> I was recently lurking an the i-club forums and saw your mention of the turbo svx.* I currently own a 92 LS-L.* I am very interested if you are seriously working on a turbo kit.* If so could you give ma any specifics on what you have done.* Also have you done any thing to the tranny.* * I live in Chandler AZ but have been unable to attend any of the az-sube meets but hop to soon. * Any info. would be appreciated. * Thanks * Truitt Greeenup

Yes the independent Subaru garage here in Prescott, AZ is just finishing their turbo kit. We just finished modifying the exhaust today and it should be running within 72 hours on a 92' SVX.

The turbo itself is a Garrett T-3 and the installation itself is really straightforward and clean. They will then be offering the kit as soon as the components can be acquired /fabricated. You'll be able to buy the kit or bring it up to Prescott and have it installed. A twin-turbo, using IHI turbo's is also planned but will be significantly more expensive as it will require alot more custom fabrication.

Tranny work is next, basically a modified valvebody will increase pressure in the transmission to improve the crispness of shifts and to avoid the overheating problems associated with the SVX transmission. Of course a tranny cooler will also be available.

You can contact Robert, the owner/designer of Mile High Automotive at (520) 445-9208. Please tell him Stuart sent you.

YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

Here is the biggie:
How much HP, how much $$?

Just got back from Robert's garage. I watched him finish the install of the prototype. He fired it up and it started first time - no check engine light. Grins were replaced with a scramble for the driver's seat. Running only 3 lbs of boost, to start, it's a kick to drive with very noticeable gains in torque, and acceleration. Tuning in earnest begins tomorrow! More info to follow...

This is fun and just the beginning!

Stuff to look at - transmission changes, Nissan fuel injectors, and more.

Price? I can't speak for Robert but he's aiming for around $3500 installed for the Stage 1.

Horsepower? Can't say yet tuning's just begun.

Tonight a turbo SVX is on the streets!

Where are da pictures?!?!?!?!

http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif B.C. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif

Sorry for the delay in getting back to the board - we had a storm last night and my ISP was down. Anyway I went to the garage today and the turbo is now running at 5 lbs of boost. Still no check engine light or any other trouble code. The turbo sits in the triangle formed by the firewall, washer bottle, and engine on the passanger side of the engine. I'm going to get on Robert to take some photo's that can be posted for all to see. Before he raises the boost any further he wants to make some changes to the tranny valve body to make sure the tranny is up to the increased Hp/torque. The nearest 4 wheel dynometer is 400+ miles away but Robert thinks it's dialed in very near 300 HP now.

I can't speak to anything definite I'm just a lucky SVX gearhead who's in the right place. My feeling is that there will be a basic kit that's probably about what's on the car now. Some options might include tranny valve body, oil cooler, tranny cooler, new fuel injectors, etc. Perhaps those might be assembled into a Level 2 kit. Robert is confident that a twin turbo setup is possible based on how well the SVX has adapted to the single turbo. As many have conjectured Robert is of the opinion that Subaru probably considered a turbo option for the car as he feels the engine layout, and the fact that the ECU has adapted to the turbo without problem, point to the fact the car miay well have been designed with a turbo in mind.

Finally only Robert can speak to pricing. At this point there are lottsa variables - like what the kit includes, lower costs based on buying in bulk, etc. Let's face it if he's gonna only build/sell 6 kits the price is gonna be higher than 75 kits - simple economics. Anyway I should stop trying to speak for someone else. I just thought the board would be excited to now there's a turbo out there and a kit to come.

Thanks for the update. A bit of information that may make your life easier is that the Stillen Q45 uses a 2WD version of an SVX transmission. As does the 300ZX, and other Nissan cars, Subaru made liberal use of the Nissan parts bins.
If those cars have about 300hp, then the SVX trans should be able to handle it also?

Good luck!

(Look under the center door lock swith next to your shifter and you will see NISSAN stamped into the plastic.)

Okay I've got the goods. Spent the better part of the day at the garage. Robert was working on heat shields for the turbo and began making some transmission mods. The good news is the digital camera was there so I have 8 photos all zipped up for anyone who wants to see a turbocharged SVX. If anyone can host the pics online that would be even better. Enjoy!

slogan@northlink.com

Stuart,

I wanna' drive that baby, next time we all get together. Are you guys doing the auto-X September 10th?

-Bud

You have pics... why not post them here?

I'm sure Robert would be happy to let you take it for a spin, Bud. I have no idea how to post pics here so if anyone wants em e-mail me. Thanks!

Here are the pics! Cool stuff!

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1141964&a=8389574&p=27851271
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1141964&a=8389574&p=27851272
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1141964&a=8389574&p=27851273
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1141964&a=8503851&p=27851274
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1141964&a=8389574&p=27851276
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1141964&a=8503851&p=27851277
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1141964&a=8389574&p=27851278


[This message has been edited by EscaFlowne (edited September 09, 2000).]

You should see if you can get Aaron or someone to host them on ImprezaWRX.org. If not, zip them up and mail them to me. I'll see if I can put them up on my site for a while. Try to keep them small though.

-Red

There you go, spending my X-mas bonus before I even get it!

Perchance have you thought about mounting an intercooler?
If you plan on running anything more than trivial boost levels an intercooler is a must.

I will admit I don't see much space to put one though, not even top-mount like a WRX.

whoa.. tha much power to just the front wheels and and auto trans whoa nelly torque steer.(had an fwd SVX almost died due to torque steer)

Hey Hey! been away abit, just found this thread. I have in my opinion a pretty fresh 94 LSI AWD with only 52K on it.This Turbo kit sounds like a definate but would like to see an intercooler. I have a legacy-Turbo 5spd also and let me tell ya intercooling is required!

Also where the heck is this place in AZ? I am only in austin TX, is it driveable?

Prescott is about equidistant from Phoenix, AZ (I-10) and Flagstaff, AZ (I-40). Its 1 1/2
hours from either and is in the pines approximately 1 mile in elevation. Robert has been taking the SVX to Phoenix (1300' elevation and hot!) the last few weekends to check for any detonation or other problems. The car is still running like a top. His only complaint is that driving fast is putting premature wear on his brakes!

WOW!!!!!! AWESOME PICTURES!!
Please post some performance results! Did they attach an EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) guage to get some data? That could clear up some speculation on how the fuel injection system is coping with this. Especially when the stock injectors are only rated for 250-270 hp!! Also, I doubt you'd get much pinging if the knock sensors are working, they'd just keep retarding the timing, and you'd lose performance.

Are they going to attach a guage pod to the driver's side window pillar?

Also let us know what kind of brakes they recommend to upgrade to!

Last Monday I met a guy with a NITROUS and TURBO Impreza Outback Sport 2.2L. He was at Level 10 getting his 4EAT's valve body modified for increased ATF flow and improved shifting. He has a stock original transmission, and has been doing HARD drag racing for a couple of years. When they dropped the ATF pan to get to the valve body, they found A LOT of metal shavings!! Not too good, he's gonna need a Level 10 "bulletproof" rebuild eventually. A valvebody and a tranny cooler help, but when you've got such high loads, you really should get more durable clutches and driveplates with higher coefficient of friction installed to handle all that power! Level 10 uses Raybestos high performance clutches, and saline coated driveplates. They are REAL HEAVY DUTY! Unlike the stock clutches, they could handle a turbo SVX EASILY!

I already had them build up my transmission so now it's waiting for a BRAKE UPGRADE and then some HIGH POWER ENGINE MODS!

I got to test drive the TURBO OBS after Level 10 finished, it was AWESOME! I want a ride in a turbo SVX!!! I bet it's even better/faster!

Keep us up to speed!
Eric

The pics are of the level 1 (garrett T-3) turbo kit Robert developed and that Kastle is purchasing from him. There are actually a few mods to the turbo itself that helped its breathing since the photos. The kit shown went 7,000 troublefree miles (till Kastle bought it). An EGT was not installed just a boost gauge. The point of the Stage 1 was to develop a kit that would work with the stock engine, tranny, ECU, and brakes without requiring additional expenditures. Cigerlando
(Yahoo name) has purchased a Stage II kit which is not yet installed that uses a Garrett T-4. Robert is working on other kits that will require more substantial changes in the SVX. His personal SVX will have a twin turbo using IHI turbo's

Wow! Gorgeous! Congrats!

Hrm... for what I spent to get my new legacy, I could have had a 94 with a new trans and a TURBO!?! Aw man. Its the auto that turned me off. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/frown.gif

Looks like it will be an awsome ride! Enjoy!

Mike