Four Speed or Five Speed
Four Speed or Five Speed
Hi Guys,
I have been reading that many of you Brumby Owners have swapped your Four Speed Gearboxes over for Five Speed Gearboxes. What are the advantages of this changeover?
Regards
Buddyboy
I have been reading that many of you Brumby Owners have swapped your Four Speed Gearboxes over for Five Speed Gearboxes. What are the advantages of this changeover?
Regards
Buddyboy
Regards Buddyboy.
"Subaru, when only the best will do".
"Subaru, when only the best will do".
- thunder039
- Junior Member
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- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:41 pm
- Location: victoria AUS
although i personally have not done the conversion, i spose the closer ratio of the 5sp would allow quicker acceleration hus making the car more responsiveBuddyboy wrote:Hi Guys,
I have been reading that many of you Brumby Owners have swapped your Four Speed Gearboxes over for Five Speed Gearboxes. What are the advantages of this changeover?
Regards
Buddyboy
2004 subaru forester -gone
1999 subaru forester- no more
1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
1999 subaru forester- no more

1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
- thunder039
- Junior Member
- Posts: 998
- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:41 pm
- Location: victoria AUS
yep gotta love the slop!steptoe wrote:There is, or were more decent 5 speeds available than decent four speeds at the time. The youngest 4 speed is now 20 years old ! No gear shifter slop like th 4 speeds, bragging rights
2004 subaru forester -gone
1999 subaru forester- no more
1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
1999 subaru forester- no more

1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
- El_Freddo
- Master Member
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- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
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Driving a stock 5spd L series and a stock 4spd Brumby, both boxes are pretty much the same up to 3rd.
With the 4spd there's a huge gap between 3rd and 4th. While you don't really notice it daily driving, you do notice it when loaded up especially when towing up a hill.
With the 5spd you've got 4th inbetween 3rd and top gear. I'm sure 5th is about the same as 4th in the 4spd. The dual range 5 speed I believe has a better low range too. The 5 speed is generally the same layout as what the EJ's use in their 5spds, it's a bit more refined over the 4spd in my book.
The conversion isn't hard, there are many thread about the conversion, not just on ausubi either!
Cheers
Bennie
With the 4spd there's a huge gap between 3rd and 4th. While you don't really notice it daily driving, you do notice it when loaded up especially when towing up a hill.
With the 5spd you've got 4th inbetween 3rd and top gear. I'm sure 5th is about the same as 4th in the 4spd. The dual range 5 speed I believe has a better low range too. The 5 speed is generally the same layout as what the EJ's use in their 5spds, it's a bit more refined over the 4spd in my book.
The conversion isn't hard, there are many thread about the conversion, not just on ausubi either!
Cheers
Bennie
- thunder039
- Junior Member
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- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:41 pm
- Location: victoria AUS
yes there is a massive gap between 3rd and 4th on the 4 speeds, but i like it makes it more lazy to drive to the lack of changing gears from 60km onwards 

2004 subaru forester -gone
1999 subaru forester- no more
1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
1999 subaru forester- no more

1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
Thanks
Thanks Guys, can I assume then that the 5 speed would be more appropriate to use with an increase of HP in the EA81, or is there a better option?
Regards Buddyboy
Regards Buddyboy
Regards Buddyboy.
"Subaru, when only the best will do".
"Subaru, when only the best will do".
- thunder039
- Junior Member
- Posts: 998
- Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 6:41 pm
- Location: victoria AUS
what sort of horse power increase are we talking about?Buddyboy wrote:Thanks Guys, can I assume then that the 5 speed would be more appropriate to use with an increase of HP in the EA81, or is there a better option?
Regards Buddyboy
there is only so much the ea81 will pump out even with a webber on it, but even then the 4sp will be fine
2004 subaru forester -gone
1999 subaru forester- no more
1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
1999 subaru forester- no more

1989 subaru brumby- sold!
2008 zook jimny -sold!
2003 mitsubishi pajero - missus car
2013 nissan d22- set up for long distant touring
- Silverbullet
- Senior Member
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- Location: Adelaide
All this talk of 4sp and 5sp ratios being nearly the same, I can't believe it! With my old 4 speed basically if the wheels are turning you're going to fast to be in 1st, and in 4th at 100 it's revving uncomfortably high...or maybe there is something wrong with mine
Can't wait to compare with the 5 speed.

Will it ever end!?
-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

- El_Freddo
- Master Member
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I've found that the 4spd and 5spd boxes are about the same revs at 100km/h. Both boxes are 3.7 diff ratio.
Fair enough steptoe, remember that two cars of the same make, model, specs and age can drive like two different vehicles!
The 4 spd will hold up to some power increases though. I find the 4spd is really agricultural compared to the 5spd. I reckon this is mainly due to the gear selector mechanism... Go the 5spd, you won't look back
Cheers
Bennie
Fair enough steptoe, remember that two cars of the same make, model, specs and age can drive like two different vehicles!
The 4 spd will hold up to some power increases though. I find the 4spd is really agricultural compared to the 5spd. I reckon this is mainly due to the gear selector mechanism... Go the 5spd, you won't look back

Cheers
Bennie