1990 galant GSX

[Gsxgalant90]

Gsxgalant90 submitted a new DSM Profile :

1990 galant GSX


Read more about this vehicle here...

 

[Gsxgalant90]

Well I finally picked up my car. I found one that peaked my interest, however it was a 4.5 hour drive away. So the journey begins. It starts out by getting a U-Haul trailer to trailer it home. I was going to try and have a buddy come with and just drive the car home but I’m glad I didn’t and I’ll explained why here soon. U-Haul wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Or at least as easy as it should have beeen. The one that was closest to me was a small shop and the owner didn’t understand computers very well. So an hour and a half later I was on the road. I was driving for about an hour when I ran into my first problem. My Yukon’s dash quit working. I know it’s a common issue but right now!? It had to happen right now!?! (I know what I’ll be doing when I get back home). So no that I have no speedo, fuel gauge, or temps of any sort, I was kind of working on hope and faith. I stoped far to often for fuel because I did not want to run out seemed like it was every hundred miles or so. Better safe than sorry I guess. Also had to download an app for speed, decided to go with waze. Highly recommend that Nav app. It’s awesome. Where was I... oh yeah, on the road again. Hah I finally made it to my destination. Rexburg ID. After stopping for what felt like 15 time in a 350 mile journey, plus one stop to a Walmart for a car charger, I had arrived. As you can see it was snowing here. Luckily that was about the only bad weather on the whole drive. Now to test drive. Started out by waiting for about 15 minutes for the guy to show up. Have him about 45 minutes notice before I got there but I guess that wasn’t enough. Once he showed up I looked it over really quick. Noticed a couple more trim pieces that were missing that were not discussed over the phone. So frustrating, but it’s not that bad right I’ll find the trim eventually and they are relatively cheap so that wasn’t a big deal. Took it out for a spin and the first thing I noticed is the brakes are bad... that also was never mentioned over the phone. Grrhhh. Getting more frustrated... but it’s just basic maintenance right? Further down the road he took me to a country road to open it up. It performed well here. Went through all the gears nicely. No grinds or pops. Went pretty smooth. Then it started snowing harder. As snow was sticking to the road it started to build up and the car got a little out of control. Like the alignment was way off. One more issue that was not mentioned. So the test drive ends and I’m looking it over some more and look down at the tires, what do you know they are weather rotted and look like they are about to blow up, not to mention the fact it appears that they have never been rotated. Come on man super frustrating. Starting to get pissed. Before I made the trip out there I asked for any issues. And he missed so many issues that could have proved dangerous had I just gotten a ride out there and drove it home. Maybe he just didn’t know that all that stuff was a problem well we worked out a price before I started the drive but not with all the issues all over the car I thought it should be a bit cheaper so I asked and the guy wouldn’t budge. At this point I almost walked away but I had so much invested already I had a hard time saying no over an extra hundred bucks. Considering I spent that in fuel. So I paid the guy and loaded it up. On the road agian. Started out running a little slower but that got old quick so after checking my fuel mileage a couple times and realizing going sloweronly save 3 mpg I said f it and went the speed limit. Finally pulled in to the driveway at midnight. Long day for sure

 

[Devilsfutbol17]

I like the car man. What are your plans for it?

 

[Gsxgalant90]

I like the car man. What are your plans for it?

I plan on doing some autocross first in stock class being as how it is all factory. And go from there. Eventually adding a turbo coil overs trans swap and what not for the far future.

 

[Gsxgalant90]

Just the first step in making this thing mine. Had to fix the speakers. As you can see from the photo. They were shot. Found some type s 6.5s at the pawn shop for 20 bucks so said what the heck. Started by pulling the drivers door panel. Pulled the old dead speaker, crimped on the connectors to fit the new speakers and installed the new one in the factory speaker housing. Fits like a glove but you have to make sure it’s facing the right way with the connectors due to the molded plastic. Forgot to take a pic of either side without a speaker in the frame. Went to install the door panel and it wouldn’t fit. Found the original size speaker was a bit smaller and didn’t protrude out of the door so far. So I had to do some trimming. Again I forgot to take a before pic but I had to trim about a half in or just over on each side of the speaker. Installed the door panel and boom front speakers are now working. Sound is much better now that the speakers aren’t blown. Haha

Next was the deck. Had a nice one laying around so figure it was time for an upgrade. Pulled the old deck out, it was an alpine too, and found a hack job from the po. The wires were “spliced” with electrical tape. So to the local stereo shop for the right butt connectors. Got a pack of 100 for 7 bucks so that was cool. Wired it in properly and reinstalled. May need to buy a stereo dash kit but for now it will work.

 

[Gsxgalant90]

Here are a couple more pics of the stereo install

 

[Gsxgalant90]

Today was the first of repairs mechanically to the gsx. Had a squeaky alt belt and was missing the ac belt. So bought the ac belt and tore into it. Belt replacement is pretty straightforward so I’ll soare ya the details. Pulled off the alt belt then install the new ac belt. Installed the alt bet again and tightened everything up. Fired it up and boom no lore belt squeal. Thank god. Do have a small chirp once and a while but I’ll mess with that later. The squeal was terrible. Next was to check all maintenance items and start a list. List to be done in near future as follows.

Plugs
Wires
Air filter
Radiator bushings
Valve cover gaskets and what I believe to be a oil pan gasket but it’s hard to tell oil all over the front end of the motor.

Also found the hood was getting difficult to pop so grabbed some white lithium grease and sprayed her down good on the hood latch. Works like a dream now.

 

[Devilsfutbol17]

Nice, good work. Have you checked timing belt yet? Unless you have the details on when it was last replaced, it's probably a good idea to do the maintenance with the timing belt. When I bought my second GVR4 I didn't check the timing belt before hand and I drove it home 1.5hrs with a half shredded timing belt because someone had put the longer oil pan bolts in the wrong spot. That was an oh s*** moment .

 

[Gsxgalant90]

Nice, good work. Have you checked timing belt yet? Unless you have the details on when it was last replaced, it's probably a good idea to do the maintenance with the timing belt. When I bought my second GVR4 I didn't check the timing belt before hand and I drove it home 1.5hrs with a half shredded timing belt because someone had put the longer oil pan bolts in the wrong spot. That was an oh s*** moment .

No kidding. I’ll check that next time I pop the hood. Thanks for the insite!!

 

[Gsxgalant90]

Been a while since I posted anything here, although not a whole lot has changed. Did get some new wheels and tires. Found a cheap set just to get rid of the stock look. Wired in the vr4 trunk lights. Added and antenna and started the oil leak repairs. Found out the oil pan gasket wasn’t the problem. Have several cracks in the pan. No wonder I was leaking oil. Haha. Pan is on order. Just waiting for it to show up. Changed out the valve cover gasket while I had the hood up. Took a stroll through the local junkyard and happened across a laser with a new air filter and plug wires. May just end up pulling that whole engine. Only had 80k on it!! We will see what happens so far enjoying this car a bunch. Now all I need is more power!!

 

[Gsxgalant90]

I’ll try and get some pics of the oil situation when I get home and post them as well

 

[Gsxgalant90]

Here are some the pics I was talking about. I am not sure if you’ll be able to see it but these are the cracks in the oil pan.

This one below is the one I welded up before I found the other cracks.

 

[Gsxgalant90]

here are a few pics of the disassembled car

This is where I set the axle to get it out of the way with out pulling the entire thing (below)

Here is the drivers side a arm assembly pulled apart to remove the axle.

Found a torn passenger side cv boot. Looks like I know what’s next on the list...