legacycentral bbs

So ive got a 91 turbo 5 speed turbo legacy sedan. I tried to launch it the other day on the street and it almost made a bang sound... like you could hear it hook really hard It feels fine to drive, but im wonder the proper way to launch an AWD car, i want to take it to the drag strip but im afraid im going to blow something up

I suggest you check the transmission fluid.

if you don't have a performance clutch and you try to rev is up and drop the clutch to launch, you are going to need a new clutch real soon.

manuals aren't like auto's where you can brake torque, to build boost and get a good launch.



so the bang sound you made was prob, you clutch hitting really and most likely doing some damage to.


this is all in my homble opoinion of course..

Yikes. The next bang you will hear is a broken tranny.

Hahaha yea man no kiddin... I want a dual plate clutch sometime down the road

My best launches, the very few that I've attempted, have come from reving to ~2200rpm and slipping the clutch somewhat, as opposed to 'dropping it'.
However, being on a N/A tranny, and liking my clutch to last more than 6k miles, I've only done that approx. twice.

I suspect it was your rear end hitting the frame.

1 bad launch = broken tranny


At the dragstrip, I would rev to 5500, and slip the clutch until the car goes...makes for great 60' times...but also great way to fry your clutch/flywheel

On my GVR4 5500RPM fast slips were the way to take off (ACT 2600lb clutch).
My poor OBS-Ts clutch will not allow for fast slip launches anymore.

BXSS wrote:On my GVR4 5500RPM fast slips were the way to take off (ACT 2600lb clutch).

Cool car. Do you still have it?

ciper wrote:

BXSS wrote:On my GVR4 5500RPM fast slips were the way to take off (ACT 2600lb clutch).

Cool car. Do you still have it?

NO KIDDING! Must be nice owning both sides of the epic battle of the early '90s. I saw a punkass 16yo driving a mint black GVR4 last summer and I actually felt hatred for him. I think in need therapy.

Nope GVR4 = Dead - (My GVR4 was mint, low mile, 1 owner, & was #9 of 1000 made in '92).

I actually was looking for a Mint GVR4 when mine was killed but could not find one in the northeast.
My OBS popped up @ a good price & I needed a car so I was started on Subarus.

The GVR4s are very nice sleepers, comfortable, & easy to get into the 12's with a few bolt-ons.

I must admit the SS may be even more of a sleeper as no-one mods them in my neck of the woods - I'm not even sure they know these cars exist up here.
The VR4s tend to get modded.

GVR4's are super cool - it was between one of those and the SS when I was shopping last (VR4's get fast quick... but I like the SS beter for many reasons I won't go into here). I have had one of the local GVR4's totally spank me in my SS out on the Hwy, he just took off like I was standing still (he ran 12's here at altitude)


ANyhow - Launching the SS! I've been pretty sucessful and consistent by bouncing the revs around 4-5000 as the staging lights are set, then when the lights drop I move it up to 5500-6000 and almost drop it, but it's more of a fast slip.
Last time out (last week) I ran 2.025/2.072/2.051/2.053/1.996 60's, which is pretty good for these power levels and altitude.

I have a stock clutch as well.

And I second the comment that the "bang" you heard was part of your tranny hitting the frame somewhere (front or rear?) - check the condition of your mounts (tranny and motor) to see if there's some damage somewhere.

Yeah I forgot about the Bang, but me & 4 friends had GVR4s @ the same time & my buddy's car used to "bang" on hard launches.

It turned out to be a Loose Rear Diff, so +1 on something in the driveline moving & hitting the chassis.

Another friend had changed alot of suspension components trying to fix the "bang", & did not believe it was as simple as a loose rear diff - but it was problem solved...