1991 Galant VR4

[quicktsi]

It has been a while since I have been on the forum.  I found a new project.  I found this car while perusing craigslist one night.  It is a one owner unmolested 1991 Galant VR4 225/2000.  It is going to need a timing belt, tires and tags before it is drive able.  It set for 6 years, but is running.  The only things missing is the factory radio, and the numbered key fobs.  Ohh yeah, it needs one hell of a detail.  I will update this thread as work progresses.

[Rollingrock]

cool!   

Looking forward to this thread.

[Too Stroked]

Man, I'm not sure if I'd start with a wash or Chem Lawn. Good luck and make sure to share lots of pictures!

[Poorboy]

Man, I'm not sure if I'd start with a wash or Chem Lawn. Good luck and make sure to share lots of pictures!

acid wash for sure 

[guitarman502]

I hear HydroChloric works really well on those foreign car paints 

[quicktsi]

So far I have knocked out the timing belt, and water pump, pulleys and tensioner first.  I spent sunday doing the wheels.

Let me start with, the tires are being replaced tomorrow.  Also remember this is the car that sat for 6 years before I got it.  I will list my details below.

I used a two bucket method to clean the wheels.  I used 400 grit wet sand paper to clean the inside of the wheel and the outside lip of the wheel.  The wet sanding did not get it perfect but at least knocked off the surface corrosion, and made it smooth to the touch.  I then used a poweball with Poorboys SSR1 polish, on the painted areas of the wheels and caps.  I then used Poorboys wheel wax on the inside and outside of the wheels and caps.  I think they turned out okay for 20 year old wheels.

Here is how they looked when I started.


Up close of the front.


Up close of the back.


Here is a pic of the front washed versus unwashed.


Here is a pic of the rear wet sanded versus unwashed.


Here is a pic of polished versus unpolished.


Here is a picture of the set done and waxed.


Here is a picture of the set done and waxed showing one of the rears.

[Kitzy]

Nice improvement.  I really dislike trying to bring wheels back.  They look good.

[quicktsi]

The tint was completely faded to clear.  I started on removing the window tint Friday night. 

STARTING AT THE CORNER WITH THE STEAMER


ABOUT A 1/3 OF IT OFF


ALMOST CAME OFF IN ONE PIECE


CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE FROM FRONT TO REAR?


Had to use SSR1 and 0000 steel wool to get the remaining glue off.  The glass looks so clean.  Now I just need to do the rest of the windows.  This was my first attempt at removing window tint.

[Rollingrock]

Here is a tip on removal of tint.   Soapy water and a razor blade.   2 min or less per window...the rear defroster on the other hand it different.

RR

[quicktsi]

I had read to many horror stories of razor blades and tint removal.

[quicktsi]

Been a while since my last update.  Turns out the tank had crap all in IT from sitting to long, and a little bit of surface rust on the top of the tank.  I ended up using the POR fuel tank repair kit for the inside, and POR 15 for the outside.  I also had to flush the feed and return line.  I had already installed a new fuel filter prior to finding this nastiness.  I also installed a new Walboro fuel pump.

INSIDE OF THE TANK


FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY


TOPSIDE OF THE TANK


SANDED DOWN WAITING ON THE POR15


INSIDE AND OUTSIDE COATED AND READY TO GO

[quicktsi]

Before finding the gas tank fiasco, the ECU crapped out.  I had it rebuilt and socketed by ECM tuning for future upgrades.

TOP SIDE OF THE ECU


BACK SIDE OF THE ECU

[quicktsi]

After all the mechanical work, I finally got to do some detailing on the interior.  The only thing left to do on the inside, is the front door panels and dash.  I have worked on the interior and trunk over the last 3 Sundays.  20 years of nastiness, and either an exploded coke or several spilled cokes.

All of the leather was done out of the car, while the seats were out to clean the carpet.  I used Zaino Z9 and shoe brush to clean the leather and door panels.  I then followed up with multiple coats of Zaino Z10 to condition the leather and panels.

SEAT BACK DONE, BOTTOM NOT DONE


DONE AND INSTALLED BACK IN THE CAR


BEFORE DETAIL


AFTER DETAIL

[jkilmurray]

Looking good.

[quicktsi]

The carpet was a simple 3 step process.  

1.  Vacumn with the wifes Dyson
2.  Spray and wipe up the big spots with tough stuff carpet cleaner.
3.  Used the wife's Bissell carpet cleaner

It is not perfect, but looks much better than it did.  To make it any better, I would have to pull the carpet out.

BEFORE


UP CLOSE BEFORE


DONE


DONE UP CLOSE