I've found plenty of threads that are two years old or older on this subject, so I figured I'd post this bit here and see if anybody feels like answering:

If I wanted to source a v7 ej207, STi driveline w/ DCCD, the front and rear STi diffs, and all tthe various sundries like wiring harnesses how much might I expect to pay for these in 2006? Assuming my 2002 WRX's engine has way too many miles on it to be an attractive item for sale (132k).

Gruppe-s has a price estimate of $3500 or so for a used v7 motor w/ECU, but they don't have prices for used drivelines, just crate drivelines.

Really no recent WRX-to-STi conversions? Or is it just that everybody on this list prefers to build their own engine out of coathangars and little mice and stuff? :lol:

3500+3500+2500
engine +tranny+rear subframe


~10K

Really no recent WRX-to-STi conversions? Or is it just that everybody on this list prefers to build their own engine out of coathangars and little mice and stuff? :lol:


i prefer to use sheep boogers and muffler beaings. i press them into shape using resined up roach clips and a meat clever! but everyone has their own ancient chinese secrets they hate to reveal. ;) --keith

looking at 7-10K

if you buy all together (engine, turbo, IC, tranny, driveshafts, brembos, rear end, ecu) probably in the $9k-$11k range realistically.

Then add on the other stuff that you'd want to do while the car is apart (stainless steel lines for everything, new brake pads, new fluids, water or alchy injection, more guages, sparkplugs, various lines and gaskets, new tools for things you didn't know existed) probably about $1,500.

Don't forget that for working DCCD you need the controler and it's harness, which rarely comes with the tranny. They usually run around $800. You can make them yourself if you're good with wiring though.

Then if you're having a shop do the work (and you're lucky here since you have a wrx the wiring will be cake) probably around $1,500.

Then add another $1k for things that break during install, or that you just find out you need (I just hit a point where I can't find anyone that has power steering lines for my swap, so I had to find a shop that can make steering lines).

At the bare minimum you're looking at $13k going up to $15k.

If you're a do-it-yourselfer then you can save money on the install. The downside is it usually takes the average working stiff a month to do the swap into a wrx like you're talking about. So if you can live without the wrx for a month, have a good supply of tools (and beer), a good garage, and your friends/significant other knows you'll become a hermit for the next month then go for it. Other wise call a REPUTABLE tuning shop that can both source parts if need be and has done the swap before. I had a few run ins with shops that didn't know where the IC was on a subaru, and only called the dealership for quotes on parts.

Since I'm in the middle of a swap I can give you a small run down. But this is for a 2000 2.5rs that's getting a full Ver7 spec-c swap without dccd.

engine, tranny, rearend, ecu, ic, turbo, driveshafts, brembos, most other things = $9k
bulkhead harness (you won't need this) = $500
new guages = $600 (Maddad has the best guages for the price PERIOD)
new catback = $625
various maintenance (plugs, new hoses, gaskets, rotor turning, touchup paint) = $300
new brake pads = $200
new radiator = $75
Alchy injection kit = $360 (I think....it might have been $375)
new swaybars and under bars = $580
carbon fiber gc8 sti front strut bar = $250
sti bbs wheels for brembo fitment = $800 (that was with tires)
Total = around $13,500

I had already bough the car slightly modded, so in selling the parts I didn't need (4pots, seats, tranny) I almost made up the price of the car.

I think that's about it, but I'm probably forgetting $500 somewhere. On top of that I'm doing everything myself (including wiring) so that saves me money, but the car has been down since late march. Kinda sucks when you work a full time job, have a life, and have a project car :P.

Overall it's a serious chunk of change, and unless you like getting dirty and bloody take it to a shop. If you like to see the car become YOUR car, done the way you like it then do it yourself and save the $$.

Forgot to add, your close to ECS (East Coast Swappers) they do great swaps into any subaru you want. Plus they can source all parts needed. If I had been closer I might have taken it to them. Hindsight is always 20/20

if you buy all together (engine, turbo, IC, tranny, driveshafts, brembos, rear end, ecu) probably in the $9k-$11k range realistically.

Wow, thanks!!

I am currently finishing up suspension mods, I plan on doing brakes and turboback after that, and I have a feeling my tired old engine will crap itself when I take the car to the track this fall.

I hope I can source a v7 engine without having to pay for a brand-new crate engine. That's what I want to do.

After that, the big question becomes, should I lay out the $$ for an STi driveline unit, or should I just upgrade my WRX gears, clutch, and diffs.

Wow, thanks!!

I am currently finishing up suspension mods, I plan on doing brakes and turboback after that, and I have a feeling my tired old engine will crap itself when I take the car to the track this fall.

I hope I can source a v7 engine without having to pay for a brand-new crate engine. That's what I want to do.

After that, the big question becomes, should I lay out the $$ for an STi driveline unit, or should I just upgrade my WRX gears, clutch, and diffs.


I'd say do the suspension stuff, but if you're thinking of swapping hold off on the brakes. You'd probably change them to the brembo's anyway and then be kicking yourself for spending $$ on stuff you're not using.

I used to have a stage 2 wrx with 135k miles on it that I would take to the drag strip once a month. Did fine, and actually ran better when I sold it than when I bought it at 105k miles :P

You shouldn't have any trouble finding a used engine. There's lots of them if you know where to look. I found mine on ebay, lots can be found through Andre Brunette on the private for sale place, or some of the smaller shops can find you good deals.

As for the drivline, that's a personal question, as well as a $$ question. The 6-speed is good for track and road racing. The R180 is always going to be better than the R160, but then you require either custom driveshafts, or the brembo rears. If you stick with your 5-speed you're going to break it at one point or another, so you can go with PPG gears, or the RA gear set. Usually, if you have the cash it's a good thing to go for the whole kit.

The main thing for the driveline is what you want to do with it. Do you want to drag race, road race, autox, or just daily drive. For drag, stay with the 5 speed and get ppg gears, for road, autox, go 6-speed. And for daily driver it's up to you.

I will tell you that the full sti driveline "feels" much more complete. It's much tighter, and there is no hesitation when you need traction from the rear. It's also fun to play with an 8k redline when you have 6 gears :devil:

i have a complete sum-up of my costs for a v7 swap in an RS in this thread
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=893531

i have a complete sum-up of my costs for a v7 swap in an RS in this thread
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=893531

That's very useful information, and a very amitious project! I'm extremely impressed.

thanks! glad it could be useful!