My GC

[Gramps]

Been looking around for a little 4cyl to drive to work everyday, was looking for a long time mainly at corollas and escorts but finally (and thankfully) ended up going down the galant path. Although my brother has always been into sigmas, i never really explored the mitsubishi side of things. This all changed when i saw a GC hardtop rolling down my street one day... Pretty soon i was looking at a little 74 GC in my hometown advertised for $2000, ended up paying $1750 for it (although i was more than ready to pay asking price ) 131,000 on the clock when i got it, factory 4 speed, original paint, vinyl roof, and interior (all in good nick) new radiator and new brake pads, good tyres and a free set of brand seat covers with those pink hawaiian flowers (i used them to clean the engine bay). Even the original AM radio works well! The exhaust was broken off at the muffler so i got a new 2'' system and 4:1 extractors, but havnt taken any further action under the bonnet as I am unsure about what direction i want to take it in... I want to keep the original saturn 1.6 for a while at least because it runs like a dream, will update when i make a decision (but any advice or input is appreciated because im only 19, have little automotive knowledge, and dont want to make poor choices ) The paint is good, only one minor dent below rear bar, small barely noticeable rust patches behind rear arches but nothing major. THE WORST THING THOUGH is there is a rust patch underneath the vinyl above the rear window, fucked me right over. So i reckon im gonna strip her down, sort the dents, give her a full spray of the original colour and rewrap the roof. Front and rear bars both have a minor ding in the corner, so im wondering if im better off straightening them out and rechroming, or looking for straight ones? The interior is good, roof lining and door panels perfect, but carpet is worn on driver side so i might replace that and small rip in drivers seat makes me want to re upholster it but i might just get some good sheepskins. Dash is cracked and a bit warped but i might just fix it myself and rubber paint it (unless anyone knows where in adelaide to get one thats not warped, even if it is cracked? )



heading interstate on monday but when i get back my sun visor and rear window louvre will have arrived
i like the original hubcaps, but i want to get chrome lowrider rims, those ones with heaps of chrome wire spokes. and whitewalls. would this work you think?
will post more photos of engine bay and interior when i get around to it!
more questions to come!
thanks for reading

[75wagon]

Welcome to the forum Gramps
Your GC looks pretty tidy.

Front and rear bars both have a minor ding in the corner, so im wondering if im better off straightening them out and rechroming, or looking for straight ones?

Straight bars are hard to find.

small rip in drivers seat makes me want to re upholster it but i might just get some good sheepskins.

I wouldn't bother with stock seats. I run Recaros in mine, and with some sharp ebaying, you can get yourself some 2nd hand ones pretty cheap.

Dash is cracked and a bit warped but i might just fix it myself and rubber paint it (unless anyone knows where in adelaide to get one thats not warped, even if it is cracked? )

Dashes are also hard to find.

i want to get chrome lowrider rims, those ones with heaps of chrome wire spokes. and whitewalls. would this work you think?

They could work? The size and offset would have to be just perfect though.

I want to keep the original saturn 1.6 for a while at least because it runs like a dream, will update when i make a decision

I'm a fan of the Saturns, they certainly are no world beater for power, but a good solid motor, that can take a fair amount of punishment.

I'll be interested to see where you end up going with this. I'll be watching and reading.


Dave...

[A112H]

Hey Gramps,
Welcome, car looks great mate, nice pick up. Looking forward to seeing more pics and what you do with it.

[75glnt]

Welcome to the site Gramps!

Tidy looking gc you got there! as 75wagon said, both straight dashes and bumpers are hard to come by. I'm unsure on how one would reshape the crash pad so it's not warped anymore?? Never done any of that before.

I also agree with 75wagon that the saturns are a very tough little engine! And sound great with a webber, cam and good exhaust combo.

Can't wait to see what path you will take with this! Good luck

P.S. GO THE GRANDAD SUNVISOR AND VENETIANS!!!

Cheers,
Mick

[Nath76LA]

Yeah welcome to SG Gramps.

Tidy GC you've picked up there.

Stick with the 4G32 and keep your eye out for a set of twin solex carbies as they give better performance than a single webber, and put a set of extractors on it is my suggestion. Twin webbers sound and go a little bit better than the solexs but use more fuel and are several times more expensive.

There is probably someone in Adelaide that can re-trim the dash pad and make it like new. A112H might know of someone that does a good job.

[Gramps]

thanks everyone!

Im mainly doing this car up as a daily to cruise to work and back, Im on pretty good money from working interstate so im gonna be pouring a fair few $$$ into her over the coming months. However, I am a first year apprentice so i dont want to drop a new engine in it because at any time i could stop working interstate and be in a shitty financial position again and be unable to fix things that break. I do want to get the most out of the engine though And most importantly i want it to look nice with lots of shiny chrome bits

here are some more photos



Engine bay, havnt had to do much under here yet, just new oil cap and filter, new air filter and painted the airbox, flushed radiator, added extractors and replaced a gearbox mount. Thanks Nath76LA, a new carby setup was next on my to do list and twin solexs sounds like a good choice for me As for a new cam, does anyone know a good place in adelaide who will source and install? Im looking for quality over pricing and i want someone reliable and knowledgeable who will know what is best suited for my engine.



Cheers A112H, Il start searching ebay and local wreckers for a drivers seat. New carpet is on its way, im currently looking for a smaller steering wheel and when i get back from canberra in 2 weeks il have a look around for a hideaway stereo system, or maybe mount a standard headunit in the glovebox as ive seen on here. As for the dash, yeah does anyone know a joint that will do a good job? I was thinking about getting my taillights redetailed too, and the vinyl roof rewrap, does anyone know places in SA that would do all or any of these things?

I want to get chrome exterior mounted gauges for her, or possibly dash mounted. I was thinking about replacing the clock with a tacho or trying to fit one neatly in that little air vent, but id rather keep it all oridgey-didginal there. Not sure how i feel about the woodgrain display as is at this point... might have to replace it with a nice bit of thin stainless or something, either that or find a wheel and gearknob with similar woodgrain and roll with it



Definately want GD quads and grille somewhere down the track
Im considering moving the mirrors down the fender, but il wait till i strip it so i can mock them up and see if i dig em down the front.

One more question, the plastics covering the rear pillars above the parcel shelf are cracked as shit, are they another item that is going to be very hard to find good originals?

I broke the aerial yesterday while washing her... i dont think il ever forgive myself

thanks again guys

[75wagon]

I was thinking about replacing the clock with a tacho or trying to fit one neatly in that little air vent, but id rather keep it all oridgey-didginal there.

You can get factory tachos. I've got 2 of them (no they aren't for sale)
How to install a factory tacho in non tacho GC/ GD.

[A112H]

The C pillar interior plastic are very hard to find in good condition as most have been very perished by the sun.
Don't stress too much about the arial mate, it is an aftermarket one anyway. The Galant sedans and hardtops all used the bootlid as the arial.
If you open your boot lid you will see it is rubber mmounted to the hinges and on the passenger hinge there should be a little tab to slide a wire on, that is where the factory arial connects

Engine bay looks very nice and tidy, good job cleaning it up.
As for getting a cam supplied and fitted I would call Mike Dale;
Mike Dale Automotive
Motor Engineers & Repairers - Holden Hill, SA
U6/ 26 Jacobsen Crs, Holden Hill SA 5088, Australia
(08) 8369 2882

Or on Bookface
https://www.facebook.com/mike.dale.520?fref=ts

He has about 30 years of rally experience in and around Mitsubishi's.

[Nath76LA]

when i get back from canberra in 2 weeks il have a look around for a hideaway stereo system, or maybe mount a standard headunit in the glovebox as ive seen on here.

I'm currently in the middle of putting a stereo in my hardtop. I will put some pic's up in the next couple of days but for the head unit I have bought a aerpro universal under dash car radio housing http://www.ryda.com.au/Universal-Under- ... ap9000.htm from JB's which I will be installing between the glove box and parcel shelf. I'm also making up some speaker box's to fit some 4 inch speakers in for the front.

[Gramps]

Whoa! Cheers A112H, il defiantely get onto Mike when i get back to SA and know my financial position. I geezed his facebook and he definately seems like the man i need! And thats cool about the aerial! I had found that loose wire in the boot and had no idea what it was, i was planning on asking about it actually.

Yeah thanks nate, im not too concerned about the stereo at this point as id rather get all the engine and drivetrain work done first. And im kinda happy with the am radio to be honest! Haha the poor sound quality adds character and plus i love hearing my exhaust rumble! Be sure to post pics of your setup when its in, would be good to see how it turns out.

Couple of questions - i have access to a sigma sedan, siggy wagon, and magna sedan (year and models unknown but il check when i see them next) all with astron 2.6s. Am i an idiot if i don't put a 2.6 in my galant? Haha, they are all manual and the magnas only got 115,000 on the clock, but they have all been used as bushbashers and have been sitting around a while. But if im looking to chuck carbys and a cam and making
my saturn flow nice, is it just a waste of
Money compared to an engine swap?
How much is a gd grille and lights worth? I'm looking at one but the price the guy wants seems kinda steep.

wrote this on my phone so sorry if its written kinda weird. ive been trying to post this for 3 days

[VGJONO]

in regards to the 2.6 swap, it is a very common swap, from what ive learnt while researching it you will be getting more power out of a 2.6 and they are pretty good for torque, the only thing to do to swap them it run your alternator wiring to the other side of the engine bay. your only concern will be fitting the motors, if they are all original manuals then they will be wide block, and if your car is an original manual then your trans tunnel will be too small for the siggy Wide block 5spd to match, and the wide motors wont match up to the Narrow 4spd box, this thread has a bit more detail on the whole narrow and wide block issue but is mainly about the gearboxes, should still help give you an understanding of it all http://www.sigma-galant.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=6424 Aslo this thread has alot more info on alot of the Bolt in RWD upgrades for early galants ect. http://www.sigma-galant.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=2206

although i will say just the addition of a narrow block jap 5spd to the existing 4G32 is awesome

Cheers
VGJONO

p.s someone correct me if im wrong, or add onto this anything that i may have missed

[A112H]

when i saw a GC hardtop rolling down my street one day.

Hey Gramps, just thinking about this hardtop. Do you have a description of it mate? Where about did you see it?
There aren't many running around SA and I would like to keep track of them, and maybe buy them all, lol

I first had a worked 2.6 in my hardtop and it went very well. If you are looking to make more power, the only reason I can see to keeping the Saturn is for rego inspections (which we don't have) or historical reasons. A pretty stock 2.6 will make more HP and way more Torques than a Saturn with thousands spent on it. Don't get me wrong, they are a great little engine and very strong but power (in the real world) was never their friend.
As for the engines you have; as Jono says above if you car is a factory manual they have a smaller trans tunnel than the autos and fitting later model boxes can be an issue. Luck is on your side because ALL Magnas are narrow block engines. The 2.6 from your Magna will bolt right in with a few little mods to suit your car, like alternator wiring and such.
Chuck some extractors on there a 2" exhaust and twin carbs and it will be a quick little car and make all the right sounds.

[Gramps]

Thanks for the info guys. At this point im thinking, leave the saturn in for a while. Maybe chuck in a new carby setup to tide me over. Meanwhile, il pull out the magnas astron (or maybe look for something else. i was thinking possibly 4g63?) and make it everything it can be.

Jono i was thinking about a 5 speed, but i kind of like the aussie 4. Its got character ;) my car was used by a 16yo girl for a learners car, so the clutch is getting a tad slim. I might get the jap box unsteadof spending money on a new clutch

A112H the hardtop i saw was mint! Red with black detailing, paint still looked wet! Had a turbo of some kind but im not the one to be able to tell you what it was. It was in my hometown of macclesfield in the adelaide hills, but i hadnt seen it before or since so i doubt its local. It definately wasnt the kind if car that you would drive around on a daily basis though, so i still have hope that i might seeit around again

[VGJONO]

Jono i was thinking about a 5 speed, but i kind of like the aussie 4. Its got character ;) my car was used by a 16yo girl for a learners car, so the clutch is getting a tad slim. I might get the jap box unsteadof spending money on a new clutch

The 5 speeds make a difference, i was going to go with the 4 that i put in mine when i converted it but then found it had no reverse gear so instead of doing things twice i sourced a 5 speed the next day and bolted it in. only modifications needed are the shifter hole extended and moving the crossmember to the rear 2 holes on the chassis. also you need a LC lancer 5 speed mount i beleive. if it wasnt for the reverse issue i probably would have kept the 4 speed as they do add a bit of character. its funny when you have someone in the car for the first time and they ask you why you dont use 5th gear

with the 4G63, im pretty sure the SOHC carby versions are also pretty simple to bolt up. and if you are really keen you could probably go a DOHC EFI 4G63 but that requires some work as i beleive you need to convert the DOHC's from FWD to RWD

Cheers
VGJONO