Alright guys,

This forum is pretty much dead. I'm hoping to find out from some of you old schoolers what kind of mods you've done to your old school turbocharged scoobies. What kind of hp gains can you expect from mods such as a freer flowing exhaust, higher boosts than stock, etc?

I'm asking because I'm seriously considering picking up a 1.8ltr RX turbo very soon. Thanks!

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/

only get an rx if you can find an 87 or older. the 88 and newer will not allow more than 7.5psi of boost.

If you wind up with an older one a wrx take off stock top mount and a mbc and youll be good to go.

josh

91gvr4 = the real deal t3+forged internals +pms =fun

88 ea82 t wagon intercooled and boostin 10+psi the grocery go getter!

Originally posted by jibber
only get an rx if you can find an 87 or older. the 88 and newer will not allow more than 7.5psi of boost.

If you wind up with an older one a wrx take off stock top mount and a mbc and youll be good to go.

josh

91gvr4 = the real deal t3+forged internals +pms =fun

88 ea82 t wagon intercooled and boostin 10+psi the grocery go getter!

Hey Jibber,

I'm looking at a 1985 GL10 Sedan (manual tranny). It seems to be in good shape and is owned by a mechanic. I should have it in my possession by Nov 1st if everything goes well. It'll be a long project if a project at all. Gotta get all my gauges and stuff together as well as doing all the 'heat' related upgrades to be sure there won't be a problem with heat. New radiator, water temp sensor, etc. Also, need to be sure the fuel system is ok (fuel pump, injectors, filter). If I get the car, it'll probably take years to get finished but I'm excited about it. I'm done with my XT6 for now.

Jibber,
Is there a website or anything where I can read more about your car?

no but check your pm.

josh

LOL...Kevin Thomas asking about us old school Legacy's. There's a lot out there, but you should definitely check out the website that DLC's setup for us...bbs.legacycentral.org. That's where most of us get our tech. info. as most of the guys here haven't even heard of a Legacy Turbo:lol:

-Brian

Not so true about the 87 and newer turbo cars. The overboost fuel cut used to be a problem but now there is a way to bypass that problem. Check out the USMB (http://www.usmb.net) There are a few of us runing way more than 7 pounds on the newer cars.

On to mine. I have one of the few 84 Turbo's left, and it isn't just a Brat or Wagon, but a Hardtop (2 door coupe with 4 roll down windows). The Turbo Hardtops were cooler cause the NA's only came in 2wd, so to get a 4wd you have to get a Turbo!
I have a newer EA82 Turbo unit on it, the boost is currently regulated to 12 psi, and I've upped the fuel pressure by 5psi. I'm working on installing an intercooler and BOV, but haven't had the cash lately, as I had to rebuild the motor.
Oh yeah, the EA81 Turbo's had a blow off valve to limit the amount of boost to them, it was a vent to atmosphere unit that actuated at 10psi, I've disabled this, after haveing problems with not being able to get over 10psi and not knowing why.

AdamNDJ,

Thanks for posting. I was at the Delaware DMV with the 1985 RX turbo owner yesterday praying it got through and passed. The car failed on 3 accounts (cracked windshield, emissions, horn didn't work). I was looking to simply replace the O2 sensor, and replace a fuse for the horn to get those fixed but the windshield was going to be another problem altogether because of the $$$ involved in a new one and labor. The owner and I was pretty disappointed to say the least.

Delawares DMV's emissions tests, gas tank pressuring, etc with everthing hooked up to their computers isn't the best experience for everyone. :( Had the windshield passed, I would've been the new owner of that rare RX. *sigh* So, I'm back to square one again. It sucks! I was really looking forward to having that potential beast in my hands. I already have an air/water intercooler and a celica turbo that may possibly fit it. My ONLY real concern was driving it because it has a manual tranny. I've driven a manual tranny once for about a month, 8 years ago...and was self taught. :eek: Oh well!

Another trick that a lot of us old schoolers have recently started doing is building in-bred Turbo's. This is done by taking various different IHI's and putting them together. Like taking the hot side of an EA82 Turbo and the cold side of a Legacy Turbo, and then we took the hot side of the Same Leg Turbo unit, and bolted on the cold side of Ford T-bird IHI. These units put out more boost, but don't have very little changes in the spool time as they have a smaller impellar with a bigger compressor. This is something that we've recently started doing though, and haven't worked it into a perfect science yet, but it works really well. One thing you have to look out for is that some of the Turbo's have a different spacing on the compressor wheels, so you have to make sure you get it put together right or the blades will rub the housing, or will be too far away from the housing and not really put out much boost at all.
-Adam-

I for one am looking to up my boost if this is easily attainable let me know. I posted this up on the USMB and no answer there. There are some people still working this (skip) I blew one motor for the cause.

My 88Rx 7.5psi unless I used a ziner diode. 88 wagon ( old style 87 MAS and ecu) intercooled AT 13ish psi I hit fuel/spark cut. Not the expert just looking for the answer.

Let me in on your secrets.

Josh

are you putting the ihi leg/ tbird on a legacy right?

Right, that's on a Legacy turbo. He has an Air/water intercooler and a bunch of stuff done to the electronics. I'm not too sure whot all is in it. I can't get too many answers cause the guy that has it all done just shipped out for the middle east on Monday.

what about the 88 thru 92? ea82 turbos? The turbo legacy ecu is easily fooled.

Although the legacy compressor side swap might be neet to try. Are you having them ballanced? how long have they lasted?

Its funny because my 88 turbowagon never hit boost cut even running 15psi. (hey all I could afford at the time was a chunk of a paintbrush shoved in the wastegate line).

yeah my 88 Rx........ no good. but I do not have the "flapper " maf that was on my RX, On my 88 wagon.

XT6Wagon....... how long did you run 15 psi? and this was on the hot wire mas right?


Josh

I run a daily driven 1992 Loyale Turbo. It has a motor and engine from an EA82 turbo 1987 RX.

I've put a wrx TMIC, mbc @ 12 psi, and RFL bov on it. Runs very strong, nice and quick spool with enough power to surprise a lot of people.

Scott

Originally posted by Stime187
I run a daily driven 1992 Loyale Turbo. It has a motor and engine from an EA82 turbo 1987 RX.

I've put a wrx TMIC, mbc @ 12 psi, and RFL bov on it. Runs very strong, nice and quick spool with enough power to surprise a lot of people.

Scott

Wow! That's pretty cool Scott. I've never heard of anyone doing anything to a turbo Loyale. That's a sleeper for sure. Any pics of it or your engine setup? Man, I want an old school turbo subby so bad but wifelady will have none of it. I have two subbies now that barely run. :D

What does 'RFL BOV' stand for? I figured Rising Fuel L? Blow Off Valve or something like that. :rolleyes:

What does 'RFL BOV' stand for? I figured Rising Fuel L? Blow Off Valve or something like that. :rolleyes:

TurboXS Type H-RFL...supposedly it stands for Really F***ing Loud as it is one of the louder BOVs out there.

BTW, I just recently acquired an 1986 RX Turbo Sedan myself and from what I've read (mostly on USMB (http://usmb.ultimatesubaru.net)): 6.5psi is stock, 10psi is ok with stock parts, 12psi is ok with an intercooler and 14psi is the limit of the stock fuel system/ECU.

Personally, I'm planning to put a stock WRX intercooler/BOV combo on my car, install a slightly lower temp thermostat, open the exhaust some (this thing has pretty small exhaust tubing for a turbo car), mount a hood scoop to feed the intercooler then run about 10-12psi. :D

Shane -- http://www.warpthree.com

your limit is 6.5 PSI eh?????


I am still awaiting the MBC from a fellow USMB member (i know its in the mail just USPS is slow) ...

Currently the stock EA82T limited wastegate on my 1987 Turbo wagon has been able to hit 9PSI several times usually its about 7.5 or 8 before i need to shift or I run outa room and have to shift.

Once the MBC is here and a single piece of Aluminum is welded in place then the TMIC mod will also go in the wagon. (Ah-La-Skip'ster style)

Stock my car hit about 6-7psi max.

I've now got a DIY MBC installed and am running about 10-12psi (depending on the gear). Now I can light up that one tire twice as fast... :lol: (My RX is part-time 4WD so I can choose between 1WD or 3WD (rear LSD).) I'm planning to back off to around 10psi max until I get the TMIC/BOV/hood scoop setup installed.

Shane -- http://www.warpthree.com

Nice ride you have there! :D I REALLY wanted an RX turbo Sedan and almost had one similar to yours a little over a month ago. Unfortunately it didn't pass motor vechicle inspections (windshield, emissions) but it ran great. I didn't have the extra $$$ to get it fixed so I gave up on it. :( It was a blue one.

Man, I still think about that car. Something about them. I had so many plans for it. Oh well!

I hope your project works out great and be pretty fast. I'm hoping to own one in the future, if I can just let go the two subes I have now. :D

Originally posted by Kevin Thomas
Nice ride you have there! :D

Thanks! :D

The best thing about the RX (especially the 85-86 sedan) has to be the look...it looks exactly like a regular Subaru sedan but with RX 4WD Turbo written on it instead. You can't get much more sleeper than that...hehe :)

Unfortunately the EA82T doesn't make a lot of power stock (111hp@4800rpm for the pre-87 models, 115hp@5200rpm for the 87+ models, both with 134lb-ft@2800rpm) but the blocks are supposedly very strong and the compression is quite low (7.7:1) so they do have potential... :D

BTW, if anyone hasn't seen my RX, I have pics posted in the Media Gallery on the website in my signature (along with a Vehicle Profile on the car).

Shane -- http://www.warpthree.com