[stg2lgcy00]

yeah but I dont have a wrx (3.9) diff. I have the 4.1.

option 2 seems most like what I would want but how do you get the JDM GC8 rear brake rotors? do 06 wrx rotors work?

Like nhawks mentioned jdm non dccd 6spd is what you'll need. I'd do option 3 with the auto driveshaft and 3.9 r160 rear end. Also I happen to have everything needed to put together a 3.9 r160, all parts from an 03 wrx minus the vlsd. You can check it out here: http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f28/Stg2lgcy00/IMG_1612_zpsqbsyd4eu.jpg (spare parts in case you need it, lmk)

Tomorrow I'll be actually installing my 6spd at long last! Planning to lift the font of the tranny with a hoist thru the engine bay and raise the rear with a floor jack, it was one method that sounded pretty good and not too physically demanding.

Anyone have any final tips for me before I embark on getting this beast up in my car?

 

[nhawks]

Ive done a 6spd conversion in a driveway, put the car as high as it would go on a set of 4 walmart special jackstands. Dropped the old 5spd out the bottom, literally dropped it onto a scrap tire I had laying around. then slid it out and slid the 6spd under. Took a metal pipe and braced it across the strut towers, hooked up some straps from it to the trans and hoisted the front up with that, then jacked up the tail end and swung it forward onto the engine. did it like this to keep the engine in. Was actually one of the easiest ways ive ever done a transmission, and most of the ones I do are in a shop with a lift and transmission hoist.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Thanks for sharing how you went about it. I have a long bolt put through the pitch stop mount front hole with washers on both sides. The hoist I borrowed from my buddy came with a chain that has U hooks on both ends. I was going to put the center of the chain attached to the hoist then put one hook on each side of the long bolt to lift it up.

Sounds like what you did is very similar to what I'm planning. I'll take some pics during the process to try and visually show the method.

 

[shakes]

Your best bet is to find a ver7 non dccd 6spd, run 06+ wrx front axles. And regear your LSD with the ring and pinion from an impreza 3.90 rear diff.

Thanks for this. Why the WRX front axles btw?

So I would need

ver 7 non-dccd 6 speed
shift linkage
6 speed trans mount
front 06 wrx axles
4eat driveshaft
3.9 ring & pinion (or 3.9 WRX rear diff)

and that would allow me to keep my 4/2 brakes and other current knuckles, etc.

 

[nhawks]

Thanks for this. Why the WRX front axles btw?

So I would need

ver 7 non-dccd 6 speed
shift linkage
6 speed trans mount
front 06 wrx axles
4eat driveshaft
3.9 ring & pinion (or 3.9 WRX rear diff)

and that would allow me to keep my 4/2 brakes and other current knuckles, etc.

Starting in 06-07 the wrx had a male ended axle for the female transmission. using the 06wrx one allows you to keep your current front hubs.

 

[shakes]

Starting in 06-07 the wrx had a male ended axle for the female transmission. using the 06wrx one allows you to keep your current front hubs.

I see Ver 7's for sale with both male and female axle mounts. So confusing.

TY856WB1CA - Female (open front diff)
TY856WB1AA - Male (suretrac front diff)

 

[nhawks]

I see Ver 7's for sale with both male and female axle mounts. So confusing.

TY856WB1CA - Female (open front diff)
TY856WB1AA - Male (suretrac front diff)

You've got those backwards the CA was the surectrac, im not sure if the axle stub or no axle stub was a open diff vs surectrac difference or a half year switchover kinda thing. But if the trans is male ended you can reuse your axles, if its female youll need ones that match at the trans and hub side (06-07). I think the 08+ might have a different abs gear.

Mine is the suretrac Diff CA model with female on the trans.

 

[shakes]

You're right I do have that backwards. Thanks for all the clarifications.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Stoked to report I got my 6spd installed today with the help of a couple buddies. Engine hoist method thru the front of the car was totally the way to go, made life a LOT easier. After sliding the tranny under the car we had it raised up and bolted to the motor in just over 30 min.

Mostly small stuff left over now: bleed clutch fluid, refill tranny, replace pitch mount, replace intercooler & exhaust and finally wire up the dccdpro.

Hoping to have the car ready for a test drive tomorrow or early next week

 

[shakes]

never mind, I answered my own question.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Inching closer & closer to completion. Had a pita time bleeding the clutch, ended up having to remove the clutch mc off the car again and bench bleed it. Threw it back on and kept bleeding for another hour and seem to have normal clutch feel & clutch fork operation. Reconnected all the wiring, ran dccd wires to the interior, verified that reverse lights come on. Once I get the downpipe & intercooler back on I'll take it for a quick test drive to make sure everything works.

 

[shakes]

An option for bleeding a system if you are having a real issue is to reverse bleed it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW770mbruM4

 

[stg2lgcy00]

^Good to know if I run into any issues, my slave cylinder looks good though. Having my buddy push down on the clutch I can see the fork getting moved all the way forward so thats good. Pedal feel on the exedy stage 1 feels about 10% stiffer than stock, huge relief from my ACT on the 5spd which took a lot more effort.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Meant to take photos during the install but just got too caught up in lining up the tranny with the motor to take any more pics.

Slid the transmission on top of a board to get it under the car, then turned the hoist there facing into the engine bay and had the chains drop down to lift the front of the tranny with a bolt going thru the pitch stop mount. Also took the hood off so the hoist didn't hit it on the way up.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

At long last... SUCCESS!!

Took the 6spd for a test drive tonight and everything appears/sounds/feels to be working correctly. Speedo and tacometer look to be working right as well.

Clutch engagement is a lil bit chunky feeling but overall feels even better than last time I put a brand new clutch in the car. Only drove for about 2.5 miles in residential and got to test 1st thru 3rd and so far so good!

Still need to throw the catback on the car after I repaint it, wire up dccdpro and go in for an alignment.

Can't wait to drive this thing under heavy throttle but gotta take it easy for the clutch break in.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Dccdpro & exhaust installed last night, stayed up really late to get that all done. Got an alignment scheduled for Monday morning. Haven't driven with the dccdpro but from what i can tell the auto and manual modes are working and it shuts off when pulling up the ebrake.

Going to try and put some more miles on the clutch over the weekend and hope the dccdpro doesn't give me any unexpected surprises.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Want to see about getting my rs shift boot installed later on the 6spd shifter.

Can anyone who's already done that post a few pics of how theirs turned out?

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Shift boot pics anyone?

Btw, nearing the 100 mile mark on the clutch & engagement is getting smoother. Just got back from an alignment too.

Since driving the 6spd I'm noticing 1st, 3rd & 5th gears tend to make a whining/wirring sound while 2nd, 4th & 6th are pretty quiet. Anyone else notice this on their 6spd?

I filled the tranny with Swepco 80w90 and it was just barely over the full line so I know it's not low.

EDIT: Also wanted to note what aftermarket bushings/mounts I'm running...

STI group n engine mounts
STI group n tranny mount
Kartboy front shifter bushings
Kartboy rear shifter bushing
TIC pivot bushings
Kartboy transmission crossmember bushings
Whiteline rear diff outrigger bushings

Only other major one I never upgraded was the oem pitch stop mount.

 

[stg2lgcy00]

Ended up just trimming off some of the top of the shift boot, forced it over the top of the shifter and secured with a zip tie lol. My stock boot is in pretty bad shape anyways so I didn't mind slicing it up to make it fit.

Went to a local scale to weigh the car tonight and came out to...

2840 w/ 1/2 tank of gas & full interior.

Previously was 2760 w/ the 5spd and same amount of gas.

Guess adding 80lbs wasn't really that bad, def would have been a decent amount more if I had done full brembos / r180 etc..

 

[shakes]

I haven't found any concrete confirmation on this so please speak up.

Crossmembers: Will the 5-speed cross member work for the 6 speed transmission? I know it needs the 6 speed mount.