Mmk... been searching no luck. '96 Legacy shifter options?

[glee60]

So I've been poking around on forums and Google the last couple days to no avail... Questions,
1)Why does every after market shifter say 98 - X, what exactly is different that started and '98? Can I upgrade to that '98 revision?
2)What exactly are my options for shifters. I'm not naive to short throw shifter assemblies, just Scooby ones... Thus I would prefer redesigned linkage as the STi provides as opposed to a solely redesigned lever. (I've been spoiled by VW cable shift trans.)

TIA guys. If this has been covered sorry, if not... It should be stickied!!

[JMoney]

KB-001-1997 - 97-01 Imp., 97-99 Leg, 97-04 Forester ($ 100.00)

Kartboys is for the 97 legacy. I don't see why it wouldn't fit the 96 unless they had some drastic changes in one year.

[shazapple]

I believe there is an actual difference. Ask Wisconsin_mark I know hes gone through this

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yes, the shifter linkage is different from 97 onward. The only company that makes something for the earlier Legacy is B&M and it's about 200 bucks for the shifter.

Your best bet would be to swap the linkage for a newer set off an Impreza RS or Legacy GT.

[glee60]

Why thank you Mark! I would love to. This being the case, Is the STi shifter a viable option? If yes, should I just pick it up from the dealer and what should I ask for? So many question! (I'll make a definitive DIY/FAQ thread answering questions when all is said and done!)

[Wiscon_Mark]

As long as you get the STi linkage to go with it, yes.

[MXS]

How about a stock 05 WRX shifter with linkage? I'll sell you one.... $50 shipped, brand new! :smile:

[AJM]

I own a 96 and there are alot of options.

B&M makes a shifter, OBX, and Fidanza. Try searching ebay ,although a little bit of modification might have to be made for the obx.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Fidanza does NOT make a shifter for the 96 Legacy. That's a scam, and I went through it.

The OBX one...I wouldn't trust it to hold up, honestly.

[glee60]

Thanks for the heads up on those other guys, MXS you have PM, and finally, is this what I would be looking for or do I need to go deeper to upgrade from my stock bits to STi? http://www.fastwrx.com/stishorshif.html

[Wiscon_Mark]

That would be what you're looking for, but way too much money to pay for that kind of thing.

Hell, you could just get the B&M for less than that.

http://www.legacycentral.org/library/shifter.htm <-- there's a good read for ya :smile:

[glee60]

...Umm wow? That's exactly what I'm looking for right down to the PN! Early BK/BG/BD's are the same I take it? I don't suppose you know what the said extra/no longer included $40 piece is? Also any ballpark of what I should prepare to pay for the shifter?

[Wiscon_Mark]

The 95 and 96 BD/BK is the same as the earlier BC/BJ/BF yes. As for the missing part, it appears that the STi shifter w/ linkage doesn't come with the full linkage setup, just the first piece, which means you'd need to get an additional rod that goes with the linkage.

I don't know about the price on that shifter, it'll probably be 250-300 brand new if you look around at all the OEM Subaru parts stores.

My recommended route is still getting linkage from a Legacy GT or RS and installing a Kartboy shifter as well as doing all the bushings in the linkage, I think that'll get you more bang for your buck, and be cheaper overall.

[AJM]

B&M is $143.

Another option would be to make your own. Hell, just take the stock one, do some measurements, and cut it down then re weld.

[Wiscon_Mark]

B&M is $143.

No, it's more expensive than that. B&M makes a shifter for the newer Subarus that is more like what you said, but the shifter that fits the older Subarus I have not seen for cheaper than 183 dollars...yes, even on eBay.

[AJM]

B&M is $143.

No, it's more expensive than that. B&M makes a shifter for the newer Subarus that is more like what you said, but the shifter that fits the older Subarus I have not seen for cheaper than 183 dollars...yes, even on eBay.


I think ethier price is a rip off ,but i'd certainly never pay 200+ for a short shifter.

[Wiscon_Mark]

nah, buying linkage and getting the kartboy is the best route. Or even a cheapie after you swap the linkage in.

[RadeOn]

I am researching linkage issue right now. I currently think that its not model year, but date of production. Up to 06-95 linkages seem to be like to older BC-BF ones, and after that they are like older subarus.

[Wiscon_Mark]

in mid 96 a lot of stuff got changed.

[RadeOn]

Had my car on the lift last weekend and finally had a closer look at what kind of top shifter linkage I have down there.
The older style has two receiving ends, with forks in the shifter itself and on transmission end. Newer styles have two forks on both ends of linkage, attaching to receiving points in the shifter and transmission linkage.
I have weird linkage under there - bottom end has a receiving end, with transmission end being the fork, and the top end has fork, attaching to shifter lever :)

Certainly smth I did not expect to see :)

[Wiscon_Mark]

wait..what? Pictures please.

[RadeOn]

wait..what? Pictures please.
Didn't have a camera with me.
Old (pre 96) linkage looks like this:
http://daniil.manaenkov.googlepages.com/old.JPG

New (97+) linkage looks like this
http://daniil.manaenkov.googlepages.com/new.JPG

Mine looks like this
http://daniil.manaenkov.googlepages.com/mine.JPG

[stanz]

it sure would be nice to have a simple solution for us pre mid 96 guys or whatever category we fall in to.

[Plays_with_Toys]

here you go (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-94-95-Subaru-Impreza-Legacy-JDM-RACING-SHORT-SHIFTER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33736QQihZ009QQitemZ190120219219QQrdZ1)

I am going to open up my center console and see if I should be picking this up or not. I'll have to see if I have newer or older linkage.

[boxerpower]

in mid 96 a lot of stuff got changed. do you know specificly what got changed mark?

[MXS]

I still have a WRX shifter for sale along with the entire linkage. I THINK if you swap the linkage it should work. check the classifieds :smile:

[RadeOn]

I still have a WRX shifter for sale along with the entire linkage. I THINK if you swap the linkage it should work. check the classifieds :smile:
I was thinking about swapping the whole WRX linkage since mine rattles like hell (and I even bought it), cause I thought there were only two types - new and old, and from looking under the shift-boot it seemed like mine was newer type. As I posted above, that assumption turned out to be wrong, and complete WRX linkage will not fit. I need a transmission side of the new-style.

Now I'm debating with myself whether I should buy transmission side of the shifter linkage, or just change the bushings when I have the clutch done and hope that it will cure the rattle.

[KungFuMonkey]

The clutch side is only about $30-$40 from the dealler, but it is a pain in the ass to take off.

http://www.rs25.com/forums/showthread.p ... ht=linkage (http://www.rs25.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61782&highlight=linkage)