911

Is the V3 STI box stronger than the stock STI box? I'm waiting for my STI box to go bang after 2 years hillclimbing starts (5000 rpm and dump the clutch) I know where there is a V3 RA box for £350, the ratio's may be better for me.
Are the diffs the same ratio, RA verses STi?
Graham.

carlos_hiraoka

RA should be a close ratio gearbox .....

911

Carlos, yes, but are they stronger I wonder?
Anyway, how did you get your RA down to less than 1100Kg?
Graham.

greasemonkey

The STi boxes are supposed to have stronger (different heat treatment) shafts/gears than the regular WRX/Turbo models.

However, couldn't tell you whether some STi boxes are better than other STi boxes...

carlos_hiraoka

My car is an 4 door STi ver 4 RA, so already came lightweight ..... plus no A/C, no stereo, no sound deadening, no electric windows/locks, use very small battery relocated on the trunk .....

I did a special job on the back doors, basically I bought one left and one right back door from breaker and removed the side protection bar, basically stripped the whole interior of the door, including the window mechanism and just covered it so that it looks stock but it uses plexiglass instead of glass, so I basically have two sets of back doors

Carlos H.

Gidney&Knowlesy

The only stronger boxes seen are where the gearsets have been uprated to handle cica 450 ibs ft torque..........

1,2, 3 & 4 usually straight cut or semi cored, 5 usually standard

911

The Lateral gears are straight on 1st, helical on 2/3/4/5 and 5th is normal Scooby for cruising(!)
Very tempting for a road/hillclimb car.

submannz

Not all RA models came with close ratio boxes so be careful in asuming that, the close ratio boxes the gears are no stronger than the standard turbo box, they are just less prone to failure because less torque on the gears through the gear changes due to less rev drop.

LeMans

I think it depends which model/year and am not sure that the early RA's didn't have a standard STi box but generally I believe the RA box is stronger than the STi box.

I hillclimb in a 94 WRX and one of my competitors races his 95 RA (but also has an STi)- touch wood neither of us have had gearbox problems, albeit we have both got through clutches recently.

mutant_matt

I'm pretty certain that none of the Subaru gearboxes are uprated or strengthened, vs any other Subaru gearbox other than to say, the new 6 speed is a new design and is stronger than the old 5 speed.

Matt

911

LeMans!
Do you run your hill climber on slicks?Is that you on page 35 of this latest edition of In Gear?
Getting some Avons for next year and botherd about the effect on the box, any thoughts?
Graham.

LeMans

Graham,

I have e-mailed you separately but it wasn't me and I cannot unfortunately answer your question as I currently race in the production category using ordinary road tyres (Toyo Proxes) although am changing to modified next year and have just got a set of slicks.

The standing starts put a strain on the clutch, gearbox, transmission, etc, anyway and slicks will only compound matters. I and a co-competitor have both got through clutches this year (25 standing starts in my case) but I would rather get through a clutch a year than a gearbox. I am going for a heavy duty upgrade next year to a Helix clutch but that will of course mean more strain on the gearbox.

911

LeMans, thanks for the reply, my email has crashed (Hotmail) for 2 days now, so will reply when i get sight of it. The driver in the stock STI is Steve Gaudion who set a 37.67 sec class record at Le Val des Terres meeting.
Would like to discuss your hill climb efforts with you.
Graham.

LeMans

Graham,

Lets have a chat.

Ring me at home (01481)722070 tonight after 9.00pm or at work (01481) 704648 during the day.

Steve Gaudion is my fellow competitor referred to in the lengthy e-mail I have sent to you.

Regards

Stuart