Subaru Transmission into 914, DAMN that turned out good!! Options

[DBCooper]

OK, I’ve been traveling so haven’t posted, but some serious progress has been made.

We’re now officially past the jack stand stage. Those boxed in areas in the trunk are now painted.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179830.1.jpg)

And the intercooler powder coated:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179831.2.jpg)

It will look good with all the stainless steel inlet tubing. The manifold was re-painted after the bosses were removed:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179831.3.jpg)

How the flipped manifold will look on the engine, pretty clean:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179832.4.jpg)

The inlet pipe so we’ll recirculate instead of dumping it out:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179833.5.jpg)

Nice welds. I grew up in vineyards so when I was younger and thinking about what I wanted to do with my life one of the ideas was to be a cooper. Honest work with good people around good wine. I still think about that sometimes, what if, but if I’d known about welding stainless steel I would have had other ideas. This is extremely cool and I wish I could do as well myself:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179833.6.jpg)

The Tilton fitting for the clutch slave:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179834.7.jpg)

One of the adapter flanges. A little concern here because it fit a bit loosely on the splines compared with the stock Subaru. We’ll see. Hopefully we won’t break them (my son is a specialist in destructive testing) but if we do we may have to try custom axles:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179835.8.jpg)

A broad view of the cradle:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179835.9.jpg)

Genuine OEM Subaru motor mounts ought to keep things in place:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179836.10.jpg)

The rear of the cradle on the transmission end, with the cable shifter brackets:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179837.11.jpg)

And the rear mounts, looking really good with the black powder coating:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179837.12.jpg)

What’s nice about using a cradle is how easy it is to remove the whole assembly. Not that we intend to do that a lot, but when necessary it’s nice to have thought ahead. Quick waterproof connectors on the wiring looms:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179838.13.jpg)

And the water connection in the front:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179838.14.jpg)

Then the axles, throttle cable, clutch hydraulic, gas lines, and the whole thing drops as a unit. Almost as easy as it sounds. I know Jeff ought to be pretty good at it by now, he’s aready had the thing in and out so many times.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269179839.15.jpg)

It looks a little weird, but the exhaust should outlet in the “normal” place in the valance, if we use one. I don’t think we will. Normal on the right hand side anyway. When the turbo gets through chopping up the exhaust sound it’s actually pretty quiet before it even gets to the little Magnaflow. I describe the sound as the healthy half of a V8, pretty quiet to 5000 rpm’s but then it begins a seriously nasty howl.

Like I said before, Jeff does some really beautiful work. This is going to be fun.

[DBCooper]

It runs again! Doesn’t roll quite yet, waiting for the axles, pedal assembly, and some last details, but we’re getting pretty close. Here’s a video:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/th_polished066.jpg)

Sounds good at idle, doesn’t it? It got dark at the end so it's difficult to see the shifter work, but it’s precise and notchy, exactly what we wanted. This is the view of the engine compartment after powercoating, polishing and assembly:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished012.jpg)

Still needs to have the rest of the engine compartment detailed so it looks as good as the engine. You can see the little Mazda battery, now hidden down under the air cleaner. And now the ECU is in the passenger compartment inside the car where it'll stay cool and dry:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished010.jpg)

We'll build an armrest/storage compartment to cover it. But now with everything out of the trunk there's a big open space for the obligatory ‘pretty girl draped on the car’ shot:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished049.jpg)
(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished056.jpg)

Oops.

Engine bay seen from the other side, with the de-bossed and now re-painted manifold. We'll leave the stock overflow tank on the aircleaner side of the manifold, so those bosses are still there.:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished023.jpg)

This next shot shows the shine on the powdercoated intercooler and polished tubing, but also gives you an idea of the clearance from the engine to the rear firewall:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished015.jpg)

The engine had to be moved back from where it was with the 901 transmission, to get the axle outputs from the transmission more or less in line with the stubs in the trailing arms, so that clearance is important to anyone thinking about this conversion. The starter and clutch slave also needed clearancing, as seen from below:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished019.jpg)

If you look at those pretty girl in the trunk photos you can see those new bump outs from the top. You can also see them in the background here, with the new fitting on top of the slave cylinder that gives some help with clearance. Here, this fitting:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/engine2018-1.jpg)

The shift cables under the car, plenty of room and as long as they aren’t lying on top of the axles the routing isn’t critical:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished021.jpg)

And how the muffler fits under the rear, with the new exhaust exit:

(IMG:http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo234/paulillick/polished007.jpg)

It’s all looking really good. Jeff was going to have to make some major changes to the stock pedal cluster to fit in a clutch master cylinder, so we decided just to go with a Tilton pedal set. Very sexy, proven function, no lack of options or spare parts, and lots easier in the long run.

If you want to see more detail, especially more of that pretty girl, there are lots more photos HERE: http://photobucket.com/Corinthiano

.

[DBCooper]

Some delay because the Tilton pedals were backordered. They're now in, though not yet plumbed. At the end of the day this is easier than modifying the 914 cluster to add a clutch master. Not only that I just plain like Tilton pedals.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268141909.1.jpg)

Not too far from driving it now. Only bummer is in the background of every one of these photos I see clean-up and finish work that still has to be done. That's cool, get it running the way I want first and then go back through everything to make it all pretty.

[DBCooper]

OK folks, it’s party time!! It runs and drives, and we can now confirm that we have we have indeed found a cure for the SLAP. It shifts like butter and should be more than strong enough now, even in first gear. We haven’t gained any weight so it still handles Like a 914, but with the WRX transmission it shifts like a modern car, and with the WRX motor it runs like one, too. Like a very very fast modern car.

Kind of a dark photo, sorry, but the new view from the back:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855708.1.jpg)

Underneath, the shifter and cables.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855709.2.jpg)

See the axles and those nice flange adapters Steve? You need to be proud! And thanks, Andy, for letting us borrow that camera!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855709.3.jpg)

A closer view of the flanges:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855710.4.jpg)

The Tilton pedals in place. Still some work to do on that interior. It should have been done already, but once that WRX motor was in it was so much fun to drive I yielded to temptation every time and headed up into the hills instead of working on it.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855711.5.jpg)

The shifter, cables and ECU. That will all be covered with an armrest/storage cubby.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855712.6.jpg)

Going to get rid of the gauges on the console where they're hard to see, so will just need one quad gauge.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855713.7.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855714.8.jpg)

Engine compartment, now complete.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855714.9.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855715.10.jpg)

Miata battery hiding under the air filter. Smaller and lighter than a stock battery, with that lighter weight located down lower, too.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855716.11.jpg)

Talk about attention to detail, look at this powder coated muffler hangar. With nylock nuts even!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855717.12.jpg)

And the blowoff routed back into the intake instead of being vented. I can live without the “pfffttt!” sound, don’t feel the need to impress no ricer boys.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855718.13.jpg)

The forward intercooler heat exchanger, and still enough space for an A/C condenser in the future.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855719.14.jpg)

And the prize at the end of all this work? The car key.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i379.photobucket.com-2618-1268855720.15.jpg)

I haven't driven it yet, it's in California and I'm still in Texas, but we're going to meet up soon. The kids say it shifts like butter, and the Quaife hooks up just as advertised. Springtime in the Sierras, I can't wait. In the meantime Jeff of 40-Thirteen, the builder, and my son are going to be doing some serious shake-down testing. If anything can break those are the boys who can do it. I can hear Jeff saying "Let's just turn up the boost, that's all!!" and my son saying, "With the Quaife it won't get sideways when I powershift, right? We need to test that." They're destructive testing specialists, by training and practice, and they're good.

Suspension's not set up yet but I think they're going to try autocrossing somewhere next weekend, Sacramento or Alameda. They've promised videos.

If you want to see more detail there are photos HERE

[Andyrew]

Uh, Where is this shop at?

You realize IM in modesto? Are you going to be driving it back? We NEED to meet up when/ if you come out here.

[DBCooper]

Uh, Where is this shop at?

You realize IM in modesto? Are you going to be driving it back? We NEED to meet up when/ if you come out here.

Haven't seen you around much lately, is your 914 still running or are you a full-time Audi-guy now? Jeff's shop isn't commercial. He works in the Bay Area, was crew chief for Goodsport Racing when they won the USTCC a couple of years ago, is doing this just because he thought it was a cool idea.

My new grandaughter's there (isn't she a beauty?) so I go to Modesto regularly, was there full-time a couple of years ago when my mother was ill. PM me with an e-mail address or something. My son says the car is ridiculously fun to drive now and I encourage him to take it out, so you may see it on the street. Might be fun to run into your V8 car, see how they compare.

[Andyrew]

Uh, Where is this shop at?

You realize IM in modesto? Are you going to be driving it back? We NEED to meet up when/ if you come out here.

Haven't seen you around much lately, is your 914 still running or are you a full-time Audi-guy now? Jeff's shop isn't commercial. He works in the Bay Area, was crew chief for Goodsport Racing when they won the USTCC a couple of years ago, is doing this just because he thought it was a cool idea.

My new grandaughter's there (isn't she a beauty?) so I go to Modesto regularly, was there full-time a couple of years ago when my mother was ill. PM me with an e-mail address or something. My son says the car is ridiculously fun to drive now and I encourage him to take it out, so you may see it on the street. Might be fun to run into your V8 car, see how they compare.

Eh, Im on here all the time, I just dont post all that often anymore..

The 914 is running (actually the new battery went bad so its not technically running at this second), but I am driving my Audi all the time now. Im gearing up for an Audi v6 conversion w/ an Audi FWD trani. I feel the 400lbs of tq on the v8 is just to much for the chassis and I want something that feels more like a sports car than a drag racer.

It would be really cool to run the two! What are your hp/tq numbers? We'd have to do a run from like 40 on up as I'll be spinning till about then anyways. My tires arnt that good and I feel thats the only thing keeping my trani in one piece.

Unfortunately I dont see that many 914's in modesto, in fact I cant remember the last time I saw one.

Lemme know when your in Modesto!

[Root_Werks]

WOW!

[Porcharu]

Very nice job. Nice that you don't think a simple engine cradle is top secret - yours is a lot nicer than the 'professional' product. Can't wait to work on mine and I think I made a mistake in getting the put-put NA engine. Oh well it's still 2X the stock engine.

[DBCooper]

It would be really cool to run the two! What are your hp/tq numbers?

We tuned it a tad fat with max 10 pounds boost so I only have 205 tq/hp at the wheels, half a V8. We ran a 13.7 at 106 with the 901, babying the car off the line trying to keep it in boost and then shifting like old ladies. I'm guessing we'll be in the high 12's with this stronger transmission.

We'd have to do a run from like 40 on up as I'll be spinning till about then anyways. My tires arnt that good and I feel thats the only thing keeping my trani in one piece.

Really? Interesting. Starting at 40 would kind of make everything even and fair then, right? So why would I want to do that? Nah, I like the idea of a standing start. Run what you brung. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

But it's OK, you'll be able to catch up, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Sooner or later... ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

.

[Eric_Shea]

Amazing fab work is an art that goes un-noticed by many. So... thumbs up for both theory and very tremendous execution. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[campbellcj]

Wow, very cool project and it is inspiring to see such clean and well thought-out fab work and quality welding. Keep us posted with your progress!

[Andyrew]

Trapping 106mph is pretty damn respectable. I trapped 100 in my Audi a4 and did 13.55, but thats AWD for you, 1.80 60ft on rock hard winter tires!!!

Never had the v8 on the strip, WAY to scared of blowing the trani.

I dyno'ed at 245hp and 275tq at the wheels before I went fuel injection. The fuel injection and a timing change literally gave me another 50-75lbs of torque. Eh but this isnt a v8 thread.

Those are some solid numbers coming out of that car!! Very impressed!! Im planning on actually removing the v8 engine/trani and putting an Audi 2.8 FWD automatic engine/trani and all the wiring to be Audi.. Gonna make it a paddleshifter. Should put out about 200hp to the wheels with no cats, a better intake and a chip. If I so feel that its JUST not enough, then I might throw a 75 shot of NOS. The Audi trani's are REALLY strong, so I have no worries of it breaking.
I think THEN the two of our cars would be a great little match!! You'd probably nudge me out though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It would be really cool to run the two! What are your hp/tq numbers?

We tuned it a tad fat with max 10 pounds boost so I only have 205 tq/hp at the wheels, half a V8. We ran a 13.7 at 106 with the 901, babying the car off the line trying to keep it in boost and then shifting like old ladies. I'm guessing we'll be in the high 12's with this stronger transmission.

We'd have to do a run from like 40 on up as I'll be spinning till about then anyways. My tires arnt that good and I feel thats the only thing keeping my trani in one piece.

Really? Interesting. Starting at 40 would kind of make everything even and fair then, right? So why would I want to do that? Nah, I like the idea of a standing start. Run what you brung. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

But it's OK, you'll be able to catch up, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Sooner or later... ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

.

[strawman]

Saw this car today in Sac. Jeff does GREAT work -- very sano. It gave me some great ideas for my Suby conversion. I especially like his fabrication work for the engine & trans cradle; beautiful welds and very well thought out. His air-water intercooler solution is also top notch. If anyone is considering this type of conversion (and has the cash and/or lacks the fabrication skills), you should definitely contact Jeff.

[markb]

WOW!

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[Joe Bob]

Looks excellent....be careful coming out of corners with your foot in it. Boost, small tires and turns can equal snap oversteer and a weedy experience.....

[WRX914]

Looks excellent....be careful coming out of corners with your foot in it. Boost, small tires and turns can equal snap oversteer and a weedy experience.....

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Mine is nuckin futz! After the 2.5 upgrade, it is monsterous!

[okieflyr]

That's a great execution on your conversion, and I know many aspire to do the same. A modern powerplant is alot of fun in this classic chassis. My 04 STI had a pretty low 1st gear, so I'd bet you could do a spectacular launch starting from 2nd given the weight reduction, and only two tires puttin it to the ground. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
Congrats!

[DBCooper]

As part of their destructive testing program the kids took the car to a PCA autocross in Stockton.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i255.photobucket.com-2618-1269561145.1.jpg)

Good news is that they didn't break anything. Bad news is that we're back at square one for suspension setup. They say the front end pushes badly at low speeds, and, surprise surprise, the back end goes liquid under power. Their suggestion is flares and big stickies, but that isn't going to happen. All I want is a narrow-body sleeper. So it looks like bigger 7 inch wheels on the front (it's now 6's and 7's) and learning how to drive it differently, moderating the power a little better. Then we'll tweak as we go along.

All in all it's great, a total success and a helluva lot of fun to drive.

[strawman]

They say the front end pushes badly at low speeds, and, surprise surprise, the back end goes liquid under power.

This car has a Quaife limited slip dif, eh? I wonder if the limited slip and power-on while entering the turn and/or during decel is the cause of understeer. Could this be resolved by changing the driving style a bit? I am very interested in this issue, as I've installed an OBX LSD in my Suby trans...