Turbo attempt

[devej22]

Hey guys, been planing this for ages and finaly got started converting my GX into a WGX ;)

Car: 1990 Liberty S1 GX wagon 2wd

Donor: 1995 WRX

So far i have the rear in (have done this before and took me half the time then last time) with a 4.111 ratio diff.

Dash and wiring is out, concidering installing WRX dash.

Today removed the engine and gearbox. Waiting for the front cut to be delivered. Still needs a bit more work to accept the other parts, but will take car of that tomorrow hopfully.

Some photos for your pleasure, sorry about the quailty, camera phone.

No engine and king springs in the rear, can anyone say low rider?
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1518/dsc00300sa8.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9270/dsc00299kb4.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3442/dsc00298ek5.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1852/dsc00297at8.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3422/dsc00296wn0.jpg

[Legacy555]

good luck with the project mate .just take ur time to get it right :tu

[devej22]

Thanks dude, 2 mins for the first post lol ur quick. Cant wait to get it all together... seems so far away.

[rs guy]

that will be a nice conversion once your done

as said already dont rush and take your time
will turn out tops

[SIKRST]

nice start!

i love pulling my car apart and putting it back together...this must be awesome!

[devej22]

i love pulling it apart but not back together, hopfully getting the cut tomorrow morning, want the mechanicals in by tomorrow avo if all goes well.

[BenTZ]

looks the goods mate, good luck with it all, after converting you wont look back :D

[devej22]

i'll look back to see how much i just won by lol

[BenTZ]

lol it will bea shock after driving the ej22.

[devej22]

i drove this thing around the block once, it was shocking. I have a sedan which i converted from 2wd to awd b4 but this is a whole new ball game, with much better results. Cant wait, just hope i dont have any trouble.

Your lucky u had access to a workshop with hoist etc. Im using a block and tackle and the tree u see in the photos to take the engine out. Talk about ghetto lol. Works when your desperate i suppose.

[Ads]

Looking good so far Sam :tu. I hope you don't come across too many gremlins. Make sure you come past for a squiz once it's all in/up and running. I'm starting to sway back towards converting mine, for the experience mainly :D.

[devej22]

Yeah dude, thanks for the parts u saved me heaps of trouble, go for the conversion man, put those rexies to good use lol. Could come and help you out if need be. Jump onto the WGX bandwagon :D

[subarursliberty]

Im using a block and tackle and the tree u see in the photos to take the engine out. Talk about ghetto lol. Works when your desperate i suppose.

Nothing wrong with that. Do the same with the gearbox. Put a bolt the the top mount and get a mate to lift it with the block and tackle whil you lift the rear and guide it into place. Did this last xmas. Best thing I thought of.

Good luck with the rest. I hope it all turns out.

[92RSLib]

nice one mate how mush is it costin ya?

[devej22]

Thought of another way to do it, dont really want to disconnect the box and put it on again (done this b4 and its a bitch) Going to try and lift the chassis over the xmember, motor and gearbox, then using the pulling and a jack to support the weight of everything and start bolting everything to the body. If plan A fails, plan B sees the gearbox out :D

Cut SHOULD be here today, wish me luck

[SHEPPO3930]

i think you'll find oversteer used an excavator to lift his car up and over the motor/box/members/suspension assembly. search and u'll see, its worth a look :)

good luck with the conversion, u will never forget the first drive!

[devej22]

Hey guys, just an update, cut came in today (rather late but better then never) dash came out, looked over the cut again 60,000kms look genuine. Anywho, got some extra goodies too, 2 HKS gauges and a turbo timer.

This is where the fun begins. Can anyone confirm the follow applied model code as a WRX type RA?

GC8C47D
Engine code: EJ20DW4HJ
Trans code: TY752VB3EA

I checked this web page http://www.catherineandken.co.uk/sti/wrx.html and its telling me it might be. There is a IC water spray bottle, button etc and it seems factory fitted. There is also an injector on top of the inlet manifold. Check out the photos. IF this is an RA i think i got the bargin of the century!!!

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/821/dsc00008tg7.jpg
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9307/dsc00007lr6.jpg
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6421/dsc00009dr0.jpg

I know i might be stretching my luck alittle but would this mean that this has a DCCD gearbox? :P

[Legacy555]

that is a ra motor.with the fifth injector.great buy mate .if it has DCCD it should have the controls and the thing on the dash

[Marty]

bonus! gotta love that

[devej22]

no DCCD i found this

JDM Impreza WRX RA MY95 TY752VB3EA 3.454 2.333 1.750 1.354 0.972 3.416 1.000 3.900 Viscous (4kgf) Open

JDM Impreza WRX STi RA MY95 TY752VB3EA 3.454 2.333 1.750 1.354 0.972 3.416 1.000 3.900 DCCD (35:65) Open DCCD fitted off production line

Now i have source a 3.9 diff!!! arrggh!

[Legacy555]

the gearbox will be close ratio .which is great fun .quick to get off the line .u will love it

[devej22]

So its got closer gear ratios, but a high diff, hmmmmm. Now i really cant wait for this car to be done. Still cant believe it, im stoked!

[Legacy555]

make sure u post pic of the conversion .and once ur finish let us know how it drives

[Ads]

Congrats on the bonus Sam! How did you go with the wiring and how is the rest coming along? Looks like you needed a 3.9 diff after all!

P.S. Did you end up picking up the exhaust sheild and find those brackets for the T piece somewhere?

[d_generate]

Here is the gear box chart, def a 95 RA
http://spda-online.ca/modules/tinycontent/rewrite/tc_28.html

[devej22]

Hey Adam nah havnt had a chance to pick up the shield yet been busy as hell. When to get the brackets from a wrecker but wouldnt lend me his tools to pull them off, so i have to go back and get them. Yeah bummer about the diff lol but ive found one so all is well.

D-generate, thats where i got the info on the gear ratios on the above post. Yeah its def an RA, what luck aye? I didnt check the applied modle code untill after i bought it and it was delivered. Dunno why, eh, im happy :D

[Fergo]

where did you get that cut from and how much...you lucky b*****d

[devej22]

Hey guys, just an update. Had a good day today, took the engine out of the cut and is now in the engine bay although its not bolted up yet. Tomorrows another day for that. Anyway, all went without an issue except had to modify the firewall to accept the rubber gormet for the engine wiring. Found it alittle odd it didnt already have the opening but all is well. Hopeing to getting it started tomorrow.

Heres some eye candy.

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7410/dsc00011tq7.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9486/dsc00012es4.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3333/dsc00015eg6.jpg
This is the hole that needed to be cut out, nothing major
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1363/dsc00018ll1.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/5130/dsc00020tm1.jpg
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9678/dsc00024jw0.jpg

[devej22]

Hey guys, good news got it started today! YAY for me! Started first go too! Almost there, hopfully should be done by the end of the week.

Things still to do

Change rear diff
Tidy up wiring behind the dash
Install dash
Install and bleed brakes, clutch etc.
Exhuast needs to be fabed
Need to get a feul pump and probably install a WRX scoop.
A good clean and rego and she should be good to go.

Hope the rest of the work goes as smoothly.

Cheers, Sam

[Ads]

Nice work Sam, a very good effort for the space/set up you have! How did she run for the most part? You will have to take me for a run once it's good to go :D. I hope everything goes well for the remaining jobs.

P.S. Do you still need the exhaust heat shield?

[Marty]

and on grass too! good job mate...

[Legacy555]

looks good mate .once u get it all finish .u'll have a big smile for weeks lol

[SIKRST]

great effort mate..cant wait to see the finished product!

[devej22]

Hey guys, havnt done much since them (damn tafe). Yeah Adam, ran well and sounds really good and loud, no exhaust yet :D. Im going to need the shield i just really havnt had time to come around and get it. Should come around soon.

One question, does anyone know if the RA has a closed deck? Because these are JDM cars, information is so hard to find.

According to this website, the same year model WRX was open but it mensions the RA is a closed, can anyone confirm this?

http://www.catherineandken.co.uk/sti/engine.html

Any physical identification that could tell if it is? Obviously without pulling it apart and inspecting it?

Cheers for the comments guys.

[Legacy555]

I think most likey it will be a closed deck .i think the open deck came in about 97 .if im wrong someone well tell u :)

[devej22]

Hmmm, whats a safe boost level with stock everything except with a walbro?

[devej22]

Hey guys, just an update. Got the WRX dash in, just putting the finnishing touches on now. Bought a 3" turbo back from a GC8, have the dump pipe fitted need to get the rest modified to fit.

Having a bit of an issue with the tail shaft, doesnt seem to want to slide in nicley, just gets jammed and stuck and no matter how hard i try it wont slide all the way in. It feels as though the splines meet and slide alittle but then it just wont move? Splines and size look correct. Any ideas/hints on how to do this?

Cheers, Sam

[BenTZ]

got any pics of the wrx dash? how u go with the rear harness integration? did you use all the wrx heater boxes etc? how well does the dash line up with the door trims? its looking great at the moment mate, hope to see you on the cruise.

[devej22]

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2011/dsc00036et2.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9119/dsc00037my2.jpg

The rear harness is almost done, got the main ones out of the way, fuel pump, lights, indicators etc. Used all the WRX gear under the dash cause the liberty ones are much different. WRX ones dont bolt right in but fit right, just need to mod some of the brackets, except the heat core. Door trims dont match that well, but they look ok i'll get some pics soon.

[SIKRST]

getting there mate...slowly but surely!

[scrim]

Is it very difficult to change the whole dash over like this? Would this mean you wouldn't have to modify the wiring harness?

[devej22]

SIKRST i dont get much time to work on it, and i have done nearly all the work myself. Wont be long now!!!

Scrim, i had installed the front WRX wiring harness in the car. It needs little modification but nothing to heavy, the whole reason for changing the dash was to make the conversion easier and use the wrx cluster. Besides i like the wrx dash alittle more then the liberty one. Im sure alot wouldnt agree, but eh, to each there own :D

[Legacy555]

looking good mate .just run the factory ecu for ue boost .i think it will boost to 14-or 15psi.which is pretty good

[devej22]

i think factory is around 13psi?? closer to 12.something. My real concern isnt that at the moment. The tailshaft wont go into the gearbox no matter how hard i try? Is it possible to be different? I think the shaft is of a gen1 liberty, any help? This is the last thing that is keeping me from driving this thing!

[scrim]

Does the wiring side become much more simple if you use the WRX dash?

[devej22]

Does the wiring side become much more simple if you use the WRX dash?

Yup, no need to intergrate engine wiring harness into dash/body harness. I have lost some luxuries like power mirrors, but i will redo the wiring for that later. The wiring is still what it is from the factory so no need to waste time hunting down potential problems on the wiring part. Gives you time to worry about other things, like drive shafts! GRRR

[devej22]

Took the car for a drive today to the exhaust shop, got the rest of the exhaust fitted. Wouldnt boost more then 0.5kg/cm2 (about 7psi). This was because the 90 degree BOV bend had blown off again after i "fixed it". Got home and fixed the bend with another method, this one looks fool proof, if this doesnt work, i'll have the purchase another one.

Anywho, took it for a spin again and this time it boosted all the way to 1kg/cm2 (about 14PSI or 1bar) thats with the standard ECU (no boost controller). WOW! is my only expression! This thing is NUTS!

Had a few problems, Check engine light went on, 33 speed sensor (havnt attached the cable to the speedo yet). Tyres scrubbing on the rear lip, THIS IS REALLY BAD! i can smell the tyres burrning, i think the wheels are the wrong offset, need to bang the lips out off the way. And finally, looks like some coolant was escaping from some where, it was to dark to see exactly where, but not a large issue, I HOPE!

All in all, im pretty happy with it so far, still need to do the bonnet scoop, adjust the clutch alittle, bit more wiring and need to source alittle more dash parts.

Cheers, Sam

[niggel_e]

I know what it's like to take it out and finally get boost after driving a ej22. After a few days of just easing in making sure everthing is ok and then woot you hit full boost and it's just off its face. I put a 93 JDM wrx in my stocko lib as well and mine pulls 12psi (by the gauge which means it could be anything) but still it's a great feeling. Congrats on the work done and I love the wrx dash, look the goods.

[scrim]

sorry if i've missed something.. but are you driving this around without any scoop? with a wrx ic?

[devej22]

Cheers niggel, nice to finally get to drive it after all that work. Fruits of labour as they say. Kinda hard not to give it some stick, its all i want to do lol.

Yeah scrim no scoop and WRX ic, not driving its real hard tho. I know its not to a good thing heat soak blah blah, detonation blah blah, but i didnt drive it for more then 5 mins. I also have other reasons why i cant drive it much, reasons i dont want to mension in a public forum ;). Scoop should be sorted soon.

[scrim]

ah fair enough. I didn't think running it with no scoop would be very good for it! Would an RS scoop get enough air into the rexy ic?

[Rob]

Good work mate, another for the WGX brigade, and go the wagon!!

Have you considered WAIC?? keep the sleeper look, especially as it's a wagon, then you don't have to destroy your bonnet?!

[devej22]

RS bonnet doesnt doesnt flow enough air for the IC, concidered WAIC but though against it. The thought of putting up with more work and possible pump failure is alittle to much for me. Also, this is a much less complicated system, and less thing can go wrong. Plus less weight.

Im also concidering removing the airconditioning for the same reason. See how long i last without that lol.

[scrim]

an rs bonnet won't flow enough? damn. I was hoping to use a rs bonnet on mine for a while after I convert it.. but might have to go straight to the front mount..

[devej22]

Yeah probably best to go with a front mount, i also think that the RS scoop doesnt have ducting to force the air over the cooler.

Took the car for another drive today, hit fuel cut 3 times!!! the boost is def spiking, need to get this rectified.

The wheels dont scrub anymore, i liped the rear quaters. Radiator tank decided to give way, that was the reason for all the water yesterday, so i replaced the whole radiator with a spare i had laying around.

Can anyone recommend a way to stop the spiking?

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_1836/article.html

This seems good, anyone recommend a good needle/bleed valve?

[turbowrxdriftz]

All that money on a turbo.. what a waste. my mate from out west did an AWD conversion on his liberty and now it beats turbo wrx's. Its fully awesome and runs so low now. But i feel sorry for u wasting your money on a turbo

[niggel_e]

All that money on a turbo.. what a waste. my mate from out west did an AWD conversion on his liberty and now it beats turbo wrx's. Its fully awesome and runs so low now. But i feel sorry for u wasting your money on a turbo

Edited due to me having a bad day and taking it out on the first little dicklick that crossed my path...

Aplogies

[[MARZS]]

All that money on a turbo.. what a waste. my mate from out west did an AWD conversion on his liberty and now it beats turbo wrx's. Its fully awesome and runs so low now. But i feel sorry for u wasting your money on a turbo

who this fu(k is this guy, coming on here and bagging out someone's gad work....and bagging out a subaru on a subaru forum???

got three words for him

GET ****ED ****

btw, car looks like it coming along really well. will be interesting to see how the WRX dash ends up fitting with all the bits and pieces on it

good work champ :)

[Jaz]

Gents, I would like you to welcome back our favourite spammer from a couple of weeks ago - the above account was opened at the same time as the banned ones.

Ignore them and they'll go away.

devej22 - awesome work! must be a pain in the butt working so close to the street and having to put your tools away every time you want to walk away from the project!

[devej22]

Cheers guys, dont worry about turbowrxdriftz even if his not a spammer, his just sad lol.

Sorry to hear about your bad day niggel. Had a bad day yesterday, almost had 1.5 tons of BMW crush me. Was working underneath it when the jack slipped. Luckily it had its wheels on and didnt go down to far. Just touched my the bottoms of my ribs. Someone up there is looking out for me.

Jaz- i spend 30mins aday packing up after myself, its annoying as hell! But the job is nearly done. I also forgot a socket set outside yesterday, my old man saw out about 6 this morning, lucky no one touched it. Another factor to the bad day.

Hopfully getting rego at the end of the week.

[scrim]

what kind of process is involved in getting your car legal again after doing the conversion?

[devej22]

As far as im concerned, nothing. Everything was bolted on and nothing was modified or fabricated. That chassis also came as a turbo so its been desgined to withstand that amount of power. As long as the brakes have been upgraded, which they have, i dont see why any of it should be an issue.

[scrim]

because your using the wrx engine would this change this? As it is different to the standard RS? Asking because I thought you had to get it looked at by a engineer to make sure it was all done proply, and I also thought you had to get a mod plate? feel free to steer me in the right direction!

[niggel_e]

don't 'neeeeed' a mod plate. but if you are going to drive the car on the street then it is certainly best to. I did, and it's not that big a deal even with wrx engine cause it all bolts into the same places on the subframe. In tassie if you fit an engine with 15% more power it has to be approved, wrx or gt legacy or aus rs all fit that category for gx. Prolly different for every state tho regarding what needs mod approvaling.

[scrim]

After its all approved and you obtain a mod plate is there any more hidden fee's related to getting it on the road?

[devej22]

Im not sure about tassie, but here theres no need for mod plates. You should check with your local road authority.

[devej22]

Just an update, took it today to get a blue slip, had some trouble. Exhaust needs to be replaced to stock, and there is also trouble in relation to the driveline and VIN number. It was a 2wd auto now an AWD manual. The VIN number doesnt match up to the AWD code (obviously), the mechanic has to ask the RTA to see if this needs an engineers report. But because this was an option (just like the turbo engine) this is unlikley. I'll keep you guys updated.