1995-1999 Traction Control?

[evolutionmovement]

As the title says, I'm wondering if the 2nd gen Legacy (and/or Impreza) had traction control. IIRC, the 2.5 did, but I'm wondering about the 2.2.

Looks like due to cost reasons, I'll be buying a 2.2 parts car as a donor for my Tigershark project instead of an S2000. There goes <7.5 lbs./HP for about <10 (oh, boo hoo), but saves me probably 6 grand. Anyway, since the CG is now going to be even lower and the engine making more low-end torque sent to a single rear wheel, I'm wondering if I'll have access to TC with the ABS (which I'll be using due to a lack of resources to figure out brake proportioning on such a vehicle, so it's a safety crutch until I can do something about it). If the 2.5 has it, but not the 2.2, I might buy a beat 2.5 to get the TC and use a different engine (or build my spare EJ22T to run N/A ((I need to use the single-exit turbo manifold anyway)) or go with a JDM DOHC N/A 2.0). But the sooner I can find out, the sooner I can start designing the chassis beyond the sketch stage.

Also, I just spent 3 hours unsuccessfully looking for a definite answer: does anyone know if an RX-7 transmission bolts up to an EJ??

[555BCTurbo]

I don't think any Subarus had traction control until very recently

[evolutionmovement]

Yeah, I think you're right. I'm only finding references to the new ones, but I believe a salesman (yeah, I know) mentioned the 2.5GT had it years ago because I remember saying something about that being superfluous. Dammit, a salesman lied to me?! Well, there's always the original TC—my right foot. Still have to see how practical it is to squeeze the width of EJ within the car in the first place, but it superficially looks like regulations for the minimum horizontal separation of headlights will dictate that I have to make the fuselage wide enough that it will fit. Of course, that's the sheetmetal, not the chassis rails. Maybe if I just get real clever with the way I instal the engine...

Why couldn't I be into stamp collecting? Or at least have the writing thing be enough.

[mike-tracy]

With the research I have done, only the 2nd Gen Legacy's with FWD had TCS (not sure if all did). The Canadian models also had this as an option (called something else), but from what I could find, just on FWD.

My owners manuals has a section on the TCS, and the gauge cluster on my 96 has a spot for a TCS light, which according to the manual blinks when in use.

[evolutionmovement]

Thanks for looking into it for me! That's interesting. So that means there were fwd Canadian 2nd gens when there weren't any fwd US models after 1994. Seems odd with Canada's colder climate, but then, maybe Canadians know about the magic of snow tires and how to drive in snow. Getting a hold of one of those would be too much a PITA.

[mike-tracy]

There were FWD 95's in the US, I've seen them, both manual and autos in Pull-a-part. OBD I also.

[evolutionmovement]

Weird. There wasn't supposed to have been. I don't want OBDI anyway.

[mike-tracy]

Also seen California-spec 1995's with OBD-II.

[evolutionmovement]

Damn you west coast people!

[n2x4]

I can validate all the info posted citing the FSM, except for the FWD only TCS. Not sure about that part. Subaru offered FWD until 96.

From examining the FSM, the old TSC/VDC system doesn't seem half bad. YAW and steering position sensor included!

[evolutionmovement]

That would be ideal if I could find one, but not enough to pay to ship across country. Don't know how useful a full-on stability system would be, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt as long as I could disable it. On paper, the rear end should only be stepping out with the throttle, which is what I want. I need to build a scale model of the chassis and mock up the drivetrain to see if the EJ fits. Unfortunately, there are very few longitudinal applications to choose from for this. The S2000 would be great, but is expensive and the Miata engine is weak, outdated, and not very efficient (except for the newest one, but that's more money). I love the EJ, even if the lower cg is actually a little of a hindrance in this case in terms of weight transfer for traction, so I hope I can fit it without having to make the thing too wide. Damn headlight regs already dictate my width to a degree, but at least they're workable aesthetically. The EJ's width could possibly ruin my aesthetics, some aerodynamics, and my turning circle. I guess I just need to get modeling.