l series gearbox into liberty

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Mon May 03, 2010 9:51 am

Question is

Is it possible to put a l series gearbox into a 1998 liberty for the purpose of turning it into a fwd vehicle like the l series is?

Why?

So I can put my detroit locker in the liberty.

Venom · Post by **Venom** » Mon May 03, 2010 11:25 am

There's a guy in the states who did this for his forester so he could have a dual range box (USMB). I'll try to find the link. L series internals into the EJ gearbox casing? Not sure if that requires a crown wheel mod though, pretty sure that only if you want to go with 4.11 or 4.44 diff ratios.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/792800

Can't find his thread on the USMB website, but it is there..

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon May 03, 2010 6:42 pm

I have a Liberty manual gearbox with is FWD select 4WD if you like?

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Mon May 03, 2010 9:12 pm

It can be done, but it would be easier if you transfer everything (internals) from EA box into EJ Dual Range box.
Otherwise you'll have to shorten the tailshaft in the Liberty.
Cheers
AP

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Tue May 04, 2010 8:40 pm

There's a guy in the states who did this for his forester so he could have a dual range box (USMB). I'll try to find the link. L series internals into the EJ gearbox casing? Not sure if that requires a crown wheel mod though, pretty sure that only if you want to go with 4.11 or 4.44 diff ratios.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/792800

I cecked it out, pretty crazy forester!

I have a Liberty manual gearbox with is FWD select 4WD if you like?

WA is probably a bit far, but is it a dual range box?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Tue May 04, 2010 9:13 pm

Richard, I'm running what you're after in Ruby Scoo. An EJ cased EA PT4wd gearbox. Bolts up to the EJ.

AlpineRaven wrote:It can be done, but it would be easier if you transfer everything (internals) from EA box into EJ Dual Range box.
Otherwise you'll have to shorten the tailshaft in the Liberty.

Its easy to do. If you put the EA internals into the EJ casing it means you WILL need to shorten the tailshaft - the difference in length is in the rear casings. I'm sure the EA is longer than the EJ, might have to go check next time I'm in the shed. You'll need the L series gear selectors...

As for the Crown wheel mod that Venom was talking about, this only applies if you're putting a 4.11 or 4.44 crown wheel with the L series low range. The CW needs some meat shaved off it to clear the low range gears. PeeJay has done it and there's a thread somewhere about it - his gearbox I believe was a forester box that he put the L low into. The principal of the low range and CWheel relationship is the same though. With an L series PT4wd gearbox you're restricted to 3.7 or 3.9 ratios from factory, unless you have a 4.11 or .4.44 pinion gear cut and shut on to the L series pinion shaft. You're also stuck with the 1st to 4th gears from the L. The slightly taller Liberty tyres will change that gearing, but I doubt by much, would be close to factory liberty gearing IMO.

The front wheel drive will change the handling of the liberty significantly I'd imagine. You'd also need a gearbox crossmember made up.

Would be an interesting project! And what's going on with Subaruby? You haven't killed her have you??

Cheers

Bennie

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Tue May 04, 2010 11:51 pm

subaruby wrote:WA is probably a bit far, but is it a dual range box?

WA far.. tell me about it.. everytime I see a bargain, it's always in my home state (Qld)

The gearbox is a single range.. sorry

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Wed May 05, 2010 7:49 pm

Would be an interesting project! And what's going on with Subaruby? You haven't killed her have you??

No Subaruby is fine, just thinking out loud.

With all the ej converions into l"s, I was wondering if you could go backwards on a liberty, because it would be the only way to get a rear locker in a liberty?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed May 05, 2010 9:11 pm

subaruby wrote:No Subaruby is fine, just thinking out loud.

With all the ej converions into l"s, I was wondering if you could go backwards on a liberty, because it would be the only way to get a rear locker in a liberty?

Safely, Yeah I'd agree. You would change the way it handles on road - but there were 2wd liberty wagons early on so it'd practically be factory 2wd handling anyway.

The locker will fit in the lib - its a little more complicated to get it in but they're the same shape etc.

Should make for an awesome Lib offroader! You'd miss Subaruby though! Why not drop a 1.8 or 2 litre EJ in her instead? It'll transform your driving pleasure!! Drop in an L five speed at the same time and you'll be sorted...

Cheers

Bennie