i'm wondering if anyone has ever driven an EJ18 auto trans. how did it drive up steep mountain grades on the highway?

 

my EJ18 FWD auto conversion drives great but can't handle those highway mountain grades well at all....i think it should do better and am wondering if a TCU swap might help. it occasionally won't downshift up steep grades either, or takes awhile, so i'm thinking the TCU isn't a good match for it.

 

the EJ25 TCU shifted worse than the current EJ22 FWD Legacy TCU i'm using. So i'm wondering if there's an even better fit like an impreza EJ18, FWD or something out there.

Im pretty sure i still have a EJ20 TCU lying around somewhere. Would also be fairly easy to get a hold of a EJ18 TCU for ya. If all else fails - flick me a PM

I think your asking for way too much from a little engine that looses alot of power to a sloppy torque converter and gearing.

 

 

nipper

I think the deciding question would be "does it work OK if you shift it manually?" If yes, then there's a chance that a different TCU will help, if not, it's simply a matter of inadequate torque/power to meet your needs.

 

 

Nathan

Would also be fairly easy to get a hold of a EJ18 TCU for ya. If all else fails - flick me a PM

that's worth a shot...not sure why i tried EJ18, EJ22, EJ25 ECU's and EJ22 and EJ25 TCU's....but never thought about trying the EJ18 TCU.

I think your asking for way too much from a little engine that looses alot of power to a sloppy torque converter and gearing.

i know it's pushing the limits. how did those EA81/EA82 80hp cars with a 3AT ever get up a mountain. those things must be horrific to drive! i agree and i started this thinking i'd probably go for a manual trans. but it could be better than it is, so no reason not to look into it....i'm at least learning through the process.

I think the deciding question would be "does it work OK if you shift it manually?" If yes, then there's a chance that a different TCU will help, if not, it's simply a matter of inadequate torque/power to meet your needs.

brilliant! i'll give that a whirl.

 

still interested in hearing from someone who has driven one.

Sorry to say it, but the 1.8 FWD automatics are gutless in the mountains with any kind of load. It's not the greatest engine, then add the FWD and the auto, and it's not going to happen.

 

Drove in one to San Diego from Phoenix a long while back. The pax made jokes all the way - and the worst one was this: 'Oh, look, that sidewinder's getting to San Diego faster than we are!' Honestly, I had it to the floor on the pass and we were getting passed by everything. No a/c, only one 20 lb. duffel bag apiece, 2 people, and one small cooler with water and soda cans (a 10-lb bag of ice was too big).

 

Mountain Climbing isn't what that car will do. BT, DT. Unfortunately.

 

(edit: the manual probably won't make that much of a difference, sorry again; only makes a difference on accelerating up sloped on-ramps and getting back up to ha-ha speed after braking for something slower in your path)

Sorry to say it, but the 1.8 FWD automatics are gutless in the mountains with any kind of load. It's not the greatest engine, then add the FWD and the auto, and it's not going to happen.

 

Drove in one to San Diego from Phoenix a long while back. The pax made jokes all the way - and the worst one was this: 'Oh, look, that sidewinder's getting to San Diego faster than we are!' Honestly, I had it to the floor on the pass and we were getting passed by everything. No a/c, only one 20 lb. duffel bag apiece, 2 people, and one small cooler with water and soda cans (a 10-lb bag of ice was too big).

 

Mountain Climbing isn't what that car will do. BT, DT. Unfortunately.

 

(edit: the manual probably won't make that much of a difference, sorry again; only makes a difference on accelerating up sloped on-ramps and getting back up to ha-ha speed after braking for something slower in your path)

 

I had a 1.8 with a stick. You had to get into third and sit in the right lane to get up any mountains of any kind.

 

nipper

I had a 1.8 with a stick. You had to get into third and sit in the right lane to get up any mountains of any kind.

what? why is that? XT's with a 1.8/FWD can hold 5th gear at highway speeds just fine. set the cruise and leave it. that is bizarre, wonder what the difference is?

 

why can the XT do it with fewer hp?

what? why is that? XT's with a 1.8/FWD can hold 5th gear at highway speeds just fine. set the cruise and leave it. that is bizarre, wonder what the difference is?

 

why can the XT do it with fewer hp?

 

gearing, and i truly do not belive it can climd a long uphill with the cruise control on and not need to downshift. Even blu needs to downshift.

 

nipper

gearing, and i truly do not belive it can climd a long uphill with the cruise control on and not need to downshift.

a 5 speed FWD XT traveling I81 did it (at 40+ mpg i might add)...maybe the highways in WV, western MD are steeper than I81? i know the auto's would need to downshift.

 

Even blu needs to downshift.

that's AWD and automatic...and of course a lot more Hp!

I dont live in MD. Route 80 in NJ is a long climb. Thats my test hill.

 

nipper

Thats what configuration my wife's 93 Impreza has, it doesn't do too bad down here at sea level, but it was a total turd when we lived in Wyoming at 7200' lol, climbing over the summit between Laramie and Cheyenne consisted mostily of 3rd gear wrapped out to redline. I seem to remember reading something about the FWD cars having a 3.54:1 final drive, which would explain the gutlessness, since the EJ18 is only like 107 HP.

My old EJ18 FWD wasnt too bad - certainly not the fastest car ive ever owned but it was adequate.

 

Its mostly opinion. I would stick 'er in 3rd and sit around 6000rpm up long grades without worrying. Compared to the JDM EJ20 - it feels like a gutless pig when theres only a 200cc difference.

 

150hp and the last one i drove made good power right up to 7500rpm

 

If you could retrofit the EJ20 heads onto the EJ18 block youd have a much better breathing motor as the EJ20 heads are Quad Cam and dual exhaust ports. Add in a 5speed FWD setup and say hello to decent MPG.

 

Of course thats all a lot of work when the real answer to all of lifes problems is to jam a boxer diesel in there.

Of course thats all a lot of work when the real answer to all of lifes problems is to jam a boxer diesel in there.

 

And who will be first

 

my EJ18 FWD auto conversion drives great but can't handle those highway mountain grades well

success! i had 16" 2006 Forester XT Turbo wheels/tires on it. They're a bit larger than the regular WRX, impreza, and legacy 16" tires. They actually rub a little on bumps or carrying heavy loads in my impreza and legacy.

 

I dropped down to 15" legacy LSi wheels and it was much better. I could hold 70 mph up the really steep mountains no problem, it just held cruise speed and drove like normal. Drove much better. Too bad, those Forester Turbo wheels are nice, guess they go back on the XT6!

 

The EJ18 can't handle gear ratio changes like the XT6.

i'm wondering if anyone has ever driven an EJ18 auto trans. how did it drive up steep mountain grades on the highway?

 

I have a 1993 Impreza , auto , awd and EJ18.

 

If you drive it like a 80 years old lady , yes , it is slow , and does not

switch down to lower gear.

But the "power" option works very nice , just kick twice in a second your accelerator pedal.....