All you Subaru Newbie's with RS's and WRX's have a looksy at Subarus Turbo past. Live and learn my youngion's :banana:

GL-10 Turbo Wagon:

http://usmb.net/albums/albuo11/Pic_005.sized.jpg

XT Turbo:

http://usmb.net/albums/albun87/100_1052.jpg

Turbo Brat:

http://usmb.net/albums/album88/84blueturbo_1.sized.jpg

RX Turbo coupe:

http://www.corkysrocks.com/images/RX2afterA.jpg

And the Legacy Turbo:

http://www.freebmw.net/erics2the6/Dsc01326.jpg

Mark,

Great post, should be a sticky!

The RX has to be the sexiest of the bunch :)

I don't think this one was turbo, but it was at the shootout as well.
http://www.digitalpose.com/mbr/1/13052/p/483885_6361942182737259892_vl.jpg

Originally posted by DJ 9iron
I don't think this one was turbo, but it was at the shootout as well.
http://www.digitalpose.com/mbr/1/13052/p/483885_6361942182737259892_vl.jpg

if you look at the side it looks like it says RX turbo AWD

or is that RX full time awd?

Originally posted by subiekid


if you look at the side it looks like it says RX turbo AWD

or is that RX full time awd?

I see teh "AWD"

-paK +1

Originally posted by EJ22T
RX Turbo coupe:

http://www.corkysrocks.com/images/RX2afterA.jpg



Just an addendum.

Wasn't this RX swapped with an EJ20 (from a WRX)? IThere was a thread a while back about it.

-paK +1

awsome pics

Yeah, I looked at my original pic. It says Full Time AWD...

Oh well...:D

That RX is turbo and all wheel drive.

All of the RX sedans and coupes were turbo and all wheel drive. However, there were some early RX models that did not have color coded bumpers available in 1985 and 1986. These were 4WD, and had shift on the fly, not permanent all wheel drive like the later 1988/89 models.

Last summer a friend and I build up a coupe like the white one. I've got some pics around somewhere...I'll dig them up. :)

Not to mention that that RX had a mechanical front LSD stock.

I knew of all of those except for the turbo Brat. Interesting.

How many Turbo Brats were produced?

Thanks - Jon

WOW the RX has some sweet lines, kinda reminds me of the old school Celica/ Supra body style. I may have to start hunting for one of those RX's.

Originally posted by omahasubaru
I knew of all of those except for the turbo Brat. Interesting.

How many Turbo Brats were produced?

Thanks - Jon

That was a surprise to me also.

Jim

that RX is sweet! I never noticed how cool they could be.

had a GL-10 wagon myself once. complete with pneumatic ride-height and a video game dashboard. good times.

The XT is like a little spaceship inside and out. Dope! :alien:

I love the legacy Turbo... But especially love the RX turbo... I heard that they were really rare or something.. Is that true???

Turbo Brats are probably the rarest Subaru ever made. I've seen three ever and had a friend with one here in Florida.

He bought it in Seattle and drove it cross country after getting a new set of tires for it. I've got some old brochures for it and I'll see if I can get my scanner working and put up some info. The only sad part is that they were only available in automatic. They even had a factory boost gauge too!

Take a look here for some old brochures and scans. (http://www.usmb.net/gallery/album15) This will be a quick history lesson and introduction to my favorite Subarus. :)

Hey what about the Loyale turbo??

Originally posted by Pakin


Just an addendum.

Wasn't this RX swapped with an EJ20 (from a WRX)? IThere was a thread a while back about it.


Yep. I helped Corky get the haltech setup on it. Looked like a real fun car, but never got a ride.

-Rob

WOW the RX has some sweet lines, kinda reminds me of the old school Celica/ Supra body style. I may have to start hunting for one of those RX's.

I would give an arm and a leg If I could find an rx, well maybe not... But still, I'd really want one :p

http://usmb.net/albums/album85/ea82_japan_su31.jpg

Aren't the awesome, you can just see the 2.5 RS growing out of it :disco:

Mark,

I posted this link the other day in the New England forum. I would have acted on it if it were closer and I didn't have my XT6 project. the auction ended yesterday :(

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2432413204&category=6467

$810?!
I would have bought it for that much!

Originally posted by EJ22T


I would give an arm and a leg If I could find an rx, well maybe not... But still, I'd really want one :p



Mark,




Here is your chance to own a legend. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2432662604&category=6467)

Its close too....NY. :)

Old Schoold Scooby Turbo's....HOORAY!!!!! :banana:


Question: Why aren't old school turbo'd scoobies out there hanging and/or kicking come WRX ass? Don't give me the excuses about no aftermarket for them. And don't give me the, "They aren't made for the straight line" saying either. :mad: I've been eyeing these cars ever since I got my Outback and they seem to have some potential.

Why or Why? ?????? :(

Turbo Brats (1983) and 1984? Turbo wagons are quite rare. They were both only offered in automatics though.

Even rarer than those are the GSR and the FF1. Good luck finding one of those!

Similiar to the RX, there were also Loyale Turbo wagons/3 door coupes, but they were all single range 4WD and lacked a few things that their predecessors did. I believe they were only available through the beginning of 1991....same as the XT.

If anyone wants hardcore old school info, go on over to http://www.ultimatesubaru.net and visit the forums. We just switched over to the same format as nabisco so it is much more user friendly than vbulletin.

Kevin :)

Actually Kevin, the new USMB is vBulletin, we dropped ezBoard ;)

I think the ONLY Subaru I've never seen a pic of is a GSR. Can someone post one? :D

My XT is definitely like a spaceship inside. The steering wheel is not symmetrical, the light and a/c controls are on little pods on the steering column, and the gauges move up and down with the steering column...

I know this is for turbo old-school Subies, which I have none of, but the fact that NASIOC now respects ALL types of Subies has got me posting everywhere :banana:

i am a bit confused, my first subie was an 87? RX maybe it wasnot an RX, but it looked exactly like it. it was a turbo with a 5 speed but it was not full time awd, it had a selector that you could choose to put into 4wd or 2wd (on hard take offs it would go into 4wd).

was it not an RX? i cant remember what it was. hmm...:huh:

those are really nice subies that you mention in subies great turbo past...

but the first subie turbo that we got was a 1984 GL Turbo with part time AWD. The turbo only came with a slushbox and made an "impresive" 95hp and 123lbs of torque :lol:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/80s/specs/general/1984glwa.html

I see a sedan model every now and then locally, they are very rare. I have never seen a wagon that came turbo'ed, but I know they exist.

Does anyone know of any other turbocharged vehicles besides the old school Subarus with a compression ratio of 7.7:1 or lower? I usually see 8.?:1 or higher. When I first see the 7.7:1, I was like :eek:

Originally posted by Kevin Thomas
Does anyone know of any other turbocharged vehicles besides the old school Subarus with a compression ratio of 7.7:1 or lower? I usually see 8.?:1 or higher. When I first see the 7.7:1, I was like :eek:

Uh oh! Found out that the Cordia was 7.6:1, volvo 7.5:1 and a 7.4:1 from Datsun's 280Z. Oh well!

Here is a Subaru GSR motorcycle ;)
http://homepage.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Rafael.Haeusler/bitza.shtml

Water cooled four cylinder Boxer motor, OHV, 2 valves per cylinder, displacement 1368cc, bore 85mm, stroke 60mm, power 85PS @ 6000RPM , 5 speed transmission, weight 258Kg, top speed about 200km/h (about 120mph

Ok, but the real GSR was Subarus first Rally car.Won Puerto Rico 24horas in '72
Dual carb 1400 cc 4 speed, with a factory top speed of 105mp/h
This is the aussi version but it is nearly identical to what we got:
http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/offroad/rallycars/020615_my70_leone_rx.jpg

Information provided is from ultimatesubaru.net and from my memory :)

Kevin

Awesome post!

That thing is badass:devil:

Mark,

Originally posted by Kevin Thomas
volvo 7.5:1Aye... they ran 10.5psi into 2.1L and put out 165hp. I so want another of these and to put real engine management in it and boost the absolute crap out of it with a good water-cooled turbo.

Question: Why aren't old school turbo'd scoobies out there hanging and/or kicking come WRX ass? Don't give me the excuses about no aftermarket for them. And don't give me the, "They aren't made for the straight line" saying either. I've been eyeing these cars ever since I got my Outback and they seem to have some potential.

The EA82T engines suck to build up. Two of the biggest problems are the heads and head gaskets. The head bolts all 9000 of them are small and too fine of a thread for the crapy aluminum subaru blocks. These must be at least heli-coiled, and studs would be even better. Another big problem is cracking the head between valves. No easy fix for that. A big radiator/cold thermo and oil cooler might help some. A big port and polish with oversized valves will not even come close to flowing as much air as a stock ej25 head. The wrx IHI turbo isnt a bolt on for these engines, both up-pipe and down pipe have to be modded/swapped. These cars need intercoolers! Not an easy or cheap addition. The fuel injectors are small and not easy to find higher flow rates. The flapper door maf quickly maxes out at higher flow levels. The stock ignition system is hardly adequate for stock HP. Sure you could address all these problems and have a highly stressed and unrelible 250hp EA82T. But why??? :)

I have seen/heard of people adding intercoolers to the EA82T from old Saab 900s and the Ford Thunderbird turbo coupe with good results. They've got to be cheap as chips at a local auto recycler these days.

Makes mental note to get one for the RX. :)

Originally posted by Scoobie Steve

Sure you could address all these problems and have a highly stressed and unrelible 250hp EA82T. But why??? :)

Ok, you've made your point and you seem very knowledgable about the problems of the EA82T engines but to say that addressing these problems will make the car unreliable and highly stressed seems a bit carried away. If anything, it would be reliable and 'not-as-stressed' to say the least. Come on man!
*Waving fists*

You telling me that that 14 second XT turbo in the pics is highly stressed and unreliable? Nah!:p

something tells me scoobie steve has a friend named brian who just unloaded an XT to a kid in philly?...did you sell me a legacy turbocharger?

kevin,

steve is absolutley, positively right

so much work has been done to the XT to get it to run how it is now and it may run high 14s (never been to the track with it)...the car isnt finished, nowhere near tuned, and im getting about 16mpg when i should be getting upwards of atleast 20. but so far its been reliable, its fast and a blast to drive. we'll see what the coming months bring when somethings get figured out with it.



D

Originally posted by Dennis ex24
kevin,
steve is absolutley, positively right

I'm not doubting him as I know he probably has years experience in this area. I just though he may have went a tad overboard with how useless it is to build up. It's like telling a someone who has finally saved all of their $$$ up to purchase a WRX only to be told Subaru doesn't make them in the U.S. anymore and all the used ones had to be crushed for government reasons. :p Ok, I'm getting carried away now.

So, with all this being said, does the design flaws of the EA82T engines carry over to the XT6s H6 design? There are some differences as well as similiarites between the engines. Now I'm curious! I think u know why Dennis. :(

the XT6 Engine was a much better engine. It had different water and oil pumps which would often go on the EA82. Its was basically an EA82 block with 2 more cylinders, but it didnt have the same head and head gasket issues which plaqued the EA82.
Apparently there are people turbo the ER27 engine. But since it has a compression ration of 9.7:1 I wouldn't use much boost, maybe 6-8 psi max. But then again one could install EA82T pistons and lower the comp ratio to 7.7:1 and you could have a much more powerful motor without blowing it up.

Mark,

EA82s never had head gaskets problems unless you over heated them, the same as basically any other car...true they leaked oil 20k after you seal the motor, true you couldnt keep them quiet, true you couldnt keep timing belts on them...

but they were tough horses - you take care of them, they take care of you.

when they turbo'd that engine, thats were the problems started. youre now putting a half assed turbo system on an engine that obviously wasnt designed for one and adding even more heat to a motor that had liked running a bit on the warm side to begin with.

the ER27 was a perfected version of the EA82...it was more refined and obviously had more balls. but with it you had the same isssues: tbelts, leaks, noise - it was still a loyale, just a cooler one.

funny that were talking about how "bad" these engines were, when all you had to do is stay on top of the cooling system and make sure the car had oil to get 200k out of it.

Ya Dennis the XT you own now was once my fathers. He ran the crap out of it until it threw a rod. Then I sold it to Brian. We then built the engine and put all the XT6/RX parts in it to make it the beast it is today. Ya you are running my legacy turbo and stock WRX turbo back!! minus the muffler HEHE. I am not saying its not worth it to build these cars. I have alot of respect for Dennis's XT, that thing is just amazing for what it is! Both the handling and power are amazing for a mid 80's car. But there are much better cars to put your time and money in.

The time invested in that car is just sickly insane. Sure you can get parts cheap from the u-pull it yards, but to get a car set up like Dennis's takes forever and in the end it only worth a couple grand :(

Dennis I heard you might be bringing the XT back up here for a tune up. I have a few ideas on how to ring a couple more (RELIABLE) ponies out of that thing. I think i figured out how to hook up a MSD unit and still trigger the fuel injection system. That should make a huge difference to power under boost.

Dennis ex24: I dont agree.

Head gaskets and loud ticking valves due to oiling problems are common on the 1.8 turbo. Usually the mickey mouse gasket around the pump alowed air into the pump and the lifters wouldnt fill up completly.

As luck would have it Im helping a freind to tear into his gl-10 for both a bad head gasket AND bad oil pressure! The engine was already replaced once!

BTW, you guys should check this page out. http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~camncath/ea82_hydraulic_lifter_fix.htm Great info!

http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~camncath/Suby_flipover.jpg

Originally posted by EJ22T
Apparently there are people turbo the ER27 engine. But since it has a compression ration of 9.7:1 I wouldn't use much boost, maybe 6-8 psi max. But then again one could install EA82T pistons and lower the comp ratio to 7.7:1 and you could have a much more powerful motor without blowing it up.

Mark,

Hello Mark,

Who are these people? I'm really interested in knowing who has turbo'd their XT6 in the past as well as the present. How was the straight line performance of these turbo'd XT6s? Thanks for any information.

The RX had a open front diff. Also all RXs were *4WD*, of which the 87-89 ones had FT-4wd with a center diff lock and dual range. The RX had a clutch LSD diff in the rear.

The GL-10 turbo was largely the same with luxury toys instead of the rock hard springs. Oh and the rear LSD was optional instead of STD.

Correct, the clutch LSD was an option on the GL-10, the one I mentioned has an open 3.7 diff. The legacy turbo in 91 was the first to get the viscous unit.

The Gl-10 had a nifty digital dash and even audible redline!

Yes! It's about time someone started a thread like this! I brought my RX to a Suby meet here last year, and it got ignored with the exception of one guy who commented on how dirty the engine bay was. Yeah, well if his WRX had 193,000 miles on it, it wouldn't exactly be spotless. :mad:

XT6Wagon, I'm glad you pointed out that RX's were FT 4WD, not AWD. Those cars don't get enough credit, and really they're not as "mechanically unsound" as everyone seems to think. The EA82T is a hell of a lot stronger than the EJ25, no question about it. It's not as mod friendly, but like everyone else has said, if it's maintained, it's reliable, whereas if the EJ25 so much as snaps a timing belt, you can say good-bye to a few valves at the least.

Aside from the annoying lifter tick, oil consumption and crappy brakes, my biggest complaint about my RX is the crazy bolt pattern. Before '88 or '89 (I think), the Subaru lug pattern was 4x140. Only Subaru and Pugeot used that pattern, so aftermarket wheels are nearly impossible to find. The RXs in the pictures have been swapped to 5x100 using XT-6 parts which is a bit of a pain to do just because it's rare to find a junked XT-6 with all of its parts intact. RX's aren't very mod-friendly, but they're still a blast in their stock form. Not exactly fast, but they're really light, so 115 HP makes them quick enough.

The Blue RX in the pictures above belonged to a man who posts on http://www.ultimatesubaru.net . His name is Corky AKA Dr. RX. He swapped an EJ20 into that car, but he sold it awhile back. He's been keeping a log of RX VIN numbers and whatever information he can get on the cars to get an idea of how many were made with what options, colors, how many are left, where they are, etc. I think he knows more about those cars than anyone...ever.

I get a little bit too excited when people show interest in my car. :o

-Kellie

Originally posted by Zoombaru
Yes! It's about time someone started a thread like this! I brought my RX to a Suby meet here last year, and it got ignored with the exception of one guy who commented on how dirty the engine bay was. Yeah, well if his WRX had 193,000 miles on it, it wouldn't exactly be spotless. :mad: -Kellie

That's too bad! I would've been one of the few people who would've actually appreciated you showing up in that ride. I'm all for the old schoolers. Hope you show up for some future meets.

Originally posted by ciper
Dennis ex24: I dont agree.

Head gaskets and loud ticking valves due to oiling problems are common on the 1.8 turbo. Usually the mickey mouse gasket around the pump alowed air into the pump and the lifters wouldnt fill up completly.

As luck would have it Im helping a freind to tear into his gl-10 for both a bad head gasket AND bad oil pressure! The engine was already replaced once!


ciper...

read my post again, im saying the EA82 (1.8l OHC) was a largely reliable motor, when they put the turbo (EA82T) on that engine is when the problems really took off. i wrote:

"when they turbo'd that engine, thats were the problems started. youre now putting a half assed turbo system on an engine that obviously wasnt designed for one and adding even more heat to a motor that had liked running a bit on the warm side to begin with."


as for the oil pressure, tell your boy to replace the oil pump...you can get it for like $85 at autozone, rather then replacing the gasket since youre pulling the pump off anyway...itll give both of you peace of mind. other things that help are GTX 20w50 and purolator...the cooling system (im sure you guys are already aware) is way sensitive to things like weakening radiators and air conditioning haha.

steve-man...

thats cool about the history of the XT...i didnt know where it came from, he only told me that he bought it for like $50 haha. ive been talking to him about trying to lower the RPM where boost would come in and installing an FMU...he had some awesome ideas that i never would have even thought of. cool guy and a hell of a mechanic. im super happy with the car, im working on cosmetic things with it at the moment.

xt6wagon - are you "witte" on the USMB?

http://usmb.ultimatesubaru.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4368

check that out :)

The blue RX coupe pictured here started life as a white RX Turbo coupe, as pictured it has a EJ20G (Legacy RS engine, turbo) with a 5 speed AWD tranny and a VLSD 4.11 rear diff.

Speaking of teh Subaru's great turbo past ??? hmmm what about meking and older subaru a blast from the past. blast as in a blast to drive and so many great laughs when the mustang drivers and camaro's just look at what just ate there lunch....
it is a 1978 Subaru Brat with 89 Subaru EA82T motor, 5 speed transmission, 4 wheel drive , and looks completely stock from the out side so it wont attract too much attention.

http://usmb.net/gallery/albuo84 is the link to the car, the wagon next to it is a 87 turbo wagon, 2 wd auto. another ea82t waiting for another car to go into.

You can email me at shoquest2002@yahoo.com

Here's my "Old School" addition to the family:
http://www.subaruchallenge.com/Wills/leg.jpg

Just picked it up a little over a week ago for $800 :D

It's currently at the dealer getting a new tranny installed! It'll be my little contribution to keep old Scooby's alive!

EJ22T baby! Subaru's strongest engine!