GC Red Rufus

[RyBj]

Helloooo lovely members of S-G.com i have returned an with me bring great news! A few weeks ago I acquired an absolutely stunning Red GC galant and I'm currently in the process of transferring a 4G54 with a mild-wild cam, twin down draft solex carbies and 4-2-1 extractors fitted to a 2.5" single muffler exhaust. The engine is currently in a scorpion and is fitted to a 5speed gearbox which makes things easy. the motor is being pulled from the car this weekend and I'm hoping to pick it up before the end of the long weekend so i can make a start on the conversion. I had the GC sent to the mechanics after friends and I struggled to get the 4G32 running and they established that the head was blown so I've had them pull the motor and gearbox and exhaust. i am hear for a few reasons, i need to know if there are problems that I may run into during the conversion that i should know about, from what I've read its pretty much a straight swap. will i need custom engine mounts? will i need a custom tail shaft? Other than that i don't think theres much else on my mind though i am here for the acquisition of information re this swap so fill me up.

[A112H]

Looks like a good pick up over all, nice one
The Sigma/Scorpion mounts that should come with the engine will be fine.
Yes, you will need to get the tail shaft modded. Best way is to grab the Scorpion tail shaft and have the rear yoke changed to suit the Galant diff, and shortened if needed.
The alternator mounts on the other side of the engine on an Astron so you will need to run the dash light wire around the engine bay to the alt and mod the main alt wire to suit.
You will need to remove the spacer between the radiator and the rad support panel. This will move the rad about 2 inches further away from the engine, as the Astron is longer the fan will foul on the rad if this isn't done.
You will also need the speedo cable out of the Scorpion, the connections for the dash and gearbox are the same but they are longer and the speedo drive on the gear box sits further back on the 5 speeds.
While talking about the gearbox, you will need the "short" extension housing. Basically, you need the gear stick to sit forward of the rear seal, if the gear stick sits over the tail shaft yoke it will sit too far back on a Galant and foul the hand brake. On the gear stick, you will need to trim about 50mm from the rear of the factory hole, you can spin this around and weld it to the front of the hole, then the size is the same and you can use the factory floor boot.
I think that is about it. I know the factory automatic bodies have a larger trans tunnel, if yours if factory manual I am not sure how tight the 5 speed will sit in the tunnel.
And the obvious exhaust adjustments.
Extractors to suit a Scorpion/Sigma will not fit as they will foul the steering box but some minor mods can see them used. Having said that, the Scorpions ran a very efficient "extractor" style manifold that will pass the steering box.

This may seem like a lot reading it but as you are starting with a rolling shell, besides the tail shaft getting modded you can usually complete a conversion in a good day or a relaxed weekend.
Good luck

[75wagon]

A112H has pretty much got it all there
What model is the Scorpion?
Don't the 5 speed's from the GH (or GE) come with the short extension housing on the gearbox?
I thought it was only GJ (Sigma) onwards that had the longer extension?
Is it also correct that the only difference between the tailshafts on wide and narrow jap boxes (assuming it is a jap box not a borg warner) the front yoke? Can't the yoke just be swapped over to make it fit?
When I converted my wagon to a narrow 5 speed (from a 4) I didn't have to change the shaft at all (same one just bolted back in).
Or is that GC an auto? That would have a shorter tail shaft.

Here's a topic they might be worth a read.
Astron engine conversion into galant/lancer

In NSW for rego (and engineering) you'll be needing to upgrade your brakes as well.
If you are lucky, and have started with a GH model Scorpion then you will already have what you need.

Here's some other pre-written topics that may be of interest.
Ultimate Topic Directory

Dave...

[A112H]

Don't the 5 speed's from the GH (or GE) come with the short extension housing on the gearbox?
I thought it was only GJ (Sigma) onwards that had the longer extension?

Correct, but as these cars are chasing 40 years old, you never know and I thought it was worth mentioning.
I have a GH Scorpion here that someone has put the awful BW box into

Is it also correct that the only difference between the tailshafts on wide and narrow jap boxes (assuming it is a jap box not a borg warner) the front yoke? Can't the yoke just be swapped over to make it fit?
When I converted my wagon to a narrow 5 speed (from a 4) I didn't have to change the shaft at all (same one just bolted back in).
Or is that GC an auto? That would have a shorter tail shaft.

Again, pretty sure you are correct but, whilst doing the conversion I would go for the stronger Scorpion tail shaft over the Galant unit. I think mine needed to be shortened by about 60mm but I can't remember if that was because they are to long or if I made it to long by also using the Scorpion diff

[RyBj]

The GC that i have was a manual, also it doest have the centre console around the gear stick as my GD does. i might change that over depending on what mods i have to do to the trans tunnel to get the 5sp to fit. the sigma is a GH and just to clarify i will need the excelerator cable, the engine mounts and the tailshaft from the sigma also? The engine is being pulled today and ill be picking it up.

[A112H]

The GC that i have was a manual, also it doest have the centre console around the gear stick as my GD does. i might change that over depending on what mods i have to do to the trans tunnel to get the 5sp to fit. the sigma is a GH and just to clarify i will need the excelerator cable, the engine mounts and the tailshaft from the sigma also? The engine is being pulled today and ill be picking it up.

I am not sure how much smaller the tunnels are, mine was an auto and I searched for an auto in particular for that reason. I knew from the start it wasn't staying stock mechanically. The console will swap directly over but they are not that hard to come by if you want one in each car.
Accelerator cable, speedo cable, engine mounts and tail shaft should be about all you need, besides the engine, ancillaries and box obviously.
Is the car it is coming from a GH Sigma or Scorpion?
Pretty sure the ran different gearboxes, I am not really up on what model got what in the Sigmas but I am pretty sure they got the shitty manuals and it was only the Scorpions that got the desirable and stronger "Jap" boxes

[astronturbo77]

Is this the one you posted a topic up about on performance forums?
If you get a narrow block astron block you can use a early narrow block 5 speed and you dont have to touch the tail shaft. Youll have to cut the shifter hole back slightly, and use the rear bolt holes on the floor pan for your g/box x member, speedo cable will screw on, just have to take it out of the clips so it will reach a little further.

[astronturbo77]

also should be able to adapt the std accelerator cable, need sigma mounts too as they sit a bit lower

[RyBj]

Thankyou everyone for their wisdom and guidance through le conversion, i am happy to say that she's all bolted in and hooked up as of about two weeks ago. it runs pretty well though i was expecting a bit more power seeing as its an extra litre from the stock 1.6 and its also go the wild cam, twin down draft carbies and an unrestricted exhaust. i feel this may be attributed to the carbies throwing out too much fuel and the engine not being able to do anything with it, becasue fuels been going down like theres a hole in the tank and in the first day and a half of driving the car would splutter a bit when i put my foot down and even completely dies a couple of times though this could also have something to do with the electric fuel pump thats been fitted. The speedo is also out by about 20kph and it runs at quite high revs which the guy who installed it said was becasue its a high geared diff for a low geared stock box and it isnt as compatible with a different gearbox. Is this true and if so what can i do to sort it or what can i replace it with? shortened sigma disc brake diff? Also whats the part number for super low front springs for a GC or should i just get sigma struts and get super lows for them? big love to you all for your help!!

[Sigmaproject]

maybe your electric fuel pump is putting out too much pressure. Shouldn't imaging you would need any more that 4lb pressure for a couple of carbies. A good indication is if it loads up with fuel at idle.

[C_Fernance]

The Scorp most likely had a 3.3:1 diff, and the Galant will have a 3.9:1 diff. This will should make it accelerate better, but it will rev higher at higher speeds as you have found out.

If you are happy to keep the 3.9:1 diff then there were models of the Sigma and Scorp that had similar ratios so you should be able to use the speedo gears out of one of these to work with your diff and give the correct speedo reading.

Otherwise I would consider putting in the diff out of the Scorp which will give you the correct 3.3:1 ratio to suit the Scorp running gear, and as a bonus you get disc brakes as well.

[RyBj]

Do the sigma/scorpion disk break doffs with the right ratios have to be shortened at all or modified to fit the galants or will it swap straight in?

[mstrrab1992]

Sigma/scorp is spring rear end, galant is leaf, they need to be altered to mount. But not a great deal, other then that they should bolt in, they don't need to be shortend.

[RyBj]

Whats the part number for the next size down from the 30mm lowered king spring and if I fit the next size down do i have to instal a smaller shock? is it just worth swapping over to GE or GH struts and if so is it easy?

[RyBj]

Im looking at doing a strut/brake conversion using the GH struts and while ive got them out doing a bit of a tickle of them mechanically and also possibly painting them. Biggest thing on my list currently is the differential, there is huge axel tramp which i am not a fan of so looking at doing a conversion. Is a Borg Warner 78 going to fit? Will it give me disks and springs on the back? What are my best options for a strong diff that will fit up easily to a GC/GD rear?

[RyBj]

Gday loyal sig-gal members I hope everyone is enjoying their sunday. I took my Galant into get the twin downdraft set up tuned as it was running too rich and hadnt been tuned since being on an old GE Scorpion in someones front yard. twas thrown on the dyno and given a run and proved to be rich through all stages of operation and upon further investigation it turns out all the gaskets are shot and the diaphragms and hard and cracked. The Carb set up is not worth enough tome to justify rebuilding it so im looking to change to a twin side draft set up. ive been looking at kits that ReCarb are doing over in QLD and theyve got a lot on offer. i want to know what im best of getting between 40's and 45's and also choosing between Dellorto's and Webers. Any info will be of great help. Cheers guys and Gals.