I'm interested in tracking down a close-ratio 5-speed setup, so if you've got an RA transmission or gear set lying around, or something along those lines, give me a shout! Thanks
Oh let me count the ways Nibbler... The USDM WRX gearing is way tall for an EJ205, IMHO. I dislike the giant gap between 1 and 2, and the rest of the gears aren't that much better. 5th gear is realllyy tall. Going to a higher axle ratio would help reduce the load on the gears and hopefully keep them intact. I'm too poor for a six-speed swap. As much as I'd like to, it's just not going to happen. There are other options that would work for me too, the 2.5RS transmission actually would work OK, same with later Forester/Outback 5-speeds. @FuJi K do you guys have anything lying around?
RA gear swap is somewhat common...and by that I mean it's been done at least a few times before. Good luck with the search!
Re gas mileage, only if I went with a 4.444 FD ratio - I'd probably do a 4.111 instead, or even stay with the 3.90. And the shiftiness should be no worse than a six-speed, right? I'm not sure what I'll end up doing, but thought it would be interesting to see what's out there...
I guess I was assuming you would get a JDM RA box with the real short FD instead of just the RA gearset. Really might be cheaper to get the whole box instead of paying for labor to swap the gears in. Plus don't the JDM RA boxes come with a lsd front diff and better center diff? 4.11/4.44 would certainly feel quicker but mpg goes to **** and can make highway cruising annoying. I think the ratios are closer together than USDM 6MTs especially 07+
All I know is that my 4.11 on my 25rs was my favorite subaru transmission to date. Slowest car but best ratio IMO (01 25rs, 02 wrx, 02 wrx, 05lgt, 09wrx) - Not in any particular order
We don't have anything of that nature. The RA tranny itself is a nice setup. Think USDM 04 STi 6spd without using the 6th gear. you could pick up the JDM 5spd trannys from ebay if not from an Importer. The regular WRX/STi GC8 tranny is geared almost the same as a 2.5RS except without the large drop when shifting into 5th gear. There are plenty of 4.444 R160 diffs state side from the Automatic Subarus, so you don't have to worry about finding a matching rear diff.
Eric, you've probably seen this...but here it is. http://www.northursalia.com/techdocs/trannychart/trannychart.html I agree with Fuji I'm the rear diff, I found mine at a salvage yard for $60. I believe it came out of an 00-04 automatic legacy, was a while ago....can't........remember.
Fuji, the thing that gives me pause about using the older trannys (JDM and USDM alike) is that they don't have the fixes Subaru applied to the newer ones - to fix a reverse pop-out, 5th gear pop-out, the wider 1/2/3 gears in 2003 (but the RAs did have those), added synchros, etc. What do you think about that, have you seen any of these problems with the older trannys? I'd just hate to spend money to swap out my 2005 trans and end up with one that has issues!! Thanks, yeah I've referenced that one quite a bit! I've also come across this one, which might be based on that one but has some newer trans info I think: http://members.iinet.net.au/~wearne/Subaru Transmissions Specs.pdf
