As some of you may know my car suffered from a 3rd gear failure beginning of January...
I had a few sleepless nights trying to decide whether to go for a full dog setup, or the new synchro set from PAR Engineering.

After a few discussions with Mark Aigin I went for the synchro (I love the noise - but want the missus to be able to drive the car *cough*).

After only a few days I had a package from Mark, with the gearset, and he managed to persuade me to go for a shorter 5th from a type r while I was at it (1-4th is included in the PAR gearset).

Now the tranny has been built, and installed (did all of the work myself - bar the actual assembly of the tranny) - and I've put some miles on it...

AND I LOVE IT! The ratio is just spot on, and the shorter 5th is spot on - no more of that overdrive feeling.



The bits and bobs fitted just perfectly!

If this gearset proves itself to hold up - it's the way Subaru should've delivered it from the factory.

Big thanks goes out to the lads at the garage, Mark Aigin at Lateral Performance and last but not least - my understanding missus Maddie!

/J



[Edited by SecretAgentMan - 2/16/2003 7:31:52 PM]

[Edited by SecretAgentMan - 2/16/2003 7:33:34 PM]

 

Looks great. I am waiting for one presently.

Can I ask what ratios you went for and if you changed any other bits of your drivetrain whilst at it (same final drives etc)? How much for the Type R 5th and where from?

[Edited by john banks - 2/16/2003 7:41:54 PM]

 

I went for:

Ratio KPH@7k

3.18 64

1.91 108

1.35 153

.966 212

.814 256

The 5th also came from Mark, and nothing else was changed.
1 and 2 are close to stock, with a wee bit shorter 3rd and 4th - but for my needs that's perfect.

The type R 5th is great for fun, not so great on 80 mph motorway driving - especially with a Nurspec. Now where's that intercom system?

/J

 

I could tell you my prices - but I would have to kill ya. Ask Mark directly.

/J

 

So mph/1000RPM (took std from SIDC FAQ):

Lateral Standard
5.7 5.3
9.6 9.4
13.6 13.4
18.8 18.9
22.7 24.9

I am tempted to go for the std 5th gear and otherwise the gearing you have gone for, but is there an option for shorter 1-4? I don't mid a big gap between 4th and 5th to keep the cruise volume down.

[Edited by john banks - 2/16/2003 7:52:51 PM]

 

Umm...seems I didn't remember correctly (I blame the industrial strength solvents I used cleaning the housing ) - 4th is a wee bit shorter then. Ah even better, as I always seems to be in top of 2:nd or 3rd in some corners on the favourite track.

/J

 

3rd gear is lovely on the gearset

I have a lat performance one - can't fault it.

 

3rd gear will have to be lovely Christian what do you reckon your on road torque figure is (email if you prefer)? (not wanting a debate about figures, just some frame of reference).

Basically I am designing all my plans around this box because it is rated to 450 BHP and 400 lbft, similar for an organic clutch.

I don't want to go for a snappy clutch or a dogbox, and this seems the strongest available.

Did you go for ratios that match your original Type R ones Christian?

[Edited by john banks - 2/16/2003 9:01:20 PM]

 

Hi,

No I didn't go for a ratio that matched my original Type R, as I had already changed them for my dogbox.

On my dogbox I had:

1st 3.00
2nd 1.93
3rd 1.38
4th 0.91
5th 0.72

The ratios I now have on my lat perf one are:

1st. 3.18
2nd. 1.91
3rd. 1.35
4th. 0.966
5th. 0.738

Note, I have also changed from 4.44:1 to 4.1:1.

[Edited by ChristianR - 2/17/2003 8:54:53 AM]

 

Good to hear it's out on the road agin SAM

/Kvarnis

 

Yeah - I've forgotten how fun it is to drive the car.

I sort of lost it yesterday and when the speedometer read a wee bit below 200 kph I remembered that:

a, I was still on studded winter tires.
b, I need my driving licence.
c, I should take it easy on the tranny.



/J - all the above is purely specualtive, and I would never do such speeds on public roads.

 

Lateral Performance are unable to supply me so I am looking for alternatives. Possum Bourne do a synchro kit (nothing on the web though), as do Quaife http://www.quaife.co.uk/catalogue/page54.htm Anyone have any experience of these or know any others?

 

John,

You could also try MRT, and Kaas.

Mark.

 

IIRC, from when I last checked, the Quaife gearsets were very expensive. In fact, some of the gearsets available, not necessarily the quaife, were in the region of 6000quid! MRT do an "unbreakable" one (nothing to do with bruce willis), and I think town end can supply it, however, it costs ~5 or 6K and doesnt run synchros.

Myself, I will certainly be going for a Lateral Performance synchro set when the need to address the tranny arrises. I have driven a dog box in a scoob, however, I dont see the need for it if you can get a synchro set thats up to the job. I believe Jerry is very happy with his LP synchro gearset.

 

Thanks Mark & Moray. The Possum Bourne one sounds promising. Quaife one was about £2k for the synchro kit, but they were not saying it would handle over 350 lbft.

[Edited by john banks - 2/17/2003 2:56:17 PM]

 

Sorry!

Skassa



[Edited by Denmark - 2/18/2003 8:05:44 AM]

 

john's quote:

Basically I am designing all my plans around this box because it is rated to 450 BHP and 400 lbft, similar for an organic clutch.


perhaps mark knows JB will not stop at those levels

 

I'm thinking JB should look at the Modena dog. Seriously even.

I know one that's for sale at the moment, I reckon the gearset could be bought for 3-3.5k ish...and if you shipped the box they'd build it for fugg all.

Contact me on jerry@impreza.nu JB and I'll point you in their direction.

/J

 

Am I getting a repuation for destruction testing things ? Really don't want a dogbox or a snappy clutch. Would spoil the fun. I want it to drive like stock but be twice as fast. Not asking a lot am I ?

 

No, not at all.

I'm not aiming for more than 350 hp, so I settled for the synchro, if I didn't have a specific goal I'd gone for this specific gearset.

Sure it'll be a complete PITA and a downright barsteward to drive, but it'll hold.

/J

 

john - check your mail

 

Christian were did u get the 4.11's for the R180 rear diff ?????

 

I am going for this gearset now, and copying your ratios except keeping stock 5th Jerry. This is my nod in the direction of smooth cruising given that 3 years ago I nearly bought a 328i until I tried a Scooby

 

carlos_hiraoka - contacts, if you want one drop me an email. Can also get 3.9

 

Interesting thread this as my hill climb STi V3 box is groaning after the 5000 rpm side-step the (standard) clutch starts! Have emailed them for details.
Is this gearset civilised on the road? My friend has an RA with a 'semi-helical' dog box from TEG and it is realy good, but you do need to change as fast as you can to keep it smooth.
Graham

 

Graham, apart from a bit more noise in 1st, this gearset behaves totally similar to the standard box (except it seems to keep it's teeth in their designed place ). It is even easier to drop back into 1st. The noise is minor compared to the exhaust note, so nothing major, but you do hear it.

Had it on my car for 3 months now, and am very very pleased with it. Still use my car for day to day traffic as well as trackdays.

 

Slightly whiney in 1st, 2nd, and strangely a little in 3rd.
Recommend set - worth doing the slight bevel on 2nd (?) as some cases (like mine ) seem to cause a slight prob when changing into 2nd. This is a very minor/insignificant mod but will save a potential £500 box in/out rebuild bill !! I'm sure builders know this NOW !
Talk to Mark A, or Phil Venn at Barratts M/sport Cantabury for accurate details (its all a distant memory !!!)
Great gear set.
Stan

 

what is the "slight bevel on 2nd"

 

Carlos
When changing into second, the gear stick did not "stop" - it could "overshoot" its normal rest position very slightly, causing a slight graunching noise as though you were trying to select a gear without using the clutch. It was apparantly caused by the second gear touching a ring on the other shaft. By grinding the slightest amount off the offending end of second gear the problem was cured.
Phil Venn at Barrett Motorsport Cantabury rebuilt the box - thoroughly recommend him (bit far to send a box from Peru !).
( UK 01227-864537)
or phone Mark Aigin (Lateral Performance) who supplies these great sets.
Hope this helps !!
Stan

 

thanx Stan