Subaru Powered CRX: Converting a Subaru WRX AWD Transaxle to 2WD

In this episode, I'm converting a Subaru all wheel drive transaxle to two wheel drive which means we are one step closer to getting Becky moving under her own power! With only 6 months left until Boxerfest 2021, we've got a long way to go but are making huge progress every week. We got this!
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[@angelramos9094]

Where can I find that specific transaxle. Do you know the model number? Dude I just discovered your channel and I love your videos. Very informative. Thank you.

[@Enginuity]

Thanks! The one I use is the 5 speed out of the 02-07 USDM WRX but depending on application the same process would apply to any of the 5 speed transmissions.

[@angelramos9094]

Dude, your awesome. Thank you so much for replying. You started a fire in me. I want to build a mid engine Porsche Spyder using the same boxter engine and transaxle you have. Your channel is awesome. Please keep the videos coming. Have a Great new year.

[@Enginuity]

Thanks! Glad I could help. Good luck with your project 🤘

[@Boyztobros]

Damn I’m building a mid engine kit car, this hold longer then the 091 trans I was going to roll with. Thanks!!

[@Enginuity]

🤙

[@cdjhyoung]

I'm late to this discussion so you may have already found out how much torque it can take. These 5 speed Subby trans axles are good for something short of 300 ft/lbs or torque. It isn't going to survive a small block V8, but modern high output four bangers from Ford or Chevy shouldn't wreck them too fast. The problem then becomes an engine to transmission adapter.

[@Chopped93VX]

Dude. I m 2:24 into your vid. I paused it to type this. You deserve way more viewership. I took a quick scroll and youre like 50 episodes into becky. I wanna subaru swap my eg. But I want to keep the AWD. So it wouldnt be mid engine. Definitely a sub from me.

[@Enginuity]

Thanks for watching and subbing! Going AWD in an EG hatch would be epic! Keep me posted and let me know if ya need any help with anything.

[@calorus]

Amazing info - excellent video - cheers, dude!

[@Enginuity]

thanks!

[@cdjhyoung]

Thank you, I have this trans in the garage and a pocket full of fear about busting it open to do this conversion. It looks simpler than i ever imagines. Hopefully, my not dynamited transaxel won't be as hard to disassemble.

[@Enginuity]

Fingers crossed your center diff didn’t explode like this one did! Good luck and let me know if you have any questions 🤙

[@timothymarshall2722]

I looked at Subaru gears website and you can do the same thing to a automatic transmission.but it's got to be a 2003 down with out dbw and it's got to be a non turbo transmission

[@Enginuity]

Oh cool

[@rustom1981]

This is interesting, 🤔 i was thinking if this possible or not, you prove it , it's now only thing is remains to see how it works.

[@Enginuity]

check out the first drive video

[@EmmanuelNwaiwu-qu8tt]

I'll like to learn how to do it

[@ashleyholmes5804]

This is awesome and very helpful! Thanks

[@Enginuity]

Awesome! Glad it helped. What are you building?

[@ashleyholmes5804]

@@Enginuity mid engine k10 Micra 😂

[@Enginuity]

Hell yes! That sounds awesome

[@benjaminbaird3798]

Those welds look good but there definitely gonna break because he didn’t add any filler rod at all he jus melted the 2 together he only used filler rod on the tacs

[@Enginuity]

I’ll do an update video when I’ve got some track time on it. We’ll see. I’ve done plenty of fusion welding before without issue 🤷‍♂️

[@Isaiah_Simwinga]

@Enginuity... Questions for you. 1. Did you notice any fuel economy improvements with this mod? 2. Did you notice and horsepower gains with this mod? 3. I have heard rumors the front axles alone won't be as reliable because the load on them is doubled. How true is this? Does this shorten the lifespan of the CV axles? 4. Lastly, is this tranny still running?

[@Enginuity]

Check out my latest video for answers to all your questions

[@dirtyvet5404]

Can the transmission be used in 2wd only and not perform this project if the rear cone is somehow closed off?

[@Enginuity]

the shifter shaft sticks out the back of the trans, so you can't cut too much off

[@rosslavery3546]

Just about to attempt this for my "special" build

[@Enginuity]

Good luck!

[@TheDIYTuners]

Look good with a cheeky billet cover hanging out in the future 👌

[@Enginuity]

I haven’t welded aluminum yet so hoping I can pull this off and doesn’t look like a toddler did it 🤣

[@TheDIYTuners]

@@Enginuity 🤣 it's interesting to get the hang of but I really enjoy welding it when it's going well 😅

[@Enginuity]

It’s always nice when it’s going well 🤣

[@IMR_Seb]

Would it be possible to shorten or remove the rear part of the case altogether?

[@Enginuity]

Probably, depending how badly you feel like making it happen. The shifter shaft doesn't give you a lot of room to shorten it. You'd also have to make your own thread bosses to attach some sort of rear cover plate to.

[@EmmanuelNwaiwu-qu8tt]

How do you connect the selector

[@Enginuity]

explained in follow up video

[@timothymarshall2722]

Question, did you do a video on how you made the backing plate on the transmission? If so did you make a template of it I need to know what seal's and far the shift shafts stick out.

[@Enginuity]

It’s just 1/4” aluminum plate I cut, drilled and ground down to mate up. Sealed with rtv

[@timothymarshall2722]

Can I use a manual transmission out of a 2002 Impreza that has a turbo charged engine,or does it matter?

[@Enginuity]

Yep. Any Subaru 5 speed will be the same steps. I haven’t cracked open a 6 speed but I’d wager those have the same main shaft design

[@timothymarshall2722]

@@Enginuity thanks 👍

[@seanhiggins704]

Do you think you lost any temper on those spline pieces after welding on them? I've been afraid to do this myself for fear of losing that heat treat on those.

[@Enginuity]

so far so good

[@timothymarshall2722]

Stupid question for you. Could I do the same thing to a automatic transmission? And would it be the same steps?

[@Enginuity]

Not sure - it would all depend on how the automatics transfer power between the front and center differential. It definitely wouldn’t be the same steps tho

[@timothymarshall2722]

@@Enginuity okay wasn't sure just wondering if it would work

[@aaaahhperojoseluis7434]

How much for that part you custom made and a aluminum plate for the rear of the transmission

[@Enginuity]

The welded coupler didn’t cost me anything. The cover was about $60 between the cover plate and logo that I had laser cut

[@teamplayers3]

This thing is awesome. Makes me want to mid engine swap something. What transaxle is that?

[@Enginuity]

Thanks! It’s a Subaru WRX trans

[@marcusriley210]

Can i get a kit for a ls wanna do a kit car

[@Enginuity]

I’m sure someone makes one

[@hybriddyneguy]

OK Been watching this for a while, Thank you for posting! Did everything you did but now My transmission will not turn my axles? I can put it in gear, turn the center nut and it will rotate the engine, and I can put it in neutral and it spins freely with out turning the engine over but no matter what I do I cannot get the axles to turn? I can rotate the axles in all directions with the tranny in gear on out of gear and still I can not get my axles to sink with the transmission. Any idea what is going on here? Is there some kind of lockout that need power on one of the tranny plugs? At a loss here. Thank you!

[@Enginuity]

It sounds like the front diff driveshaft isn’t splined into the rear carrier (the gears that need welded together). Just a guess tho

[@hybriddyneguy]

@@Enginuity I thought so too then bought a coupler. now I'm thinking my front sider gears in the diff are no good.

[@sinisterbamf]

So the nut that you put on the adapter, what's the torque specs? Or did you just use ugga duggas?

[@Enginuity]

Thanks for watching! Spec is 87 lb/ft but I had a hard time getting it torqued - socket kept wanting to slip and output shafts breaking free or the clamps. So I just ran it home with the impact. It bottoms out against the inner spline, there’s no bearing mating to it so figure over torquing wouldn’t be the end of the world. If I were doing this again I’d make a fixture to hold the output shafts still in order to properly torque. Given the condition of this trans it’s probably going to grenade soon anyway 🤷‍♂️

[@otismcfeely6401]

Would you be able to use one of these as an alternative to a Porsche transaxle for a mid engine kit car build? Maybe even upgraded internals to hold up against a possible v8? Maybe just an adapted 2jz or RB?

[@Enginuity]

You would definitely need upgraded internals for anything over 350hp. I’ve seen these take 450 but that’s playing with fire. The biggest consideration to take into account is the length of the unit itself. Since it’s designed for a front engine application it’s longer than most transaxles so as long as you have the room you’re golden. Factory Five uses this setup in their 818 kit car if you want to see how a fully engineered setup works

[@autobiographyofanidiot6036]

Worked for a rally America car back in the day. The 6 speed manual transmissions in the sti's are pretty damn tough(and pretty expensive). Able to handle dumping the clutch on asphalt at 7k rpm repeatedly. Our car had 375 ft ibs of torque to the wheel. Most people never have to go for a different transmission unless you plan on swapping the internals out for ppg dog engagement, or for an entirely new full manual sequential gear box. But yeah, most of the usdm Subaru transmissions are pretty weak.

[@Enginuity]

Agreed - my 04 STi has 160k HARD miles on the original trans between daily spirited driving and autocross. As my daily never had the guts to track it for fear of wrecking it. The STi transmission is one tough unit. The rest of the 5 speeds, not so much haha

[@STRbuildandrace]

why not just use subaru FWD transmission?

[@Enginuity]

🤷‍♂️

[@knappymer]

@@Enginuity Didn't have one laying around

[@NarxolepticCustoms]

holy crap, how did i miss this video!!! This is a cool video! So, is this still an open diff, you just removed the output to the t-case?

[@NarxolepticCustoms]

also, will you need to cap the end of the cover now that there is no shaft coming through?

[@Enginuity]

I snuck it in there 😜

[@Enginuity]

Yep, basically there’s a shaft that runs the length of the gearset that feeds the front diff so I just welded the output on the main shaft to that front diff input so the power just feeds that. Working on a snazzy aluminum cover to cap it off and sort out the shift linkage

[@NarxolepticCustoms]

@@Enginuity thats cool!!

[@johnkilo3]

Do you happen to know the length of the Subaru transmission? I'm trying to figure out if it would work for my application but I haven't been able to find dimensions of the 5 or 6 speeds anywhere. I know they're longer than most transaxles.

[@Enginuity]

I just popped out and measured. It’s 26.5” from the face of the bell housing to the end of the case if you do the conversion (remove the tail housing) and 29” if you measure to the end of the shifter shaft

[@johnkilo3]

@@Enginuity Thank you so much for doing that

[@Enginuity]

You got it

[@keithcannon3682]

I am wanting to use an Audi zf8hp55 in a mid engine build. Will be powered by a built k24turbo. I originally was considering using the Audi 7 speed s tronic (dct) but it won't hold the torque/hp the engine will be making. The zf trans is also awd (as is the dct/s tronic) I was thinking that what you did to this wrx trans could be done to that one. Do you habe any thoughts on it? The zf8hp is probably the best performing automatic trans made so far. It can be modified to handle around 900 lns ft tq. It shifts as fast as a dct. I want to put this engine and trans combo in a Cayman but I may have to settle for a Boxster. Thanks for your time.

[@Enginuity]

I haven’t torn one of those apart to know how their internals work sorry. I did poke around on some of the Audi forums and don’t see any examples of someone doing it so you might be in uncharted territory with that trans. I’d hit up your local dealership to see if anyone there’s familiar with the internals or if they can give you the factory service manual to help reverse engineer it. Good luck!

[@keithcannon3682]

@@Enginuity There is a guy with some youtube videos of him installing an Audi 4.2 and a zf5hp in an mr2. He actually sgows how he modified it to change it frim awd to fwd (bit since it is mounted behind the driber the fwd functions as rwd. He hasn't done any updates for well over a year so I have no idea how it worked out. I would think the zf5hp would be similar to the zf8hp. Guess I will have to buy one and see for myself. Thanks

[@Enginuity]

Interesting. Please keep me updated how that works out for ya 🤘

[@vilasith88]

👍👍thank you

[@Enginuity]

Anytime 🤙

[@binoymurphy9344]

What kinda of power will it be able to handle with this conversion?

[@binoymurphy9344]

Like track days and that

[@Enginuity]

Thanks for watching! Most of these can handle 400hp at the wheels without much trouble. This particular one was pretty torn up already so hoping it holds together. The other thing is that the front differentials in the 5 speeds are open so an LSD will be in this things near future

[@sewkingwet]

sickness!!

[@Drunken_Hamster]

Ugh, 24fps.

[@jeffyoung2089]

👍👍

[@Enginuity]

Thanks for watching! Do you have a similar project?

[@jeffyoung2089]

@@Enginuity I'm thinkin about a mid engine buggy. How r u gonna do ur shifter?

[@Enginuity]

Awesome! I’m working through that right now actually. I’m going to attempt a rocker arm type pivot with some rod ends for the side-to-side motion and another cable with a rod end for back-and-forth. I’ll drop the video as soon as it’s done

[@knappymer]

First!

[@Enginuity]

🤣

[@808bigisland]

Annoying sound. Stupid social laugh. Mediocre skills.

[@Enginuity]

Thanks for watching!

[@knappymer]

Thank you for your support!