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just got these cars as a package deal for 3500. i got new ball joints and hood struts for the 94. does the ball stud have to be replaced when replacing the hood struts? It looks as tho the struts will pop off, but these are being pretty stubborn and not wanting to come off. thanks guys.

 

P.S. pics will be coming soon

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ok i got the ball studs out of the hood struts, i had to use a claw hammer to get em out. Yeah i know, they were stubborn. anyways here are a few pics

photo.php?fbid=1663594704742&set=a.1663591944673.2082069.1083470802&theater

this one is the 94 LS 2wd. i am in the process of doing some minor body work and prepping it for paint, but that will be way on down the road. this one is my daily driver

photo.php?fbid=1663594824745&set=a.1663591944673.2082069.1083470802&theater

photo.php?fbid=1663594904747&set=a.1663591944673.2082069.1083470802&theater

photo.php?fbid=1663594984749&set=a.1663591944673.2082069.1083470802&theater

this one is the 92 LSI awd currently not running, needs a fuel pump (which I have on hand) alternator belt needs tightened up, and the A/C belt needs replaced

photo.php?fbid=1663595024750&set=a.1663591944673.2082069.1083470802&theater

photo.php?fbid=1663598384834&set=a.1663591944673.2082069.1083470802&theater

photo.php?fbid=1663598424835&set=a.1663591944673.2082069.1083470802&theater

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hmmm maybe the photos are to big? maybe this will work instead.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2082069&id=1083470802&l=96e2da27f5

 

the red one is the 94 LS 2wd with 119K miles on it. it is my daily driver and getting some minor body work and prepped for paint.

 

the green one is the 92LSI awd with 127K miles on it, currently not running needing a fuel pump and accessory belts.

 

I have only seen an SVX for about 1 minute prior to owning these two, but have always wanted one, now i have two.

 

anyways if anyone is familiar with these models can you tell me anything about it like some common problems or anything of that nature. I will keep the pics goin with the progress on the bodywork. My ultimate goal is to build one of these two into a STI Killer. it has the same bore and stroke as an EJ2.2 so i am looking for 6 turbo pistons.

 

anyways enough dreaming for now. i appreciate any help i get.

Edited by SubaruAlliance
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welcome to the SVX they are wonderful and finicky and troublesome and beautiful and expensive and weird and well you get the idea..................

+1 to this. Every time I drove mine it put a smile on my face, and money out of my wallet :grin: They are beautiful cars. I miss mine, they go really good with a five speed swap :burnout:

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And they are heavy. Might want to reconsider that whole "STI killer" idea. They also have cooling issues, transmission issues, and parts availability issues.

 

But they are silky smooth, have some of the best seats in any Subaru, and mine gets over 30MPG at 80MPH. It is a wonderful, feature-rich (except cup-holders :rolleyes:) highway cruiser.

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thanks guys. the whole sti killer thing is a dream of course, and she is kind of a PIG weighin in at 3430lbs. (she hasn't missed any meals) but i am serious about building one of these up. imagine it with 8.5 :1 pistons and a turbo, with some weight reduction (a few hundred pounds) and a 6spd tranny. the only question is for the turbo, build it for high boost say 25+ psi, or build it for CFM, being a bigger engine i wouldn't need high psi, the engine can be fed the volume of air. not sure yet still working it.

 

 

anyways as i said i appreciate the help. the 92 (green one) came with a fuel pump and an extra AWD tranny, the guy i bought em off doesn't know if the stock tranny is good and he got the other one to swap in but never got around to it.

 

the only issue i am having with the 94 (red one) is that the check engine light will come on for anywhere from 1-20 minutes at a time, then it will go off for anywhere from 1 minute- 1 hour of driving. i am gonna swap in the ball joints and read the ecu codes to see what s goin on with that. the moon roof is a little sticky but i think a cleaning and lube will fix that.

 

to gbianchi: thx for the info on the svx forum, i have registered there and activated my account, but for some reason it still won't let me post, i'll try to contact a moderator or something to see if i can get it figured out.

 

thanks again guys.

Edited by SubaruAlliance
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That SVX forum has a lot of info on it regarding forced-induction, manual tranny swaps, and the semi-futility of weight reduction. You will find much more information there about the SVX, and you will probably find that the general attitude is to enjoy the car for what it is, a wonderful GT. Also, be prepared to have members define/describe their cars mostly by color. :rolleyes:

 

The rear wheel bearings are a common failure item. The brakes are almost inadequate for a car of its weight and aerodynamics (Aerodynamic braking going down hills is almost non-existent), and definitely inadequate for spirited driving. Many parts are unique to the SVX, and thus hard to find and/or not in stock. (E.g. - When I looked for axles boots and/or axles, nobody showed stock within 2000 miles of the Seattle area.) When my wife broke a windshield, the dealer wanted over $1500 for a replacement (discounted!), and at the time SOA showed less than a dozen remaining in the USA. (She got an aftermarket for appox. US$400 installed, but it has major optical wavyness on passenger side.) My heater fan quit working on mine, and since it is a climate control system the diagnosis is rather complicated. The trannies tend to die of heat buildup issues; PLEASE research tranny cooling.

 

Oh, and if you are planning a MT swap and forced induction, consider that you may not find a manual tranny that will live long under the strain of using the power. The SVX had an automatic because at the time it was built Subaru did not have a manual that could handle the torque.

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Oh, and if you are planning a MT swap and forced induction, consider that you may not find a manual tranny that will live long under the strain of using the power

 

+1 to this, Mine was a stock N/A engine and the first five speed trans I put in had over 200k on it (it was just a "lets see if this works" kind of thing) well it did work until about 500 miles later I had ruined an outback clutch and the trans started to sound like a chainsaw. I then swapped in a bigger clutch and a newer trans, I also swapped it to a hydraulic clutch set up. Never had a problem after that ( I also was getting in the mid 20's for mpg's! I didn't think that was too bad for a 17 year old with a 230 hp sports coupe!) I will tell you if you want to put a standard in it the biggest pain for me was the peddles. I found the easiest thing to do was just take the steering column out to get to them as the column runs between two of the peddles or something like that if I remember correctly. Just make sure you don't turn the wheel after the column is out, clock springs are expensive :-\ Sorry for the long rant! Anyway looks like you have two very nice cars. Keep us posted!

Cheers

Edited by 1982gl4
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thanks again guys. i just swapped in the fuel pump on the 92 green one and she fired right up. it has a misfire but nothing some plugs won't fix. i also put it in gear and it dropped right in and i eased off the brake and she pulled forward then i did the same in reverse. so by the looks of it i have an extra AWD tranny. as far as work goes she gonna need some battery clamps, and a pwer steering return hose with a clamp. after that i wanna driver her for a few days just to see how she does.

 

as far as the manual swap i wanna use a STI tranny so it will be strong enough to handle to the power, even with mods and should keep the geering to let her hit 160. as for now i will look into the tranny cooler idea, that will be way cheaper than the cheapest sti tranny i found about 1800 bucks. i will keep ya'll posted as the projects move forward. the engines are fairly clean on both cars, but both in need of some tlc, hopefully here in the near future i will have some pics of the engine out of the car and getting a gasket transplant from the head gaskets up, with new seals.

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i also put it in gear and it dropped right in and i eased off the brake and she pulled forward then i did the same in reverse. so by the looks of it i have an extra AWD tranny

Be careful in assuming anything with these cars :rolleyes: mine only had three gears, 1st, 2nd, and reverse. 3rd and 4th were none existent in my car when I got it :-\ Just a heads up! However, it's great that you got it running! I love these cars, and it's awesome that you ended up with two of them! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

Cheers!

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oh yeah i am still working the issue on the svx board. i created an account and activated it and all that but still won't let me post. anyways i kinda think of this board as my home, as this was the first place i found about 8 years ago with my very first subaru the 1988 gl sedan.

This is still my home; more my kind of discussion. I am more mechanical than esthetical; I could not care less which color car I am driving or if my corner markers are oem or clear. They do have an interesting (and long!) thread about a guy who is not a rabid Subaru cultist turbo-ing his SVX. Interesting approaches.

 

The STI box still might explode on you. I seem to recall members talking about there not being significant difference in strength. If you haven't already done so, check this out before you have an expensive pile of metal bits.

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The STI box still might explode on you. I seem to recall members talking about there not being significant difference in strength. If you haven't already done so, check this out before you have an expensive pile of metal bits.

 

thanks for the info on that. I actually just realized that the junkyard i went to had a subaru forester i yanked the front hubs and abs wires off it to replace the ones on my Baja, but that one was a 5 spd. i think it was a 99 and the engine was already gone but i am sure i can everything else for a 5 spd swap and then just be in the market for a flywheel. that one had front and rear axles rear diff, and the tranny with pedal set, so this might be the way to go just to get her a manual. anyone know compatibles?

 

if i try to use the forester's rear hubs i will have to swap the A-arms also? i will get some price quotes on the parts and that may be the next big project. i will have lost of pics and post em up on here.

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You would be able to swap the trans adn the diff. The hubs on the svx are 4x114.3 and the forester is 5x100.

 

I'm sorry i havent been under an svx to compare, but im sure it is possible to mx and match parts to fit, but maybe not all of them, some being svx specific.

 

you will have to contend with either chosing a hydraulic clutch like in later models and tubo models, or cable clutch like the earlier legacies and imprezas.

 

I have read articles with svx running with forst gen legacy trans.

 

the forester might be a 4.11 gear, being a lower gear for acceleration, but it will cut you top speed down from 150 mph

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You would be able to swap the trans adn the diff. The hubs on the svx are 4x114.3 and the forester is 5x100...

Minor typo: 5x... rather than 4x... (Not positive about that 114.3 being exact. I have seen other numbers quoted, including 112. Not terribly important for this discussion.)

 

Much of the suspension/drivetrain is SVX specific. At some point, I plan to see how much Legacy-style I can adapt.

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I have read articles with svx running with first gen legacy trans

 

You can do this. The first trans I put in mine was out of a 94 sedan. It would have lasted if it had been well maintained. I would also suggest getting a really good clutch. My stock one that I used the first time slipped from the moment I put it in. As for gearing I had 4:11's and that thing had some crazy acceleration, I wasn't really going for top speed. It's not like I'm going to drive 150 mph anywhere.

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As for gearing I had 4:11's and that thing had some crazy acceleration, I wasn't really going for top speed. It's not like I'm going to drive 150 mph anywhere.

 

LMAO yeah good point. i am not really gonna be goin 150 to travel the 4 miles to work either.

 

I am wondering about the forester hubs and all that, i wouldn't wanna be nearly done with the swap just to realize the axles don't fit into the SVX hubs or what not. the front hubs from that forester are now on my 03 baja, but i am sure i can use the hubs off the other forester. i will most likely go with a hydraulic clutch. the only thing that will be stopping me from the swap will be the flywheel, and i am sure i could pick up an aftermarket one lightened for a couple hundy, and then a more heavy duty clutch.

 

at least in the mean time while i saving for the clutch and flywheel, i could swap in the rear diff and hubs, even the pedal set, at least all that would be done, till the trans itself got put it.

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i called the junkyard and of course they close at 1400 (2:00pm) on saturdays and not open on sundays. guess i will have to call on tuesday because i will be at the range all day on monday.

 

no i haven't done anything yet, just researching to start to stockpile the parts i am gonna need before i start on it. whatdaya mean the driveshaft customized? i was thinking get the drive line out the forester and swap it in, i am anticipating fabbing the carrier bearing mount for the driveshaft, and the trans crossmember, but not a drive shaft.

 

I am brand new to these SVX's to take me to school.

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The stock driveshaft is 2" inches too short; previous reading led me to believe that standard method was to have the front section lengthened, but it sounds like certain driveshafts are the right length but the center carrier is in a different spot. Is this the way you were planning?

 

The tranny crossmember needs to be fabricated, unless you either are buying one already done or know of another way. (Truthfully, I haven't kept up on this swap in nearly a year, since my project SVX had its roof crushed by a fallen tree.)

 

I don't know if you have resolved your SVX-World issues, but here are a couple of interesting threads:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=33194

 

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32758

 

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=31265

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I had a drive shaft in mine that was a little to short. It even sealed the rear seal of the trans, but it was too short to slid into the trans all the way. I drove it like that for a really long time. It never bothered or leaked or anything. When I put the second trans in I got a longer one, but I don't remember what it was out of :confused: As far as flywheels go, Subaru had ones that where lighter then others. If i recall a impreza brighton may have about the lightest one you can get but don't quote me on that. I have one in my Brat that's about half the wight of the one that was originally on the 2.5 that I put in it. As far as the Trans mount goes, I welded the five speed mount to the svx mount, but I feel like that didn't work well for some reason, so my dad and I fabricated one using a chevy 350 engine mount :rolleyes: And that was better.

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