1977 Colt Galant Wagon

[RaptorReed]

Waited till I got some better pics of the exterior before I would post this up. Bought it a couple months ago (couldn't resist a wagon), but since I'm still deployed overseas, a good friend of mine picked it up and is taking care of it till I get home in a few months.


54k original miles
2.0l 4G52
3spd Auto
Garage kept since '98
Everything still works right down to the AM Radio
Mint Interior - just a tiny tear on the driver's seat
Minimal rust underneath and small spot on one of the fenders
Came with two extra wheels.
Still Starts right up on the first turn of the key.

Day of Pickup


Interior - updated






Exterior - Updated

[Nath76LA]

Nice wagon you've piked up there.

What are your plans for it?

Nath

[75wagon]

Yep, very nice
Why didn't the Australian models come out with those front seats? They are the same as Lancer hatch ones, so much better then Galant seats here.

Yeah, plans?
Will you leave it stock, or add some bolt on mods like carb/s, wheels, etc.. or engine mod like 4G63 and go all out on it?

Dave...

[RaptorReed]

I was thinking about a 4g63, but I think I'll just keep that idea for the coupe and stay with the 4g32 here. Only modifications are going to be are wheels, small bumpers, extractors, and utilize the set of side draught carbs i have, I just have to figure out the linkage for the carbs since they're Mikuni Solex PHH44s and off a toyota. Would like to do a 4spd swap, if I can find the parts.

[Nath76LA]

Yeah glad your getting rid of those big landings on the front and back and putting on some small bumpers.

Nath

[RaptorReed]

So I thought it had a 4g32 till I popped the hood and right away thought "Huh..that's not a 4g32, it's bigger" looked at the stamp on the block "4G52". Surprises are nice sometimes! Just means I can't use the dual sidedraught manifold I have now since that is for the 4g32.

Oh yeah, I arrived last night at my buddy's place all the way on the other side of the country to pick it up and drive it home (3000 miles from the East coast back to the Northwest coast). Doing a Tuneup tomorrow and then getting new tires!

[orangelancer]

thats a very tidy wagon. just a question though did they come out with the 4g52 as factory? or was it put in there by a previous owner?

[RaptorReed]

Factory option option I believe. Even the ID plate in the bay says 4G52.

[orangelancer]

very nice. great buy i must say. its in exceptional condition. all you need to do is get rid of those bumpers. and the car would be perfect

[davetrees]

Just means I can't use the dual sidedraught manifold I have now since that is for the 4g32

Dual sidedraught manifolds for a 4G52 are much easier to find than 4G32 ones !

Made by Redline - for example :

http://www.rpw.com.au/shop/index.php?pa ... t&Itemid=1

... but you can get them for < $250 if you hunt around

[RaptorReed]

Updated the inside and outside shots of the car with ones I took yesterday, the bumper ordeal will get changed eventually, good to know that it has the indentation on the rear for the small bumpers to sit.
RPW was the first thing to come to mind when I realized what motor it had.

[woops]

Factory option option I believe. Even the ID plate in the bay says 4G52.

Yeah the US market got the 2L engine as an option on all models but you had to have an auto and boosted brakes to get it. And the boosted brakes only came out on the 2L models too. The standard engine didn't even get them as an option.

Very nice ride too.

[75wagon]

The USA got a lot of good options that weren't available here. Take for example the Plymouth Arrow (Lancer Hatch/Celeste) that came with a 2.6.
But the good always comes with the bad, look at the bumpers that you guys got over there.
This wagon potentially could end up being the best Galant wagon around if you do the right things with it.

Keep the updates coming, I'm watching with interest

Dave...

[RaptorReed]

Dave if you want, you can move this thread into the builds, because I am pulling the carb after I post this. Car stopped running Thursday night, just straight died at idle.


After cleaning the needle valve, adjusting the float, and fixing all the fuel lines to the vapor separator (all switched around), it runs again. However it died shortly after and if you push on the gas pedal. Narrowed down to a clogged jet, so thus why we are going to clean and rebuild the carb.

[A112H]

Moved

Great looking wagon, I would love one as my daily but really need to finish the hardtop first, lol. The interior looks mint too. I am sure the car will come up a treat with some TLC.

[RaptorReed]

Yeah, it's got some rust on the fenders and random spots elsewhere, but not too bad. The AM radio works great and the dash speaker is still crisp like it was brand new. Cleaned out the Carb of all the gunk that was in it, almost ready for reassembly tomorrow, got just one gasket to make. Parts are hard to get around here when you need them asap.

[RaptorReed]

So...somewhat disappointed and frustrated at the moment, can't get it to start still so we are going to try one more thing in the morning..check timing and compression. If either or both are out of wack then we will have to figure something out . G52s aren't exactly the easiest thing find out here, how much is interchangeable between the G52 and the G54?

[webby]

The whole engine's a good start ;)
Everything external, the only things different are the bore and stroke iirc

[RaptorReed]

So everything except the pistons and rods then, basically.

[webby]

Pistons, block and crank, pretty sure the rods are the same. Someone will have to confirm/deny that though, I'm 30km away from my parts

[RaptorReed]

Fixed, condensor in the dizzy was shot. Now it's back to running awesome

[RaptorReed]

Some pics from when I took the Carby apart for a cleaning and rebuild











And some more pics I snapped, it's now in the shop in the back so I can finish the tune up properly and yes that fan was used to help cool it faster!




Peeled the Dodge badge off and applied the Mitsubishi.

[75wagon]

Wow there was some crap in that carb in the first pic.


That's a really good pic of your car

Dave...

[RaptorReed]

This was in the Glovebox

[A112H]

That's awesome, wish you could still buy a brand new Astron for $231, lol

[RaptorReed]

Dizzy was bad altogether, it worked but not well,so I snagged a electric one off a pickup with the G54B and now I'm getting plenty of spark! It was sputtering under acceleration and couldn't maintain 45mph(I don't know the kph). Cheap upgrade for $33.

Now onto the next issue: Cooling, but we think it's the cap not holding pressure, it didn't overheat but it did boil the overflow.

[RaptorReed]

Wagon is running pretty good, got to do the timing, water pump and brake pads soon. Cleaned up the exterior a few weekends ago with rubbing compound, removed the dodge badging (Still says Colt on the fenders), applied the Galant emblem to the trunk and then finished up with a fresh coat of wax. Up close it still has all the cracks and scratches in the paint, but from 20ft it looks decent again!

[RaptorReed]

Forgot yes, since the last pics of it, I had the windows tinted. Works both ways for privacy and protecting the interior from the sun, then I applied the SG sticker on trunk. Showing my Support from across the pond!

[GC75]

looking very good mate!!

[A112H]

That is one sweet looking wagon, the tint looks the goods