AKghandi Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 So I need to replace my D/r trans in my 87 GL-10 turbo and I cannot find one in my price range. However there's an 88 turbo gl with full time 4wd 4eat well within my price range. what I want to know is how much wiring is there? I know I'll have to swap the pedal box, the cluster some mounts and maybe the ECU but how hard would it be? the parts car itself is actually in pretty good shape, so I'm considering fixing it with the parts from my car if the swap is too intensive. Why the 4eat? well i like fulltime 4wd, and delivering pizzas with a clutch is hell on my knee joints. Also i feel like a turbo 4eat would actually do pretty good offroad. I was actually offered this car for free last year, it has since changed hands and it will cost me the large sum of $100.. lol when i talked to the guy last year he said the motor was replaced with a jdm engine less than 20k ago(and it looks like that's true, under the hood the engine is very clean) there's also a 3rd option, if i can get the 88 parts car running without too much effort, I may use my brothers 86 wagon as parts for it and make it his car, and take his D/R for my car. he's been wanting a turbo to help turn the 29" mud terrains. so what do you think i should do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
presslab Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I love the 4EAT. It's super strong and works pretty well. The torque converter with the EA82T has a nice high stall speed, it's like having a 2:1 low range. Check the trans fluid to see if it smells burnt or is black. Put some on your finger to see if there is clutch material in it. There is a lot of wiring for the 4EAT, but nearly all of it goes to the TCU. Only a half dozen or so wires connect to the rest of the car. The TCU is located behind the side panel on the driver's side behind the rear seat. However I think the wiring is intertwined with the rest of the car so you'll have to strip it out the harness. You probably don't need to change out the cluster or the ECU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKghandi Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 That's what I was afraid of, I was hoping there wouldn't be too much wiring.. so the swapping it is off the table. I don't like wiring if I did it I would swap the entire wiring harness and thats way too much work. So I'll probably use one of my cars as parts for it unless a better parts car appears. I hate to dismantle my gl-10 but I'd end up with a better car after anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Also fairly sure the transmission tunnel in your 87 is too small for the 4EAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKghandi Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 Also fairly sure the transmission tunnel in your 87 is too small for the 4EAT. Another excellent point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj421 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 That would be interesting. I don't think I've read of someone doing a manual-to-auto swap. The full time 4WD would be nice up there in the snow, especially during the winter (not sure how much snow you have up there now). I think you'd probably eventually miss manual shifting if you did that swap, but I guess you're keeping the D/R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 If you could do the parts car up, that would be easier. I would suppose a 4eat already ea82 would fit an ej 4eat and swap ej22 without bellhousing adaptors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyale 2.7 Turbo Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 ... the parts car itself is actually in pretty good shape, so I'm considering fixing it with the parts from my car if the swap is too intensive. Why the 4eat? well i like fulltime 4wd, and delivering pizzas with a clutch is hell on my knee joints... The Above statements are True: Deliverin' Pizzas in a Manual Car could be Hard, Also I Like the Idea of Takin' and Fixin' the Already 4EAT Subie ... maybe you could keep both. Kind Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prwa101 Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 This Would be bomb! We've been talking about this alot in the shop. Autos are nice because if you get the right one you can wire in a dile to change your front rear lock ratio % 50/50+ which you don't have on the 5 speeds awd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKghandi Posted May 31, 2013 Author Share Posted May 31, 2013 That would be interesting. I don't think I've read of someone doing a manual-to-auto swap. The full time 4WD would be nice up there in the snow, especially during the winter (not sure how much snow you have up there now). I think you'd probably eventually miss manual shifting if you did that swap, but I guess you're keeping the D/R. Thats part of the reason i posted, i could not find any info on the swap. Its actually a heat wave right now, it hit 80 yesterday was pretty amazing. If you could do the parts car up, that would be easier. I would suppose a 4eat already ea82 would fit an ej 4eat and swap ej22 without bellhousing adaptors I would still probably need an adapter, but press lab has one in his ej turbo swap and its holding up pretty well The Above statements are True: Deliverin' Pizzas in a Manual Car could be Hard, Also I Like the Idea of Takin' and Fixin' the Already 4EAT Subie ... maybe you could keep both. Kind Regards. yeah, i spent many years riding bmx and my knee joints aren't in great shape, and after an 8 hour shift driving around town my left knee is killing me. If the 88 can be fixed without any extensive work we may use my brothers car as parts for it; swap the lift and tires and a couple other odds and ends. then take his D/R for my gl-10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyale 2.7 Turbo Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 ... yeah, i spent many years riding bmx and my knee joints aren't in great shape, and after an 8 hour shift driving around town my left knee is killing me... Yes, I Understand the Feeling, sometimes I Suffer severe Gout Foot Attacks, During those days, my Wife's Automatic car is my only choice to drive. Kind Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
presslab Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I would still probably need an adapter, but press lab has one in his ej turbo swap and its holding up pretty wellI recently swapped in an EJ bellhousing along with 4.11 R&P, valve body mods, etc. My EA82T torque converter seemed to have problems but it was not conclusive; I am running about 300 HP though so it's not surprising. The old torque converter was better performing than the WRX one, probably has something to do with the smaller diameter. One thing that's nice is it's easy to redrill the flex plate. The EJ rear mount puts it a bit higher, and touched the tunnel in my '88. Nothing a small sledge couldn't take care of, but something to keep in mind if you use a whole EJ tranny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivans imports Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Whats wrong with your D R trans ? have 12 core ones and have taken many apart I may have parts to fix yours I will not sell any trans but will sell parts a working DR is gold. I rebiuld them 6 at a time so have many parts left over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKghandi Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 Good question, I think its either the shift fork or the syncro for second disintegrated. i was driving it then all the sudden i pulled it out of 2nd and it would not go back into any gears. the shifter is locked solid. i check linkage and clutch and thats not it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 i looked into...and think i posted here or subaruxt.com...about converting one of my manual XT6's to auto (XT6's are the same 4EAT trans as a GL-10). the auto's are great. the wiring is so extensive it's not worth it unless you have gobs and gobs of time to pour over the stuff....but wiring isn't my thing either, doesn't sound like you're far from me in that area. i already had the parts car (a few) and considered it way too much work. you have 2 other options, neither of which anyone would do LOL: install the 4EAT and no controller. i drove an XT6 like that for a year. default is 3rd gear and reverse, purely mechanical mode. you're in 3rd gear no matter what forward gear you put it in all the time and the rear 4WD transfer clutches are constantly locked. simply install a 1 wire switch to control it yourself for FWD or locked 4WD. i wouldn't want to do it on a non-turbo 4 cyliner but the XT6 actually drove fine even in the (small) mountainous area i live in and did fine on the interstate as well though RPM's push like 4,000 (though XT6 manual trans does 4,000 rpm at cruise speed anyway). install a 3AT - there are no electronics...but not sure why anyone would ever do that, they are not very highly looked upon transmissions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivans imports Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 The DR could be fixed perty easy as long as no gears are not damaged i fix jamed up ones all the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKghandi Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 The DR could be fixed perty easy as long as no gears are not damaged i fix jamed up ones all the time I thought about spliting the case and fixing it, but i have abused the hell out of it, and it had 360k miles before it was even put into my car. so its close to 400k by now. its not worth it in my opinion.the syncros for 1st 2nd and 3rd are pretty much shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l75eya Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 The DR could be fixed perty easy as long as no gears are not damaged i fix jamed up ones all the time I'm interested in your DR knowledge. Gonna PM you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prwa101 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I was talking to GD about this the other day and he had mentiond that most of the 4eat's that came out of the turbo the front diff will interchange with almost any ej front diff. Making it possible to run either ej or ea82t engine without any addaptors. But make sure the front diff matches the rear diff ratio. -Prwa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I have contemplated this type of swap too recently....(thinking of going auto in the 84 wheeler with the t-case) and I've put a newer gen 4eat into an EA series 4eat car. The EA TCU wiring harness is 95% seperate from the dash wiring and ECU. It wouldn't be too tough to wire it in. That said, it would be a better option to use a new gen Leg or Imp trans and TCU for that swap.....and if your're keeping the EA engine, that would mean a diff/bell swap on the 4eat. Dang.....Unless that 88 is a rats nest, it sounds like fixing the 88 and upgradeing it with parts from the GL-10 is probably the best bet. A 3AT swap would be super easy, practically no wiring....and good for short low speed trips.....instant on/off 4wd. I guess you gotta pick a path but it's all doable any way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 (edited) Okay, so the EA TCU needs how many wires? Let's do math. There are 2 connectors on the trans......and then the wiring harness runs into the cabin through the pass side fenderwell.....goes through 2 more connectors, one white, one black and runs unde the seats back to the passenger side behind the rear seat (WTF Fuji???) That back section of harness is everything you need minus a few inputs from the dash/ECU/engine. There is also a third connector that goes into the dash. The wirees in this connector include the Dash indicator light wires, and control wires. The indicator light wires are coming from the Trans wiring, so you don't need to hook them up to anything else.....they are going to the TCU from the indicator switch already in the other part of the bundle and the wires here are just for the lights in the dash. The input control wires however are going to the trans wiring from the ECU/engine. So you do need them. This is my count for from the ECU/ the dash wiring. 12v IG. switched Tach VSS TPS Maybe a ground...although I think it grounds through the trans wiring So 4 wires minumum....and if you wanted to have "AT Temp","1st hold" and "Power" and all you're gear indicator wires but you don't need to. And all of these can be tapped off of that 3rd connector in the footwell.....otherwise the EA 4EAT wiring is standalone from the rest of the harness..........unlike later EJ harnesses where the trans wiring is totally in the main harness with everything else, headlights, etc... It's probably easier than an EJ harness strip/swap believe it or not. Edited June 3, 2013 by Gloyale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKghandi Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 If i get the 88 as a parts car depending what it needs to get running, I will determine what to do, if its easy to get running ,like a fuel pump or t belts, i'll use my brothers 86 wag as parts (aside from the f pump obviously) then take his D/R and put it in my gl-10. If the 88 needs more work to get running, like a motor swap,or sensors, I'll use my GL-10 as parts for the 88 and my brothers wagon. this is all speculation, I might just find a parts car with a D/R and then all of this is moot. There are litterally thousands of ea82 wags around here, i must have seen at least 15 on the road today. so theres a pretty good chance I'll find something. http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/3835481479.html heres the 88, ad says its a DL, but its obviously not. Its pretty rough looking but its actually not too bad. it will need quite a few parts, but the body isnt too bad, doesn't look like its ever been in an accident. When i talked to the guy about it last year he said the engine was replaced with a jdm engine not too long ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivans imports Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Any deul range that still works is gold starting to get rare have been hording them have 12 cores now i rebiuld them 6 at a time I also made a reverse shim that makes the reverse 70 % stronger and setup my press for doing subaru trans. They are not bad to fix at all and have seen them with 400000kms all the time and like new inside they only get damaged when we run big tires and lots of hp behind them. On my 79 wagon I can feel when its making to mutch hp for trans and I have to let out of it or blow trans mind you its 2.5 turbo twin cam the old deul range just holds the power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKghandi Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Any deul range that still works is gold starting to get rare have been hording them have 12 cores now i rebiuld them 6 at a time I also made a reverse shim that makes the reverse 70 % stronger and setup my press for doing subaru trans. They are not bad to fix at all and have seen them with 400000kms all the time and like new inside they only get damaged when we run big tires and lots of hp behind them. On my 79 wagon I can feel when its making to mutch hp for trans and I have to let out of it or blow trans mind you its 2.5 turbo twin cam the old deul range just holds the power I have neither the tools nor the knowledge to repair the trans. its not that i cant find one, its just that i cant afford it. i can get probably 10 D/R trans for $350 each, but its much cheaper to buy a parts car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 a guy on subaruxt.com installed an EJ 4EAT into an older generation XT 4EAT and retained the original TCU. he swapped bellhousings and wired it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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