Worse Case Scenario

[johnnyr6]

Spot on again Alan.

John i've just had a wee, and i mean wee drive in Playsatans car with ppg box and it's pretty whiney??, i'd say too loud for an every day car. (although his exhaust drowns most of it out).

If for every day, unless your going over 450/450 as alan said, i'd go for a 6spd forrester boxor failing to find one a 6spd sti box (with matching diffs).

Can't remember which year of forrester but i'm sure Alan does.

Johnny.

Edited March 19, 2008 by JohnnyR6

[thewelsho]

I'll try and simplify.

You have a choice of finding a like for like replacement or looking into buying something different more suitable for your power/torque.

Two options basically:

5 speed PPG gearkit to build into your gearbox.

Any PPG gearkit will be man enough to cope, so comes down to choice.

PPG helical synchro gearkit. Your std gearbox has helical gears and synchros, so this option is the same as what you have but much stronger gears to withstand the torque. It is almost as quiet as your own box.

PPG straight cut synchro gearkit. The difference here is that you use straight cut gears. These straight cut gears will whine when in use but are stronger than the helical cut gears, so can withstand even more torque, but are noisy in use.

PPG dog box. These are also straight cut gears but use dogs instead of synchros.This type of box will stand up to even more abuse than the above and you can slam in the gears when changing, but can be a pig to drive on the road.

6 speed boxes:

Any 6 speed box will do, but imo the Forrester has nicely spaced gear ratios whereas others have short ratios in the 1st few gears, so you could be throwing gear changes left right and centre with higher power, so could soon tire of that.

The other issue with 6 speeders is that you may need the matching diff to go along with it, but you will need the 6 speed gearlever, gear linkage and propshaft to go along with the box before fitting.

How much for the cheapest PPG stuff? What does PPG stand for and what is it exactly, a bunch of cogs and stuff?

I can't push the finances to a 6-speed with all the other bits I need to get to match it up, so its a quick-fix and a cheap-fix I think is the only way to go. This of course means the box will break again, but I guess if I keep it off track then it will last longer. Then again, why have all that power and no track use, this is what makes me think bowing out now is perhaps the best option.

[AlanG]

How much for the cheapest PPG stuff? What does PPG stand for and what is it exactly, a bunch of cogs and stuff?

I can't push the finances to a 6-speed with all the other bits I need to get to match it up, so its a quick-fix and a cheap-fix I think is the only way to go. This of course means the box will break again, but I guess if I keep it off track then it will last longer. Then again, why have all that power and no track use, this is what makes me think bowing out now is perhaps the best option.

PPG = Pfitzner Performance Gearbox.

As for costs, I think it boils down to a no brainer in terms of uprated drivetrain given your circumstances.

Either PPG or 6 speed is going to be out of your price range and if it were me in that position i'd try and source a 5 speed Sti box and rear diff. (that's if you want to keep the car) This option gives better ratios (imo) for both road and track use at your level and in terms of cost, shouldn't be much more than going down the secondhand route of a std box. Costs depend on being in the right place at the right time.

If you wanted to stretch to a PPG, then i'd go here. Prices for the parts alone are also on this site.

Edited March 19, 2008 by AlanG

[thewelsho]

PPG = Pfitzner Performance Gearbox.

As for costs, I think it boils down to a no brainer in terms of uprated drivetrain given your circumstances.

Either PPG or 6 speed is going to be out of your price range and if it were me in that position i'd try and source a 5 speed Sti box and rear diff. (that's if you want to keep the car) This option gives better ratios (imo) for both road and track use at your level and in terms of cost, shouldn't be much more than going down the secondhand route of a std box. Costs depend on being in the right place at the right time.

If you wanted to stretch to a PPG, then i'd go here. Prices for the parts alone are also on this site.

Now that I have picked myself up off the floor...

Thanks mate, you have been a great help.

[RA Dunk]

dont give up after comming this far John, with your block now sorted and a new box your troubles should all be behind you now

[thewelsho]

dont give up after comming this far John, with your block now sorted and a new box your troubles should all be behind you now

Clutch, Diffs, bearings, driveshafts... still plenty to go wrong!

[RA Dunk]

the clutch is likely TBH but since you dont rag the ar$e off of it doing 1/4 mile stuff it might last, diffs, bearings, driveshafts should all be ok AFAIK

[fai17]

Wow. Big font Peter!

So John have you taken your car to a garage to diagnois the problem...

I spoke to Greers this morning and guess what they've just sold a hawkeye 5 speeder earlier in the week..they also said the hawkeye has different rear diff ratio to eveything else which means that you will either need to get hold of a haweye 5 speed box or another 5 speed box with matching rear diff.

Or rebuild your own box.

Either way they will need to look at your car first to see what is wrong with it.

But probably your best(cheapest) bet is to try for a warranty thingy.

[RS Grant]

Sorry to hear about this, but think its worth trying for a warranty claim... if you get it then your credit card can come out of hiding, if you dont, then you need to look at the options available to you.

However, as many others have said, you've sorted the biggest thing which is the engine and now its the 2nd biggest thing, and once you've fixed the gearbox, you really shouldn't have any other big bills looming. If it were me, I'd just stick a 6-spd in there, unless you've definitely had enough and are going to sell it..... in which case, stick a stock box back in it, sell your mods and sell the car... then I'll sell you the Spec-G.

Cheers,

Grant

[fai17]

.. then I'll sell you the Spec-G.

Cheers,

Grant

You can't do that Grant....i've haven't smoked you yet

[RS Grant]

Haha its ok Peter, I'd gladly pass that priviledge onto the new owner....

Cheers,

Grant

[thewelsho]

Haha its ok Peter, I'd gladly pass that priviledge onto the new owner....

Cheers,

Grant

Just waiting on Subaru assistance arriving... will keep all posted on the outcome.

Peter, much did Greers sell the Hawkeye box?

[fai17]

Just waiting on Subaru assistance arriving... will keep all posted on the outcome.

Peter, much did Greers sell the Hawkeye box?

Sorry m8 i didn't ask them

[terzo neil]

any further news on subaru assist ?

[thewelsho]

any further news on subaru assist ?

Picked the car up today. It's with the dealer, so I'll just have to wait and see what they say.

[terzo neil]

what stealer is it with ?

[andrew_forrest]

what stealer is it with ?

What were the symptoms John ? ......edit-just read your other post.

The 2.5 WRX runs a 4.1 final drive so the classic UK is not a direct swap.

I run a PPG helical synchro set on my 2.5 spec C, its only slightly louder than std.

Edited March 19, 2008 by Andy.F

[ScoobySounds]

So - can I ask a question to the experts..

I am currently looking to get a new gear box (or rebuild the one I've got)

BUT if I rebuild my existing box, is it likely to just break again the next time I take it on the track?

(I'm running 310bhp in a 99 wrx) .. and not planning any more power modifications.

so if I was to upgrade, the only option is a £2000 spend?

I'd be willing I guess, to spend about 700-800 quids on an upgrade.

[andrew_forrest]

So - can I ask a question to the experts..

I am currently looking to get a new gear box (or rebuild the one I've got)

BUT if I rebuild my existing box, is it likely to just break again the next time I take it on the track?

(I'm running 310bhp in a 99 wrx) .. and not planning any more power modifications.

so if I was to upgrade, the only option is a £2000 spend?

I'd be willing I guess, to spend about 700-800 quids on an upgrade.

If you are staying with that power/torque level then an Sti 5 or 6 gearbox would be your best option, £7-800 should just about do it, try API engines.

[colin_ross]

If you are staying with that power/torque level then an Sti 5 or 6 gearbox would be your best option, £7-800 should just about do it, try API engines.

Coulty has my old sti 5 gea***t for sale. Was working just fine when it came out of my car.

Edited to add - why can't I say gear set? Oh yeah, ar$e

Edited March 19, 2008 by Playsatan2

[ScoobySounds]

Oh yeah, ar$e

lol

Thanks playsatan i'll contact him tomorrow -- I was hoping that 700 would include fitting

thanks andy, i'll give them a buzz tomorrow!! muchos gratsios amigo.

[seafar99]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/400155.htm

[fraser87uk]

Sorry to hear about your box m8.

Get it booked into Keny Brown in Hillington. If he cant fix it or tell you what is wrong thne your up **** creek. He has neer failed on a single thing with me.

His number is 0141 882 6757 an he is in Hillington, 2 mins from the Harvester.

[thewelsho]

Sorry to hear about your box m8.

Get it booked into Keny Brown in Hillington. If he cant fix it or tell you what is wrong thne your up **** creek. He has neer failed on a single thing with me.

His number is 0141 882 6757 an he is in Hillington, 2 mins from the Harvester.

Know it well. His boys did a compression test on my car when I broke a piston. Its back at the stealers for now, once I get a report from them I'll re-assess my options.

Thanks for your input

[fraser87uk]

No bother m8 hope you get it sorted soon.