clueless with subaru

[TheLogikal1]

ok i got 3 1/2 questions.

1st, how come i dont see any older imprezzas (96-ish?) for sale with the turbo hood in america? i know ive seen some 2.5rs's with the turbo hood.

2nd where can i purchase ej engine sets? (please name websites)

3rd the imprezza is a boxer engine...so is it fwd based or rwd based? i know the lancer and eclise are fwd based because of the transverse engine, but the whole boxer thing sounds complicated.


lastly, if the imprezza is rwd based, is there any way to disable the 4wd and make it rwd?


sorry yall, ive lived my life in the shadows of rwd nissans so im kinda lost. please bear with me

[Jay!]

1. Subaru sold the RS w/ the turbo hood as a 'consolation' for not selling the WRX. Since the RS was the sportiest model available here, they gave it the 'sportier' hood. Note, even though they look the same, the RS hood is heavier than a real aluminum WRX hood.

2. I saw someplace where you could buy the STi crate motor for $4500, but I don't remember where...

3. RWD-biased



Theoretically, if you remove the front half-shafts it's be a RWD car; but I don't know all the practical nuances that would be involved.

Subaru always brings this AWD model to car shows, and I don't bother taking pictures anymore, since I've seen it so many times.



p.s. only one 'z' in impreza.

[2turboimports]

earlier than 98 the impreza was the L...all the gc8 body parts bolt up to it, like hoods, fenders, wings, etc.

you can find boxer engines alot of different places. what engine were you looking for? USDM wrx, JDM wrx, JDM wrx RA, USDM STI, etc. The list is quite long.

you can make the impreza RWD, although the rear diff is kinda weak. If you go that route it's recommended to beef it up with an r180 diff and beefier axles.

To convert AWD to RWD (impreza wise anyway) remove the center diffrential. Disassemble it removing all rings and pins. Weld it shut. it's made of i think hardened steel or something, so it's not a job for your regular welding machine. Then you can remove the front axles and have fun with your rwd impreza.

all i can say is it's extremely touchy driving a rwd impreza. and all 00-01 gc8's come with rear lsd...can we say kick ass?

[LjasonL]

Someone on NASIOC from Texas has a RWD WRX, I forget the username though.

[2turboimports]

yup, fun stuff. burnouts get a lot of stares

[nhibbert]

Originally Posted by TheLogikal1

the whole boxer thing sounds complicated.

Boxer = low center of gravity = better handling. That's why the 911 handles so well even though the engine is behind/over the rear wheels. Also, the drive shaft comes out of the back of the engine, not the side as in a transverse mounted engine, which is better for an AWD (or RWD). Transverse is better for FWD.

[TheLogikal1]

thanks for the help guys, if this was the 240sx forum, id get my ass flamed to death (id know, im a regular there).

so would you guys recomend a wrx?

i love my 240, but its so unreliable, everything on that car breaks...

[LjasonL]

The community is one of the great things about owning these cars

[nhibbert]

Originally Posted by TheLogikal1

thanks for the help guys, if this was the 240sx forum, id get my ass flamed to death (id know, im a regular there).

so would you guys recomend a wrx?

i love my 240, but its so unreliable, everything on that car breaks...

The WRX is a reliable car, but like any car, if you abuse it, it will break. Look after it and it will last for years.

All Subaru's have full-time all-wheel-drive, which means all four wheels are getting power at all times. You cannot switch it to 2wd mode (the amount of power to each wheel varies depending on the situation, and the model and transmission). The full-time AWD is less complicated than the part-time AWD systems that most manufactures use, so it does not have the same reliability problems that many other makes have. The drive line is also symmetrical which means all the axles are the same length, which results is a very well balanced car. In the past, people have said that Subaru's were cars made by engineer's not marketing departments (i.e. ugly cars, but very well designed). Now they are getting better looking.

As for making a RWD WRX- Why? AWD is the best thing about the car. It's like buying a kick-ass stereo and disabling the woofers.

[TheLogikal1]

simple, i am a big drift nut. i session atleast 2 to 3 times a week (well back in the summer, now that its winter in chicago i hardly get the chance).

ive also read that some imprezas came in fwd only? what models are those? id rather have the awd version since its rwd based so i can have more power to the rear.

[2turboimports]

fwd is the older impreza L's. but any auto impreza can be fwd by taking out a fuse. since it's not a mechanically controlled unit like the MT. the auto's also give something like a 90/10 or 80/20 split instaed of the MT 50/50.

[LjasonL]

Yeah, the auto's are cool like that, it's a much better setup than the manuals AWD.

[nhibbert]

Originally Posted by 2turboimports

fwd is the older impreza L's. but any auto impreza can be fwd by taking out a fuse. since it's not a mechanically controlled unit like the MT. the auto's also give something like a 90/10 or 80/20 split instaed of the MT 50/50.

I was told that the AT has 50/50 split in 1st and reverse, and 80/20 in 2nd, 3rd and D. Can anyone comfirm this?

[Bmw_Babe]

Originally Posted by TheLogikal1

ok i got 3 1/2 questions.

1st, how come i dont see any older imprezzas (96-ish?) for sale with the turbo hood in america? i know ive seen some 2.5rs's with the turbo hood.

2nd where can i purchase ej engine sets? (please name websites)

3rd the imprezza is a boxer engine...so is it fwd based or rwd based? i know the lancer and eclise are fwd based because of the transverse engine, but the whole boxer thing sounds complicated.


lastly, if the imprezza is rwd based, is there any way to disable the 4wd and make it rwd?


sorry yall, ive lived my life in the shadows of rwd nissans so im kinda lost. please bear with me

wats with saying your ugly? you shouldn't put yourself down, people who do that show they are insecure... (sorry im new on here)

[datsunadict]

Aren't subaru AWD systems computer controlled? I know that on the Audi's, the AWD is controlled by a computer. You can just reprogram it. or on the quattro TT's, you can turn a dial on the dash and distribute it however you want.