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Taller 5th Gear?


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3500 sounds high, but really, why is it bad?

 

I recently went on a 2,000 mile trip in my subaru, usually running between 75 and 90 mph for hours on end. If I remember correctly, it was turning around 4,000rpm most of the time. No ill effects whatsoever. Oil pressure and coolant temp stayed rock solid the whole time, my gas mileage didn't suffer excessively, and the car runs better now than before because all the carbon is now gone from the motor.

 

Subaru engines LIKE to be run hard!

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I was thinking the same thing. They share that quality with their illegitimate ancestor, the air-cooled VW. The only way to really get any performance out of it, is to rev the crap out of it. :D

 

It would be nice to have a highway gear though. Would a larger tire give you a little help with the RPM's?

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Larger tyres would make a difference, but also to the speedo and odo readings and therefore would be illegal. Anyway, you need a massive difference to make it count and the wheel wells are only so big...

 

I normally cruise at 150km/h (ca. 93mph) and that puts the rev counter smack on 4500rpm. Engine doesn't sound stressed, or even loud, and returns 10.2 km/l - for hours on end.

 

6.338miles per liter, 3.785 liters per customary gallon, let's see that should equate to roughly 24 mpg.

 

Or 4.546 liters per Imperial gallon: 29mpgUK

 

I'm not complaining......oh and don't forget that the short stroke on most Sube boxers means that the average piston speed is relatively low.

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You will find that almost all Subaru speedos are off. I know several people who have installed 14" pugs and tires and found that their speedo was now accurate. I know of zero gears that are compatible with the Sube gearbox.

 

The RPM's sound perfect. Redline is much higher(5,500)

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I don't want to hear all this whinning.

 

What about those of us with D/R 4sp?

Mine does 55mph at 3000:boohoo:

 

My car has never been over 75 mph:boohoo: :boohoo: :boohoo: (74mph on her final on road run)

 

At least you guys have a 5th gear:mad:

 

Ok, I'm through whinning now.

 

Glenn,

82 Hatch, slowbaru.....:boohoo:

01 Forester, fastbaru..:banana:

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Here's how you achive that: get going fast as she'll go on the highway, (75) let a big rig pass you, quickly jump behind him. Shot my Gen-1 wagon to 85!! it was like a shot of N2O!

I could actually feel, by the seat of my pants, when I was loosing the draft. With a little work, I could let the truck suck me along at about 1/4 throttle.

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High RPMs dont hurt suby motors. Even the EJ motors. ON the same trip, about 300 some miles, average speed was about 80-80 MPH, for about 4-5 hrs stright. the first time was in a 96 EJ25 DOHC powered outback...no problems. the second time was in my GL-10 turbo wagon with its 9.5:1 turbo motor...RPMs were around 3600 to 4000. No problems. I dont remember RPMs on outback...i think it was around 3400.

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the 3500 rpm is where the soob motor is most happy. its right smack in the middle of the power band.

 

if you were cruising a taller gear at a lower rpm, you might find your foot in the gas more to keep it moving. 3500 rpms is the most efficient rpm, the most power with least throttle, from my experiences.

 

even crawling around off road in low gar at 5 mph, i t does best at 3000-3500 rpms, all the way up to 4500

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...nothing a good set of 14" Peugeot alloys and 195x70s couldn't cure. I think they are the perfect size for stock. I have them on my 82 Brat now, and it purrs beautifully at 75mph. (boy, I miss the Loyale too). I found a set at the Oceanside Ecology yard, just a skip from Encinitas for $170. I might sell these with caps, lugs, and tires (50%) for $200. Let me know if interested. r/PK

loyale.jpg

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