ALL NATURAL's 1998 Legacy GT w/ WRX Swap

[ALL NATURAL]

Quick recap..I bought this Legacy after my wagon was totaled. Headgaskets blew, fixed/started driving my wagon again and this sat dormant. Brother rolls his 2004 WRX, sell him the Legacy and this is where we are today. Drivetrain swap.

Started this at the beginning of the summer but due to me getting back surgery and a few other things...it didn't move very fast.

Finally got the motor/tranny pulled out of the Legacy yesterday..planning on doing the WRX tomorrow. Both of the interiors are already stripped out and the wiring harnesses will be coming out right after the WRX motor/tranny removal.

I have a quick video now, photos will come later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul9ZiIExxL4

[httrdd]

Sounds like a fun swap. What year is the Leggy? I will have to view the vid later.

[ALL NATURAL]

Yea, it should be pretty quick when we are done with it.

Its a 1998.

[BG5guy]

sounds like a fun project

[ALL NATURAL]

^^Has been so far!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs480.snc3/26279_10150173161290534_595645533_12168291_561669_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs480.ash1/26279_10150173161295534_595645533_12168292_3117239_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs480.snc3/26279_10150173161310534_595645533_12168294_6403907_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs480.snc3/26279_10150173161365534_595645533_12168301_650613_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs004.ash2/33554_10150298003715534_595645533_15459871_952178_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs762.snc4/66210_10150298003800534_595645533_15459872_4932052_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs413.ash2/69134_10150298003900534_595645533_15459874_409198_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs136.ash2/40156_10150298003990534_595645533_15459877_3494933_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs807.snc4/68736_10150298004065534_595645533_15459878_881054_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs007.snc4/33711_10150298004170534_595645533_15459880_4012377_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs831.snc4/69153_10150298004265534_595645533_15459881_6903883_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs366.snc4/44902_10150298004455534_595645533_15459885_7102316_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs265.snc4/39600_10150298005270534_595645533_15459892_6481500_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs774.snc4/67425_10150298005355534_595645533_15459894_7357266_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs831.snc4/69148_10150298005415534_595645533_15459896_666476_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs823.snc4/68370_10150298005520534_595645533_15459898_1934025_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs891.snc4/72446_10150298005665534_595645533_15459902_2263979_n.jpg

and the pic that happens with every motor pull. (brother)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs415.ash2/69351_10150298005730534_595645533_15459903_5138249_n.jpg

[httrdd]

Wow that wrx is mashed!

[SOREN]

AWESOME! It also looks like a nice scoob in the background too - I've never seen yellow lights (I don't think) that's kinda neat - and some cool vents on that. Anyways, I digress. I got a big smile on my face seeing the legacy, and imagining the WRX engine/tranny in there.. so cool. Very sleeper. I had a guy pull up in his 350Z yesterday, asking why I had chosen a Legacy, and a rhd at that. I told him 250Hp. His eyes bugged out! I can only imagine if it was you, in that leggy with a WRX swap! SOO AWESOME!

Can't wait to see more.

[httrdd]

^^ You have more horsepower. I believe a stock wrx is 230-235.

[SOREN]

Yeah, but horsepower doesn't tell the story completely. I've had the WRX from 94 too, and it was 220 Hp in the wagon form, and it feels much faster, even though it's maybe not, and is definitely lower powered. The power in the twin can be a bit.. unexiting, at least for that hp number. I'm thinking that this would feel really, REALLY fun in a legacy. Twin is fun, but single.. that's what I'd prefer.

[ALL NATURAL]

AWESOME! It also looks like a nice scoob in the background too - I've never seen yellow lights (I don't think) that's kinda neat - and some cool vents on that. Anyways, I digress. I got a big smile on my face seeing the legacy, and imagining the WRX engine/tranny in there.. so cool. Very sleeper. I had a guy pull up in his 350Z yesterday, asking why I had chosen a Legacy, and a rhd at that. I told him 250Hp. His eyes bugged out! I can only imagine if it was you, in that leggy with a WRX swap! SOO AWESOME!

Can't wait to see more.

Thanks, the white one is mine! Here is a link to the build process of it. http://www.rs25.com/forums/f145/t80959- ... s-wrx.html (http://www.rs25.com/forums/f145/t80959-obs-t-poor-mans-wrx.html)
I repainted, stripped it out and turbo'd it. I love the yellow lights. I took a pair of the ADM (Australian) OEM headlight covers and tinted them yellow so I can pop the yellow on and off as I please. The big scoop is for the TMIC since it was getting pretty heat-soaked and the small one is direct cold air to my filter...I built a box/heat shield around it.

I love Legacys, especially this generation, so it'll be a pretty epic ride when she is done! When this setup is done it'll be stage 3 so around 350hp after the tune. I would love a JDM one though, lucky!

[blackstar]

I love Leinenkugel's !!!!!!!!! :smt026 Kinda hard to find on the west coast, but a few stores carry it...
oh, yeah, very nice swap, are you using the auto slushbox ?

[ALL NATURAL]

Yea, its not too bad of a drink.

No, both cars are manual. We are swapping the Legacy tranny for the WRX one though since it will hold a little bit more power.

[WESTcoast]

definilty cant wait to see more updates from you! That legacy is going to be nothing but a beast in sheeps's cothings once its all done!

That wrx looks like it took a really really really bad roll hopefully your brother is ok after that!

[ALL NATURAL]

definilty cant wait to see more updates from you! That legacy is going to be nothing but a beast in sheeps's cothings once its all done!

That wrx looks like it took a really really really bad roll hopefully your brother is ok after that!

I can't wait till its finished!! My brother is fine now. He did have to get like 30 some staples in his head and stitches since he cracked his skull open in 2 places but that was the only major thing, luckily.
He slid around a corner on a icey night, hit the curb, flip the vehicle and took out a street light, pedestrian sign and a fire hydrant.


Unfortunately winter arrived yesterday so progress might slow down a little. Next up is to bring the Legacy back down, set the motor/tranny and rear diff in it, pull out the wiring harnesses from the Leg and WRX and then send them in to get merged and then reassemble!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs813.snc4/69302_10150310713925534_595645533_15682849_887924_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs077.ash2/37200_10150310713830534_595645533_15682846_5068432_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs763.snc4/66352_10150310708760534_595645533_15682681_2716817_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs446.ash2/71948_10150310709050534_595645533_15682684_7865140_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs468.ash2/74106_10150310710040534_595645533_15682699_6951251_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs828.snc4/68799_10150310710510534_595645533_15682715_4742107_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs783.snc4/66357_10150310710665534_595645533_15682721_5131207_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs061.snc4/34394_10150310710865534_595645533_15682730_6133308_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs137.snc4/37178_10150310711065534_595645533_15682739_5723455_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs772.snc4/67208_10150310711140534_595645533_15682743_7446332_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs471.ash2/74415_10150310711240534_595645533_15682747_6550902_n.jpg

[httrdd]

It has begun!

[mike-tracy]

Ah a worthy swap! Looks like fun

[StatGSR]

Grain Belt FTW!!!!!!

[ALL NATURAL]

Here is more vid! WRX relocation, part: III Engine removal will be posted up soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E3zKcNTA58

[ALL NATURAL]

WRX engine removal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdLy2r679I0

[anothernord]

What?? How did I miss this thread?

Very fun stuff. Nice pictures too!

[ALL NATURAL]

Thanks, its been pretty fun so far. I've turbo'd a Subaru and pulled plenty of motors but never swapped one so the wiring is a whole new ball game. As of two days ago, both wiring harnesses are out of the cars and hopefully next week the drivetrain will be sitting in the Legacy and all we'll have to do is hook up the wiring after its merged!

[ALL NATURAL]

Got some more work done today.

Video to go with all the others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2II_UMmSnj0

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1213.snc4/156505_10150338954200534_595645533_16139108_7306959_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs485.ash2/75802_10150338954280534_595645533_16139109_2626106_n.jpg

My bro..lol
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1227.snc4/155926_10150338954355534_595645533_16139110_6888265_n.jpg

Notched
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs590.ash2/154269_10150338955230534_595645533_16139115_5229834_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1143.snc4/148588_10150338955710534_595645533_16139116_8240963_n.jpg

Motor and tranny finally in.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs488.ash2/76113_10150338955805534_595645533_16139117_4556752_n.jpg

Still have a ways to go.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs608.ash2/156064_10150338955880534_595645533_16139119_5463511_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs996.snc4/76927_10150338955935534_595645533_16139120_1275527_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs580.ash2/150268_10150338955975534_595645533_16139121_7608420_n.jpg

The List..its ever-growing
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1144.snc4/148662_10150338956030534_595645533_16139122_6789710_n.jpg

[Airgne]

fix title, or lock.

[ALL NATURAL]

^^How so?

Its a Legacy 2.5gt with a WRX swap..Legacy WRX.

If it must be changed then I suppose " '98 Legacy w/WRX swap"

[STIdarkside]

Read the member's ride guide for creating a thread... It should say something like ALL NATURAL's 1998 Legacy GT w/ WRX Swap.

[ALL NATURAL]

Thanks for the info, I must have missed it.

Fixed!

[AussieDan]

Looks like you're making good progress, any reason for notching the legacy x-member rather than putting in the WRX turbo one?

[ALL NATURAL]

I can't wait till start-up but that'll be awhile still :[

The reason we notched it is for two reasons:
1) The WRX crossmember isn't a direct bolt on, spacers need to be added [no big deal, those can be easily made]
2) [The actual reason] The WRX is sitting on the ground, body-wise no wheels. We already have snow and the ground is frozen so it would make it very very difficult to get that crossmember off. I have seen a lot of swaps with notched memebers so we just decided to do that and we'll reinforce it later.

[StatGSR]

^ pretty sure the wrx crossmember is a direct bolt on, you did box in your notch right? but either way keep up the good work. and don't worry about Airgne, he's been a bit of a Nazi about the whole thread title thing, don't know why he decides to be mean and start locking threads instead of just spending the 10 seconds to correct the title himself.

[ALL NATURAL]

^^It does bolt on, you just have to make some spacers to clear the control arms since the fitment is a little different. Like I said, thats no big deal. If the car wouldn't have been frozen to the ground we would have used it. We haven't reinforced it yet but I looked up a bunch of photos of notched member and we'll be able to do it with the motor in. My buddy and his dad are amazing welders.

I was surprised I could even change it myself; all my other forums require a MOD to change it so I figured they would if necessary. No biggie...every forum has their own set of rules..