Harveys QC

blueji · #1 01-04-2009, 02:34 PM

Anyone this side of the 'pond' instaled/tried OAB_AU quick change?, sounds interesting

p.s I dont want to start a yet another 'debate'

on wether it works or not, or if it will blow your auto box....just constructive

John

svxistentialist · #2 01-06-2009, 07:08 AM

I don't know of anybody over this side who may have installed it yet John.

svxistentialist · #3 01-06-2009, 07:24 AM

I'm planning to install it, but I am hampered by the fact that the car I am currently using [over here] has a bad gearbox.

I have another SVX here with a good gearbox, but I don't use that car.

Without getting in to a flame war I think it is probably a good upgrade for anybody who has a car with a fully working and in good condition transmission, and with the proviso that the car is not used brutally at track days or on the drag strip.

My knowledge of automatic gearboxes does not extend much beyond the dipstick. From what I read the QC seems to remove some of the slow and slurring protection the engineers built in to save the box clutches between changes. This results in snappier changes using the QC. If a gearbox is wearing out or partly worn, these full power changes may hasten the demise of the clutch packs.

A good gearbox used normally for commuting and not being trashed should last OK with the QS. At least it would not bother me too much, once I knew I was not on weak clutches. That's why I intend to get one. I want to rebuild the original gearbox belonging to Jersey Girl so that she is "original" and with "matching numbers" as our across the pond brethren are so fond of quoting.

This bad gearbox I'm suffering with is also stopping me from trying the new software Phil wrote for UK gearboxes, which as you probably know have some functional differences from the US ones. [The US ones are rear assist Mickey Mouse gearboxes like you get in the Honda C-RV

]

That's my take on the controversial subject.

Joe

LetItSnow · #4 01-06-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

The US ones are rear assist Mickey Mouse gearboxes like you get in the Honda C-RV

That's news to me... Can anyone confirm this?

svxistentialist · #5 01-06-2009, 09:36 AM

There are threads on this going back to before the Flood, if you care to run a search.

In the US transmission the rear drive is operated by an electro mechanical clutch. Your power distribution is normally about 85/15 % with front bias, and the TCU uses the solenoid duty cycle to give more power to the rear as required up to a maximum of 50/50.

This gearbox is described by Subaru as "Active Torque Split AWD system".

The gearbox fitted to Japanese and UK cars, and certain other markets, is different. It is a full-time 4WD gearbox with similar power distribution to the manual system as used in the WRX. It uses a centre differential [as opposed to a rear take-off] which normally sends 64% of the power to the back and 36% [approx] to the front.

As the rears start to slip under power, the TCU can randomly divert power to whichever wheels have grip up to 50/50.

This type is described by Subaru as "VTD-AWD system"

This difference is notable also by the use made of the AWD fuse under the hood. In the US car, like yours, Snow, if you insert the AWD fuse it turns the AWD system OFF. You end up with a car driving 100% of the power to the front wheels, it disengages the rear take-off clutch.

In the UK cars if you insert this same fuse it locks the centre differential at 50/50. Effectively this means we could not drive our cars too far with the fuse in, at least unless we were on the loose. You guys could actually drive yours with no real problems, this is a bonus your SVXs have that ours don't enjoy.

With the US type AWD fuse turn-off system it is possible to test your cars at a test centre having only one roller for the dyno, by fitting the fuse temporarily. It is postulated that this is the reason these gearboxes were supplied in the USA, but nobody has ever confirmed that.

With my car it is permanent AWD and the local test centres are unable to test it on the rollers [they don't have double rollers] for brake function and so on. In order to complete the tests, the guys have to bring the SVX for a short drive. They seem quite happy to do this.

Joe

LetItSnow · #6 01-06-2009, 11:04 AM

Perhaps the comparison is meant only in one aspect of stateside AWD? The CRV begins at 100% power to the front wheels, sending it rearward on demand. As described <here>, the CRV system is very different from any Subaru running gear, continent indifferent. A twin-pump system cares not about a fuse.

(Side note: My SVX doesn't care about FWD fuses, either. MTX on board!

)

blueji · #7 01-06-2009, 01:50 PM

[QUOTE=svxistentialist;580796]I'm planning to install it, but I am hampered by the fact that the car I am currently using [over here] has a bad gearbox.

Ok, you first Joe, i'll let you be the guineapig

I'm tying not to go down the road of attempting to make a 318iBMW into an M3.....would be cheaper to buy an M3!, SVX been a one off gives way to temptation to make changes or improvments, to have a firmer shift when required would give it a more modern feel.

John

svxistentialist · #8 01-06-2009, 04:14 PM

[quote=blueji;580880]

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxistentialist

I'm planning to install it, but I am hampered by the fact that the car I am currently using [over here] has a bad gearbox.

Ok, you first Joe, i'll let you be the guineapig

I'm tying not to go down the road of attempting to make a 318iBMW into an M3.....would be cheaper to buy an M3!, SVX been a one off gives way to temptation to make changes or improvments, to have a firmer shift when required would give it a more modern feel.

John

John

Phil has reprogrammed my UK TCU so that Power mode can be forced on, and left permanently in the on position.

This can be achieved by a console switch in the JDM cars. It is much more difficult with the UK gearbox because the firmware is different. Phil monitored all the functions and has re programmed it to allow Power mode in the place of the Econ mode that UK gearboxes are saddled with.

If you're game I would be happy to send you the re-programmed TCU to try out, or "guinea pig" in your Northern parlance.

Having used Power mode full time in my jdm car, I'm willing to bet you would be happy with the change it will make. Phil and Belha run their jdm cars all the time in Power mode. I'm fairly sure anybody who has done the Power mod in the US leaves theirs on all the time as well.

It just makes the car feel like a sporty drive. You get rid of the "lazy" feel that is there in the UK gearbox.

Do you want to try it? This is a one time only offer.

Joe

blueji · #9 01-08-2009, 01:01 PM

[QUOTE=svxistentialist;580910]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueji

John

Phil has reprogrammed my UK TCU so that Power mode can be forced on, and left permanently in the on position.

This can be achieved by a console switch in the JDM cars. It is much more difficult with the UK gearbox because the firmware is different. Phil monitored all the functions and has re programmed it to allow Power mode in the place of the Econ mode that UK gearboxes are saddled with.

If you're game I would be happy to send you the re-programmed TCU to try out, or "guinea pig" in your Northern parlance.

Having used Power mode full time in my jdm car, I'm willing to bet you would be happy with the change it will make. Phil and Belha run their jdm cars all the time in Power mode. I'm fairly sure anybody who has done the Power mod in the US leaves theirs on all the time as well.

It just makes the car feel like a sporty drive. You get rid of the "lazy" feel that is there in the UK gearbox.

Do you want to try it? This is a one time only offer.

Joe

tempting Joe, and thanks for the offer

but the QC is more what I'm interested in, I like the idea of 'lazy' and 'sporty'

I remeber when I had the Small Car kit on, it was too aggresive for my liking.....not doubting that Phils wont be more refined, but not 100% what I would want to do if I played about with things.

got any more offers......Redbreast?

John