Man on a mission

#1 12-03-2003, 08:15 AM

So I have been considering saving some money and getting rid of the SVX and getting a turbo car. This morning I woke up bright and early and decided to go for a drive in the SVX. I went on all the backroads around here for a few hours. Then, I cam to my senses. The SVX may not be the fastest thing, but it is so unique. "Nobody" else has one! So, Ive decided to keep my 94 FWD red SVX. I have also decided to make it the best it can be. No cosmetic stuff for me. It looks great already. Ive got about 54,000 miles now so I think I am working with a good platform. How do I plan on making it better? First off, I'll reduce weight. Against "doctors orders" Ill remove my spare and swap it for a can of fix a flat. The subwoofers are gone already. Ill also take out verious other crap. However, I will NOT gut the interior. Second, I'll get an exhaust system for it. I dont care if I get any power from it but at least it will be louder and lighter! Next, Nitrous. Gotta love nitrous. I want a dry kit from ZEX. I could go on and on about what I am going to do but its boring so heres what changed my mind.
On one of these backroads I was on, there is a strait section for about 3 or 4 miles. Its perfectly flat and there was no one else there. I turned off the heater and the stereo and I slammed down the gas pedal. That glorious Boxer sound, or should I say Boxer 6 sound filled my ears. I was in love. I will be proposing to my SVX tommorow and we'll spend a fabolous life tommorow. Just kidding. I will start my work right away though.

--Forgot to mention one thing though. My brakes are hurrendous. Almost as bad as my brothers old 95 Stratus V6.. BLAH!!

SubaSteevo · #2 12-03-2003, 08:24 AM

I really don't think removing the spare is going to make any real difference, besides screwing you over if you get a flat. It only weighs what, like 20 lbs? You're better off (and safer) just going on a diet.

#3 12-03-2003, 08:25 AM

common now.. I could go through the whole car and say oh 15 lbs. aint gonna hurt, 5 lbs. aint gonna hurt. However, it all ads up. Plus, I refuse to drive a car on a donut anyway. Ill walk thank you.

SubaSteevo · #4 12-03-2003, 09:13 AM

Here's some ideas

Andy · #5 12-03-2003, 11:08 AM

Remember It's an auto

Cut off your left leg, it's just slowing you down!!!!

T.McCaw · #6 12-03-2003, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy
Remember It's an auto

Cut off your left leg, it's just slowing you down!!!!

Thats funny.I laugh at this all day.
Strip all the weight out of it why? Its not a racing sloop its a cruiser. Its not like you guys are paying $4.05 a gallon

Tom

#7 12-03-2003, 11:43 AM

convert it to a front-wheel drive five-speed.. the autobox itself must weigh at least 50lbs more than a 5-speed, and if you can pull the rear diff and drive axles you'll be saving quite a bit of weight there as well..

also you'll lose less power driving two wheels instead of four.

-adam

SVXer95 · #8 12-03-2003, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by alacrity024
convert it to a front-wheel drive five-speed.. the autobox itself must weigh at least 50lbs more than a 5-speed, and if you can pull the rear diff and drive axles you'll be saving quite a bit of weight there as well..

He said that is FWD. But swapping to 5spd would definitely lose some weight. It would be an easier swap than the AWD too.

Landshark · #9 12-03-2003, 01:44 PM

the best thing you could do is get the lightest wheels (and tires)you can find. don't forget about the unsprung weight!

mikecg · #10 12-03-2003, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bthomas
So I have been considering saving some money and getting rid of the SVX and getting a turbo car. This morning I woke up bright and early and decided to go for a drive in the SVX. I went on all the backroads around here for a few hours. Then, I cam to my senses. The SVX may not be the fastest thing, but it is so unique. "Nobody" else has one! So, Ive decided to keep my 94 FWD red SVX.

What I have one! Its a 94 FWD Red also. It can be see cruising Dover w/ red neon lights on, occationally .

NikFu S. · #11 12-03-2003, 10:26 PM

you wont notice any difference unless you decrease the rotational mass. shaving weigt as i have tried does not help much. you could try opening up the interior and cutting out the extra beams in there. other than that get some light wheels and pulleys and maybe a flywheel. i need to take out the rear speakers still, yet i dont know how without taking everything apart.

i have found that if you can tolerate some heat, taking out the A/C isnt so bad. just hit 'vent' 'circ' and cooler air will come through the floor and swirl around. it may just FEEL cooler, but when its hot that is good enough. i did this during the summer and almost started shivering.

nikfu-
-140lbs

#12 12-03-2003, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SVXer95

He said that is FWD. But swapping to 5spd would definitely lose some weight. It would be an easier swap than the AWD too.

I sometimes wonder about this (keep in mind that I don't know much about the specifics for trannies)... It would be easier to swap it out with FWD, but what MT's did Subaru make that were designed for FWD cars? I know that there were some FWD legacies and what-not, but was there anything else? Or, does the drive-type of the car not matter in terms of the ease of the swap?

Clydesvx · #13 12-04-2003, 05:27 AM

In either 1993 or 1994 Subaru went to AWD for everything except the FWD SVX. Before that time you could get either FWD or AWD. In 1989 and before the Manual trannys also had two ranges. Low range was a real 'stump puller'. My assumotion then would be that all modern Manual Trannys ('93 or '94 up) are AWD. I guess there wouldn't be a problem using one on a FWD SVX. No rear DIF. to deal with.

#14 12-04-2003, 10:12 PM

All SVX's were AWD in '92 and '93, but FWD was offered in '94 and '95. After that, it was nothing but AWD again.

Good for me I guess, cause I wouldn't mind swapping a 5MT into my '94 FWD!

#15 12-05-2003, 06:56 PM

fill the tires with helium.