Ok so I took this thing for a drive today, its first outing. Max speed of maybe 100km/h.
The good:'
Starts, idles and runs like a kitten. Quiet and placid and just drives along like any other car. Stops, turns fine etc. Its like every other liberty. Stays cool, doesnt give away a thing except the intercoolers.
The better:
It handles just fine, without engine braking, it still tucks through a few twisties with confidence, none of the bullshit that people talked about. It sits higher in the front than it did with the 4cyl.
Stops just fine, stood on the anchors from 80 and it was just like it always was.
'The best:
When doing 70-80kmh in third. Roll on the throttle and it spins two and leaves black lines instantly. No waiting for boost, no 2 second delay, no care for being anywhere near power band. 2500rpm is instant smoke peeling from tyres. Yet if you just plod along, it is predictable and sedate and quiet.
Exit a roundabout and give the throttle a stab? instant spin. Just roll on the throttle gently and it grips and goes. Im not one for being a dickhead on the street with it, so I'll wait till everything is sorted and it gets to the track to see how it goes.
The bad:
CV boot on RHS driveshaft split. Not a big issue.
Shifter cable shat itself. Pro ratchet stuck in 1st was annoying. Got rough with it and got it into 2nd and just putted back to the workshop.
Has a very slight drivetrain shudder at about 20-30kmh in 2nd. Only very faint, could be a rear wheel out of balance, driveshaft yokes wearing in etc. Who knows, or cares. It's less than cars have after a year on the road.
The ugly:
When the gates open...any time you open the throttles above 1500rpm, it is loud, and the dose is massive. Back off the throttle and its like I'm being followed by 5 VL turbos chu chu chu chu chu. Attracts attention I dont want.
Bump steer, need to raise rack a little. Its only a minor issue and drives fine, no worse than many stock cars.
Converter seal in the th400 is shit, leaking a little auto fluid into the bellhousing. It isnt much, and its a 50 year old gearbox, this happens
Summary:
New shifter cable with speedflow firesleeve covering it going in tomorrow night to fix shifter issue, little heat shield over cats and dumps from an oem subaru should fit easily enough.
Car delivers on everything it was made to do, make bulk smoke at any RPM, drives quietly like a stock car when you want, and will go like the clappers with better tyres and rear shocks. Feels fast, like 130+mph fast. Makes boost nearly instantly and has so much torque it's not funny.
More tuning to come over next week.