jsh

Hi All,

I have a '96 WRX with an auto transmission and it has started making the most terrible whining and screeching noise which I am thinking is pretty terminal.

My issue is that I have spoken to a couple of people and there does not seem to be any re-con units around at all. I know that it is a rare beast.

Does anyone have any ideas as to where I might be able to source one of these?

If not, I suppose that I am looking at either scrapping the car, which is in great condition, or getting a manual conversion which is going to hit my wallet pretty hard.

Any ideas would be gratefully recieved.

Thanks in advance

Jason

speedy steve

dont panic ! the transmission is pretty standard & ( 4eat ) has been around in various slightly modified forms for decades, any decent auto trans repair shop should have no probs with it, the servicing kits are avaliable ( usually next day ) to those in the trade, I also have a WRX auto which decided to "let go", pulled the GB out myself in the street !, deliver to "pro" ( cost me about £280 for rebuild ) pick up & reinstall & has been OK for a couple of years of abuse since.......

Manual conversion is a whole lot of work & not really practical unless your very emotionally atatched to car, better to sell & buy a manual.

Depends what you want really, manual is defo quicker no question but theres no substitute for nose to tail traffic, which theres way too much off for my liking.

If you decide to go manual give me a shout as Id be interested in your redundant torque converter............

( torque converter upgrade to high stall spec almost brings the auto up to manual 0-60 times ) but with 100% consistancy & no wheel spin drama

did this to a friends WRX about a year ago & now wana do it myself..

good luck with the auto & keep the faith !!

SS

Shark Man

Sounds like a clutch pack has worn out; or something has failed to cause that (low oil, sticky or leaky valve etc).

Not sure if you tried Dave at Api (see adverts), as he may have one hanging round somewhere (He's in your neck of the woods too ).

Barring that its sourcing another from a breakers or rebuilding the one you have:

When getting an auto rebuilt, I usually use these guys: VMTP - VM Transmissions Products Ltd: Automatic Transmission Rebuilders and Parts Suppliers (Norton Canes branch - Cannock) certainly not the cheapest out there, but there's a reason for that

jsh

Hi Guys,

thanks ever so much for the replys so far.

Where on earth did you get a re-build for £280.00. The best I can get is £1,350 + VAT!

If I can get it done at good money, I will be very happy.

What is this Hi Stall Spec torque convertor, is it expensive

I have spoken to David at API, they dont have any and all the usual places they get them from dont have any either.

Thanks

speedy steve

maybe my wording was a bit out, the local transmission guy rebuilt my existing transmission ( believe it was the high clutch pack that failed on mine ) replacing damaged parts with allegedly "standard rebuild" package of friction disks etc..

it took him about 2 days ( he actually worked on it in the evenings !! & no I didnt know him or get any "special treatment" ) I think the guy just enjoy's his job !!!!!!!!! like I said charged me less than £300

Pretty sure the worst bit of the job is getting the dam thing in & out !!!

David @ API seems to be very well thought of here ( I personnally havent needed his services....... yet..... ) so I'd second ( or is it third now ) the suggestion to try him.....

As I said if you end up with a "spare" torque coverter let me know...

SS

speedy steve

oops new I was gonna say something else, yeah Torque coverter , modification popular in the States ( check out NASIOC on web ) very basically it allows the TC ( converter ) to "slip" ( not really slipping but like I said basic explanation )
to a higher RPM than normal before becomming "stiffer" & transmitting power to wheels.

Basically a good thing for pulling away from standstill cause it allows the engine to hit its power band quicker...... normal setting is around 2700rpm high stall for street use adjustment is around 3300rpm..........

aparently its quite a complex modification rather than a cut it open & shave some metal off the blades.... but must admit if I had a spare one ID be willing to hack it open & try........ well almost........its the in out with the GB in the street that puts me off

there are a couple of TC manufacturers / repairers in the UK who can attempt this work, but by their own admission have no real experience of it in a subaru.

The guy I know who has a modded one flew it over from the states at a not insignificant cost.........

also check out PROJECT WRX he's done it & has a good write up

SS

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Jason,, I am hopefully on the trail of one for you. I should know one way or the other Tuesday if it is a go-er.

I did leave a message on your voicemail earlier.

Have a good weekend David APi

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

SS, what they will have done here is change the angle of attack of the contra rotating turbine wheels in the torque converter. I trained on this stuff when l was at Ford. It's actually quite complex to do, But once understood is actually one of those: Ah! I see moments.

David APi

speedy steve

David, its great to hear someone in the UK whos actually interested in this stuff!
& even more importantly actually knows what their talking about

Can you guys do the TC modification ? if not, as I suspect is the case given the relatively small market, can you recommend a UK TC outfit who could confidently take on the job ?

Also while on the subject how much would a 2nd hand TC cost me ? so I can have it modded but still have transport.... while waiting.....

I take it no-one has made any progress with the TCU remapping such as COBB

jsh

Hi David,

Got your voicemail and thanks a lot for the efforts so far.

Regards

Jason

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

SS, No, not us mate. That is actually a tecchie type of job. There must be someone out there in the UK who does do competition builds of torque converters, but I have no idea who.

The converter gets split open down the weld that keeps the two halves together and then the engine side turbine and its freewheel would be removed and the trans side would also be removed and replaced with the new profile turbines. The complex curve of the blades is a computer design thing and is VERY critical for shape and width and height.

Given the amount of automatic in the USA, I reckon you'll need to go with them unless any of them have a UK or European agent. At 2 USD per £1.00 nows the best time to get one.

Good Luck David

Just seen the bit about secondhand TC, We only have ones attached to boxes, not a single spare in the place. Next time we get a busted auto l'll keep the TC. They are impossible to clean debris out of, unless split open, so it would make a donor for a conversion, but not to use whilst another is modded.

speedy steve

Thanks David
I'd really appreciate a shout if you do come across a KO'ed TC,
Have been looking for a chepo "burst" TC on & off for ages, tried arranging one in the US & having it passed straight onto Pro-Torque who are apparently "the" guys for the job, main alternative being Level 10 but apparently their TC & VB mod's are somewhat less reliable ? ( based on reports on NASIOC ) the guy I new who shipped one over got his from ProTorque ended up costing him around £1000 including shipping ( ouch ! ). There has been a "pass the parcel" thing going on on NASIOC with used TC's but it all seems to have died off...

I did speak to a UK company about modification, may have been JPT but need to check, they were willing to "raise stall of torque converter" but would be unable to test it, this apparently can only be done with either a specialist TC dyno or reinstallation into car, which is a major pain if the thing doesn't work ! (re. swapping in street). Thus they would be unsure of the final result until I'd tested it !

Very much doubt their plan was to replace / modify attack angles of blades but more likely a more "Heath Robinson" increase clearances approach, based on the £300 ish quote.. could be wrong on that one though as they would not disclose any details of planned work, which kinda put me off too.

Surprised theres so little talk of autos on Scoobynet, about half of the classics I see round here ( mostly driven by chavs of course ! ) are auto's..
guess the auto doesn't scream "mod me" in the same way...

SS