Dr. RX

I know it sounds like I'm not supporting WJM, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. I have just tried to convey my experience so that he doesn't make the same mistakes. I would really like for him to do his homework before he jumps into something like this. Talk to some Porsche tuners, the engine are similar enough the techniques they use will work on a Subaru. I do know what it is like to be on the ledging edge of engine development, I was turbocharging engines in the late 60's and early 70's, long before it was considered and acceptable way to boost and engine.

You know, I once talked as you do, I told all of the old engine builders that they were blowing smoke and didn't know what they were talking about. But years of working with engines have proved them right, I now wish that I had listened more to what they had to say. I guess it is something about being young that causes you not to listen to experience, I know, I never did when I was your age. As for UltimateRX, no that is not what I was talking about, but you seemed to imply that I only did things with EJ series cars, I wasn't sure if you knew about my EA series project. No, I have never meant WJM, I would really like to though. THAWA, pretty much the same as I said above, plus I think I stated that he would never build it for $6000 or less, not that he would never build it. maJJORD, I have worked on many boxer engines, VW's, Porsches, and Subarus, the design has certain limits and the best way to increase horsepower in a boxer and maintain reliability is to increase displacement. Look at Porsche, their SOHC engine started as a 2 liter, it is now up to 3.8 I believe, the VW engine was 1100cc I think at the beginning, I believe it was 2000cc at the end. Subaru has done the same. Porsche tried many times to create a high horsepower small displacement engine, starting in their RS race cars and ending with the Carrera 2 (sp?), these were DOHC engines, started out with roller bearings in the crank, but ended up with plain bearings. The last engine was 2 liters, and it only had 130hp, of course it was N/A fuel injected. They did make an eight cylinder 2 liter that had around 200hp. So, with all this in mind, if I were to try to build an EA82T to make 300hp, what would I do. First I would work on the weakest links in the engine, I consider those the timing belts and the intake air flow. For the timing belts, I would work on building a geared system to turn those and the other timing belt drive acessories. If your engine doesn't breath right, you'll never get the horsepower you are looking for. I would probably build a new intake, on with better flow characteristics, I would completely rework the flow on the heads, maybe even create new heads, I really don't like the fact the the exhaust flows through one port. I'd use stainless steel valves in the head, as big as possible. Next I would tackle the recipricating parts, I would have a new crank ground out of a single billet, that would require reworking the lower end on the block for clearance. I would have the crank nitrated, and journals micro polished. I would use 'H' beam forged rods with forged pistons, the shirts on the pistons would be teflon coated and telfon buttons in the wrist pin holes, probably about 8.5:1 compression ratio. I think the cam Will stated is a little too mild to produce 300hp, I would increase the duration and lift a little. I would go with two turbos since the car would be road raced, that would reduce the turbo lag and increase the boost. As you can see, such an engine would eat up $6000 pretty quickly.

Gee Matt, sorry I didn't hear about you alternator problem, I think I have one around here that would work, but I'm probably too late. I'll probably be leaving somewhere in between Matt's group and Zap and Qman, probably be leaving my place around 7 AM, that should put me in Hood River hopefully around noon (us old guys need to stop more often then the younger guys and I wouldn't want to hold anyone up). I've got Zap's and Qman's cell numbers, could I get one from the nooner group so if I get in trouble along the way, I can call someone and maybe they can help me out?

It is apparent that you don't know about UltimateRX. I just stated that I had build something that could do what he said he was trying to do and didn't spend as much money as he thinks it will cost. Yes, it was pretty much a bolt up, but that was the beauty of it, it didn't take much to put it together, but when it came to wiring up so that it would work, that is something else. I am also hear to tell you, with over 40 years of race car building experience that you will never know someone who will build an EA82T like that for $6000 or less. Believe me, there are enough people out there with the passion for older Subarus and with the funds to do such an engine if it were possible, but guess what, nobody has done it. If I thought it was possible, heck I would have done it. I personally think it is insane to put that much horsepower into an EA82 series car, for one thing that unitized body will never take that kind of horsepower and the torque that would go along with it. I don't care what kind of brakes you put on the car, if you go too big, you will rip the suspension right out from underneath that car. So go ahead build it if you think you can. make me eat crow, nothing would please me better. But remember, I will also be here to tell you I told you so when it doesn't happen.

OK, so tell me when they introduced the Impreza. DUH, let me see, somewhere around 1993 I believe. And the first Legacy RS's were built by STi, but it wasn't known as STi then.

Well I just finished building a car that I think will give any currently sold in the USA STi a good run for their money, and I haven't put $6000 into it yet. For about another $500, I could probably guarantee that it would beat and stock STi, and I'd still be under $6000. And it is reliable enough to be my daily driver.

Boy, I just love the inexperience of youth. First, you never really told us what mods you were doing to the engine to make it create 300hp. For instance, what type of cams are you using, what is the grind, lift and duration? What will the compression ratio be. Will you be using forged teflon coated pistons? What type of rods? Are you making any mods to the induction system, ie different turbo, injectors, reduced flow restictions. I personally would be very surprized if you spend only $6000 on the engine alone and got 300hp. I have never seen STi parts for a Leone (EA82 series) car, specially since STi wasn't really formed until 93. Next the suspension, do you really think for a minute that the EA82 type front suspension will out perform an EJ type just by increasing spring rates?? And the brakes, there are still a lot of unanswered questions there. I don't know of any four pot caliper that are front parking brake types, so are you even going to have a parking brake?? As for reliability, if you decide to race it, and I have no doubt that you will the first time some guy in a Honda pulls up along side of you, I'd give you less then 1000 miles before you have to replace something in the engine. You are approximately tripling the current horsepower, that engine was never designed for that. Believe me, I'm not trying to discouage you, I just want you to think a little harder about what you are saying. Are you really sure that you what to spend all that money just to prove a point?

The circumstances suck, but a 6 FOOT METAL LATHE AND MILL FOR ONLY $50, that thing must weight a ton or two, and for only. Is that a 6 foot bed or is that the total length of the lathe? I would love to have that, then I could start improving things that I see need improvement on my cars. Can hardly wait to see the pictures of the process, I wish that I would have taken more picture of teh progress of my last project, but if I did, it would probabaly still not be done.

No Craig, there were two doors right up until the new gen came out in 2002.

Welcome to Washington, again. Next time try for McChord.

Well I don't know about Colorado, but there have been plenty of Impreza 95 to 01 2drs around Western Washington, I know of two RS's (a 98 and a 99) that were for sale in the last two months locally. And we have a lot of non-wagon Legacys, I've even seen some of those Outback Sedans for sale.

Gee Flow, my 96 Impreza was built in 9/95, but it is still a 96 model year. In Japan there was a 89 Legacy model year, that is why when I built UltimateRX I said that Subaru could have built that car if they had wanted to in 89, all of the parts were available in 89.

While the Legacy was available in Japan in 89, it wasn't available in the USA until 90.

Yep, the splines match a turbo (25 spline) tranny.

Thanks THAWA, I wasn't sure, I knew the Impreza ones would work, we test fitted them on a RX. They are in fact 4mm longer then the EA82 axles, but I don't think that is enough to make any difference.

So, how did you fair. Power must be out or I'm sure yopu would have been back on by now.

Yea, I forgot about the tranny, if you can find a tranny out of a EA82 (Leone/Loyal) series turbo, that will work.

Well I don't know of any car the stirs a caldron, but if you want to know which car(s) to get the pieces from, I'll tell you. For the rear pieces, you have only one choice, and that is a XT6 AWD, from that you need the backing plate, the hub (the piece that bolts to the axle) and the rotor, the rear caliper is the same as any rear disc EA82. Up front you have some choices for some of the parts, but some must come from a XT6 (either FWD or AWD), you need the lower suspension arm and the ball joint, you'll need the tie rod ends, and you'll need the front calipers. You can get the following parts from a XT6, a Legacy, or an Impreza, the front strut complete, the front rotors, the front backing plates, the front knuckle, and the axles. The Legacy axles may be too long, so I would stay with either the XT6 or the Impreza. Here is a link to my web sitye that shows my first conversion, it should help a little, http://corkysrocks.net/Conversion%204%20to%205.htm .

Well, because when the ring and pinion gear are installed, there is a lot of shimming require to get just the right meshing of the two gears. It is easier to grind away a small portion of the open diff case then it is to repeat the shimming since each case is slightly different.

I'll check the brouchure tonight to see what the options were.

Josh, are you sure that you have to cut a hole for the clutch M/C? When I did my Impreza conversion, the hole was already there, just had a rubber plug in it, bolt holes were there too.

XT Fan, if you look closely, you can see the sun/moon roof on the touring wagon.

No, most front clips come with the rear suspension also, if they don't, look somewhere else.

Americanyouth you are right, but that is why it says replica on my signature block. In an earlier post on my car I explained all of this. This is the second car that I have built that Subaru could have built but didn't. The thing that I find strange is that all the unique bolt locations for a WRX were there on my 96, eventhough Subaru never made a 2dr WRX until 97. Spanky_pete, the Type RA is a 4 door, the Type R is a 2 door, that is the only difference. On the web site that you provided, there is one mistake that I noticed, he stated that the high spoiler was not available on the four door until 98, I have pictures of a 95 and 96 4door Type RA with the high spoiler, otherwise the rest of the info looks correct. I guess I'll have to change my name to Dr. WRX now.

Ok, here is kind of a chronology of my project. 96 Impreza as it appeared after I got it home http://corkysrocks.net/96ImprezaB4.jpg After I cut away the damage http://corkysrocks.net/Impreza1.jpg The JDM WRX front clip http://corkysrocks.net/wrx5.jpg After it was put together and ready for inspection http://corkysrocks.net/Project2.jpg And finally after painted, note USMB decal in rear window http://corkysrocks.net/STIfrtqrtr.jpg Well there you have it.