Learn Me Galant VR-4 AWD: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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March 26, 2010 1:46 a.m. digdug18 Reader

Please tell me about this car. Does it have the same issues as the other DSM cars, crank walk, etc.

Andrew
March 26, 2010 2:11 a.m. Jay Dork

That would be a 6-bolt engine so no crankwalk.
March 26, 2010 3:01 a.m. Appleseed Dork

Picture a 1st gen Eclipse/ Talon in a 4 door body. Essentially everything you can do to a DSM, you can do to a VR-4. GRM did a review a few years back. Anyone remember the issue?
March 26, 2010 8:52 a.m. 93celicaGT2 SuperDork

I have it. I'll dig it up when i get home and report back if nobody else finds it.
March 26, 2010 1:29 p.m. Vigo Reader

Picture a 1st gen Eclipse/ Talon in a 4 door body.

/thread right there!

They're ugly, but awd. Trade-offs
March 26, 2010 3:14 p.m. rjones33 New Reader

Yeah to the =DSM comment... but they also have more gee-gaws that break/have probably already broken. A noteable one is the four wheel steering that I see listed as "locked" or removed.
March 26, 2010 3:14 p.m. rjones33 New Reader

Also I am not discouraging you :D
March 26, 2010 3:38 p.m. RexSeven Dork

The VR-4 buyer's guide is in the Nov. 2004 issue (the one with Adam Carolla on the front).

If you find one in good shape, then DO EEET! The VR-4 is the Evo's granddaddy and a lot of the tuner parts for Evos I-III will work on the VR-4.
March 26, 2010 5:47 p.m. 4g63t Reader

What I don't know about them isn't worth knowing. I'm the Mark LaVallee referenced in that article. Armitage, number3, and 93GSXTurbo are also around here too.

A Galant VR-4 is NOT a DSM as it was made in Japan.

They all have 3 bolt open rearends (good to 300HP or so) and 6 bolt engines. The lines for the rear steer are NLA and usually leaking. The fix is a 1G Eclipse rack. I finally had to put one in the car, as the lines bled the power steering dry and ate the pump. Remove the rear rack from the car and it reverts to GSX Eclipse spec. They have passive rear steering anyway.
March 26, 2010 5:51 p.m. Appleseed Dork

I found one one Milwaukee's CL for around $5,000. Looked really clean (especially for the land-o-salt) AND it's owned by a little person.
March 26, 2010 6:04 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

makes for a very nice sleeper
March 27, 2010 5:19 a.m. BattlePope New Reader

http://www.galantvr4.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Board=UBB10&Number=822747&...

Do it.
March 27, 2010 11:14 a.m. Knurled New Reader

Vigo wrote:

They're ugly, but awd. Trade-offs

You're talking about the Eclipse, right?

GVR4s are nice but they're freakin' heavy. A local guy managed to get his down to 2500lb. The windows are tinted so you can't see that the interior is two seats, a steering wheel, and some pedals.
March 27, 2010 1:18 p.m. impulsive New Reader

back in 01-02 another mag did a series of mod and test articles on the VR-4. they're quite informative.

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

part 5

part 6

I believe there is a part 7 but I couldn't find it.
March 27, 2010 6:18 p.m. 4g63t Reader

I'm sorry I forgot about Quasimondo, another GVR-4 owner on this board.
March 28, 2010 12:25 a.m. Vigo Reader

You're talking about the Eclipse, right?

Here's a hint: Ugly resides in your blind spot.
March 28, 2010 2:10 p.m. digdug18 Reader

I've been looking for something awd lately, I dunno if I want to deal with the subaru's. The galant vr-4 in an option for me, the alltrac celica is another option. Then again I wouldn't mind a 4x4 amc eagle either, lol. The eagle just cries for a megasquirt and turbo'd engine to me, lol. Then maybe some rallyX for whatever I find.

Andrew
March 28, 2010 4:58 p.m. Appleseed Dork

Thanks, Impulsive. That was a good read.