legacycentral bbs

4EAT 101 “Best Kept Secret”

http://www.xcceleration.com/4EAT-101.htm

Thanks for sharing.

Josh,

I'm not certain how much credence i put in this guy's article, but he mentioned something about getting a different torque converter. Is this feasible and actually beneficial?

I mean, he's mostly referring to wrxs i guess, but would something like that work on a first gen legacy AT?

Yeah....there's a few things I skimmed over that I might question...

Regarding the torque converter, yes you could get a higher stall torque converter. Your best bet would be to contact someone like IPT and see what they would charge for a higher stall torque converter. Due to the age of the car, they may suggest getting a new converter they will then modify. Best suggestion is to just call and see what they say.

There may be a similar performance trans shop in the Seattle area. You might try contacting Delta Cams and see if they have anyone they would recommend around the area.

Awesome thanks Josh.

Do you think it will have any real performance gain? Or maybe "worthwhile" is a better choice of words.

Do the power mod. DOEEET!!!!

Haha I'm working on it Mike. Just taking suggestions for some more slight performance. I think the torque converter, even if it was a viable solution, is way more work than I'm willing to do, and significantly more effort than the power mode mod, but just seeing what the possibilities are.

Who's actually done the power mode mod in the area?

originalcyn wrote:Awesome thanks Josh.

Do you think it will have any real performance gain? Or maybe "worthwhile" is a better choice of words.

Honestly, modding 4EAT's can be very costly.....and while it may help hold higher power levels better, I'm not really sure if I could personally justify spending the money for a car that is around the stock hp levels or a little higher.

I'm not saying that the mods wouldn't be helpful at stock hp levels, but I'm not sure they're the most cost effective.

I've seen that before. The WRX VTD 4EAT is so different that very little of that would apply to us (especially the shift programming and everything regarding the AWD system).

Who's actually done the power mode mod in the area?

I'm not in the area, but I've done the Power Mode mod. It was honestly just a novelty until I started Auto-Xing, since it kicks on with a rapid throttle jab. I can engage it with the throttle when needed much faster than a switch if I'm off the track. But then again everyone drives different, I've heard of people who like to leave it on because of the higher shift points and more frequent kick-downs (I personally spend too much on gas as it is, I wouldn't mind having a ECO mode that keeps shift points 20-40% lower under all conditions).

Thanks for the input James. I tend to punch it harder from a stop until i get to speed. I was kind of hoping that because I drive like that it might save me a little fuel, but that's probably an unreasonable request.

More 4EAT info:
Phase 1 4EAT- 1987.5-1998 - Endwrench

All AWD Impreza, Legacy, Legacy Outback, Forester, Tribeca, and XV vehicles

Subaru AWD explained

Phase 2 4EAT stuff

SUBARU SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

originalcyn wrote:Thanks for the input James. I tend to punch it harder from a stop until i get to speed. I was kind of hoping that because I drive like that it might save me a little fuel, but that's probably an unreasonable request.

Haha, if you drive like that then you may already be engaging power mode when you do it. Even if you aren't, switching it on will make the car hold each gear longer before shifting, so no, you wouldn't save any fuel lol.

Yeah, perhaps. I noticed that my power mode light rarely comes on any more. I think it stopped coming on when I changed my intake, so i'm never really certain whether it's on or not.

Power Mode is engaged when the TCU sees a certain pattern in the TPS signal (indicating a rapid jab at the throttle). It shouldn't be affected by anything you did with the intake unless you messed with the TPS (on the throttle body).

Thank you for the clarification. That's what I also understood. It's just weird that I lost it at approximately the same time. I don't remember doing anything to the TPS, so that shouldn't be it. It's probably just one of those coincidences.