terrahs 1980 Mitsubishi Galant Sigma GQ

[xTerraH]

Discussion thread

 

I've been convinced to finally through up a build thread for the siggy. 
 

Build up started last year so I'll start from there.

I purchased this n around July last year from a guy down in Dunedin, who in turn purchased it from some old couple, where it had been stored for 14 odd years or so (if I remember right).
 
I found it by mistake really, just saw some pretty shoddy photos on trademe of it for sale while looking at old colts and gtos.
 








 
 
After some google-fuing, it seemed like a pretty interesting project. They were a bit more popular across the ditch (more commonly known as the Chrysler Sigma (seriously though click that)), and are commonly swapped with everything from Evo 4g63ts to 1jzs to Chevy small-blocks.  A decent looking, sub 1000kg, large engine bay, rwd slice of fun half the price of an okay condition ke corolla, what's to loose?
 
So I picked it up, and it was better than expected. Only one spot of minor visible rust, in the bottom rear of the fender on the drivers side. Original Registration sticker. Some minor bruising around the front and rear bumpers, were the rear bumper seems to have been lightly tapped by something, but otherwise the super oxidised paint appeared to be all there and all good.
 
Here it is before and after possibly the only good cut and polish its ever had:
 






And Paint wise, it came out looking mint. Wish I took more photos of this to give it justice.

[xTerraH]

I figured it was time for some new wheels, and considering I don't plan to rally it, it "Needs more low bro"

 

These 13's weren't really my thing, so I thought 15's would be the right way to go

Came out pretty good fitment in the rear was great. 15x7's right round. I kick myself for not buying the real deal jap deeper dish versions though and going to an 15x8 in the back. The front springs I originally sourced for the front were a bit high, but, eh. The next engine will bring it down enough hopefully. 

 

Went and took some half decent photos out in the wild

Excuse that fugly front bumper, I was suppose to straighten it before I went out but forgot all about it. Car still looks pretty good.

[xTerraH]

On to some actual work

Pulled the bumper and chin, and the left fender off to straighten things out. Rust proofed and spray painted while I was there

Part of me wishes I could I leave it like this. Looks so raw and awesome.

Choooice.

[xTerraH]

The engine decided for itself it was getting some attention. These darn shitsubushi's man. Can't look away for a second.

I should probably give you a brief run down of what it actually is so it doesn't try to kill itself again.

Its a 1600cc, Saturn 4g32 belt driven 4 cylinder, 8 valve engine, with a 4 speed transmission. 0-60mph..slightly faster than it takes to count from 0 to 60. I know most people think how it feels is better than how big a number it scores on the dyno charts, but considering the majority of Sigmas of this generation in Australia and NZ all had Astron 2 Litres and above, its a bit frustrating.

Anyway so I was driving into town, when, somehow, one of the shroudless plastic mechanical fan blades somehow warps itself forward, cutting a chunk out of the bottom of my radiator.

melted the original fan and put it back to shape. Found a Ford Laser Radiator at a Pick a Part that matched the existing hose connections well. No the ford hasn't given me problems yet, but it will do be over until I get one of those flash Fenix Radiators

Part 2 of mechanical issues.

Some time later the Mechanical Fuel Pump seized and killed itself. (Probably due to heat exhaustion, which these pumps hate.) Also unbeknownst to me originally, one of the original bolts had a defect in the thread, causing it to snap off in the head.Got it out safe thankfully. God this car is weird. 

[xTerraH]

Found a photo of that old rad from the inside after that accident

Decided enough was enough, it obviously wanted the royal treatment. So I cleaned it right up a few weekends ago

 

 

[xTerraH]

Couple weekends ago I got sick of looking at the ugly light brown door cards, and after looking up different fabrics dyes I came across Duplicolor Vinyl& Fabric Spray. People seemed to be getting good results with it. The back cards already had punctures in them, and considering I could get a new set of door cards easy enough (and maybe more importantly, the stuff is $13 at supercheap a can), why not?

Waited for a hot day, got them all extremely clean to get some adhesion going, and the old man gave me a hand to spray these up.

Came out good in the heat

Still looks great as of now, but ill have to report back in a year. Looks much better than I expected for $13 dollars Goes really well with all the small chrome pieces. Theres no way anyone would even be able to tell these were originally another colour, aside from how they no longer go with the light coloured interior.

So what's next?

 

-Paint/Dye a few other interior things. 

-I need new front seats for sure. The originals have no head rest and for a guy over 6' tall they just don't cut the mustard all. Hit me up if you're in the Canterbury area and selling a decent pair of recaros or some other reclinable bucket seat for a reasonable price. Late evo recaros would be sweet but with the prices I see them going for     ... I'm not at all fussy.

-I've been looking everywhere for a gauge cluster with a factory tachometer/ or just the tachometer itself, again if you know someone with one, please let me know; I'll buy it.

 

-Looking at swaps, a narrow block dohc 4g63t engine & transmission (vr4/evo 1-3) seems the way to go. Even the latest series of 4g engines show their roots with the originals; My 4 speed gearbox can be connected to a 4g63t, and my existing rwd mounts happily fit a 4g63t - not that either of these things will be reused, haha.

 

-Not a priority, but carpet would be nice at some stage. Speakers would be good too.

 

BONUS PIC:

How neat is this, the fuse box has a test light built in; sliding the dial over each fuse tells you whether it's good or not. Never seen a car with this.

 

EDIT:Just tried to view this on a dsl connection. Sorry guys, I completely forgot what life was like before fibre. Ill make an effort to shrink everything from now on.