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possible newer trans

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:21 pm
by turbo970
there's a local shop / car dealer that said he could get a jdm trans from a newer subie for my car. how new of auto trans would work ?

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:24 pm
by turbo970
and yes i look threw the threads on here but none said how new would still work

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 7:59 pm
by mike-tracy
While it's common to swap Auto to manual (usdm to usdm/jdm), or auto to auto (usdm to usdm), I haven't heard anyone doing the usdm to jdm auto on the BBS.

If the tranny is a 4 bolt/phase 1 like yours (non VTD), and you put in a matching rear diff (assuming the final drive ratio is different), then your TCU "should" be able to control it. But... JDM engines have all kinds of different features and plugs than ours do so it kind of stands to reason that their auto trannies are different too.

On an SVX forum there's a guy who dropped in a JDM VTD SVX tranny in his SVX, and I believe he had to swap the wiring and TCU from the JDM unit to get it to work. VTD (a kind of traction control IIRC).

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:49 pm
by James614
Are you just looking for a replacement trans, or do you specifically want something that wasn't offered on US transmissions? People on here have used US Outback and Legacy transmissions from models a bit newer (I wanna say up to '98 or whenever the Phase 1 switch was, but you'd have t search to be sure). They're offered in 4.11 and 4.44 which will give your car some extra kick. I personally would recommend that route if you don't want to do a manual swap.

I wanted to do the JDM auto swap to get VTD, but the only models I'm sure would be mostly plug and play ('92 - '95 WRX) don't seem to be imported with auto transmissions anymore as far as I can tell. Aside from that specific goal, and without a willingness to pioneer finding out what needed for it to work electronically, I don't see a reason to go for a JDM auto trans.

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:46 pm
by turbo970
theres a garage here where i live wanting to do the trans on my car since the other shop is dragging his feet. the owner of the shop that wants to do the trans from me to get me on the road said he could get a trans from a japan half car from a vendor in texas. it will still be a auto though. just no sure how new these half cars are.

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:32 pm
by turbo970
bump

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:43 pm
by turbo970
well friday i'm taking the subie to the shop that wants to help get me on the road. the shop that had it just said sorry

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:27 am
by James614
Sorry we don't really have a solid answer for you. Let us know how it turns out.

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:05 am
by turbo970
its cool. this new shop swears a older jdm trans from a half car will work. i'm more pissed the shop that had my car didnt even touch it after almost 3 months. and if he hands me a bill i'll hand him a bill from a rental car i had to get cuz the car i 'm using had a water pump failure. since he sat on my car and didnt fix it i had to get a rental for a week.

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:37 am
by James614
That's pretty crappy of that one shop. Sounds like the other guy has probably done this before, so hopefully it'll turn out good.

Re: possible newer trans

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:47 am
by turbo970
me too. i'm tired of waiting to drive it