Forester SF5 STi / 5 Speed Swap

[@OkiSubies]

Who is ready to try to swap their automatic? 😄Let us know if you have any questions concerning the wiring or other challenges you come across. We would love to hear from you!

[@macneilbascombe6084]

Hey u guys I look at yur vids because they teach me alot I'm a newbie to subies so thanks for the help in advance

[@OkiSubies]

@@macneilbascombe6084 Thank you! Let us know if you have any questions🙂

[@hoscarjaurigegonzalez7203]

I have a 99 Legacy Wagon auto I would like to swap mine out can y’all do it?

[@macneilbascombe6084]

@@OkiSubies actually i do have lots to ask i currently own a 2004 forester xt, i let a friend drive it and he broke the automatic transmission. Can another transmission jus bolt up to replace it or does the numbers on the transmission have to b the same ?

[@OkiSubies]

@@macneilbascombe6084 I would definitely try and keep the numbers on the transmission the same. But you can also look at AT Impreza’s because they Also use the same transmission

[@shayandownes735]

Here in Barbados I did the conversion to a 2000 impreza sedan...After watching this video multiple times I was able to do the electrical..thank you sir :....2025

[@OkiSubies]

@@shayandownes735 Awesome! Thanks for the comment! That is the whole point of videos so it is great to hear people are benefiting from them!! Thank you!!!

[@Owensti]

Swapping mines and I can’t tell you how much this has helped me. Almost ready to drop the motor back in! Just need to finish up the speed sensor wiring & reverse lights & source a few parts I’m missing and it should be ready to fire up!

[@OkiSubies]

Thats awesome man! Feel free to hit us up with any questions!

[@Owensti]

@OkiSubies need to find the pin that makes the ecu into a manual one. Mines is a USDM 04 xt and I can’t find online for a pin out that says which one it is. Yours at 31:15 is that green one but my pins are different than yours.

[@OkiSubies]

@@Owensti there is a TID switch in yours with it being different, you might have to reflash your rom with a 5 speed rom🤔 Does yours idle up higher? The good thing with yours is that it is tunable, unlike the SF platform.

[@Staticbrain]

Living in japan as a mechanic is my dream life. Good for you guys.

[@makotacos3018]

Always was amazed they didn't offer these in manual besides the type M. I'm sure there are lots of automatic fozzys that will find this helpful.

[@OkiSubies]

Totally Agree! We hope so! Hopefully it was clear enough to help, we got hit with a few curve balls but it wasn’t to bad when all said and done.

[@danielmiller6983]

You are building my dream car. That generation of forester is my absolute favorite body style

[@OkiSubies]

They look amazing with a few basic mods and are extremely practical!

[@Mike_44]

My favorite Forester gen.

[@Cbgrandtheftauto]

I am in the process of doing a similar setup. I took an EJ20k from a 97 Forester turbo and put it in a USDM 01 Forester. I already have a 5 speed so that part was pretty easy. I was screaming at the screen watching you guys try to figure out the wiring😂 I found it was a lot easier laying out two wiring diagrams and merging them. On my ECU (yellow 3 plug) there are two sets of pins on there for the neutral switch and TCM. The diagram shows which pins needs to be grounded if you are using auto or manual.

[@Cbgrandtheftauto]

Also with my swap I cut the harness at the ECU and merged the two there. Under the hood I made cross connect extensions cables to go from the Forester's OEM body harness to the EJ20K's engine harness. It made it plug and play. The swap was actually easy. Not because I have done this swap before on an Impreza, but because the EJ20K requires less wires than my Forester currently has so there were a lot of things I didnt have to worry about hooking up. The only wire I had to add was a new wire for the MAF sensor since the 01's only had MAP sensors.

[@stephenbrook9085]

Im midway through doing this on a BH5 legacy twin turbo and have watched this video at least 5 times, its a great help i know the cars arnt exactly the same but gives me a good idea on where to look Thanks and great job 👍

[@OkiSubies]

Thanks for watching! Thats what its all about right there, glad to help in anyway we can.

[@MrTakeaswig]

Tip: Instead of tricking/powering the key interlock on the ignition, just remove the steering column surrounds, the interlock is a small solenoid box on the ignition you can remove it and then the ignition works as it should and will no longer hold the key. 5 minute just saves some hassle.

[@MrTakeaswig]

And as for the abs issue, if you swap a abs pump from a manual car it also solves a headache, after manual converting several phase 2 cars seems to be easiest option, opposed to trying to trick it all.

[@OkiSubies]

Thank you for the tips! Removing the solenoid sounds like a way better option and we will definitely check that out. We have also heard about using the manual pump and that would have been great to try but unfortunately we didn’t have any easily accessible. Thanks again for taking the time to share the info!

[@Jonny5ox]

​@MrTakeaswig would you still need to figure out the speed sensor issues swapping in a Manual Abs pump or would this swap save me from doing that?

[@MrTakeaswig]

@@Jonny5ox speed sensor install is easy, use a 3 pin vss, one pin is ground, one is +12, wire the signal wire to the tcu signal wire that sends the signal to the cluster/ecu. If you don’t have a pinout for your tcu plug just use a multimeter and do a continuity test from the speed sensor pin on your ecu and probe the tcu plugs until your find it

[@Jonny5ox]

@@MrTakeaswig thank you for the information, sounds fairly easy. I've been recently wiring peugeot 309 loom spliced into a citroen xm turbo loom. Japanese wiring got to be better and easier than french

[@simonkapilima7008]

The content I love!Great job,keep em coming guys

[@OkiSubies]

Thank you!!!

[@PhillipMitchell-f3m]

Love this video good work 👍🏾👍🏾😎

[@coltonpoirier]

Yes I'm gonna be doing this to mine soon

[@OkiSubies]

You can do it! What year is your Forester?

[@danielsutcliffe8901]

Top video boys definitely inspired me to give it a go myself. I have the exact same model and was gutted it came without a manual 😢

[@OkiSubies]

Nice! You can do it! Let us know if you have any questions 🙂

[@tone72]

Swapped mine today😮😮😮

[@OkiSubies]

How did it go!?

[@OPyamumsyadad]

I believe using a manual JDM ABS solenoid and possibly pump allows you to keep ABS working and get rid of the light.

[@execlipse7620]

Did you work on a newer model a SJG with a CVT planning on sti swapping its transmission got any tutorials on the wiring. Its a push start system btw

[@jamiemataroa4543]

Changer the abs pump for one from manuel some reason it works

[@gohan2355]

I buy it just like it is. I also didn't know these came in autos for a forester sti. When they made this forester sti they should have shipped around 4000-7000 of them to the US

[@darrynraw1664]

I'm curious, what do you guys do with the automatic transmissions? resell/throw away? roughly how much would you sell a forester sti automatic transmission package?

[@OkiSubies]

We typically throw them away 😅 If it was a local pickup we would give it away lol

[@michaeljoseph5126]

I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT, and did a conversion from Automatic to Manual transmission. Do you have a video on how to trick the ignition to get the key to come out and how to jumper the wire to get the car started? Does the computer have a ground for it to read manual?

[@Mr44nico44]

I have a complete donor turbo SF5 for the swap on my auto turbo SF5. Will the transferring the ECU from the manual donor to the auto make wiring easier?

[@OkiSubies]

@@Mr44nico44 absolutely! Way more work but that is a great way to do it. Just make sure it is the same year though. Some came with the ej20k style engine and some the ej207 depending on year but the vin plate always says ej205 so it can be easy to assume it is the same. If the coil pack is in the same location you will be fine

[@danielmayman8560]

Do you have a wiring diagram for the car harness plug to the gearbox for exactly which is the neutral position switch the reverse switch and the speed sensor

[@ChrisxJapon]

How much would you guys charge to swap same 01 forester Sti? I live in Kanagawa

[@willowm6760]

Hi guys... new subscriber here. Did yall ever figure out how to get the abs to work? Swapped mine years ago and figured out everything else but that.

[@cerealspoon7876]

Manual swapped my usdm na 99 forester with a 05 na fozzy mt and did real similar stuff with the neutral position switch and reverse lights and unplug the tcm. Still need to ground the manual identification pin but no one has a reference for the pins on my harness (everyone has different connectors than me). It’s been running fine but every couple of days it dies when I throw it in nuetral with a code about the p1507 related to the nuetral switch I wired just like yours. Gonna find that pin and try again

[@OkiSubies]

Have you compared yours with any of these? www.xcceleration.com/pinouts.htm

[@cerealspoon7876]

@@OkiSubies I referenced the diagrams to what another thread had talked about and it looks like the right connector so im going to look at it this weekend. Definelty needed that pdf pin layout thank you

[@Cbgrandtheftauto]

3 plug ECU or 4 plug?

[@cerealspoon7876]

@@Cbgrandtheftauto it was a 3 plug. I found the manual identifier pin and grounded it to the dash and it stopped dying when I let off because it hangs onto the rpm’s longer

[@Cbgrandtheftauto]

I just went through the same thing with my swap. The ECU my Forester engine came from was an auto, but mine is a manual. Glad you got it fixed!

[@scottwilson1258]

5 speed sensor/harness from a 2000 Impreza 5 speed?

[@cameronyoung5064]

Do you know if awd still work with a 8hp swap and custom shorter driveshafts?

[@OkiSubies]

@@cameronyoung5064 sorry, not sure what a 8hp swap is🤔

[@Papapalpatine310]

I need this for mine. At least I have an updated video of how to get it done. Is the owner doing a shaken to update the title?

[@OkiSubies]

He will definitely have to eventually. That would be a cool follow up video for you local cats!🤙🏼

[@notorioussouljur]

👍👍

[@stephenbrook9085]

Quick question did you guys ever suffer a code for the neutral position sensor on this 🤔

[@OkiSubies]

Nope! Still running great to this day🙂

[@stephenbrook9085]

@@OkiSubies nice! Thanks again

[@deletthis5040]

Did you have to use hydraulics for the clutch assembly? Is a cable compatible with the forester?

[@OkiSubies]

We used the oem hydraulic setup from a 5 speed turbo model. Unfortunately not sure about the compatibility for the cable setups though.

[@HypedOUT]

im curious too know how much yall charge?

[@mrngwangwa]

From which car was the 5 speed manual transmission obtained from I have a fully forged closed deck built engine with FP blue 1050 injectors bug eye WRX wagon with a 5 speed Impreza GC STi version 3-4 and I was wondering if I should go 6 speed swap as I’m scared that 5 speeds tend to break as most people say. For me it’s not about the extra gear but My point is is the GC STi version 3-4 5 speed reliable? Much love from kenya

[@Orzuh]

Thoughts on how this would be on an 05 Forester xt auto to manual?

[@OkiSubies]

In Japan the 05 XT auto’s are drive by wire and the MT’s are cable throttle so that would be the biggest challenge.

[@joshuaerickyronst.bernard6390]

Im doing the exact same swap ...can you guys send me a diagram or something of ypur wiring harness and the exact chamges you made

[@OkiSubies]

If you give me an email address (you can send to our FB page) we can use the wire diagram we used but everything we did is in the video and there is also a write up from a Forum in the description 🙂👍🏻

[@danielmayman8560]

Do you have any information for wiring a 6 speed info a very first sf5 sti

[@OkiSubies]

Six speeds would be the same🙂 only wiring difference is the two wires for the center diff if you have a dccd six speed

[@Owensti]

Got the motor in & everything connected. I’m getting a no start. It cranks and cranks but doesn’t want to fire up. I know I’m getting spark & fuel. As well as the motor I know it’s good because it came out of my running and driving 06 Wrx.. what should I look for now.

[@OkiSubies]

How did you check fuel? Did you happen to get the fuel lines backwards when connecting the lines to the engine?

[@Owensti]

They were backwards at first, I fixed it and it’s still not starting. Before I fixed it and left the fuel line disconnected I turned the key and fuel started dumping out so I know my fuel pump is working. I can also hear it priming

[@kevinlogan2306]

When i swapped my 00 impreza 2.5rs i left the automatic transmission computer plugged in and my abs still works and no abs light

[@mahumackeeko3585]

How did you guys manage to get the reverse lights and speedometer working?

[@OkiSubies]

There are two wires on the harness that you have to wire to the 5 speed reverse light switch and the speedometer was oem 3 wire sensor. Both are explained in the video🙂👍🏻

[@josephbreen9955]

What switching the pcm

[@toneloc4706]

Whats the manual trannie off? Im looking to convert mine 😅

[@OkiSubies]

Most 5 speeds work, you just need to make sure the final drive is the same. We got this 5 speed from another Forester🙂

[@Jonny5ox]

​@@OkiSubies hi guys, hope you are all well. I now have a ty752vbcaa off a legacy to convery my sf5 stb sti. do i need to swap the driveshafts (front axles) and also do i need to change the driveline/prop shaft? Or can i use my orignal axles/driveline from the auto setup

[@ntoladkrabang]

I’m stuck with wiring on 2004 forester xt 6 speed from sti swap it’s really hard for me to do the wiring 😭 Please help🙏

[@Mprosen96]

Would it be possible to delete the ABS system? I only ask because the modules will eventually go bad causing the ABS light to light up anyway… or is it just simply better to have the ABS system intact other then for obvious reasons like Oki roads mixed with rain

[@OkiSubies]

Definitely possible to delete the system, if the system fails the brakes would act just like if it wasn’t there so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. You could probably even get a GC8 Type RA brake system and delete it with oem parts.

[@OkiSubies]

Chase Bays also offers an ABS delete kit on their website. We are running it and a booster delete on our GF8.

[@danielmayman8560]

Can you use gc8 pedals?

[@OkiSubies]

Yes🙂

[@danielmayman8560]

​@@OkiSubies thank you for your reply

[@lewiskimutai7651]

I have the same SF5 forester but not the STI model. A 1999 version. I’m experiencing some boost cuts that are on and off causing on and off power whenever I hit about 3500 rpm in 3rd, 4th and 5th gears. What could be the issue?

[@OkiSubies]

I would start with spark plugs and maf sensor🙂

[@lewiskimutai7651]

@@OkiSubiesWe’ve replaced the spark plugs and as for the MAF sensor it’s working just fine

[@Cbgrandtheftauto]

Have you installed any kind of boost controller or changed any vacuum lines?

[@officaldjflo]

do you know anything about usdm 09 legacy ? I'm looking for information about engine swaps and engine harness

[@OkiSubies]

We have done legacy engines in GC8’s and have done a good amount of wiring on the Legacy platform. The biggest challenge that you will run into is the immobilized system. What engine do you plan on swapping?

[@officaldjflo]

@@OkiSubies What about an EJ255 or Ej257 under the 05 year ?

[@OkiSubies]

@@officaldjflo those swaps are a lot more straightforward depending on what engine you have. With the EJ platform the ECU, Harness and heads are the most important to look into. Many times you can swap the long block from another engine if the long block shares the same heads.

[@officaldjflo]

@@OkiSubies Its an Ej 253 2.5 L. I was trying to figure that part out . I was getting lost because of the compression is differnt.

[@robertjonsson564]

Have a gen 1 what do i do to to lower it

[@OkiSubies]

Just have to get suspension for it

[@devil_samuraix6176]

can ask? GRB impreza 6 speed twin plate clutch can use into this sf5 5 speed manual? because i have good offer here but no idea can pnp or not..

[@OkiSubies]

I wouldn’t try and put a six speed clutch into a 5 speed no.

[@NyunJah]

@OkiSubies my clutch keeps on failing after the swap

[@OkiSubies]

It fails after doing a 5 speed swap? How is it failing?

[@NyunJah]

@OkiSubies yes I did the swap for my 2000 sf5 sti ..but the clutch sometimes just falls. Always have to replace the clutch cylinder

[@musasizigodfreydixion6231]

How long did it take you to complete the project?

[@OkiSubies]

It took us about two days🙂

[@devil_samuraix6176]

can ask, gc8 ver3/4 speedometer can use in sf5?

[@OkiSubies]

Version 3 is a mechanical speed sensor and the version 4 is the two wire speed sensor so to get them to work you would need to install the GC8 gauge cluster also. It would be a lot easier to use the 3 wire speed sensor.

[@devil_samuraix6176]

@@OkiSubies yes i got GC8 gauge cluster gift from fren, after remove... found out socket difference compare my sf5 2000s... meaning i need hunt gc8 socket and re wiring it?

[@OkiSubies]

@@devil_samuraix6176 that is correct! You would need to find a pinout for both cars and rewire the SF5 to the GC8 cluster.

[@devil_samuraix6176]

@@OkiSubies alright.. thx for the info..

[@devil_samuraix6176]

@@OkiSubies by the way, what the disadvantage from 3 wire downgrade to 2 wire cluster conversion?

[@devil_samuraix6176]

this motor same as impreza ver 5 6 ej205?

[@OkiSubies]

That is correct! There are some differences like the turbo but it is pretty much the same.

[@weineronastix]

Can anyone here help me with the wiring on a 2004 forester xt , I 5mt swapped it 😅

[@Jonny5ox]

@Okisubies hi guys, really enjoying the videos. I have a stb sti applied model code is SF5C5EP, engine code is ej205dxxke do you guys know if my car has the ecu that can be reflashed or tuned? I'm planning on putting a td05 18g billet turbo on, sti spec c top mount intercooler, bigger injectors, water methanal injection kit, whiteline suspension components and probably bc coilovers on and get geometry set up. I'm aiming for a some extra power, I will be doing the manual gearbox swap within 1 year. I'm aiming for increase in power is there anything you would advise, would a standalone ecu be more beneficial like a link g4+? Thank you okiesubies

[@OkiSubies]

Thanks for reaching out! The only way you could possibly get it reflashed is maybe ECUTek but you would need to find a shop near you that uses it. A stand alone can be expensive but it is really hard to beat them. There are so many things you can do with them like engine safety settings, speed density, launch control and so much more. For the SF and GC platforms we definitely recommend a stand alone. You won’t regret it. For example you can even do dual mapping for fuel, one with pump only and the other tuned with the methanol. The AEM kit for example has a “safety option” and when you run out of methanol it sends a signal to the ecu and the ecu will switch to the map without meth so you won’t run lean. Just so much more you can do with a stand alone🙂

[@bluegizmo1983]

Come on man, we need to know how to do the swap on a NORMAL Forester, not those weird fangled right hand drive ones! 😂

[@OkiSubies]

Haha thats all we got!😅😂 Well if it makes you feel better, just remember we are struggling with the same swaps on the other side of the world😂

[@totiesyphotographyofficial7372]

what is the max torque it can handle?

[@OkiSubies]

Many people say anything over 320-350 is in the danger zone. Hard to put an exact number on it though.

[@totiesyphotographyofficial7372]

thank you for the info so 300 is still safe, planning to build my ej20g with 5 speed soon

[@Cbgrandtheftauto]

That is a loaded question. It's all on the driver and abuse. As long as you are not clutch dumping and FFS a 5 speed, it will hold an indefinite amount of torque.