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Just wondering if the effects of EA82T boost is softened by AWD.
Or is it that control solenoid between the wastegate actuator air line doing this?

I'd better go fo another drive to continue evaluation.

Maybe I need an audible indicator to help - like a 2.5" exhaust. Currently enjoying old man style quiet exhaust

Usually you don't see devices to soften the boost rise , usually things are fitted to make turbos come alive as soon as possible . Electronic boost control via a solenoid control valve is designed to block the inlet manifolds pressure signal to the turbos actuator diaphragm until close to the factory pre set boost level is reached .

Turbo waste gate actuators on their own give a fairly soft boost rise curve and the wastegate usually starts to crack open ~ 3/4 of the diaphragms spring rate . The idea being that turbos don't start to boost too quickly and a straight manifold pressure signal make things simple and reliable .
Manufactures in the last 20 yrs wanted extra torque response so they fit blocking solenoids to keep the gate shut until close to std boost pressure is reached . Also engine management has made quantum leaps since 85/86 and they are much faster reacting to engine load/speed transients - rapid changes to fueling and timing mean they can keep engines a bit closer to the ragged edge without killing them .

Having AWD means you don't have the rapid traction loss issues that 2WD and mainly FrWD cars have . Twice as many tyre contact patches makes a huge difference when you try to put out a lot of turbo torque particularly at lower speeds . One of the major differences is that 100% of the vehices mass sits on the driving wheels with AWD .
FrWD turbo cars are diabolical things because when they lose traction its the steering wheels that forget to follow corners meaning you end up wherever the cars mass takes it if you can't slow or stop .
If anything AWD is the answer to turbo torque but it isn't an answer for bone headed suspension geometry . Cars that are softly sprung and have low body roll resistance still wallow around like a wheelbarrow full of custard . Also cars with a lot of inbuilt understeer still plough into corners , driving all four and the spare don't help much here ...

AWD helps put power to the ground in a straight line , good suspension/geometry/tyres have the most say IMO when it comes to cornering and braking .

A .

Went for another drive and put the boot in a little more and it is quicker than I thought it was - working on those 17.7 quarter miles, still slower than my old sixteen second beast

I am sure an audible exhaust would help. All the staring Joe and Joelle Publics hear is a clutch fan roar as I come boring along. I still like quiet must be getting old

You can do things to get them cracking a bit harder but they boost fairly early compared to lot of things .
Things that strangle std 82Ts are the std airboxes inlet on an RX L anyway , plus all that silencing crap in the inner guard . I had my lower air box modified with a larger ovalised piece of exhaust tube welded on , also the inner guard was enlarged which you can't see anyway with the box in place .
It does make a little more induction noise but its pretty insignificant compared to the cooling fan .

All the exhaust bits are small even for 125 odd Hp and they need to be enlarged from the front to the back . That downpipe and cat are quite restrictive and heavy and bulky .
I tried 2.25" off the turbo to the rear and eventually found it small , for a 260 rated BB turbo anyway . I also tried to sell the system and no one wanted it . Went to scap .

I don't know if there is a lot you can do with the engine management system other than interceptors , not sure if the gains are there .

I get a bit of a leg up because my AWD L box has the closer carby vs turbo gear ratios and that helps keep the 82T on the boil .

My conclusion is that EA82/T engines were designed to make low rev torque and while in std form its not neck snapping they can make surprising pull at lowish revs . As to if you look at them as a performance engine in this day and age well ....
Best tonic is to drive a carby L Series or bog std MY and get back in your car , thats where the real difference is . Period apples to apples .

I know its hard to resist the temptation to go changing things but those cars are getting old and rare and to some collectable . I'd give some thought to the fact that it is what it is and thats how some cars were in the 1980s .
If you keep it neat and original its more of a curiosity and talking point to anyone who looks at it . All the original factory parts will get difficult to impossible to find in a few short years and I reckon a collector wanting one would pay more for a factory original car .

It you want a road rager go buy a cheap Rex , no one cares if you kill those .

A .

discopotato03 wrote: I tried 2.25" off the turbo to the rear and eventually found it small , for a 260 rated BB turbo anyway . I also tried to sell the system and no one wanted it . Went to scap .

Didn't I get the cat back section of this?

Yes, a comparo in like for like - 1800cc flat four by Subaru of md 80's. The Vort is a refined drive compared to any other of the era, it goes quicker than I thought, just does it quietly. I have said I wanna hear induction roar not exhaust note - at the moment. The Vort has same air box of the RX stuff, same air filter - got to use a spare I nearly gave away
I would like to keep it factory original and any wiring added will be done with great care.

You may have Gannon , it must have been the front section that got scraped .

I don't really get induction roar as in engine noise but you can hear Garrett hauling away at the atmosphere once the revs get up a bit .
EA82T airboxes are restrictive and I know because I've had standard and improved . You would have to cut into the inner gard to get a larger box inlet through it and it would be interesting to know if the XT6 was different in this area .
You may be able to plumb another duct into the lower half of the box and get cool air in from another source as well if you don't wish to cut the sheet metal .
Don't bother fitting better than std or Ryco panel filters in a std airbox because that inlet is the major restriction not a reasonable brand of panel filter . Mine has a larger inlet and a K&N panel filter which I screwed out of Ripco at a sale price .

Performance basics start with the air inlet system and exhaust as well . If either or both restrict the engine its pointless doing any performance mods because it can't breathe in and out to benefit from them .
Restrictions upstream of turbochargers limit their ability to boost an engines performance , sort of like it living in a very low air pressure environment and trying to breathe (in and out) through a straw .
If it can be proven that restricted inlets and exhausts hamstring a bog std spec engines performance removing these restrictions gives the best all round improvements .
If I was starting now with a properly freshened up Spider EA82T engine and turbo , a std spec one , all I'd do is a good exhaust and the airbox mod .
If you can get another lower airbox section drill a few reasonable sized holes through it and fit it in for testing . Sure it will let potentially warm air in but you will feel and hear the difference that losing the air restriction makes . Also use a clean filter panel when you do this .
Oh and get that silly plastic duct out of the boxes AFM air inlet too , more silencing BS crap . And check to see that the AFM hole in the box is the right size and not smaller causing a restriction . If it is enlarge it .
You can make a reasonably big exhaust quiet , I can't remember if Ellie had the stainless header and ball bearing turbo fitted when Gannon went it it . I also can't remember if it had the second unmolested spec Garrett GT2556R turbo either but I believe he thought it motorvated "ok" .
Anyhow the exhaust is 3" off the turbo to the back of its 3" cat where it necks down to 2.5" and through two same bore mufflers . Its not noisy at all and best of all - none of that stupid boxer brap warmed over Zoobs all have to have . Great little sleeper for a "vintage car" . Still surprises a few wags on the street and they can't hear it coming .
The myth that noise equals power always amuses me , even more so the cops because it cuts their workload in half - the cork heads advertise their presence and the whallopers jump on 'em . Keeps them off my back ...

A .

If I write this long - as above by Disco - i always get signed out Do you A. ?

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away I learnt to do a copy of my post incase mongrel site timed out on me . That way I could log back in and paste the long sucker post anyway .

A .