How exactly does my 90 LS 5MT differ from my 91 SS 4EAT?

[musketeerracing]

And no har har "the second car is better but with a lousy trans". I'm looking for details. Right down to chassis differences, etc.

Here's what I've spotted so far, from the front:

-larger front chin bumper
-larger rad and fans
-turbo, manifold, exhaust, intake, and turbo ancillaries
-intake in hood
-driveshaft shorter
-trans crossmember different
-TCU is there
-6 more wires hooked to the ECU
-no intermittent wipers
-dash shows gear indicator and shift lock symbol
-different center console
-3.9 viscous LSD (whoo-hoo!)
-rear wing
-rear reflector has "turbo"
-larger caliipers, pads, and rotors front and rear.
-half-pleather interior

Here's what I'm trying to get at: I've decided to put the turbo engine from the SS in the LS. I just like the LS more and I owe it. But I want to know every difference so that I optimise the grab before I scrap the SS.

With the bigger brakes: are the master and all the hard and flex hoses the same? ie if i grab the calipers and rotors from the turbo do I have the whole setup?

Does the bigger rad bolt right in? Are any chassis tabs different? Front chin bumper bolt on?

One related question: WHY did the 5MT turbo have a hydraulic clutch? Because the heavier disc made pedal action too stiff with the cable? So if i could live with a heavier action do I need to get a hydrailc clutch, or can I get by with just a heavier pressure plate?

I have a bet with myself re: who will answer this first.

A.

PS sorry to post this in "turbo" but where else would it go?

[IronMonkeyL255]

Just get the entire engine. It's ALL better than what you have.


The hood is sorta up to you. The scoop's only purpose from the factory was to funnel cool air over the exhaust turbine housing.

You may want it if you choose to go the TMIC route.


Make sure you get all of the radiator stuff, because the '91s had an oil cooler that ran oil through the radiator.


The problem with the '91 SS 4EAT was mainly heat . This caused the tranny problems.

I have a '91 SS with a 4EAT and that thing gets DARN hot. I can actually feel it through the center 'hump' and at the gear selector.


Do you know what ratio the rear diff in you LS is?

If it's 3.9, you could just switch that out for the LSD. If not, you can't.


Also, the fuel pump is better, IIRC. The injectors are better, but the n/a injectors may be able to be modified for better flow.......



Pleases, someone correct me if I'm wrong. This is just off the top of my head.

[91White-T]

Few more things I can think of
-The rears rotors are vented.
-Front X-Member is different
-The SS will have every available option
-Suspension is a little "sportier"
-Front has 2-piston calipers(11.9" rotor)
-the SS should have ABS
-Wheels are different(ss has 15's)

You probably already knew these, but its all I can think of.

[MrBean85]

The LS probably has a 4.11 ratio.

[musketeerracing]

Yeah - my LS has an open 4.11. I gather that to use the LSD I'll have to open them both up, swap the LSD into the 4.11, and reshim?

Both cars have ABS.

Only the LS has adjustable speed on the intermittent wipers!

How is the crossmember different? Do I have to swap it? And do you mean the full suspension crossmemebr or the transmission mount?

Ummmm, is there something different about the rear swaybar?

A

[91White-T]

How is the crossmember different? Do I have to swap it?

The front member has a different shape to clear the up pipe. You will have to swap it to fit an EJ22T in a non-turbo car.

[Brat4by4]

Front crossmember along with front swaybar have to be switched over I do believe. I thought it was to clear the downpipe, but it doesn't really matter. Turbo cars have a different front crossmember from the NA counterparts.

Rear swaybar is also larger. But you will have to see if they have the same style links.

Swapping the rotors and calipers should yield you the turbo braking system, potentially. Who knows what the engineers tweaked in the tuning of the brake system. And 15" wheels are required like mentioned before. Josh could probably comment on whether the Master Cylinder bore is smaller than the turbo car or not (i think it is since he swapped his).

And I'm pretty sure you just have to swap over the front bumper cover. I think the chin spoiler is molded into it, but I could be wrong since 91's differ a little from mine.

[musketeerracing]

Wait, are you saying that the crossmember has to be swapped but it's not to clear the downpipe? Why then?

And the LS front swaybar's no good?

Anyone on the cable vs. hydraulic clutch question?

[91White-T]

The front cross member has to clear the UP pipe, not down pipe

[THAWA]

wow lets see:

the scoop is not only for forcing air over the turbo, it also lets the heat rise from the turbo while stationary.

The oil "cooler" made no contact with the radiator at all, it's simply a sandwhich adapter between the oil filter and the block, it's a heat exchanger more than a radiator.

The only difference in the suspension is the rear sway

The front sway shouldn't have to be used matt monson just did this conversion and used his stock bar.

all 90-92 legacys have drop links in the rear if they have a sway bar.

What chin spoiler?

There's three different types of clutch setups for EJ engines.

Cable-push
Hyd-push
Hyd-pull

The Cable-push was used on all NA cars up to somewhere between 96-98

The Hyd-push is used on all NA cars from 96-98 to present

The Hyd-pull is used on all Turbo cars.

The reason behind a pull style clutch opposed to a push style clutch is a pull style clutch is actually a better system. I can't explain it very well but it basically allows the clutch to hold the power better and is more reliable/easier to use.

Your LS should also have a moonroof light in the dash.

The instrument cluster has different gauge lines. Your SS might not have the dots on the vents

Your LS has velour on the seats, door cars, and upper trim, your SS has the pleather (i don't know the real name of it) and escaine (not suede, it's a better material than suede) on the seats, escaine on the door cards and plastic on the upper trim.

Your LS has door entry lights, it also has a drivers kick panel light

Your LS has body matched mirrors and door handles

I dunno what else.

[musketeerracing]

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin bout! No dots on the vent handles. That's the detail I like!

Keep it coming!

A.

[91White-T]

What chin spoiler?

I think he means the front bumper is different.

[musketeerracing]

What chin spoiler?

I think he means the front bumper is different.

Thanks for translating!

[206er]

the grilles are different right?