Lured back in! JDM Galant VR4 Evolution Build

[Sburke]

Sburke submitted a new DSM Profile :

JDM VR4 Evolution Build


Read more about this vehicle here...

 

[Sburke]

Growing up as a kid, I was vaguely into cars. I didn't know much, but there were a few 5.0 and Saleens in my town that I thought were awesome... Roughly in 1999 or 2000, my friend asked if I wanted to watch his cousins car at the race track. Being 12 or 13 I was beyond excited. What I didn't know at the time, watching his cousins car (1g DSM built motor/50Trim) was at the DSM shootout. His car kept having coupler issues, and never made a clean pass if I remember. From that moment, I was hooked.


Over the years, I've owned tons of 4g powered cars. Over 10 1g/2g Talon/Eclipse, and also over 10 CSM. Plus a few Evos. I've been a member here since 09, and a lurker for many years prior. Figured it was time to make my first post I've been going through some very old photos today, here are a few, in no particular order. Majority being well over 10+ years old.


This was an ex road race car, that only had 10k miles. I found out after selling it, that at some point it rolled!

I loved this car. 16g, cams, built auto, JMF SMIM, supporting mods. Ran 11s on 93 octane. The stock converter was awful, and robbed a ton of time.

This car was mint, aside from a small dent in the front bumper. It was a bone stock, 40k mile AWD Talon, leather interior, auto.

4g Converted Colt. I don't exactly remember the setup of this one. What I do remember is, driving over 24 hours to pick it up, and sleeping in a Uhaul. Awful.

Clean lower mile Colt GT

This Colt, is what made me appreciate them. It destroyed a friends Cobra. I ended up purchasing it many years later, parked it and never touched it. It was traded for a supercharged Cobra, which was sold on the way home from picking it up.

TAD Motorsports Evo IV. Pretty much every HKS bolt on, Ohlins Coilovers, etc.

Evo 8. Purchased in 2009/2010 with like 30k miles? Basic bolt ons. FMIC setup, Exhaust, Tune. 310HP daily.

 

[Sburke]

Last year, or maybe closer to 2 years back. A one owner Mirage GT popped up locally. Complete unicorn. Couldn't pass it up. After purchasing, I didn't know what to do with it. In stock form, they are fairly boring, yet I didn't want to hack it apart. So I sold it.

Prior to that Mirage, I've been away from anything 4g powered for many many years. I moved onto European and Exotic stuff. But, for whatever reason I find myself looking for a clean DSM/EVO/CSM from time to time.... Can't get away from these turds.


2+ months ago, I traveled down to Atlanta, Ga which is only a 4 hour or so ride from here in Charlotte, to a JDM importer.. I went to look at a Cappuccino, but it wasn't for me. Very annoying clutch, and diff setup. The owner informed me, he had a Galant VR4 at another location, which was an hour away. I asked to go check it out. After the test ride, I was sold. Prior to this test ride, the only other time I’ve been around a VR4 was 16 years ago in high school when a friend owned one. He raved about how well it handled, and how great the 4ws was. He took me for a ride, we ended up smashing into a stop sign, and onto someone’s front lawn crashed into the side of their house.


The car is far from perfect. I came back down shortly after to pick it up.


This photo was from the drive back home. I was told the AC worked. Nothing like finding out it doesn't in 95 degree weather, in Atlanta traffic......

It's a 1990 Galant VR4 Evolution. Which came stock with:
Big 16g
FMIC & larger piping over US spec
Cyclone intake manifold
510cc Injectors
EVO gear set
4 Bolt rear end
Vented Hood
Different front/rear bumper

Upgrades when purchased:
HKS old school can intake
Cusco front/rear bars
Tein coilovers
Watanabe wheels
Fujitsubo exhaust
Blitz electronic boost gauge
Greddy/Trust hilarious boost gauge

The day next, AC was converted over and new relays were installed. Working AC! From there, I ordered some service related items:

- All new rotors & pads
- Radiator & hoses
- JNZ braided lines
- Various sensors
- Engine,Trans,Tcase,rear diff fluids
- Tcase & axle seals


I knew the Tein coilovers from the 90s were on the way out, but within a week two of them blew in spectacular fashion. Completely covered themselves in fluid. Searching around, there really isn't a high end kit available for the VR4. Feal, BC Racing, and K-sport where basically my options. Trying to avoid rolling the dice, on which Taiwanese budget coilover setup would be the best. I started reaching out to suspension companies. Ohlins is two hours away, and Bilstein is local. Neither wanted to work with me unfortunately. Started looking into using EVO stuff, but some say to avoid going that route. I randomly stumbled upon a shop, that can covert the BC coils over to using Bilstein guts, and revalving them to spec. I went the BC route... These might be temporary, haven't driven on them yet.

I noticed one of the studs missing on the exhaust manifold. The manifold itself, along with the heatshield was pretty crusty looking due to the stock hood vents being right there. So I ordered a new FP race cast manifold, stud kit, new turbo bolts, Turbo blanket, ETC.

Upon ripping everything apart, bolts broke off in the turbine housing of the stock big 16g.

Now, this can be repaired, but I opted for a fresh turbo... I'm one of those idiots who spend $800 on a new Evo III 16g... Doubtful I will notice any difference from the stock big 16g that was taken off, but I have peace of mind knowing it's nice and fresh.

Ordered a new 3" Downpipe & O2 housing while everything's apart.

I'm not a fan of the Watanabe wheels that are on the car. They belong on a Datsun IMO. The VR4 has annoying 4x114.3 pattern, so finding period wheels is tricky. Came across these Speedlines from 1996. They were sold to me, as being in excellent shape.... Not the case, painted Speedline factory logos were almost completely worn, and tons of marks on each wheel. Oh well..

Having spray painted wheels 15 years ago with great success, I figured lets try it again.. I spent $100 on materials, and two days re-do the wheels trying to avoid paying a powdercoater...

They look decent in photos, but have a fair number of flaws in person. So now they are being sandblasted and hopefully coated this week. The Speedline decals came in from out of the country, hopefully the sizing is correct. Haven't had the wheels in my possession in 2+ weeks to check. Typical, "they will be done in a week" Try calling the shop a little over a week after dropping off, and couldn't get ahold of anyone. I had to track the guy down on Facebook., and was given a string of excuses...




Still haven't driven the car since any of this work. Brakes need bled, fan installed, T- case seals replaced, and finding a lower radiator hose that works. None of the gates/dayco VR4 hoses fit. I've been told a 1g DSM lower hose will work, with some trimming. Will find out today if that's the case.



I live in the Charlotte area, which isn't far from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Amazing roads all along it. The current plans are to just enjoy it on those roads, with no real "end goal' for this car. It will need tuned. I would like to enjoy it for a few weeks, before I schedule a tune and some paint work. I've always wanted a road race DSM build, not sure this chassis would be ideal for that duty though. Not to mention, the lack of transmission parts around these days

 

[Sburke]

Thanks to the power of the internet, the 1g DSM lower hose works. It's not perfect, but it will work.

Turbo blanket is also installed

 

[Dericsh]

Thanks for sharing your DSM journey so far. I subscribed to keep up with the vr4. I love the silver, seems like they are always green.

 

[Sburke]

Transfer case was dropped tonight, to replace the seals. Yoke bearings feel terrible. Square and not round. Need to order more stuff, that will hinder driving it. Constant theme with this car thus far! Hopefully I can track something down tomorrow, and next day air it. I just wanna drive this thing!

I ordered a 1g AWD downpipe, as only one random muffler shop makes a correct VR4 downpipe and I’ve heard mixed reviews. It doesn’t line up 100% with the cat, and the cat is slightly smaller. I will just have a new cat back made, once this service work is completed.

One axle seal is leaking. Luckily I have both seals.

 

[Sburke]

Fresh seals

Also, had to track down a new driveshaft yoke recall kit. These are no longer being made! I found the remaining 18 in stock in the world, and bought them. Only 4 ended up getting shipped to me and someone else swiped the rest before they could be shipped out. Hopefully Mitsubishi ends up making these again, as they are a wear item.

With everything bolted back in, it was leaking coolant. The brand new radiator must have been smashed during reassembly. Back in the old one went. It needed exhaust work, from the downpipe back 2 feet or so. I just had the exhaust shop take the cat and resonator out. That came out great, and they had it done quickly. I had an alignment scheduled afterwards at another shop, and upon arrival they sent me right back out the door. They told me an important car showed up, and they couldn’t honor my appointment. Thanks for the heads up! It’s almost impossible to find good service these day’s.

So I called around, explained the car had coilovers, etc. One place said they could do it, not a problem. I waited there for almost 3 hours before they pulled the car in, looked at it and said it will take too much time. Talk about an annoying day! I drove the car home a little over an hour, with uneven ride heights and a wonky alignment. It was sketchy! The next day I took it to a local shop, who I’ve had do work for my business. They had the alignment and ride height adjustment done within an hour and a half. Maybe good service isn’t so hard to find.



The following day, I took it to the blue ridge parkway and surround roads to dial in the suspension. 4WS activates at a certain MPH, and it’s pretty funky to get used to. It might be getting deleted soon. Spent the whole day thrashing on the car, it did great. Kept the boost low, at 14psi with a mix of race gas. Just in case...

 

[DSSA]

Also, had to track down a new driveshaft yoke recall kit. These are no longer being made! I found the remaining 18 in stock in the world, and bought them. Only 4 ended up getting shipped to me and someone else swiped the rest before they could be shipped out. Hopefully Mitsubishi ends up making these again, as they are a wear item.

I *told* you on the phone when you called me for one that I had already ordered them.

That dealer in Texas (I'm assuming that's where you got them) was listing them banking on Mopar's stock. They didn't actually have them, and didn't notice that they had been purchased. I had the order in with Mopar for their entire remaining stock the week before you contacted me about them, then ordered them.

I'm glad a GVR4 guy got some, but I didn't *swipe* them from you, unless I did it almost two weeks in advance.

 

[Sburke]

I *told* you on the phone when you called me for one that I had already ordered them.

That dealer in Texas (I'm assuming that's where you got them) was listing them banking on Mopar's stock. They didn't actually have them, and didn't notice that they had been purchased. I had the order in with Mopar for their entire remaining stock the week before you contacted me about them, then ordered them.

I'm glad a GVR4 guy got some, but I didn't *swipe* them from you, unless I did it almost two weeks in advance.

Never spoke on the phone, I did email you though. Hot ticket item! No, I knew none of the dealers had them. Even though they had listed stock. I placed the order with a dealer in MO and here in NC. I was told they came from a warehouse, and not another dealer, and that the remaining ones were still sitting at a hub somewhere. Unfortunately not the case, haha. But I did end up with 4 of them. Glad you were able to snag a stockpile. Hopefully someone remakes them in the future...

 

[DSSA]

Never spoke on the phone, I did email you though..

Phone, email. I'm not sure of my name anymore.

Yes, it was email though.

 

[Sburke]

I’ve been chasing a steering wheel vibration since picking this car up. 55+ MPH it starts to feel like you’re riding on wooden wheels. Even after all the new suspension, brakes, alignment, multiple wheel balancing. Axles looked good, driveshaft, wheel bearings. Couldn’t figure it out. Ended up replacing almost new tires, with a fresh set just to rule them out.... No dice.

Made a post asking for help elsewhere, and found the cause of my vibration issues.

I’ve never heard of hub centric rings in my life. $5.99, that’s what it took to solve an issue that made me want to push this car off a cliff!



Headed out to the mountains today, to fully dial in the suspension. It prefers a soft setup. Handles very well In the faster flowy stuff, but doesn’t exactly like tight and technical roads. Rear sway bar, and getting some weight out of the car might help.

 

[Sburke]

The GVR4 was turning off at randomly. Super sketchy. Took me days to figure it out. Had most of the wiring and dash apart, trying to tackle the issue.

It ended up being an aftermarket alarm I didn’t even know the car had. It was hidden in the dash, and looked factory the way you could view it. The faded foam, and factory looking plug made me glance over it originally.

I had a set of wheels at a shop, where it took them over two months to not even finish sandblasting all of the wheels. Moved them to another shop, where they had them done in only a few days. Quality isn’t great. Chipping within the first day as well. They offered to redo them when I picked them up, but I wish they would have done a QC check before telling me to drive out and get them. Had a wheel bearing replaced, took a 5 ton press to get it out. Glad I didn’t mess with that one.

Old school Speedlines from 1995. The axle nut sticks out, so you cannot run center caps. Which sorta stinks. Wheels look better in person. Awful lighting here.

 

[90Awd_eagle]

Sweet build I'm in the process with my VR4. I live about an hour and a half from you if you ever want to cruise.

 

[Sburke]

Sweet build I'm in the process with my VR4. I live about an hour and a half from you if you ever want to cruise.

Nice! Towards the mountains by chance?

 

[Sburke]

Well...

Heading back from a hike, came around a blind corner and met a Boulder in the road. Wasn’t going fast or anything, and it wasn’t visible till the last second. Ended up smacking the oil filter, and loosing 50% of the oil roughly.

Metal was found in the oil. Attempted multiple flushes, but the bottom end started knocking. Terrible way to take out a mint 70k mile engine.


I never had any plans for this car, other than go through everything and make it a nice weekend driver. Considering it needs a motor, I’ve decided to just build it into a track car. I’ve always wanted to enter a hill climb, and plan to finally do so with this GVR4 this coming season. Zero experience on track with 4 wheels, so things shall get interesting! Will attend as many track days as possible for seat time. Currently debating doing a group A livery while it’s down.

 

[90Awd_eagle]

Nice! Towards the mountains by chance?

I live north of Winston near pilot mountain and hanging rock if that qualifies as the mountains