Any idea what the power/torque limits are of this gearbox?

 

I have lapped Curb' several times this year with my Sti hillclimber flat-out.
It makes about 380 x 360 and i did 14 double laps in one day.

The trans is stock V3 with sticky tyres so stressed.

It is perfect.

I think if you powershift/hammer/abuse the transmission it will break. Apply due care (I drive my car to and from the tracks) then things seem well enough after 4 hard hillclimb seasons and 12000 miles on the road.

Folklaw is the 5 speeder early boxes will perish at 350x300 (TY752) and the later (TY754) series boxes a bit better.

If in doubt ask Zen to fit a nice ppg kit!

Graham

 

Hi Graham

I am fairly new to SN. Have been reading this thread over the past couple days. I have a 550hpish WRX that I ran in two hillclimbs this year.

I am a running a mirror image of your Whiteline products but still am running Whitline spring and damper setup. This is fine for fast road and what I thought was fast driving but have come up a bit short on hillclimb. I am amazed at the difference in speed and commitment when you know that nothing is coming the other way and the extra load it places on car and driver.

I admit I was one of those that thought that it was easy and that I could do better than the competitors as on road nothing could touch me in the twisties and straight line.

Unfortunately in heat of battle it is very different. Am improving and on the two events this year have been cutting over 10 seconds from my first run to my third (last run).

Have been considering a suspension upgrade and narrowed down to AST, Whiteline, EXE-TC and KW 3 ways. KW seem to be cheapest by far and EXE-TC most expensive. As I drive to and from events and still use for weekend blast need an in between kit. Also I am no setup specialist and want ease of use, and after reading your thread will most likely not go for three ways. Will most likley be AST or EXE-TC.

My question is a final verdict from you. Were you actually any quicker changing from AVO to AST and then the three way AST? Given that conditions were most likely different every year, although rain always seem to be the common denominator in UK, can you show that the car ran quicker in time and suspension feel?

Put another way, would you spend your money on these?

Paul

 

The progression ran like this:

I started hillclimbing the car on stock suspension which was awful!
Fitted AVO coilovers which were badly engineered and in my opinion (I am a professional mechanical engineer) were not fit for purpose.
They failed after 6000 miles.

I was GIVEN a set of AST one-way adjustable coilovers by Powerstation for evaluation.
I chopped 2 seconds off the times up a hillclimb i have raced on for 14 years (Loton Park).

This happened at EVERY hillclimb I ran at.

Powerstation then gave me a set of 3 ways to try.

Again, I chopped about 1.5 seconds off the times.

The reason is simple:

1
They inspire utter confidence in the chassis
2
The alignment Curtis has done is a big part of the change and the ability to tune the damping to the springs and my taste.
3
The control on the car has NOT deteriorated at all and that only enhances the confidence.
You cannot ignor the importance of the feeling you are secure.
As you say and few realise until they really Hillclimb, it looks so easy as a spectator but in the car it is very different (and a bunch more bloody fun too) and the freedom to absolutly hammer the car up the hill takes the drive and the car far beyond having a 'good blast' on a country road

My money?

AST.

Graham.

ps before anyone might think I would only say good things about them because they were 'free', I have these on loan only, and as a Director of Engineering Design for a large company I am not used to anything but speaking how I find.

 

Thanks for straight reply!! Need all the help I can get. AST suspension and a bit more weight savings may be the way to go. So far I have only been reading and hearing positive things about AST.

Need to catch the bloody Lancia and EVO as they share 1st and 2nd position at every event. They are at least 200hp up on me and turn up with tyre warmers, a pit crew of five mechanics each, service vans with a whole lot of spares and a lot of money. Need to make up 5 or so seconds. I wonder if they will let me use nitrous

Have till April to save, save, save and butter up the boss at home.

 

Easy.
Except the very last bit, 'The Boss'.
Graham

 

Paul (wrx450), I have AST too but the real test would be to try all the options before you buy. IIRC Paul (Zen) has EXE-TC on his car and so does Wadsey (who both also do sprints/hill climbs) and they may be able to help you decide.

HTH
F

 

Thanks for info. I have a couple of months to decide until first hillclimb in April. I will keep an eye on threads and speak to a few more people in UK.

I know that EXE-TC has excellent reputation and have been proven in motorsport. Unfortunately in Cyprus they have never heard of these brands and the only cars that I can try are rally based with Leda and DMS kits, so a bit hard to try any car fitted with either AST or EXE-TC.

 

I have driven in anger a Sti RA with DMS Gold struts and a few other bits.
The car was fantastic and made me move to the coil-over route.
They are very pricey though and i think they use a strange spring design too, only available from Australia.
I've been at the same meetings as Wadsey (different class though) and he looks very stable.
Graham

Graham

 

Graham have you ever thought about turning to the dark side that is evo's? after all you cant get a more "perfect chassis" or are you a scobby man only?

Some pics from prescott


You know you want one, it would really upset roy with your knowledge of the hills in an evo

 

Pete:

You are dead right about the EVO cars being the best. Told your fast brother that.
The Scooby is affordable and easy to sort, but the EVO is the best car by far.

The only person who will upset Roy next year is YOU! (then the Audi, then Rob then all the other Hot Shots who have said they are coming in to upset the apple cart. Paul 'Zen' comes to mind and now 5 others I know to)

It will be a huge class next year. There is a 450 bhp Cossie joining -in, saw it today at Loton (ask your Dad).
Hope your dad sticks to German Cars next year.(and C2 class!)

Anyway: who wants to buy my hillclimber? Then an EVO would be very very tempting! (and refreshingly different).
At least I'm not talking about throwing the towel in (unusual for me), but then I do still have my 911..(nice with a supercharger and slicks)

In need of a bit of Motivation!

Graham

 

Forgot to ask anyone:

How heavy are figreglass doors for an Impreza? (just the door shell)

 

Small update:

The gearbox is finally at API's place.
Interestingly was taken to the gearbox man to chat through the options and even to select a front diff off the shelf.
I am sure I am in safe hands.

David has a dccd for me! After all the fruitless searching there is one there.
Still have the option for a Neetronics. If i can find the dccd loom within my loom then I think i will go with the stock unit with an API tweek for the hills.

Bought a set of 16's with 1/3 worn continentals on them off a fellow Snetter for a bargain price for running on the road. Will spray them some colour later to brighten the car.

So, might sell my P1 wheels to pay off API in a few weeks time.

Rear diff next to have my Kass plated diff fitted.
Anyone have a quiet 4:444 R160 for sale cheap as a donar??

Plan is to have the car hillclimb ready by Xmas/new Year.

Most mind-blowing fact in recent weeks is that the AUDI will run upto 800 bhp if needed....who can chase that next year?

Graham

 

Best of luck withe the new mods Graham !

 

Whats a 4.444 R160 from?

I might be able to help

Mark A

 

UK car like 2000MY ish era

 

More like my Sti v3!

Trying to keep all the stock stuff I'm taking off (just in case...) so if I can find a cheap diff with a 4:444 ratio, API can drop my plated diff into it.
Graham

 

ALL UK cars have 3.545 rear diffs.

4.4 is JDM WRX RA 97 / 98 or 22B To my knowledge all STi that are 4.44 are R180 type. Nothing before 97 / 98 uses 4.44 they are all either 3.9 or 4.1 no matter WRX / RA / STi .

David APi

PS P1 uses 4.44 ratios on an R160 with a weird lsd that cracks its main case. It [ the LSD ] cannot be repaired at all, as it is welded together and cannot be stripped.

 

In that case I can't help unfortunately.

Sorry Mark

 

That's not right Andy !!

Editited to say David beat me to it !!

 

Just to add to the confusion. Not all STi were R180. My wagon (MY97 STi3) was R160, but then the wagons didn't get alloy bonnets or wishbones either

 

!
So my Sti v3 has an R180 in it? Be nice if it has.
We'll find out in 2 weeks David!
Presume 160 is = to 160mm across the diff drive shaft hubs?

John: do you have a plated rear diff (as in RA style)?

Graham

 

From what I was able to find out it was DCCD cars that had R180 diffs, pre newage STis. Think you'll find yours is a R160 Graham.

As a guess, the R may refer to the diameter of the crown wheel. I think the only external physical difference is the depth of the body.

 

22B Bulletin Board: The Definitife Diff Thread..

HTH.

 

Thanks: Looks like I have a visc R160.

 

Graham, this year I have had variously, R160 Viscous, R160 Plated and R160 Quaife rear diffs in the car. This was all down to solving drive shaft snapping issues.

160mm is the diameter of the crown wheel.

---john---

 

I learn something every day about bloody Imprezas.
911 are so much simpler.
Thanks, Graham.

 

Guess where R180 is derived from

 

Looks like I fcuked up there then

Sorry.

Andy

 

and you a professional too