subaru trans with a t4

[tonyorlo]

Im looking into my transaxle options for my t4 swap into my ghia, and Id like to get some opinions. My plan was to use the side shift trans out of a 914, a guy on a 914 forum who doesnt live to far from me was going to help me go through the trans, flip the diff, and put a 901 nose cone on it. Ive been told thats a solid trans? I could always have the original t1 trans built to handle more power. I have also wondered, would it be possible to use a transaxle out of a subaru behind a t4? Stock it would handle anything I plan to do. Just curious if anyone has tried this? I searched but had no luck finding anything.

The car is a 74 ghia with a turbocharged t4.

Also, what about a 944 transaxle, would that be more realistic?

[tonyorlo]

Well after searching with no results I'm guessing it would not be an easy swap.

What about rebuilding a 914 trans myself? I've seen a few articles on doing it, but none have went from start to finish. Pelican forums have a lot of good exploded views and info, but will I need a lot of specialty tools to accomplish that?

[Pablo2]

While the 5-spd may be attractive, if it were me, I'd adapt an 091 before the 901 or 914. The VW synchros are Borg Warner, whereas the 901 series has the problematic Porsche baulkring synchros. The VW will be far less expensive to service in the long run, and is more straightforward to install.

[tonyorlo]

Ive done some reading, and it seems like its hit or miss on what the 091 can handle. Honestly I would rather go that route to save myself the trouble of trying to make the 914 trans fit, but ive been told it can handle a decent amount of power. My end goal would be somewhere around 250ish hp, it will be drove of the street 90% of the time and maybe see an autocross or drag strip a few times.

Im not even sure what my ghia had stock? Ill have to look into this a bit further.

[Pablo2]

To be fair, when I say 091 I'm really thinking 091 hybrid with Berg style intermediate housing and special ratio gears. Not cheap, but more suitable in the long run. '74 stock came with Type I. 091 is Type II.

[mackaymanx]

Todd from subarugears does now make an adapter to mate a VW engine to the 5 speed subaru gearbox.

http://www.subarugears.com/Adaptors/Adaptors.html

[tonyorlo]

That's exactly what I was looking for, but $1k for that plus 2200 for the kit to use it as a rear engine would most likely put me above $4000 when its all said and done for the subject trans. That's out of my budget. I can have my 914 trans rebuilt, and have the 901 nose cone installed for 1700. I'm guessing that's what I will have in a 091 built, but the 091 will bolt in.

Looking at the Berg site, most of their stuff seems to be for converting to a 5 speed. I honestly don't even care to do go to a 5 speed. Can I just have a stout 4spd built?

[Devastator]

I run a built 091 in my turbo sandrail, with 15" wide paddle tires and it survives my abuse. I was told that a well built 091 will take 250 HP.

[tonyorlo]

Your setup looks similar to what I'm planning with the t3 and megasquirt. If it can handle that in a sand rail then I am sure it would be ok in a street car. Who built your trans?

[Devastator]

Don's Busbox built it. SandPro Max.

donsbusbox.com.

[dunegoon]

You might also want to figure out the gear ratios you want BEFORE deciding on any of your options. Without the proper ratios, you will be unhappy no matter how strong it is. I also believe that your driving style, weight of the car, tires, wheel hop, and rotating inertia will have equal or more effect on your reliability as does just horsepower. If you have these items under control, you may not need to worry so much.