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Galant GSX vs. Galant VR-4

What are the major differences?

Would it be better to just start out with a VR-4?

Thanks,

Cody
 

JSchleim18

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Galant GS-X wasn't turbo from the factory. The block has no oil squirters and IIRC 9.0:1 pistons. They also may not have a tap for the knock sensor. Injectors are smaller.

Weak 5 speed trans but it has taller gearing so you will get better MPG's.

If you want to eventually turbo it, dropping in a motor from a 1G DSM/GVR-4 along with the trans, t-case, driveshaft, rear diff, axles, etc will help out.
 

well the one i found is just a shell......

Is it a difficult/expensive swap to get to vr-4 spec?
 

Muskrat

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I believe the rear dif has a different final drive ratio, but don't quote me on that. Make sure you comfirm that to whatever transmission you use, though.

It's an engine swap. You'll need to add wiring for the knock sensor is you don't get an engine harness with your engine. If you're not familiar with these car's (VR-4's or DSM's) and the engine it could be pretty difficult trying to sort everything out and what goes where.

How much experience do you have working on cars? To be honest, I'm inclined to say, if you have to ask, you probably shouldn't.
 
Last edited:

donkeylips

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Swapping the motor, trans, t-case, rear end, and ecu aren't that difficult or expensive depending on where you get them, but to make it easy, get an engine wiring harness from a vr4. A lot of stuff is different besides being non-turbo, similar to the differences between '90 dsms and '91-94 dsms. Shift linkage and shifter are an example.

Go for it, but you're probably best getting a vr4 parts car to donate parts. Look for one with body damage or tons of rust. The interiors are identical besides the seats, steering wheel, door inserts, center console cover, and no boost gauge. It won't really be vr4 spec without 4WS...but none of us have that anyway. And the gsx has different sideskirts, front bumper, and wheels.
I like the GGSX because its rarer, came in different colors, can look more sleeper, and is lighter from the factory. A lot of them(if not all) did not have abs, and you don't have to deal with a bad 4WS removal.
 

well I've got some experience with cars, but not a ton but.........

A friend of mine has turned his 7g Galant from this
DSCN0206.jpg


to this

DSCN7424.jpg


and a friend of mine has a shop that I can use whenever I want that has every tool/machine anyone could ever need
and for the record, I
 

that's what I was thinking in my wanting to use the GGSX as the platform for my project car

Alright, now I just need to buy this shell and get started on the build

Oh and one last question

Can I use EVO suspension components on a GGSX like y'all can on VR-4's?
 

JSchleim18

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Yes as long as you modify them to fit. The Galant VR-4 and Galant GS-X share the same suspension components except the GGS-X doesn't have AWS.
 

i think you'll have to get an ECU thats supports a turbo as well, I also believe the gsx has a 4 bolt diff and the vr4 has a 3bolt, or vise-versa.

we have three swapped GSX's in this town, one is mine the other two belong to friends, we've also done a mighty max swap as well.
 

raptorWagon

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Quoting VR4ish:

i think you'll have to get an ECU thats supports a turbo as well, I also believe the gsx has a 4 bolt diff and the vr4 has a 3bolt, or vise-versa.



As someone already stated, the rear diff has to be changed out if you went from being a stock ggsx to a VR4. The Final Drive ratios are different.
Though this guy will be using a shell so it should be a problem to pick up a dsm 4 bolt rear diff.
 

IncorpoRatedX

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I wrote a detailed list but my phone lost it haha. If you search this topic you'll find a lot of information.

If you're looking for creature comforts and options out the back end, vr4 it up. If you're looking for a simplified more power based platform lacking the amenities, GGSX swapped is the route to go.

Having owned both I can honestly say I prefer the GGSX, i was never one for extra gadgets and more technology.

If you're going the GGSX swap route, this is the simplest i can make the list:

90-92 (or 97-92 jdm) DSM/GVR4 4g63t engine
87-89 JDM turbo galant harness or 91-92 USDM VR4 harness or add your own wiring
91-92 Galant VR4 ECU or 91-94 turbo DSM ecu, or 87-89 JDM ECU if using JDM harness
87-89 JDM transmission (be careful of final drive ratios) or 90 DSM transmission, or 91+ DSM/VR4 transmission, shifter cables and shifter assembly
90-91 DSM diff/axles 3 bolt, simple bolt in or 92-94 4 bolt diff, axles and outer hubs
 

fuel

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Toronto, ON, Canada
A question for the above post, why not use a 90-92 JDM engine harness and a 90-92 'Evolution' single board ECU? It's 240hp (with 510cc injectors and 16G turbo) as opposed to 205hp of the 87-89 JDM Galant VR-4. Heck even a non-Evolution 90-92 JDM ECU will be 220hp (with 450cc injectors and 14b turbo).

Also, ALL 87-89 JDM manual gearboxes (KM225) will be 3.545 ratio, only the Evolution models 90-92 (but not the non-Evolution 90-92 models) are 3.909 ratio. Automatic JDM VR-4s are 3.317.
 

IncorpoRatedX

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that'd work too, sorry for not including it.
 

steve

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^ Holy cow look who crawled out of the woodwork.
 

IncorpoRatedX

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who?
 

steve

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holeshotmoe
 

IncorpoRatedX

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your mom
 

DR1665

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Powertrain/electrical swaps are time consuming, but entirely doable and, if this is something you're really interested in doing, I don't see why you couldn't pull it off. Pull one engine/trans/tcase/prop/rear-diff/axles out, put new ones in. Double check your signals into and out-of the EPROM ECU and you should be golden.

One plus to starting with a GGSX is that, because the car is AWD, it will have the right front crossmembers. FWD Galants are different up front underneath, making the use of FWD radiator core supports on AWD cars a bit tricky. Now, a FWD E39A would be BFA with a TT V6 and RWD imo...
 
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