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AVO Turbokit - the Install


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Here's a quickie, rolling start to 65ish. Basically first through third gear, I shift at about 6000rpm. You'll see by the weather I couldn't do a video outside of the car. I'll get to that when I can.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MWmNSPe5A]YouTube - AVO turbo kit - rolling start to 60[/ame]

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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19 hours of driving later update: Well, if you are worried about this kit not holding up for extended periods of time (as if the Mojave Subiefest drive wasn't enough!), I logged in approx. 19 hours of straight driving from the North end of Seattle to the Auto Club Speedway in, um, the Fontana area. Average gas mileage at, ahem, something north of 75, I logged 25mpg going up the passes, 26mpg on semi-flat roads, and 28-29mpg every time traffic forced me below 70.

 

I had changed the oil right before the trip, and despite all expectations otherwise for my (as of now) 190k motor, it isn't burning any oil. The clutch is also holding together, despite being the original one - I'll probably replace it as a preventative measure in the near future, though. It's slipping a bit on launches. I suppose it also to be expected, having roughly double the hp and torque as stock.

 

On the trip, I still do wish for higher gearing, you really don't want to go over 80mph (not that I ever, ever, everrrrr did that) simply because of the rpm's. I'm not saying it won't go over 80, or that it's in the slightest bit reluctant to go over 80 (much the opposite...), it's just a bit noisy at 4000+ rpm.

 

OTOH, the gearing is about perfect for intimidating LA drivers. I don't think a single one of them has ever seen a Outback that can scoot quite as fast as this one does. I believe I've had the dubious pleasure of watching every Integra/G35/Volkswagon owner in LA attempt to go around the outside of me on one of the billion on/off ramps in the LA freeway system. And then pull up next to me and stare after they've had to spend a few minutes catching up to the Outback once the road straightened out.

 

If anybody wants to catch up with me in LA, I'll be at the Redline Time Attack all day tomorrow. I can even get some more free passes if somebody wants to check out the event.

Well, I'm next to the track right now as well, if anybody wants to go for some beer at Hooters.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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19 hours of driving later update: Well, if you are worried about this kit not holding up for extended periods of time (as if the Mojave Subiefest drive wasn't enough!), I logged in approx. 19 hours of straight driving from the North end of Seattle to the Auto Club Speedway in, um, the Fontana area. Average gas mileage at, ahem, something north of 75, I logged 25mpg going up the passes, 26mpg on semi-flat roads, and 28-29mpg every time traffic forced me below 70.

 

I had changed the oil right before the trip, and despite all expectations otherwise for my (as of now) 190k motor, it isn't burning any oil. The clutch is also holding together, despite being the original one - I'll probably replace it as a preventative measure in the near future, though. It's slipping a bit on launches. I suppose it also to be expected, having roughly double the hp and torque as stock.

 

On the trip, I still do wish for higher gearing, you really don't want to go over 80mph (not that I ever, ever, everrrrr did that) simply because of the rpm's. I'm not saying it won't go over 80, or that it's in the slightest bit reluctant to go over 80 (much the opposite...), it's just a bit noisy at 4000+ rpm.

 

OTOH, the gearing is about perfect for intimidating LA drivers. I don't think a single one of them has ever seen a Outback that can scoot quite as fast as this one does. I believe I've had the dubious pleasure of watching every Integra/G35/Volkswagon owner in LA attempt to go around the outside of me on one of the billion on/off ramps in the LA freeway system. And then pull up next to me and stare after they've had to spend a few minutes catching up to the Outback once the road straightened out.

 

If anybody wants to catch up with me in LA, I'll be at the Redline Time Attack all day tomorrow. I can even get some more free passes if somebody wants to check out the event.

Well, I'm next to the track right now as well, if anybody wants to go for some beer at Hooters.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

www.avoturboworld.com

how much for the kit? and how do i buy one?

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Ah, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the gearing on the 5MT because of DD issues or engine strain. It's simply that with nearly double the torque as before the turbo kit, it loafs along at very little throttle now at 80. So it's just a wish for GT gearing simply to get a bit more mpg out of the car. That said, I always wished for even taller gearing on my turbo Legacy GT, so it's a "would be nice to have" thing.

 

The 4EAT is probably one of the more robust transmissions out of Subaru, given that it's been used for so long in so many applications. It'll have less issues than the 5EAT, which is prone to overheating when driven hard. I'm sure that when I start towing a trailer around, I'm going to be wishing for the 4EAT. So, no, I don't anticipate any DD issues or highway issues with a 4EAT.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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Some images from the show:

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/redline/redline_001.jpg

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/redline/redline_015.jpg

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/redline/redline_007.jpg

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/redline/redline_020.jpg

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

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Well, it's only -6 degrees or so here in Seattle, but the turbo kit isn't having any issues whatsoever. I still have the summer tires on it, so shouldn't have been out driving, I suppose. But it wasn't an issue at all, I just set the throttle controller into ec3 mode, and it just cruised through the snow and ice. It's so easy compared to my good ol' method of snow driving in the past (ie, super small throttle inputs) that it's almost a snoozer to be driving out there.

 

Most of the sheer terror comes from watching the other drivers, especially the ones in "4wd" SUV's and soft-roaders that suddenly had their vehicle decision justified and haven't yet realized physics still apply to AWD/4WD vehicles when it comes to braking and turning....

 

Regards,

 

Paul "ya just turn in reallllly early" Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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Paul,

 

AVO rocks and this is awesome. I've been looking to pickup an OB but have only looked at the 3.0 H6 variants because I do tow and have been put-off by the low H4 output and the mileage and power shortcomings of the 3.0 H6. With appropriate transmission and engine oil cooling, think this might actually work with an 4EAT (or even an 5MT) for what I'm looking for.

 

Do you recommend adding the Subaru oil cooler (or even an aux oil cooler) with this turbo setup or is the stock oil/water cooling sufficient?

 

Keep up the great work.

- Pro amore Dei et patriam et populum -
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The stock oil/water cooling is likely sufficient, but this is also a case where it doesn't hurt to be safe. If towing is a big enough priority, I'd probably go with the 4EAT + transmission cooler, it's probably the most robust overall. The 5MT will certainly do it, but I think the stock clutch would need to go. It's holding up with two, uh, big boned guys in the front and about 600+ lbs of inventory in the rear, but if we started adding another 1000+ lbs of tow, I'm not sure how long it'd last.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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Paul,

 

All good points and mi esposa would appreciate not rowing gears if she doesn't have to do that. BTW, Stg 2+ on the LGTW and I'm going back to the stock clutch which was more than adequate for 100K miles.

- Pro amore Dei et patriam et populum -
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Latest on the turbokit. First, the non-exciting news - it's still running! No issues in the colder weather, haven't broken anything, still pulls like a champ.

 

Now to the exciting! We've got a new Electronic Boost Controller (EBC) with 3-port boost solenoid, so I've been tasked with fitting it and testing it. While this isn't exactly the most standard install for an EBC, it certainly will work with this turbo kit. And, well, any turbocharger build on a Subaru. So I spent a morning hooking everything up in the engine bay and the interior.

 

First you need to fit the boost sensor. It gets spliced into one of the vacuum lines to the intake manifold.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_014.jpg

 

It was simple enough, I spliced it into the line coming off the BOV.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_015.jpg

 

Then you need to remove the lines off of the actuator and the compressor side of the turbocharger. Because we run the turbo kit off of the actuator alone, there's just the one hose between the two to remove. As our kit is a "rotated" kit with the compressor outlet facing downwards, I removed the inlet hose for access. If you were setting up a OEM turbo, you'd need to disconnect the hose from the stock boost solenoid and block it off.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_016.jpg

 

Plug in the hoses from the 3-port solenoid to their respective locations. A to actuator, R to compressor, P vented into the wild!

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_017.jpg

 

Attach the wiring harness plugs to the sensor and the solenoid and run them into the car through the firewall.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_018.jpg

 

Not to make it sound too simple, but find a power source for the boost controller (ignition wire/ground, etc), plug in the wiring harnesses, and away you go! I mounted the boost controller in the ashtray because 1) I don't smoke and 2) the cigarette lighter power is almost always being used for something, whether GPS or instrumentation.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_010.jpg

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_012.jpg

 

The question that may be asked is, why do it on our 4.7psi Turbocharger kit? Well, there's the complete testing aspect of this project. The other is to ramp up the boost to a mighty 6 psi (0.41 Bar) and see how it runs! And yeah, it runs. Once I get everything sorted out in the settings, I'll do some runs and get some power figures. It certainly feels a lot faster, and it's ramping into the boost much quicker. Actually was a bit too quick at first, so had to turn the GAIN down a bit. FYI, the car is seeing about 2-3 psi of boost from 1500rpm in 4th gear, so yeah, it spools up quickly.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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Latest on the turbokit. First, the non-exciting news - it's still running! No issues in the colder weather, haven't broken anything, still pulls like a champ.

 

Now to the exciting! We've got a new Electronic Boost Controller (EBC) with 3-port boost solenoid, so I've been tasked with fitting it and testing it. While this isn't exactly the most standard install for an EBC, it certainly will work with this turbo kit. And, well, any turbocharger build on a Subaru. So I spent a morning hooking everything up in the engine bay and the interior.

 

First you need to fit the boost sensor. It gets spliced into one of the vacuum lines to the intake manifold.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_014.jpg

 

It was simple enough, I spliced it into the line coming off the BOV.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_015.jpg

 

Then you need to remove the lines off of the actuator and the compressor side of the turbocharger. Because we run the turbo kit off of the actuator alone, there's just the one hose between the two to remove. As our kit is a "rotated" kit with the compressor outlet facing downwards, I removed the inlet hose for access. If you were setting up a OEM turbo, you'd need to disconnect the hose from the stock boost solenoid and block it off.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_016.jpg

 

Plug in the hoses from the 3-port solenoid to their respective locations. A to actuator, R to compressor, P vented into the wild!

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_017.jpg

 

Attach the wiring harness plugs to the sensor and the solenoid and run them into the car through the firewall.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_018.jpg

 

Not to make it sound too simple, but find a power source for the boost controller (ignition wire/ground, etc), plug in the wiring harnesses, and away you go! I mounted the boost controller in the ashtray because 1) I don't smoke and 2) the cigarette lighter power is almost always being used for something, whether GPS or instrumentation.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_010.jpg

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/stories/2010/boost_fitting/boost_cont_012.jpg

 

The question that may be asked is, why do it on our 4.7psi Turbocharger kit? Well, there's the complete testing aspect of this project. The other is to ramp up the boost to a mighty 6 psi (0.41 Bar) and see how it runs! And yeah, it runs. Once I get everything sorted out in the settings, I'll do some runs and get some power figures. It certainly feels a lot faster, and it's ramping into the boost much quicker. Actually was a bit too quick at first, so had to turn the GAIN down a bit. FYI, the car is seeing about 2-3 psi of boost from 1500rpm in 4th gear, so yeah, it spools up quickly.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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Well, I'll attempt a better video, not sure how much I can do with my equipment.

 

Comparison with the stock XT/GT is a bit hard as the gearing is much different between the vehicles. Plus this kit comes into boost significantly faster. From my experience, in comparison to a totally stock GT/XT it's probably going to be a touch quicker.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

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