996 6spd tranny and a subaru engine?

gigaherz · Post by **gigaherz** » Wed May 15, 2002 7:43 am

Hi guys,

I'm putting a subaru twin turbo engine in a bug. I know kennedy sells a kit to connect a scoobie to a vw trans.
I don't think KEP has anything for 996 trannies and I'm going to call them to find out but in the meantime, I want to know if anyone here has any experience with the 996 tranny and mating it to vw or other engines like the subaru.

Thanks for any help in advance. I know this sounds stupid and inconcievable but someone please just humor me. There is one on ebay and it ends soon and for now and is at a good price.

gigaherz · Post by **gigaherz** » Wed May 15, 2002 6:07 pm

Hi, I'm getting the 280 horse twin turbo and bumping the power to 300-325. It's going in a tube frame bug with a fiberglass oval window bug body. I'm shooting to have it weigh less than 1500 lbs.....Yes, I'm crazy, I know.

I'm not in a hurry to get the engine but the 996 tranny is on ebay and it ends in 44 hours and is only currently $410!!!

Six speeds and factory built to handle 300 horses. I'm worried that I'm gonna get the tranny and I won't be able to get them hooked up correctly or the shifter assembly will cost 1,000 or something crazy like that. I think I'm jut going to buy it if the price doesn't sky rocket. At least that way I could say I have some porsche parts in my car, eases the pain of having Jap parts in my vw, they kinda cancel each other out. hehe

nicanor · Post by **nicanor** » Wed May 15, 2002 11:03 pm

Why not get a Porsche to VW adapter then VW to Subaru Adapter

Kidding... I'd love to see this setup, would be a nice FAST car once finished. Keep us updated and good luck! Also there's always a Subaru Jap spec engine on Ebay so don't rush the decision. The seller would most likely be able to get more Scoobies if you ask him. You going for the twin turbo one?

Richard Olafsson · Post by **Richard Olafsson** » Thu May 16, 2002 1:46 am

I'm not sure if Kennedy list the 996 tranny in their catalogue or if they have done adapters before, but if they have they would surely be able to make an adapter with the dimensional data they have.
I believe my Subaru to 915 adapter kit was the first they had built but was no problem as they already had the dimensions.
Speak to them, I'm sure they could do it, not sure what you will do about the starter motor though...
The 996 trans is capable of MUCH more than 300bhp, nearer 500! I'm using the 915 and have been told it is good for 350bhp

Regarding the twin turbo engine, if you want to tune it further, you would be much better off gettign one of the single turbo units. The twin turbo engine management is very complicated (no aftermarket alternatives) and the set-up of the turbos is sequential but they are the same size which seems a bit pointless.

More info on my site...

Rich

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http://www.ricola.co.uk

gigaherz · Post by **gigaherz** » Thu May 16, 2002 6:35 am

Thanks for the reply rich. You post was very helpfull. I checked out your site and it was so helpful. You car is such a sleeper! Very nice! I was worried about fitment problems or were to put radiators and how effective they would be but alll the info on your site about the swap has cured my fears.

Well, I plan on getting the twin turbo motor because I believe it to be a stronger motor than the single turbo motor. I have to do some more research to confirm this but I'm pretty sure. I was most likely going to ditch the twin turbo's and fab up an exhaust manifold with one big turbo on it to save some weight and the headaches that are involved with the twins. I will be runnin a Haltech ECU on the motor so I should have no problems with wiring up the engine. I'm going to call KEP today during my work to see what they say.

Thanks,
Mark

Richard Olafsson · Post by **Richard Olafsson** » Thu May 16, 2002 9:46 am

Mark,
Where did you get info that the twin turbo block is stronger?

I know that the earlier, so called 'closed deck' blocks are stronger and a better base for futher tuning. A single turbo block will be the same as a twin turbo block of the same era...

Rich

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http://www.ricola.co.uk

gigaherz · Post by **gigaherz** » Thu May 16, 2002 9:59 am

Do you know if the heads are the same as well?? If the only difference is the turbo's and the ecu then I'd rather get the cheaper single turbo and mod that one.
If the tt heads flow more in order to help bump the power or it has stronger rods then I'm probably still going with the tt.

I thought I read somewhere that the tt was stronger but I may have been mistaken.
I'm going to have to search the subaru forums to see how much the "open deck" blocks can handle. Thanks, you're a great help.

Richard Olafsson · Post by **Richard Olafsson** » Fri May 17, 2002 5:43 am

I don't think the heads on the TT are any different, but couldn't be sure.
For loads of info go to either www.scoobynet.co.uk or www.i-club.com
the forums are very good, although the search function on scooby net seems to be down at the moment so you may have to ask new queswtions rather than search the archives...

The open deck blocks are regularly taken to about 350bhp, much more than that and a closed deck block would be preferable.

Another source for info is http://www.mrtrally.com.au/performance/

Rich

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http://www.ricola.co.uk

gigaherz · Post by **gigaherz** » Fri May 17, 2002 6:22 am

Yes, there is a regular wrx engine on ebay that is located near me and is pretty cheap. It is very tempting at $810.

As far as trannies go, I called KEP and they said they had nothing for the 996 tranny so it's out. There is an 81 915 tranny on there for $600 that has 79,000 miles on it. Think that's too many miles to handle my 300+HP scoobie? It will be gong in a light car which will help but that alot of miles so I am unsure. Are these tranny's supposed to be bulletproof? I e-mailed the seller and they said they would throw in the shift rod and shifter assembly for an extra $30. Which would save me alot of time having to search for one. It's out of a wrecked 911.

you know, now that I think about it, my future drivetrain setup is starting to sound an awefull like somebody elses configuration. Now, who's could that be??

Thank you so much for all your help, You have saved me a nice chunk of change by guiding me towards the wrx motor instead of the tt. Your advice has been a godsend.

Richard Olafsson · Post by **Richard Olafsson** » Sat May 18, 2002 7:06 am

It sounds like you have located all the parts for very reasonable prices! The trans should be OK after that many miles, but it would be worth replacing the synchros for peace of mind later on (I just got back in from the garage removing my trans for this reason!).
Just make sure you get all you need for the engien when you get it, complete loom etc etc. It's the extra things that add the price up (I paid an extra £100 for shifter and rod for the 915). Get everything you think you might need at the beginning, at least you know it will work together then...

Let us know how you get on...
Rich

gigaherz · Post by **gigaherz** » Sat May 18, 2002 7:18 am

Thanks for everything.

One more question, where did you get the synchros and how hard was it to do? I've never taken apart a tranny before.

Richard Olafsson · Post by **Richard Olafsson** » Tue May 21, 2002 2:05 am

I'm actually in the middle of the rebuild, a local Porsche specialist is letting me do it in his workshop and supplying parts/advice.
It is coming apart relatively easily, quite simple really.
I am in for a big bill as I want to do it properly, it will cost me nearly £700 in parts! It would be easier to buy a ready reconditioned transmission as that would save you money, unless you can be sure of low mileage.
Rich

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http://www.ricola.co.uk

KiwiVW · Post by **KiwiVW** » Tue May 21, 2002 2:49 pm

Hi Richard,

Do you have any physical size measurements on the single turbo motor? I'd like to consider this for a 63 bug, but it would appear to be too wide.

width, height and depth would be good.

Did you have this motor behind a bus or bug motor to begin with?

Cheers
Craig

dirty · Post by **dirty** » Tue May 21, 2002 10:50 pm

i mean this in the nicest possible way, but you folks are WEIRD! man, you must have more time on your hands than i do. damn.

again, i mean that in a nice way.

Richard Olafsson · Post by **Richard Olafsson** » Tue May 21, 2002 11:18 pm

*Did you have this motor behind a bus or bug motor to begin with?*
Sorry, I don't understand what you are asking. Most info is on my site.

I don't have numbers for size but, lengthways it will fit under stock decklid, widthways you will have to modify your inner wings, depth is a pain as the sump is so deep so you can't run the car too low unless you either dry-sump it or raise the engine in the chassis (would also need to push it forwards to keep it within the body).

rich

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http://www.ricola.co.uk