The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hello all,
Have come back to the fold after a long spell away, having been busy with work commitments.

I currently own a '88 Leone Royale with a 3sp auto, and with the price of fuel nowadays I would like to get more miles (smiles) per gallon (Don't we all !!).

Highway work seems to make the 'ol girl thirsty (12 litres/100k), as the motor is working hard rev-wise (100 k's - 3150 rpm ; 110 k's - 3270 rpm). Redline is 5200 rpm.

The owner's handbook I have shows in the specs, the Leone did have a 4sp auto, only if you had the 4wd mpfi/turbo model (RX model perhaps ?). My Leone has a MPFI motor already (EJ18 - I think).

I would like to get a 4sp box, so the revs can drop below 2900 rpm (I'm hoping) at highway speed. So the motor doesn't sound so stressed on cruise.

Has any long-time Subie owners owned such a model with the 4sp auto, or seen one ?? I would dearly like to get my hands on such an item.

Subaru Sunspares (Qld) told me on the phone that no such beast exists to their knowledge. So my options may be to try to source one from NZ or Japan, but I would like to exhaust all options here first in Oz.

Anyone help ?

There was a 4 speed auto, it was called the 4EAT (4 speed Electronic Auto Transmission)
I was under the impression that it was avaliable in Leone Royales and Touring Wagons that had the EA82 MPFI. But i could be mistaken. I do know that it was avaliable in the XT6 (2.7L 6 cylinder version of the vortex)

What about a manual gearbox? Although in 5th gear, at 100kph, im still doing about 3100rpm. Are you sure a 4sp auto will give you a better cruising speed

Post 88 Vortex auto was the 4 speed.

I can't see a auto trumping a 5 speed on fuel economy though. I have never had a EA82 do 12's on a highway cruise. I'd be looking at something being wrong with your engine management to start with. If your car is MPFI start with getting the O2 sensor checked, then the coolant temp sensor, MAF is clean etc etc.

Its not that simple to replace a 3at with a 4eat.The 3 speed no computer the 4sp has a computer.The best/easist way to get better economy would be to convert to 5sp manual .

Lturbo has an L series turbo sedan with Oz compliance plates with the 4 speed 4WD, sorry AWD auto electronic tranny. It looked to be factory wiring looms and all. I got the box supposedly in excellent condition and as I pulled apart every internal I could get at looked pristine. I now feel partially guilty as this rare bird was no longer wanted and no one expressed interest at the time , I ran out of storage.

Thomas converted to five speed manual - for reasons of economy among others. His smiles indicate better economy and car after the conversion.

I weighed the beast - 89 kilos plus about 13 kilos of torque converter plus the fluid plus the tranny control unit and its wiring.

It may be auto and awd but it not look like it is a fuel saving measure

The 4EAT is very similar to the 4 speed autos in the early libertys.

The front wheels are permanently connected to the engine, and there is an electronically actuated hydraulic clutch that applies about 70-80% of the avaliable torque to the rear wheels.

There is a switch on the dash that has 3 positions, 2WD-Auto-4WD.
In 2WD mode, the clutch is open and bugger all torque is sent to the rear, In Auto, the clutch is locked during braking, heavy acceleration or when the wipers are on. In 4WD mode, the clutch locks permanently

Thanks for the replies. Changing the box over to a manual isn't an option, unfortunately. As the wife can't dance with her feet, and stir a stick with her left hand at the same time.

The mention of perhaps a Gen 1 Lib 4sp auto doing the job intrigues me though. Is there a sizing difference regarding the bell housing between the EJ18 & EJ22 ?? If do-able, is an adapter plate required also ??

I thought the 1988 Leone came with the EA82 donk.

I thought as the motor is an MPFI it was an EJ ? But in looking through my folder of Subie tech info, you're right Jack in saying the motor is an EA82. My stuff-up.

le-wardy wrote:I thought as the motor is an MPFI it was an EJ ? But in looking through my folder of Subie tech info, you're right Jack in saying the motor is an EA82. My stuff-up.

There is an EA82 MPFI out there. Yes all EJs are MPFI.
Cheers
AP

le-wardy wrote:Thanks for the replies. Changing the box over to a manual isn't an option, unfortunately. As the wife can't dance with her feet, and stir a stick with her left hand at the same time.

The mention of perhaps a Gen 1 Lib 4sp auto doing the job intrigues me though. Is there a sizing difference regarding the bell housing between the EJ18 & EJ22 ?? If do-able, is an adapter plate required also ??

Yes you will need an adapter plate if you are going to use EJ box behind EA engine.
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven wrote:There is an EA82 MPFI out there. Yes all EJs are MPFI.
Cheers
AP

Actually all australian EJs are MPFI. In NZ they have EJ18s and i think EJ22s with carbys..

Bit of useless info...

gx_rex wrote:Actually all australian EJs are MPFI. In NZ they have EJ18s and i think EJ22s with carbys..

Bit of useless info...

Not really, I think there are some members here that would love to get hold of the spark distributor and the carbie/inlet manifold set up and run an EJ as a carbie fed donk...

Cheers

Bennie

Best economy is the FWD 5 speed but as manual aint a viable option then hunting down a 4eat could be worth while, as mentioned they where available in the late Vortex's. I have a similar issue with Dads RX auto at 100 its doing 3600rpm and mine the manual version is only doing 2900 so i get about 7.5 on the highway and dad is getting just under 11. Working on the Lib box as a ratio guide with the 4speed auto he should be around 2600rpm at 100 with it.

would you be better off changing the diff ratios to get higher gearing that way???

madmat wrote:would you be better off changing the diff ratios to get higher gearing that way???

But being 4wd will mean you will have to change both front and back diff ratios.

Larger tyres maybe?

They are 3.7s at the moment so about as tall as can go at the moment

Okay. So my best bet is to source a 4sp auto from an '88 onwards Vortex. Or a 2WD Gen 1 Liberty.

As the 4 speeder is electronically controlled. Does it tap into the engine's black box for it to work ?? Or does the gearbox work on it's own sensors within ??

No you'll will have to tap into the engine wiring loom, there might even be a plug for it somewhere, only if you have MPFI of course.

Sensors needed will be TPS, 4th Gear Sw, RPM and Speed sensor

easier if you do a driveline update. I have a 4EAT in mine with 4.44 finals and it sits on 3krpm at 100kmh.

in my case there is a separate computer that runs it. since you have an auto already then you will not need to fiddle with the tailshaft - that fits. the driveshafts in the front will probably need fiddling to fit.