Various models of RX Turbo sedans

[SUBYDAZZ]

I will re-dig up the arguement that tere was only one model that was an RX, teh Turbo Automatic was a different variant and should not be confused.

Early model (before late 1987) RX only came in 3 colours: Red, White or Black. They only had a checked black & white interior, had different springs than other L-Series sedans (not EPS either), did not have Power Steering, though A/C was an option. There were ugly alloy wheels, power windows were not an option, there were no pockets in the back of the seats, rear disc brakes and rear LSD, which the auto turbo did not have originally either.

You must also understand that Subaru itself was not importing the vehicles into the country at the time, a third party distributor was, and it seems possible that some cars were sold with options that they mightn't otherwise have had, for example, some people swear they had an RX with an auto transmission from the factory.

[FROG]

[quote="SUBYDAZZ"] teh Turbo Automatic was a different variant and should not be confused.QUOTE]

CORRECT IT WAS A GL SEDAN TURBO AUTO


CHEERS

[Subaman]

Im not getting into the auto manual argument again, but I can say there was more than three colours available, like silver, charcol, extra black, a strange greeny blue colour and no Aus RX had power steering from the factory.

[sublime]

Subaru did not call the Automatic turbo an RX so insurance companies would 'go easy' on the insurance premiums.

[timmo]

I've got a modern motor magazine from '86 that has an article on the RX you could borrow it - i dont have a scanner. Theres an online one somewhere on the Group A rally spec model titled "quasi-quattro"

this is the same magazine for sale on ebay if anyones interested

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Modern-Motor-6-8 ... dZViewItem

[Willie]

The RX I had had air cond, however the original owner that I bought the car from had this added (by Subaru) in 1988. I have the original Air Conditioning Warranty Registration slip still. It was fitted at 22709km and as it was fitted after purchase, had 12 months / 20,000km warranty.

Subydaz mentioned white, red and black as the only colours. I have seen a few dark blue ones and a couple of silver ones also. I have never seen a black one, though. Can someone confirm black was available?

The other accesory mine had that no-one has mentioned is central locking, key operated from the drivers door. Was this standard on all RXs, or an optional extra?

Another point not yet mentioned is the diameter of the front drive shafts. I was always led to believe that the RXs had slightly thicker shafts than other models. Was told they needed to be stronger to cope with the extra torque of the turbo motors.

I also believe all RXs had limited slip rear diffs.

I also have the "Subaru New Generation Approved Accessories" booklet from the '86 L series range. It lists all available accessories by "sedan", "wagon", vortex xt", "brumby" and "sherpa". It does not specify the RX, so I assume all listed under "sedan" are applicable to the RX. It does illustrate the RX, so it was definately "Australian delivered" by Subaru.

Cheers,

[DavesB4]

I have to back up your theory about the shafts as well. I have been led to believe that the RX Turbo Shafts were different as well - but I have had some healthy debate from some who tell me otherwise.

My CV rebuilder tells me that these can only be rebuilt and not exchanged. I have a dud inner joint and have had a lot of trouble sourcing a replacement. He also tells me that these shafts are the same as any EA82T with MPFI AND Dual range 4WD AND the Manual tranny - which is pretty much the RX Turbo only.

Mine also has the central locking feature.

R180 LSD - fitted to the rear as well

[discopotato03]

The drive shaft people only exchange because they are in short supply , I only have 3 spares .

Every turbo L or Vortex I've seen had these three ring front drive shafts . I'd say its to do with many cars being part time 4WD read mainly front wheel drive and turbo torque . 2WD turbo Vortex's also have them hence 2 of my spares .

My 86 RX has the central locking thing as well .

I think you can be 99% sure the rear diffs were R160 , anything bigger (R180/R200) is just more weight for no good reason . Rear diffs don't work real hard in an RX turbo because they are so light (~1070 Kg) and a snarling snapping 100 odd Hp . I think you'll also find that the low range gears were taller to stop the torque multiplication of the shorter gears damaging things in the drive line .

Cheers A .

[Outback bloke]

Subydaz mentioned white, red and black as the only colours. I have seen a few dark blue ones and a couple of silver ones also. I have never seen a black one, though. Can someone confirm black was available?

I can confirm it. I had one but mine was extra black. A good friend of ours had one that was black and Subamans brother inlaw had an black one. All of which were factory manual RX.

If you look in the glove box book that came with the RX it has the colours available in the back of it.

They all had an R160 mechanical LSD, central locking, rear discs and chequered interior in the manuals. Autos had all the luxo items but did not have an LSD. They did have discs on the back though.

[Subaman]

The inner and outer CV`s were larger in the turbo`s, as was the spine on the gearbox on the manuals, the Turbo auto`s and the NA MPFI`s ran the same large CV joints but used the standard sized spline on the gearbox. The EJ powered Subys use the same larger spline as the RX. They were actually (from memory) about 134hp in standard trim and with the boost turned up are quite quick cars, even today, as they have a very good power to weight ratio.

Cheers
Grant

[discopotato03]

I thought I'd check the 87 Sube WSM and it quotes :

4-Door Sedan 1800 (Australia models)

4WD RX Turbo .............. 4WD Turbo
MPFI .......................... MPFI
5MT D/R ..................... 3AT
120 PS 5200 ............... Same
134 ft/lbs 2800 ............ Same .


One thing it does say about the 3AT version is that the front diff ratio is 3.454 and the rear is 3.7 like both in the 5MT D/R version . The auto's have a transfer reduction of 0.933 to cater for this difference .

The 4WD Sedan GL carb 3AT has 3.7 front diff and 3.9 rear gears , the transfer reduction is 0.948 .

Just on power figures it quotes 120PS/5200 for Switzerland/Austria/Sweden models (with catalyst) and 136/5600 for other less green countries ie no down pipe cat and slightly warmer cams .
Torque figures are 135/3200 and 145/2800 which is interesting .

It makes me wonder what the dirty version would have made with the spider manifold ...

Cheers A .

[Subaman]

The main reason for the poor HP figures for Aus spec Rx`s was due to lower boost levels from the factory which was done because at the time we only had shit fuel here in Australia, PULP 95 was pretty rare in 1985 an 98 unleaded even rarer. Given the fact that we now have better fuel and with the same amount of boost as those from other countires the HP figures should be the same. Thats why we used to fit the super filler neck from the very early L Series and then run them on super.

[discopotato03]

Yes I did forget the boost pressure thing .

The 87 manual quotes 49.3 - 57.3 kpa (7.25 - 8.42) psi gauge pressure for the Australia Switzerland Sweden Austria catalyst equipt models .

The "Other" countries read less emissions regulated ones (no down pipe Cat/slightly warmer cams) ran 56 - 64 kpa (8.23 - 9.41) psig .

So the difference averages out to 53.3 vs 60 kpa (7.84 vs 8.82 psig) .
Its not impossible that the grubby countries got 16 extra horsepower and 1 extra ft/lb of torque from ~ +1 pound of boost . The significant thing is that their 136 peak Hp was developed at a quoted 5600 revs and our slightly lower spec catalyst equipt ones the 120 was developed at 5200 revs .

Turbo engines thrive on having low pressure (atmospheric pressure is best but virtually impossible to achieve) behind the turbine which is why every sharpie wants to fit a drainpipe exhaust to their turbo car .
Cat converters were much less sophisticated in the middle 80's than they are today - well the better current ones anyway . Like you said 80's ULP was somewhere between mouthwash and power kerosene so very much low octane garbage . Todays 95/96/98/100 PULP is better but the demons you're trying to beat are not just detonation . Sure higher octane fuel pushes the detonation threshold up but it doesnt fix the high exhaust manifold temperature and pressure problems .

A good if dated reference book is Corky Bells Maximum Boost , I suggest interested people read it because it will open your eyes up to whats really required in a powerful reliable street turbo engine .
If more people did we'd see less of this - bought turbo car or engine/filled car with PULP/screwed up boost/killed engine . Its going on all the time and cost's people fortunes .

Cheers A .

[Subaman]

[Outback bloke]

Put up a link to a bigger one so we can read it.

[BrennyV]

man thats like the one at MMS in Malaga of Rob Herridge in there White RX Leone

[Subaman]

Bigger one here

[BrennyV]

thats going on my wall at work

[BlackMale]

Champion. Thanks Subaman

[DavesB4]

Interesting note with the brochure (there was one for sale on EBay recently) is that the listing which mentions 3rd Production Rally Car Class NSW Rally Championship (J Atkinson/G Jones) is actually John Atkinson (from Bega at the time I believe) and he is Chris Atkinson's father.

Chris has a 3rd at Monte Carlo and a 2nd place in Mexico in the 2008 World Rally Championship out of 3 rounds.

Who was it said that "from little things, big things grow"??