95 legacy wagon AT trans swap question, basic info

[seattlelegacy2.2]

Hi, my car hasn't had the awd work since I bought it, (lame seller, was summer, didn't think to check if it worked, ugh :smt018 :smt011 )

Anyways, the shop that was going to swap one with a japanese import used one went out of business. I am looking at buying a used one off craigslist that I would have to pull, then swapping.

I have basic car skills, amatuerish. but not much experiene with front drive awd japanese cars. did an engine swap once on a rear drive celica, and a cv joint change on 95 camry.

The subaru wrecking yard/shop wanted 400 for japanese import used trans and 400 for the swap labor.

How hard would it be for me to go pull one from a wrecked car and change mine? how do I know if diff. gear ratios are same. One thing I never tried was jacking up my car with all wheels in the air and looking under there to see if driveshaft rear spins, ( like a bad rear diff.). This other trans shop said its most likely the rear part of trans, and that I am not hurting my car driving in 2wd.

Are there special tools needed? would I maybe be better off looking for another shop? what do you guys think of those japanese import transmissions from wrecked japanese cars?
Thanks for any tips/info-advice.
Nate

[chuckthefuk]

If your driveshaft / rear diff do not spin then your car would not move.

I've never heard of a AWD subaru system working in FWD mode being safe for the transmission. Its most likely your transmission since you have a front differential and a center differential. Seems like the center diff is kicking the can.

There is nothing wrong with purchasing Japanese import transmission since there low mileage.

Can you specify your model? L or GT?

-Chuck

[seattlelegacy2.2]

thanks Chuck.
its a legacy L
I was saying that if it was the rear diff. and not the trans, then if I jacked up the whole car in the air, put it in drive, then looked under there, I would see the driveshaft turning, but not the rear wheels turning. The transmission shop guy said that the rear part of trans. was prob. bad (thus the rear driveshaft wouldn't be turning at all, but I didn't check this) and that driving it this way, just front wheel drive, isn't hurting anything, just what he said, I don't know. Its been like this since I bought it, about ten K miles ago.

So if I buy a japenese low mile trans, how do I know what ratios I am dealing with in trans and rear diff (center diff. you are calling it?)
thanks,
Nate

[jey]

Best to just get both the transmission and the diff from the same donor car, unless you can find out for certain what this japanese transmission's final drive is.

[chuckthefuk]

Jey's got a point.

Oh but just to confirm you should get your rear diff (Differential between the rear axles) checked out and make sure that everything is rotating properly.. After reading your problem again it just doesn't sound like the tranny if the driveshaft is still spinning.

-Chuck

[jey]

BTW, stock final drive on the 95 Legacy AT AWD is 4.111, so that's what you'll have to match if you're going to keep your stock rear diff.

[seattlelegacy2.2]

Jey's got a point.

Oh but just to confirm you should get your rear diff (Differential between the rear axles) checked out and make sure that everything is rotating properly.. After reading your problem again it just doesn't sound like the tranny if the driveshaft is still spinning.

-Chuck


thanks guys. Chuck, I didn't explain that cearly. I was saying that I want to jack up entire car and put it in drive and see if driveshaft is spinning, to narrow more that it is in fact the trans.

[seattlelegacy2.2]

Ok, jacked up all four wheels (six jack stands, two jacks).

surprised that the left pass. side wheel spun in drive, but a lot slower than the front wheels, which were both spinning. in low it barely spun.


I looked under car, drive shaft spun at speed of rear left wheel, but I could put my hand on wheel and easily top it from turning, in drive or 1st. it would stop the driveshaft from spinning also when I stopped wheel with my hand, (but front wheels kept spinning). so I am thinking its the trans still, otherwise the driveshaft should spin at rate of front wheels and have a little more force than that. if the diff. was bad, then stopping rear wheel with hand wouldn't stop the driveshaft, right? Its strange the back left wheel spun barely and at a lot slower rate than front wheels. (car in drive and 1st, idling speed)

I found a japenese import place near here. low miles (relatively speaking) AT trans is 400 bucks. a guy they recommend near hear will put it in at your house for 450, or I can find a shop.
I called dealer, the rear diff. is 4.11, and so is the trans they sell.

QUESTION: does what I am describing above with the car jacked up sound like I should get a rear diff. also? the trans import place has one for 50 bucks.

what do you guys think?
thanks, Nate

[Okin DaVanh]

I hope you didn't place a fuse in the FWD fuse holder up front....

[seattlelegacy2.2]

I hope you didn't place a fuse in the FWD fuse holder up front....
nope, there is no fuse in there and I didn't put one in during test. thanks.