When I bought 464/1000, there were only a couple things not working on the car.  That list is getting shorter and shorter.

• AC – Replaced all the hardlines and the compressor with units from 195/2000 back in September.  FIXED
• Moonroof – Replaced with the functional unit from 195/2000 in December.  FIXED
• Cruise control – After much trouble shooting, turned out to be a missing plug on the clutch pedal which depresses the clutch safety switch (to prevent engine from over-rev when cruise control activated and clutch pedal depressed.  Clipped a rubber spacer button over the tang on the pedal and cruise works today.  FIXED
• ABS – Light is on.  Probably just needs the brake system bled.  TO DO
• HVAC can – Low speed doesn’t work.  Probably the switch.  TO DO

Very rapidly getting to the point where the only thing left to do on this Galant is get it repainted.  Love my Mitsubishis!

When I finished straightening up the garage Saturday night, this is what the engine bay in 195/2000 looked like.  Dirty, but complete (for the most part).  Saturday morning, Michael Rodarte and Mike Foster came by to help me pull the engine and transmission out so I can get the front end repairs completed after the Kia incident that occurred almost two years ago.  Can you believe that?  February 4th 2010 will be the 2 year anniversary of the Kia Incident and 4 years that I’ve owned this car.  It’s spent half it’s time with me unregistered in my garage. Read the rest of this entry »

The whole reason I got into Galants was because I bought [195] for the sole purpose of turning it into a rally car. It came with a seized engine. We replaced it. The replacement engine blew up. We rebuilt it.  I signed up and paid for the Ridgecrest Rally School and rallycross (rallyx), only to have some retard run a red light in front of me a month prior, as I was on my way to pick up a replacement front CV axle which was the last repair needed before racing the car.

[195] was totaled. The following summer, I got plenty of help from friends cutting the mangled front end off and replacing it with parts from a FWD Galant found up in Prescott.  The new front end was welded on, if not welded on as solidly as I would like (for competition anyway).  The factory intercooler was crushed by the front bumper, so I sourced a Dodge SRT4 front mount intercooler to replace it.  That was cobbled into place with mismatched plumbing and bits of PVC from the sprinkler aisle at Home Depot to make sure it worked.

I recently got a new job and the future looks promising, so I drove down to Precision Chassis Works in Gilbert, Arizona to talk to Kent Porter (the owner) about finally getting a roll cage installed for rally. To have Precision Chassis Works build and install the cage to Rally America specifications, complete the front end repairs, and plumb the FMIC was going to set me back an easy $3000.  A fair price, given the amount of welding required and Kent’s reputation for fabrication bordering on art.  (And really, when it comes to safety, is that anywhere to skimp on a build?)

Then it hit me.  I really want to enter the Prescott Rally next fall. That would mean $3000 cage and repairs for sure, but also two race seats, race harnesses, a helmet, a complete brake job, auxiliary lighting, skid plates, a tripmeter (rally computer for the co-driver for those outside the loop), mud flaps, a set of rally tires, and a HANS rental.  All before I paid the likely $750 entry fee, towed the car up the hill, paid for three nights’ hotel room, food, gas, and any expenses I’d obviously comp for my service crew volunteers.  I could easily spend $10,000 just getting to the starting line. Odds are, there’d be some retard in a Kia out there in the boonies just waiting for me to round the bend at 80mph before deciding to cross the yellow tape.  Read the rest of this entry »