So Who is Going to Be the First to..

[Suparu]

Originally Posted by '05 Outback 2.5i

So who is going to be the first to import a dual range manual transmission from a ROW '04-'09 Outback and fit it to a USDM Outback? Hmmm....

P.S. -- I'm kinda surprised that Superu hasn't done this yet..

answer:
THIS GUY!

Well I'm not the first but I will be vocal about it.
I think that ZAP in WA was THE first like 7 years ago, that gearbox is on its 4th owner. Anyhoo, there's a guy back east from a build shop that has one in a forester, then there's a guy in CA who stumbled on one that come over to GA by mistake, then mine, so I'm number 4, BUT THE NEWEST AND SHARINGEST




Mine's in a 95 legacy, that I'd swapped a 99 OB limited 5MT into last year, then this week, I pulled that out


and put in a 98/99 forester DR EJ 5MT


this


became this


and lets me do this


Superu with FT DR EJ 5MT, test 2, hi and lo on ****'s - YouTube

Hi Lo comparison on a ****'s Revenge climb from Moab.
Superu with FT DR EJ 5MT, test 3, ****'s revenge HI then LO - YouTube

and the first test, up over Baby Lion's back, THEN BACK UP THE BACKSIDE!!
Superu with FT DR EJ 5MT, test 1, lion's back front and back - YouTube

[Faraim9117]

Hey guys,

Just starting my dual range conversion. I just purchased a dual range JDM ej transmission and got some lower gears from ea82 transmission to drop the gearing down to 1.59. Transmission should be here any day, if anyone is interested, I can take pics and write down some information on the build. I've gotten so much great information from here (the outback lift with baja springs from the Yeti was an awesome mod) it would be nice to contribute back.

Gilles

[Suparu]

Originally Posted by Faraim9117

Hey guys,

Just starting my dual range conversion. I just purchased a dual range JDM ej transmission and got some lower gears from ea82 transmission to drop the gearing down to 1.59. Transmission should be here any day, if anyone is interested, I can take pics and write down some information on the build. I've gotten so much great information from here (the outback lift with baja springs from the Yeti was an awesome mod) it would be nice to contribute back.

Gilles

Awesome! Where's you get the JDM dualer?!! You'll be waaay psyched with the EA lo gears! I'm happy with my 1.44:1 lo but can imagine that the 1.59:1 would be waaay awesome!!

how much for your JDM trans and who shipped it, cost to your door? If you don't mind sharing a little advertising on your score

[Suparu]

AUDM 98 Forester DR FT AWD 5MT swap
(4.11 axle ratio 1.44:1 lo range)

rev comparisons of lo and hi ranges

Lo and hi range RPM to speed - YouTube


I'm editing a youtube video of a recent run on lockhart basin trail in Moab. . .
teasers

lockhart pix 4tube - YouTube

lockhart pix 4tube3 - YouTube

lockhart pix 4tube2 - YouTube

[Faraim9117]

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I've been trying to find a new input shaft bearing with no luck, I had to make a sleeve to make it work. I found this great page on how to convert low range gear with an L seriers.

Outback Low Range Conversion Part 1 - OffroadingSubarus.com

I got my tranny from Ebay, The company's name is Vtec Motors from Canada (Toronta I believe). The tranny was $449 and the shipping was $295 to my door. Unfortunatelly, AFB freight damaged the tranny in transit. I'm fighting with the freight company now for the repair, but luckily I was able to get the broken parts off my stock tranny. I have a lot of pics and wounds from this project (I dropped the old tranny on my hand and had to get stiches). I was trying to post them but for some reason my Ipad won't let me upload them.

Suparu: Did you make a sleeve or get a new bearing?

Happy New Years

[Faraim9117]

Just got the tranny in, the dual range with 1.59 worked!!! After hours of machining and several screw ups it all came together! If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me.

Gilles

[Suparu]

Originally Posted by Faraim9117

I got my tranny from Ebay, The company's name is Vtec Motors from Canada (Toronta I believe). The tranny was $449 and the shipping was $295 to my door. Unfortunatelly, AFB freight damaged the tranny in transit. I'm fighting with the freight company now for the repair, but luckily I was able to get the broken parts off my stock tranny. I have a lot of pics and wounds from this project (I dropped the old tranny on my hand and had to get stiches). I was trying to post them but for some reason my Ipad won't let me upload them.

Suparu: Did you make a sleeve or get a new bearing?

Happy New Years

Nice score!! Was it an OB or legacy trans with 4.11 and 1.19"1 low?

having the 4.11s is nice, then just swap the lame low for the awesome is sweet. I suppose if we can get reliable and le$$ expensive sources for the states, it would co$t le$$ to get legacy, forester or OB dual ranges AND an EA dual range donor... one just still needs to be O.Kk with disassembling the transmissions to swap out the lo gear, but getting past that will ield awesomeness!!!

I did not need a new sleeve and had a new bearing.

here's my stock 95 legacy sleeve
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...0012.JPG?gl=US

I swapped that transmission for a 99 OB with 4.11s, and THAT one had the retrofit steel sleeve on the quill
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O...0011.JPG?gl=US

requiring the oversized bearing (left)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9...0013.JPG?gl=US

I could not source JUST the oversized bearing (I had to get an whole clutch kit to get that bearing) so I re-used the oversized one which came with that transmission, on my new clutch (I installed a new clutch kit last year when I did this OB trans swap).


BUT, with my AUDM dual range EJ 5MT I just put in this fall, it did not have the steel sleeve as seen above on the OB transmission, so I just installed the bearing that came with the clutch kit that I did installed last year. .

[Suparu]

Originally Posted by Faraim9117

Just got the tranny in, the dual range with 1.59 worked!!! After hours of machining and several screw ups it all came together! If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me.

Gilles

Awesome!!

What model and year did that Transmission come from? And via eBay from Canadian company for $449?

That's WAAAY more reasonable (less than $750) plus shipping that sourcing from Australia.

I'd found one in Canada during my hunt but they wanted like $1200 for a gen 2 OB transmission. . . . yay 4.11s, boo 1.19:1 low (since I'd still need an EA82 donor AND have to crack them both open AND do the grinding and fiddling but overall too much for what it was plus shipping.

Nice work finding that source!!
This is good, we're fleshing out more and more options for getting dual range EJ transmissions to the states!!

[Shadow 1100]

I had a 1988 Subaru Wagon stick with High Low range can't remember if it had a hill holder also, it was a bulldozer. I can't remember if that was the last year for them or 1989. It was front wheel drive until you needed the 4 wheel either H/L your choice!! Come from Japan,

[Faraim9117]

I really got lucky on the dual range, I don't think they knew they had a one. I called them to ask about the gearing (ie 4.11 and the D/R gear) and all they could tell me was that it came off a 2 liter forester. I did some research and couldn't find much. I decided to buy based on the pictures.... I don't necessary encourage others to do the same, but it worked out for me.

Now I am trying to take out the AWD and convert my EJ transmission to the old EA Loyale 4wd. The rear case of both transmission have (or appear to have) the same bolt pattern, I will have to change the lower shaft to the EA shaft and extend my drive shaft too. I'll keep you guys posted on the compatibility.