Restoring my Mitsubishi Galant VR4 (AMG). Part1. The Story, Engine Inspection, Head Porting

When I would show up at car shows Mercedes guys would ask me why I put Merc bumpers on a Mitsubishi. Once they googled Galant AMG they thought it was awesome.
I am finally at the point where I can restore the car back to it's former glory.
Follow me on Instagram for daily content:
/ theturbodad
Time Codes:
0:00 - Video Start
0:33 - The Story
3:37 - Current Condition
8:37 - Engine Inspection
15:08 - Cylinder Head Work
21:52 - Taking to Paint
25:13 - Ending

[@andreasrapp5758]

Just found this and I gotta say I love it! Can see you haven’t posted in a while, really hope you’re okay and that we can get a part 2 and beyond for this project ❤

[@TheTurboDad]

I will be working on Part 2 next motnh. Finishing up some EV builds first then back to Gas power 💪

[@cartunenetwork4056]

Finally, a galant 6gen restoration on youtube. Looking forward to more videos regarding your vr4.

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks for watching. More videos to come for sure.

[@Teepeezy3]

Great video! I used to own a 92' Galant VR-4 #509/1000. Wish I had never sold it. Glad to see someone putting in the time, effort, and money to bring one back from the dead. I'm looking forward to watching this cars journey.

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks for the sub. I'll be posting another episode in about a week. I used to own #200/1000 back in the late 90s and always regretted selling it.

[@user-ni5wp7ke5u]

WOW MY GOD OWN ONE HE NEVER WAS IN TO CARS BUT STAY IN A FAST ONE LML HE NEVER KNEW HOW DOPE THIS CAR WAS + IS OTHERS LOVE THIS Channel!!!!

[@benspencer9523]

Greetings from Down Under. My brother in law had one of those. The regular VR4 was available Down Under but not the VR4 RS. It was originally imported into Australia by the then CEO of Mitsubishi Australia as his personal toy. It was a rocker straight out of the box.

[@TheTurboDad]

Australia also got the Eterna which is this same car but with the hatchback. I love that model.

[@anybudz]

rvr's and vr4's, this dude has taste

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks 😁

[@kobeaquino6515]

this is the gvr4 rebuild content ive been waiting for. i wanna get into a gvr4 build but i dont wanna just dive in so imma try and keep up w ur build to get to kno the car👌👌👌

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks for watching. Im going to be doing a full build on this including dropping the subframes, rebuilding the gearbox, rear diff, the works. Hope its helpful for you.

[@gvr4_colombia675]

Great video!! Big fan of the van!! Bigger fan now that we are getting vr4 content!!

[@TheTurboDad]

The VR-4 always gets more love from the fans. It is my pride and joy and finally giving her the attention she deserves. Thanks for watching.

[@txddyfarquh3916]

Very VERY popular Mitsubishi in Nz from the late 90s then blew up after the release after F&Furious film came out. I'm still surprised ppl never knew AMG had their hand with these Mitsubishi Galant's

[@TheTurboDad]

All the AMG galants were from Japan so we never heard about them in the US. Heck I had a Galant VR4 back in the early 2000s and I didnt know anything about the AMG. But I stumbled across a youtube video of the AMG and then I had to have the kit to put on mine.

[@jamessutton276]

Awesome insight getting ready to pick up a vr4 in two weeks definitely helps me to know for what kinda things to look at!

[@TheTurboDad]

Hit me up for anything when you get your VR4. I've been working on these for 2 decades.

[@noskillant6168]

Glad this this popped up, great video.

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks. More to come.

[@nuthinleicadane]

Great vid bro. Really love old Mitsubishis..

[@angelolovato6494]

Tuned by AMG thats crazy. I had a 92 3000gt VR4

[@TheTurboDad]

I had a 91 Dodge Stealth TT. Love the torque and the gear ratios in the trans. Hate how the oil pumps just die out of nowhere.

[@SvetGolovkin1462]

great my 1st car was 88 galant 1.8 5speed then sold it for college then i got the galant amg love it and missed it even it overheats when u beat it lol brother you've earned a subscriber 💪

[@TheTurboDad]

They love to over heat sadly.

[@iAmConfusion]

I know this is old but I gotta say I’m watching and I love that you put a timer there for the Timelapse so we see how long it actually took you that’s a great idea

[@TheTurboDad]

People never realize how long things take and youtubes always edit the video in a way to it seems it was like 1 hour but it actually took 5 hrs.

[@user-zb5oo6so2i]

Great family video keep it up

[@PVTParts472]

i just love the way awd cars squat when under heavy power

[@TheTurboDad]

Squat a TAKE OFF!!

[@dah_uso]

Bro this is Hella cool bro nice car man

[@celuiquipeut6527]

I love cars. I wish i had that know how. There is no way you can get a good car witouth either being rich, or doing it yourself. Its been a joy to watch! Thank you

[@TheTurboDad]

Well Said. It did take me many years to learn how to do it all. I taught myself how to weld just so I could make my intercooler piping and exhaust because shops wanted $1,400 for stainless exhaust. I went to the junkyard and found 3 inch stainless dual exhaust from a Camaro. I bought it for $150 and cut it up and made my exhaust. Same with intercooler piping. I buy used pipes on Facebook marketplace and cut it up and weld my own kit. Have to do it yourself or you'll go broke.

[@celuiquipeut6527]

@@TheTurboDad Wow that's dedicqtion! Hopefully you can pass on this knowledge to your son!!

[@googleuser6531]

Love it! Keep up the good work!

[@TheTurboDad]

Thank you!!

[@benjaminnugent3821]

Great video ! Looking forward to future vids

[@TheTurboDad]

I will be posting more frqueently from now on. The projects are starting to move forward and the camera is rolling.

[@ReVolt_e-Vlogs]

I had a regular black VR-4 in 1995, & absolutely loved it, it was the Evo before there was ever such a thing, & with a lil massaging the engine I surprised a lot of the "legendary" sports cars of the 90's!😂

[@LeSwexy]

I had the same model here but just a super saloon with the 4G63, front wheel drive with a 5 speed manual and had it basically straight piped and it sounded so good haha. Always backfired and popped and crackled around 4K rpm if you went off throttle and lightly just tapped the throttle consistently. Awesome car but sadly crashed it. Shit still hurts me to this day if I think about it too much, awesome car you had though man. What chassis was it? Was it this one?

[@Yomonsterman106]

Love the Eagle Summit!

[@pizerfisher]

Damn man nice video, you are so lucky, I hope you restore it and enjoy that car, greets from venezuela

[@buddhipannila2628]

Love this video..❤️❤️ I also bought a galant and working on it..😍😍

[@TheTurboDad]

Do you post photos of the build anywhere? Instagram?

[@thomasharris5151]

One of my best friends had a Dodge Lancer Turbo which was a bad azzzz sedan in the late 80’s early 90s as well!

[@Orion216]

Anymore? This was Awesome

[@TheTurboDad]

Will be working on episode 2 next month.

[@spacecadetmedia]

just started getting interested in the galant great video

[@TheTurboDad]

It's very cool car and definitely a sleeper. No one know what it is when you take it to a car meet.

[@arlingtonfreeman6028]

I miss my 90 Galant with the chrome 5 stars. Wanted a VR4 but the Slick 50 gave me a nice hp bump the engine protection made it pretty bullet proof. Love Slick 50...

[@jamesborek8125]

Cool car. Glad to see it getting some quality TLC again. Nice work on that cylinder head too. It's amazing how much time it actually takes lol

[@TheTurboDad]

People don't realize how many hours go into a simple port clean up job. But to do it right you have to take your time.

[@brandonc452]

Nice video Richard!

[@TheTurboDad]

Thank you. Appreciate you watching.

[@magnuswf]

Very cool projekt, looking forward to see more from this build, so you got another sub right here! I've got a '91 Galant Hatchback 2.0 8V, had a GTI 2.0 16v before. When i finish my degree, I'll restore it. Could you perhaps do a video, talking about what some of the weak point to look for, in a 4g63, in terms of service and restoration?

[@thinkfresh8544]

good stuff keep up the good work thanks for posting this!

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks. Part 2 will happen soon.

[@LeeJOHNB]

Love the content

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks. More to come soon.

[@ahmadsafariza975]

Nice Richard.. Great Work

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks Ahmad. I appreciate you ever the years providing parts

[@Nordlicht05]

Great car!

[@terrancetanner4523]

Finally got around to seeing this. Now I need an update Richhhhhhh.

[@miltonalbrittonjr2092]

Good Stuff Richard!!

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks Milton. Appreciate you taking the time to watch the video.

[@4geedupandstuff132]

I know this is old, but that’s been opened before. It has arp main studs, and what looked to be arp head studs. Love the video!

[@TheTurboDad]

Yeah it turned out the engine had a big turbo on it before and they hurt the engine.

[@Dimian7]

Pt2 ❤️

[@TheTurboDad]

Gonna work on it for sure.

[@johnmoser2689]

My friend has a 92 Gallant VR4 or at least he did forever....i think he ended up giving it to his brother when their Dad passed away

[@kheff46]

Great video!!

[@TheTurboDad]

I appreciate you taking the time to watch it. Cheers!

[@ammarbahiar]

I found underrated channel ! I'm gonna subscribe 🤪 !

[@TheTurboDad]

Happy to have you. Thanks!!

[@dgkushi]

Looking forward to some videos of the Expo!

[@TheTurboDad]

Expo will get a full build series as well 👏👏

[@lostwill86]

Jafro would approve

[@TheTurboDad]

Ive seen all of his videos.

[@BrokeWrench]

I'm guessing your the guy that raced the summit at shootout! Always loved that thing, the ultimate sleeper. I'm subscribed now and searching through your other videos next

[@TheTurboDad]

No sorry that was not me. Ive never been to the shootout with the Summit. Actually I've never been to the shootout with any car. I flew in once with a friend.

[@loosemeatsamich3689]

When I saw the summit I thought “that looks like the one on TRC” and it was. I definitely wouldn’t mind having both of those in my garage.

[@TheTurboDad]

I am spoiled having both. The Van gets driven allot more though because my son loves it.

[@SoyDes]

I really love that super car !!!!!!!

[@gusalvarez4297]

Dude thats siiiiiicccckkkk you got it for 1500 😮😮😮😮

[@TheTurboDad]

Yeah and I was complaining at the price, haha. But looking at it now i did get a good deal.

[@georgef1176]

I had a vr4 it was a ripper. I used to smoke Hondas back in 01, it was a nice car.

[@TheTurboDad]

The best thing about beating those hands back in 2000-2001 with the Galant is having 3 friends in the car with you and still smoking them.

[@seenile6962]

Awesome vid bro. We getting old cuz😂 . In NZ we were spoilt for cheap JDM goodness. Now that stuffs spendee. Chur cuz

[@TheTurboDad]

Definitely getting old man. These cars are so expensive now. I paid $600 for one 15 years ago now you can touch them for under $3k and they dont run.

[@renataespinosa3340]

Great

[@KrGsMrNKusinagi0]

my mom bought a 92 back when i was in high school.. We still have it in the garage has around 21,000 miles on it..

[@TheTurboDad]

WOW you have it with that low miles? Send me a photo i gotta see it.

[@Autunite]

Interesteing project, I will definitely follow this one. I have a Galant GTi hatchback which is the best version we got in Norway, and it has the non-turbo 4G63. I have a ticking noise I thought was a bad lash adjuster which has been there for a couple of years, but last oil change was sparkly so I need to do a full overhaul on the engine. Never done any before, so it's going to be interesting.

[@TheTurboDad]

Now that you are going to rebuild it would be a perfect time to put some aftermarket rods and Pistons and maybe turbo charge it 😃

[@Autunite]

@@TheTurboDad That's under consideration! However I don't know how much paperwork it is to get it road legal with the turbo, but I will check it out.

[@artworkslights]

nice garage and good project!

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks. It did take a while to get the garage all set up. Many years of buying tools.

[@artworkslights]

@@TheTurboDad I know how it is, but its a key in future work

[@ZKitx411]

Dream car

[@tylercooper1058]

The last piece of my puzzle is a galant vr4. I have a 91 3000gt vr4 and a 90 gsx. Im dying to get my hands on one.

[@threvo8298]

Great video. 91 #1007 here. 🍻

[@TheTurboDad]

Where are you located? I dont get to see many Galants in Florida.

[@tshackelton]

Love it! I've got a 91 TSi with just a tad over 100k on it, 2nd owner. Now that my kids are grown it's time for fun :)

[@TheTurboDad]

The 91 still had thr pop up headlights right? I love it.

[@tshackelton]

@@TheTurboDad Yessir... Sept '90 one of the very first cars from the normal factory.

[@GForceVRX]

I love these beasts

[@TheTurboDad]

They seem to be the forgotten sleepers. People come over my house and have no idea what it is 😄

[@GForceVRX]

@@TheTurboDad I can imagine lol, you’ve got something special that not many people have

[@MikeValencia]

You got good at editing

[@TheTurboDad]

Thanks Mike. Its funny but I was a professional video editor for 14 yrs before I started doing fabrication. Every now and then I get the bug to do some video editing. Thank you for noticing my editing skills 🥰

[@uptownsamcv]

from what I remember the AMG versions didn't come turbocharged, just had a bumped up non turbo 4G63...

[@TheTurboDad]

Correct. Non turbo and fwd. It was fast for a NA back then.

[@Ykkranas]

You my friend you are very cool

[@AlchEm1st88]

Given that the mains had issues and the rod journals looked ok I can tell you exactly what happened there. Whoever built that shortblock put those ARP main studs in without line honing the engine. That engine should have had main bolts in it; not studs, and the way main studs torque puts different stress on the main caps. You always need to check the mains for ovaling when you convert to studs from bolts and you almost always will have to have the block line honed at minimum. The ARP mains are awesome, but not when you haven't had the block machined to accept them!

[@TheTurboDad]

great info. Thanks.

[@red2g]

🔥🔥

[@musewolfman]

You did yo this basically the same thing that the previous owner of my car did. It's an H6 Outback, but from the outside, it looks like a JDM Legacy Blitzen. Yours is definitely cooler though.

[@goblinphreak2132]

The van gang. Man, I wanted to buy an old Dodge Minivan from the 90's.... the v6 model like my mom had as a kid. Build the shit out of it, maybe supercharge maybe turbocharge. It would have been cool as hell. But I was injured, now a paraplegic. no money, no cars. lmao.

[@pizerfisher]

What are good aftermarket valves?

[@JonWilde]

Enjoyed the video man but absolutely get checked for color blindness because that "purple" golf cart is most definitely red lol

[@TheTurboDad]

I can guarantee you it's purple. I have the paint code :-). But maybe it's like the females with the nail polish. You look at it and it's clearly red but they say it's rose or some thing weird.

[@hadi_rr]

Mitsubishi eterna

[@Ifixstuf]

I have one of these. I didn't know what an electrical nightmare I was getting into.

[@TheTurboDad]

Is it the engine harness trouble or the chassis harness that's giving you a nightmare?

[@Ifixstuf]

@@TheTurboDad engine.

[@mydecember1985]

How was the compression before the teardown? Interested to know because I have very even compression across all cylinders but there is certainly something wrong with my cylinder #4. Hard to pin down valves or rings because the oil fill cap sounds the same as the others and don't hear the intake/exhaust hiss. Stumped me for months

[@TheTurboDad]

I did not do a compression test before I tore it down. Sorry. Have you done a leak down test? That usually tells you the issue.

[@robbalinski1606]

ya the DSM life...its hard to leave when you've been doing it for so long. I've got a bus full of parts myself and 6 dsm's. if you ever want to smoke a hell kitty with a basically stock setup put it in a smart car, that's what my buddy did.

[@TheTurboDad]

he put a 4G63 in a Smart Car? I need to see this.

[@kevinwashington7311]

Owned 2, definitely miss them both. Unfortunately, the prices now are just ridiculous and not worth it in my opinion.

[@TheTurboDad]

Luckily I bought this one 10 yrs ago. Paid $1,500 for it but had a hole in the block. Ive since spent ridiculous amounts of monry on it as we always tend to do 😆

[@remol__]

PART 2!!!!!

[@TheTurboDad]

coming soon. The car is at the paint shop right now.

[@whiteboyray727]

This was my first car and it was white and I repainted with house paint and a roller and it was the best car til the transmission went out I then got a used one add a mechanic put it in and he left a socket in the transmission so when I start it up it,it went boom like a and I then sold it to someone that drove it home and never put it in there name

[@TheTurboDad]

Wow they left a socket in there, what a disaster.

[@omega1575]

I stg man, I will go broke buying a VR4 (maybe converting it to AMG) and I will blame you. I will also enjoy every minute of it

[@TheTurboDad]

I completely understand. When I first found out about the AMG stuff I went on a mission to find as much as I could and buy it. It was NOT cheap and airfreight from Malaysia was very expensive also. BUT man is it worth it, the car looks amazing. Sooooo, get you a GVR4 and get started :-)

[@omega1575]

@@TheTurboDad Once a running one gets listed for under 5k and isnt a complete pile, I will get started

[@temaniantoine2387]

My dad has vr 4 it will soon be mine where do you get your parts, do they still have such parts around?

[@TheTurboDad]

Depending on the parts you are looking for I can help.

[@gillifreyr5957]

I own a regular a galant glsi 1992 but i have a dream that one day i can find and afford a vr4

[@dah_uso]

I'll take the headlights bro

[@billkhang9421]

Damn I should’ve bought one when I was 12. Now all these vr4 are gone lmao

[@markcozzie]

Would like to know what if anything AMG spec engine difference than others?

[@TheTurboDad]

The AMG engine had more compression. Head work, intake manifold was custom, and ecu tuning.

[@ravennexusmh]

one of my bad decisions many years ago was not buying a galant AMG, they were NA 2.0 with hot cams fwd , it was only £1000 lol

[@TheTurboDad]

Sadly the non turbo kills the enjoyment. Need to have the turbo AWD model for maximum fun. But 1,000 isnt bad price. You can sell the body panels for 5k USA.

[@herbertman3669]

Hey Man when is the next video coming out

[@TheTurboDad]

Hopefully next week I'll have another episode.

[@costasp100]

I have 4 Gallants an E32 1800cc, 2 E33 2000cc, 1 SOHC &1 DOHC and YES it has the electronic control suspension and 1 VR4. I also have a Chariot (similar to your van) is 5 door with a sunroof 4G63 DOHC T/C I/C 4WD automatic. Oh. I also have 2 Starions both with 4G63. 1 with 12 valve head and the other converted to DOHC 24V stroked to 2323 cc. I also have a 40-year-old Pajero with 1. 5 million kilometers (shy of 1 million miles) for off-roading. My daily drive is the E32 to economize somewhat on fuel. Parts are getting scarce now and I struggle to find good quality parts. All 7 Mitsubishis give me great fun my other cars including a couple of Germans can not give me. I'd like it if someone can help with sourcing good quality parts to come in contact with.

[@TheTurboDad]

Sir I think you are my hero with that collection. I would love a starion also.

[@dannyg1252]

Where’s video 2?

[@KBMOTORSchannel]

Dudes loaded. Wish I had tons of money around just to throw at my old project

[@TheTurboDad]

Im not loaded Im just irresponsible with money 😆

[@toohunk4u]

We call the minivan here the Philippines the Mitsubishi Spacewagon 😊

[@TheTurboDad]

Can you get me the decal that says SpaceWagon and ship to me? I would love to put it on.

[@jasonhabedank7122]

Is there a follow up video?

[@TheTurboDad]

There will be. The car is currently at the paint shop.

[@Abrokadabro]

My friend had one 18 years ago we got them in Australia in 1989 I also owed 1994 gsr Lanser Australian spec Evo they are better sleeper than the Galant because they look like a stock lancer unit they take off

[@TheTurboDad]

Anything with thr 4G63 seems like a sleeper. Especially now with the new generation not knowing about them.

[@Tacticoolpapi]

Heeeyyy Richard wow long time. Didnt know you had a yt channel. I still got some loose gvr4 parts left over from back in the days if your interested hmu. Love the channel..makes me miss mine. Peace

[@TheTurboDad]

Let me know what you got bro. And yeah man I've had this Galant for 10 yrs now. Been sitting for 6 of this yrs but now it's making a comeback.

[@gusalvarez4297]

Aww dude my grams use had a summit

[@TheTurboDad]

Was it fast like mine 😄

[@jprabw]

wheres the part 2?!

[@TheTurboDad]

Coming soon. The car is at the paint shop now.

[@tylercooper1058]

Any updates on this car?

[@TheTurboDad]

Car is at the paint shop but its taking a lot longer than expected.

[@johnsoto716]

I have the active air suspension

[@johnsoto716]

Working compressor

[@TheTurboDad]

Does it work? Where are you located?

[@GarajPif]

Where is the car?

[@TheTurboDad]

Currently at the paint shop.

[@lordzil]

hopefuly someone still got stock E39A and willing to sell it to me on a reasonable price since it was super-duper rare in here, LOL.. in a meantime, i'll just stick to my E33A

[@r.quinones4229]

My VR4 almost 1 year to Build 😅 Spend to much Efforts Money and Time 😔

[@c4r5on88]

So is it just a vr4 with a amg kit ?

[@TheTurboDad]

Basically yes.

[@c4r5on88]

@TheTurboDad reminds me if my car then 😂 I have a brabus D6 w211. Its basically just a w211 e320cdi with the brabus ev12s body kit and a mild tune and diesel instead of v12 they look identical other than the brakes

[@MediumHalf]

As a non-Mitsubishi guy on the outside looking in, it seems like these engines are super unreliable- is that accurate, or is it just that the people still building them are always pushing the limit?

[@TheTurboDad]

When built properly they last. The issue is people buy them used with 100k miles on them. Then put a big turbo on it with a crap tune and blow them up.