh Close Ratio Gear Sets for WRX. If i get either one of last 2 sets...would i need anything else to make them work with 02WRX. Or will be simple as swap gears...tranny back in...break it in and i'll be good to go? I am just trying to go through the most cost effective way. Please shine some light of knowledge on me.
haha i know..no way in world i am putting stock parts in tranny...i'll be asking for it, but i have 3 options... STi Tranny (for which i would have to gather other parts to make it work and most expensive) or STi Standard Ratio Gearset with a revised dual cone upgraded 1st synchro & hub set for WRX or STi Type RA Synchromesh Close Ratio Gear Sets for WRX....which one would be the best bang for the buck and still reliable. The WRX is no weak sauce :coolugh:.
how much do they cost? Are they stronger than the gears mentioned above? I'll be straight up...i am buying this car not to granny drive it. I am gonna drive it the way it's meant to be...drive it right not beat on it like a idiot. Y'all think ppg can take some abuse?
a few threads I ran across on NASIOC http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=916239&highlight=ppg+gear http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1259870 http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1238912
looks like ppg gears are good, but i don't think i'll be ragging the car that much or i'll be tracking it. It looks like a decent ppg setup would be 1,2 straight and 3,4 helical and5 RA. That's about $3800 in parts only....i just got pwned
How much WHP can RA gears handle? I know stock STi tranny will handle upto 500-600 and ppg gears even higher. My goal is to make about 400whp and i'll be happy. I know Sti will handle that hp with ease, but will RA live up to it?
My thoughts, spend an extra 1,000 now and never look back. It would suck to spend 2,000 now, then 3,000 two years from now to do it right. Mine is about to go too (maybe 10-20K from now?) and I've been looking at options. I'm thinking about trying to find the nicest 1-4 close ratios, and stock 5th. The STi will need other expensive parts. If you have the funds, the new 6 speed legacy tranny without DCCD is a good choice. I think that's about $8K? Hope you're taking this expense into the purchase price...
http://wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12801 Don't know if you've seen this... That's the tranny you want. For that matter, that's the car you want.
how much do legacy spec B tranny cost? If 8K?? Then no way..i can get 07 STi tranny...complete swap for 2k cheaper and be happier, but i am not looking to spend that much on tranny alone. Shit honda wise that's a hatch/integra shell+JDM ITR K series swap LOL. Damn jumping in WRX scene is gonna cost me.
I think I heard $8K installed and out the door... I don't know. I'm probably wrong, but I'm under the impression that the newer DCCD STi trannys have a lot of electronic things in them that won't work *easily* with a WRX. It's only logical that you'll need some other stuff to make it work. Who knows the details on this? Will??? Any more thought on building a bullet proof 5 speed? 1-3 are so close on a 6 they're almost cumbersome to work with. I'm not even looking at 6 speeds anymore.
nvr in world i am going to spend that much on putting in a tranny unless i am absolute sure i am gonna keep the car forever lol. Worst comes to worst i'll just swap in STi gears or RA (but they are too short) and keep my power under 350. If i go over..i'll just stay away from hard launches.
it really depends on the type of power you plan on putting down and what purposes your car will be used for. I went with an '06 WRX tranny in my '02 WRX because my car is a daily driver, and I won't ever be putting down more than 300whp while it is my daily driver. So I couldn't rationalize spending 3500 dollars plus labor on an STi tranny right now. Maybe one day. And as far as RA gearsets go, I have only heard negative things about them. Apparently, they don't handle much more than your stock tranny can to begin with and the only people I know who have had them, have broken them.
I paid 2200 shipped plus 800 labor for the '06 tranny w/ 19000 miles and all parts (axles, driveshaft, clutch, flywheel, tranny, rear diff, starter). Slightly wider gears, pull type clutch instead of push type (i could have that backwards), no first gear issues, and who knows what else.
Currently the numbers are in high 200's and it can easily cross over mid 300's with minor tunning. STi seems so much hassle that i am about to say to heck with it and just put in STi gears and keep my power band below 350. Also, save myself the heft price tag on 6mt. If i can fork up a good deal on a complete STi tranny swap then i'll go ahead do it...i don't wanna piece 1 part at a time. I have been getting some good advice from Will, Tray, few member here and other forums. PPl who broke them...how much were they putting down and how aggressively did they drive their car?
The car will be daily driven, every now and then some spirited driving, no hard launches unless i am on PINKS, hwy pulls sometimes and I am planning to keep power band rite at 350. What would y'all recommend now? I don't want to spend loads of money unless i need to. Most of y'all have been through gears and STi trannies so prlby know the best.
First off, welcome Secondly, you want 400hp to the wheels with the stock motor/internals? ...and you're not going to "rag on it" or track it? I don't think the stock motor/internals on the WRX can handle that (or the diff, or the axels) with any kind of reliable longevity. You may want to look up Scott Siegel and Will at Subaru of Gwinnett and talk to them about your expectations before you go down any kind road for $3k or more. 04+ wrx gearset is RA gearset as told to me by WJM RA gearset - realible for someone not Tracking or Dragging - but 400 to the wheels is asking too much of this gearset. STi gearset - bulletproof Spec C - bulletproof (same as STi but with different 5th and 6th gears i believe) PPG - bulletproof good luck with your build. and be carefull, power is a real easy way to shell out a lot of money to break a perfectly good car.
car has a 2.5L short block that was put together by Will and Tuned by Scott. I was told that WRX axles should be able to hold 400 if no abused. (I am not putting 400 rite now....that's the future plan). Will told me to go with late 03 and early 04 tranny, but hearing how stock give up so easily, I want at least something a bit better and not a whole lot expensive.
I didn't know enough about WRXs when I bought mine. I thought I was okay going with an '03, but it's an early '03. booo... It's 1/2 '02 and 1/2 '03. I'm looking into PPGs. I'd like to get 1-4, but 1&2 is all I can actually justify. 1-4 and I'd be better off selling it for an STi.
How many radiator caps do you have? 1='02, 2='03 How thick are the tabs on your brake pads? I forget the measurements... but my car takes '03F/'02R How deep are your seats? The '02s are deeper. Stuff like that.
20mm swaybars front and rear would be another one to add to that list. Late 03 started getting 17mm bars. Does the ring around your ignition light up with the interior lights? Does in 03, not in 02. There's normally a couple JDM STI 5speeds on nasioc for sale, I found one with axles, driveshaft, and rear end for 2500. It's RA width but I didnt pay the labor cost of tearing apart the transmission. If you've got moderate power goals go with RA gears, STI non-RA gears (like mine and WRX-WRC, Revel, couple others), or newer WRX gears. The 5spd weighs significantly less than a 6spd, but the 6spd will be indestructable. I know DCCD transmissions will require some sort of electronic controller; I know there are a couple aftermarket ones out now that are much cheaper than the $700 switch from the dealership. Some have killer front diffs (particularly the Spec C transmissions), others like 04 STI transmissions have no limited slip in the front. JDM transmissions have shorter 5th and 6th gears than USDM transmissions. There are even a couple 4.44 6speeds around that occasionally pop up for sale. Sit down and figure out what you want with the car, I agree with Monk, talk to a shop and plan out your goals. My advice for anyone reading this in the future, if you want more than 300whp reliably, just start with an STI and save yourself the heartache.
V7 Wagon 6spd isn't exactly what i am looking for, but better than nothing. Shot me a PM coz i need this ASAP
+1 I am not against STi tranny..if i can jump one on and can find one complete. I found 1 for a good price...talking to him to see if can give me a complete package deal...if all goes good. I just might have a 6spd. How are non-ra gears holding up in your car and how much power are you putting down? As of now i dropped my goal for my own good to 350whp or around (that's if i can't score a STi 6spd). At this point my whole concern is to get the car running so who ever comes through first gets the deal.
Mine are holding up, i've never launched the car on them and I dynoed 240 whp at the last dyno day. Shorter final drives like the 4.11 and 4.44 will ease the stress on the individual gears but I realize these gears definately have a limit but I dont see this car making over 300whp for a long time. Maybe if I score a good job straight out of college and can afford a shortblock swap . . .
For a 5spd if you want much more than that you need PPGs or some kind of dogbox. You dont hear much about dogboxes nowadays but they're virtually indestructable.
haha i know man dogbox/ppg FTW, but bugdet it right tite now so i thing i am gonna buy a RA or non-ra box and keep me power around 280, plus baby the box so no mishaps.
Cheapest option is to find a late 03 early 04 tranny. Axles are the same on those. Best option is to go with PPG's. Helical 1-4th.
lol i can pick up a full STi tranny swap way cheaper than getting my tranny build with ppg's (still over my budget tho errr), but will 03-04 be strong nuff to hold 280-320whp and spirited driving like mountain runs? How are they compared to RA or non-ra...strength wise?
You are asking the guy who holds the world record for stock block and stock tranny that question? Ehhh how do I answer? I have 368 lb/ft tq and 358 hp. Broke the record in the 1/4 mile with a 11.7 @ 122 mph at an official track. Went two passes with 11.5 @ 123 mph on 4 SLICKS on a questionable track. Stock tranny was still running, shifting, and pulling like always. If you know how to shift then ya tranny will last ya. Slam the gears or side step that clutch you can FUGETABOUTIT! Edit....not to mention that I've made 50 something 11 sec passes and over 250 passes total on the stocker!