What is the best Gearbox to use ?

Checkers · Post by **Checkers** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:05 am

Hi Guys,

I have a 1986 RX Turbo with 3.9 diffs running stock EA82T. I am about to upgrade to an EJ 20T and am looking at box options.

The car is lifted and run 27" tyres.

I know I want a dual ratio box of some sort and after driving FWD I know I want constant 4WD.

Can anyone tell me what is the best year to get the lowest ratios possible and also have constant 4WD ?

What is the L Series AWD Box with diff lock like ?

Cheers,

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue May 26, 2009 8:42 pm

So you want dual range gearbox?
You're better off getting Gen 2 Liberty dual range gearbox as it has 3.7:1 ratio, get L series Low Range 1.59:1 also get 5th gear from RS Liberty box if you're going to use EJ20T that way you'll have low revs on highway.. Other option is to use RS Liberty ratios in dual range box (you'll have to remove all gearsets and put it in dual range shaft. so practically you're making 3 gearboxes into 1)

diff lock - dunno as haven't use/been in one before - some of the guys will be able to tell ya here...

Edit: Another thing, you already have 1.19:1 dual range in your RX Leone anyway.
Gen1 Liberty has 3.9:1 ratio diff.
Cheers
AP

Checkers · Post by **Checkers** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:12 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:So you want dual range gearbox?
You're better off getting Gen 2 Liberty dual range gearbox as it has 3.7:1 ratio, get L series Low Range 1.59:1 also get 5th gear from RS Liberty box if you're going to use EJ20T that way you'll have low revs on highway.. Other option is to use RS Liberty ratios in dual range box (you'll have to remove all gearsets and put it in dual range shaft. so practically you're making 3 gearboxes into 1)

diff lock - dunno as haven't use/been in one before - some of the guys will be able to tell ya here...

Edit: Another thing, you already have 1.19:1 dual range in your RX Leone anyway.
Gen1 Liberty has 3.9:1 ratio diff.
Cheers
AP

Ok, I have the 3.9 from a wagon with a Low Range Low so to speak done by Scorpion.

Is the Dual Range Libery Box locked centre diff when it is in low range ?

I have seen some say they have 4.44 R&P is this by using a later WRX diff so to speak ?

Looks like the AWB Gen 1 Liberty box with 3.9 is the leader so far, although I am quite happy to get 3 box's and build the best set of ratios I can.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:28 pm

Checkers wrote:Ok, I have the 3.9 from a wagon with a Low Range Low so to speak done by Scorpion.

Is the Dual Range Libery Box locked centre diff when it is in low range ?

I have seen some say they have 4.44 R&P is this by using a later WRX diff so to speak ?

Looks like the AWB Gen 1 Liberty box with 3.9 is the leader so far, although I am quite happy to get 3 box's and build the best set of ratios I can.

Check out my gearbox thread below just above my signature.. - have a read there.

Nah Liberty boxes arent locked centre diff (there isnt one I believe), but they have their own centre diff which L series doesn't have. I dunno if you could put one in!?¿

if you install 4.44 ratio in dual range box you will have a lot of trouble trying to fit one in, but I believe it might be possible if you machine the crown wheel!, someone here had 4.11 fitted but machinery required again..
Cheers
AP

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:36 pm

It was PeeJay who shoved a 4.11 ratio in with the L series low range from a forester box from memory... he pretty much documented it from go to wo...

Cheers

Bennie

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:41 pm

El_Freddo wrote:It was PeeJay who shoved a 4.11 ratio in with the L series low range from a forester box from memory... he pretty much documented it from go to wo...

Cheers

Bennie

Thats correct.. someone in USMB has 4.44 in dual range box but it wasnt documented.
Cheers
AP

mattl200 · Post by **mattl200** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:54 pm

centre diff lock is from the import lseries turbo box there was one on ebay last week

AlpineRaven you cant swap the entire gear set from a single range rs 1st and 2nd are cast as part of the input shaft

scorpian low range is the lowest you can get if ya willing tho fork out the coin

the combination would probley have to be gen 1 of 2 liberty duel range 1st and 2nd
3rd 4th and 5th could be swaped from an rs box but 5th is probley the only one thats worthwile and dosent require complete dissamble of the box to do it

you could try to pick up an lseries locking center box and swap the relevent parts over there only 3,7 diff though or 3.9 rare herd of them in NZ
or go for an sti wrx centre thay require more pressure to slip front to back

food for thought i guess

chears
mat

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:47 pm

If you want AWD and a lockable center diff you'll need an AWD L or Vortex four cylinder gearbox .

Mine is a real bitzer and has the close ratio gear set from a 1st gen DR Lib box and the lower L LR gears . Because it started life as a single range Vortex AWD box all the LR bits go bolt - once you convert to L DR casings . The rear housing had some machining mods to take the L type LR selector .

The only available L type AWD diffs are 3.7 and 3.9 ratio , 3.9 is rare (here)and from the AWD XT6 Vortex .
Gareth (Gee - original Mr CrossBred) tells me that there is a gear mob in I think Victoria that can cut and shut front diff pinions so provided you have either L AWD pinion you can have its gear changed over from one of the PT 4WD pinions . You probably need to use its matching crown wheel .

The get the 4.1 and 4.3 crown wheels to clear the lower LR gears you need a gear specialist to grind the outer periphery of the crown wheel so they don't touch .
Gee has a tame gearbox specialist who can organise all these special mods if really interested .

Cheers A .

PS Your call but the cheap way to make the synchromesh work well is to glass bead blast the external cones on the sides of the gears . Just don't blast the gear teeth or any bearing surfaces .

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:32 pm

mattl200 wrote:scorpian low range is the lowest you can get if ya willing tho fork out the coin

I dunno about that - the standard L series is 1.59:1, the scorpian is apparently 1.6:1... The 0.01 difference wouldn't matter in the grands scheme of things... I know which one is cheaper too

Cheers

Bennie

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:29 pm

Checkers wrote:Hi Guys,

I have a 1986 RX Turbo with 3.9 diffs running stock EA82T. I am about to upgrade to an EJ 20T and am looking at box options.

The car is lifted and run 27" tyres.

I know I want a dual ratio box of some sort and after driving FWD I know I want constant 4WD.

Can anyone tell me what is the best year to get the lowest ratios possible and also have constant 4WD ?

What is the L Series AWD Box with diff lock like ?

Cheers,

just out of curiosity what color is the rx?

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Sat May 30, 2009 1:38 am

Sorry to hijack but you guys seem to know your boxes, I'm putting a 3.9 Gen 1 Liberty hi/lo box & clutch into my WRX hatch soon, to save me changing the rear diff is it possible to fit a 4.1 crown wheel & pinion to this box without major surgery? And will my new STI LSD front diff drop straight into?
Thanks, Tom.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sat May 30, 2009 1:57 am

d_generate wrote:Sorry to hijack but you guys seem to know your boxes, I'm putting a 3.9 Gen 1 Liberty hi/lo box & clutch into my WRX hatch soon, to save me changing the rear diff is it possible to fit a 4.1 crown wheel & pinion to this box without major surgery? And will my new STI LSD front diff drop straight into?
Thanks, Tom.

if you haven't changed the 1.19 low range then 4.11 will go straight in. If you're planning to use 1.59 then there is some machinery required. I'm sure the STI LSD will fit straight in.
Cheers
AP

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sat May 30, 2009 11:06 pm

AlpineRaven wrote:If you're planning to use 1.59 then there is some machinery required. I'm sure the STI LSD will fit straight in.

And from what I've read about members who have done this, its really worth the effort!

Cheers

Bennie

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Sun May 31, 2009 2:38 am

As far as I know the box is as stock as a rock so nothing has been changed, sounds like the way to go then, thanks guys.
Tom.
Hopefully have it regoed next week or the week after, just have to get permission for the 1" rear lift, Foz struts & GD control arms, otherwise it only failed from a loose bolt & 3 cable ties instead of 1 brake line clip which I forgot about on a rear strut.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun May 31, 2009 9:42 pm

El_Freddo wrote:And from what I've read about members who have done this, its really worth the effort!

Cheers

Bennie

I was thinking that today..... our driveway is kinda steep, i had a trailer full of broken up cement from the backyard (replacing ugly cement with pavers) and i wacked it all in the trailer, wacked in low range and went up the driveway, liberty didnt struggle at ALL, I was very impressed with low range and its damn WORTH it... it had way eeeeaaassssyyyy acceleration to start off with...

Sorry to change the subject lol..
Cheers
AP

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:21 am

So what's the story with the hi/lo changing on the run, can it be done & if so under what circumstances .....speed, which gear etc.

Post by **Captain Obvious** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:48 am

can be done foot on clutch and change gear!

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:11 pm

Captain Obvious wrote:can be done foot on clutch and change gear!

Dunno if you are taking the piss or if you are saying you can go from hi to lo by pushing the clutch in & shifting the lever

At what speed can you go from hi to lo????????????

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:18 pm

its just another gear. you can happily take off in 1st low, then shift to 1st high, then continue from there...

hes not taking the piss

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:49 pm

I sometimes drive mine like a 6 or 7 speed , i take off in 1st low and then 2nd low , 3rd low , 3rd high , 4th high and so on especially towing, loaded etc