782/2000: Too weird to die

[Got Insulin?]

I know you guys love all sorts of weird niche cars, so I figured I'd share one that has eluded me for years: 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4, number 782 of 2000 imported directly from Japan with a bit of help from the fine folks over at AMG. Yes, that AMG.

Ironically, another 91 came into my possession shortly thereafter as a parts car, more on that later.

Basically: 91 782/2000






From the ad:
141101 on the clock.
No major rust on body or dents.
interior is mint, no rips or tears.
sunroof works and does not leak.
less then 15k on block and trans
Engine:
Rebuild Short Block
Crower Camshafts Stage 2 272/272
Crower Valve Spring & TI Retainers
Extensive intake and exhaust port work
Balance shaft eliminator kit
Old school intake manifold

Turbo:
Evo3 16g

Trans:
T.R.E STAGE 4 TRANSMISSION
ACT Flywheel
ACT Heavy Duty Sprung 6-Puck Clutch Kit

Suspension:
Eibach Pro Kit
KYB AGX Adjustable shocks Rear Pair
KYB GR-2 / Excel-G shocks Front Pair
Goodridge Stainless Steel Brake Lines

Other Aftermarket parts:
Koyo Aluminum Race Radiator
Extreme Turbo Systems 7" Street Intercooler Kit
TiAL 50mm Q Blowoff Valve
Full 3in' exhaust systems
Afpr Rewired walbro 255
2gmaf fresh plugs.

My initial impression last July when purchased:
Dude had it set up with a 35R, double pumper fuel, and Link and wrecked his C63 basically as soon as he got it sorted out and running. Long story short is that I got it with the E316G, 450s, 2G MAF, 272s on stock ECU, and while it "runs" it is not happy about it for obvious reasons. Took it for about a mile cruise to make sure it would go through gears and whatnot, and as soon as it gets out of the low end where the MAF and 450s are not quite getting along, it boosts along happily with decent AFRs and pulls strong. Picked up V3Link already and as soon as I get a tag on the car in the next few days, I'll baseline and start street tuning a bit; shouldn't be too bad.

As of today:
I'm finding myself balls deeper than I expected to be in this, but am going slowly with repairs and modifications. New wiring harness, hours spent trolling the interwebs for part numbers, broken bolts, rusty panels, etc. Here's the most recent update from my local forum.



Wiring repair is exhausting, but sometimes you get lucky and find a virgin harness out of a wrecked car that needs a good home. At this point, I've got my harness out and am examining the "new" one for loose connectors, missing sub-harnesses, and fragile wiring. As I suspected and is common, one of the wires by the thermostat housing was so brittle that it broke off in my hand; not a huge issue, but better to seek it out now and fix it. I'm also wiring the LC-1 WB o2 sensor directly into the ECU so that I can can log it in real time along with any other engine parameters via DSMLink. Link will also be emulating the narrowband sensor's pattern so that will be deleted in the meantime. Truly the best program for the platform.


Sometimes you just come upon deals that you can't pass up. Below is 1805/2000 which had irreparable frame rust, no trunk as it'd been cut away for a fuel cell and a lot of money spent on it throughout its life in spite of all of this. I bought the shell for $600 (dude wanted $500, tossed him the extra $100 because I was getting such a deal) and scored myself a whole bunch of awesome:
-zero-mile refreshed 4-bolt rear in a powder-coated subframe with EVERY bushing replaced, big GVR4 Whiteline sway, new HD endlinks
-front powder-coated subframe with BRAND NEW FLCAs, reman'd DSM rack, new tie rods, and 5 lug hubs all around with extended ARP hardware
-Body seals, doglegs/door cladding, hood, front bumper, etc
-Galant specific hub and QR
-Dash and other interior bits
-Fairly rare 93 headlights, 91 tails




The trunk floor being cut out was awesome for working under the car to pull the rear.

Here's a few of the breakdown process. Came in as a rolling shell, sent out as a gutted can on furniture rollers:





So this is how the car sits at the moment:


Grabbed an ETS intercooler kit for the car, new hotness on the right:



And probably my favorite sets of parts I've bought yet:


BECAUSE RACE HOUSE



I'll try to keep you guys updated. I actually sourced a second set of SA3Rs as the first ones were staggered 17x8, x9 and these new ones in a 17x9 square. Best part is that I now have 6 17x9s with two entirely different offsets to aid in fitment. Progress is slow going, but it feels good to be back on home turf in the ol (not)DSM world.

[maxmini]

Congrats and thanks for the fine write up .

[werD]

Bitchin' ride, always liked the Galant VR4 and thought they were underrated.

Looks like you are making serious headway into making it come to life. Good stuff.

[werD]

Did you catch this on BaT?: http://bringatrailer.com/2014/06/25/...alant-vr-4-rs/

[Got Insulin?]

Thanks guys!

I did see that, Werd. Its been passed around through the GVR4 forums a couple of times; unfortunately, there are some rust issues that are not pictured or described in that ad. It came back to the seller when the owner traded it in for a GTR. Still a rad car, the Cusco cage is a rare piece, too. Good spot.

I biffed the link for the pictures of the SA3Rs on a test fit, will correct that ASAP.

[werD]

Originally Posted by Got Insulin?

Still a rad car, the Cusco cage is a rare piece, too. Good spot.

I biffed the link for the pictures of the SA3Rs on a test fit, will correct that ASAP.

Always comething, bummer that it has rot.

Post up the pics on the SA3Rs!

[Got Insulin?]

Much better. 255s might be too gnarly, I've got some 235s that might net me some better results. Polished barrels should look real cool with that chrome doorline.

Bonus: the rear end is confirmed as an LSD. Tore it down, new fluids, rare whiteline subframe bushings.

Also picked up this sweet, and fairly rare, Personal Fittipaldi wheel. Something different, near stock diameter, period correct radness.

[werD]

Linking pics from Tri-state won't work unless one happens to be a member on the site.

[Got Insulin?]

Thanks, Werd. Sometimes I herp when I derp.

[Got Insulin?]

Minor updates:

Been trying to split what little free time I have between a group drift car project and the G. Supercharged KA in the works.


This is what my living room looks like at the moment:


Annnnnd the recent crown jewel of local finds: A genuine, low mileage JDM Evo 3 differential WITH the axle stubs that will make this a BOLT ON affair to the G's already upgraded 4bolt axles. Might leave it be, might add a few plates and convert it to a full 2-way setup. Decisions.


This is the same exact plate style LSD diff used in the USDM Evo 8/9 as well, however, Mitsu stacked the plates "incorrectly" in a way that would make for a gentler engagement and driveability for the US cars. You can take them apart and restack them BUT if you manage to find one of these babies, it came stacked correctly from the factory. My 4bolt viscous lsd diff will donate its ring gear, and then this will drop right in. Rad.

You think I should put more Evo parts on the car? How about a set of recently rebuilt and refreshed Brembos with brand new Project Mu pads in them? You got it. I can't get down with the blue, but I'll need to grind them down slightly to make 'em fit anyways, so whatevs. Rotors and brackets to adapt them to my spindle are en route. Looking into running a Q45 or 3G master in attempts to put my face through the windshield when I hit the stoppers.

[iDiaz]

This thing is gonna be sweet.

[werD]

Yeah it is!

[Chase]

I cant believe i missed this. I have always had such a boner for these cars. Had the chance to get one a few years ago and just didnt.

Keep up the good work and inspiration. I love it