The VR4

[striker2]

So im pretty sure I have never really posted pics of the VR4 on here so since I just got it back on the road i figured I might as well.


'93 3000GT VR4 with ~229K original miles.
mod list is short but includes:
11G turbos (from the stock 9Bs)
DN Performance pre-turbo pipes
K&N open element filter
M2 downpipe with front pre-cat delete
gutted rear pre-cat
3" test pip
stock catback (stuck in sport mode:blackeye
glowshift center gauges replaced the stock oil pressure, water temp, boost.
boost controller set to ~14PSI (from the stock 10PSI)
poly motor and trans mounts
Maximal Performance solid roll resistors
Larger front mount oil cooler (replaced the small sidemount that was behind an intercooler)
snake eyes mod
2nd gen rear center garnish/reverse lights
S-type BOV
Charcoal carpet and center console side panels (in transit)

The first time I went to look at was back in October of 09. It was owned by my neighbor who bought it new in 93 and used it to travel between Louisville and Atlanta. When I got it, it had ~220K miles on it.

first time looking at it.

What a dirty stock engine bay

I finally picked it up almost a year ago, in May of '10 and the repairs and mods started coming. first thing was the drivers side rear wheel bearing and a new battery. then an aftermarket y-pipe (the stock one is known to leak after the rubber seal gets old), pre-turbo pipes, BOV, MSD wires, and Samco radiator hoses went on in a few stages along with a vacuum reduction and removal simplification of the clutch and brake vacuum booster systems.

Still a little dirty but improved over stock

after a nice summer bath

with the snake eyes mod (basically the headlights and fog lights come on with the parking lights)

then I added the gauges and a boost controller, turned the boost up and I was happy with the power for quite a while. all was well, after replacing the other 3 wheel bearings, until about a month ago when the clutch slave cylinder went out. well, while I was waiting for parts, I figured it would be a good time to install the downpipe and solid roll resistors. after getting the rear pre-cat out of the way to get to the rear resistor, I inspected the rear turbo. turns out it was mostly seized. :help: time to replace the turbos.

Damn 10 image rule.

 

[striker2]

after a week of waiting for parts (gaskets and crush washers) I finally get the car all back together, only to find out that the rear rebuilt turbo leaks oil into the turbine housing. as much as it sucks, I couldnt complain to much as i got a great deal on the pair of turbos, spending about half of what the next cheapest upgrade normally costs.

leaking turbine side seal

1 rebuild kit later, and the car is all back together. now to take it easy on the turbos for the next couple hundred miles to make sure they break in nicely without any problems.

while I was waiting for the rebuild kit to arrive, I found a good condition 2nd gen rear center garnish for a measly $40 shipped, in the correct color.

1st gen garnish

2nd gen garnish

so thats where it sits now, patiently waiting a few weeks before i turn the boost back up from the 6PSI wastegate pressure.:crazy:

 

[FastFord]

That thing looks super clean for having 229k miles. Always have liked those cars too, my ex girlfriends dad had one with I think 20k original miles with some nice wheels but that was it, then he traded it for a Gallardo right after we broke up. Anyways, nice car and keep the mods coming :laugh:

 

[FauxhawkFox]

The 2nd gen garnish looks A LOT better. I had a neighbor that had a white VR4 that was mint with 30k miles on it. Such a cool car. His car had a spoiler that looked pretty stock, almost like a mitsu GSX or GST spoiler...is that stock?

 

[FastFord]

Pretty sure that spoiler is stock. Am I just day dreaming or did the VR4 have a spoiler that would raise when the car got into higher speeds?

 

[cetroutt]

it's about time. i've been wondering when and if you would ever post pictures of this work of art. i've always loved the 3000gt, only DSM that i like more is an EVOIII. it looks very nice, good job.

 

[striker2]

The 2nd gen garnish looks A LOT better. I had a neighbor that had a white VR4 that was mint with 30k miles on it. Such a cool car. His car had a spoiler that looked pretty stock, almost like a mitsu GSX or GST spoiler...is that stock?

Pretty sure that spoiler is stock. Am I just day dreaming or did the VR4 have a spoiler that would raise when the car got into higher speeds?

that is the stock spoiler and yes, at 50MPH the active aero turns on and raises the spoiler as well as lowers the front air dam. in 97 they changed the spoiler to the big hoop spoiler like the DSMs had, then they changed it again for the 99s which looks kind of like an Evo or combat style wing.

it's about time. i've been wondering when and if you would ever post pictures of this work of art. i've always loved the 3000gt, only DSM that i like more is an EVOIII. it looks very nice, good job.

technically its not a DSM (stands for Diamond Star Motors) as all DSMs were made in Mitsubishi's Illinois plant and were joint Mitsu/Chrysler projects. All of the 3S cars (yes even the Stealths) were built in Japan and then shipped over. The Evo is also not a DSM, the only DSM cars are the 1st and 2nd gen Eclipse/Talon/Laser.

 

[elraido]

technically its not a DSM (stands for Diamond Star Motors) as all DSMs were made in Mitsubishi's Illinois plant and were joint Mitsu/Chrysler projects. All of the 3S cars (yes even the Stealths) were built in Japan and then shipped over. The Evo is also not a DSM, the only DSM cars are the 1st and 2nd gen Eclipse/Talon/Laser.

I hate it when people start calling every Mitsubishi a DSM!!!! Diamond Star Motors people!!! Think about it!!

 

[striker2]

I hate it when people start calling every Mitsubishi a DSM!!!! Diamond Star Motors people!!! Think about it!!

yeah, I get it a lot. its almost as bad as people saying nice eclipse. I even had one guy say nice camaro. :nonono:

 

[YOOOO]

Never heard of 11g's before lol, what made you decide to go with those? Throw some DSM 420cc's in there and turn the boost up! Nice Panama Green. You know it's been well maintained if it has 230k on it.

This was mine

 

[striker2]

I went with the 11Gs because they were cheap and I didnt want to have to upgrade the fuel system as well just to be able to run the turbos. the stock fuel system will still run these turbos at 14PSI without issues, so for now im not installing larger injectors and AFC. I was also very happy with the power of the stock turbos, so why mess with a good thing. if in the future I decide to get larger turbos (would be some nice billet DR650s) then I will worry about the fuel system. the next big thing im trying to decide on saving for is to upgrade the headlights with some new lat42 fixed projector headlights
http://stores.latitude42motorsports.com/-strse-1/91-dsh-93-Headlight-Conversion/Detail.bok


looks like a nice clean 2nd gen with 99 front conversion.

 

[nasty1]

Great looking car. I'm partial to the red ones myself, but the green and cream/tan interior is a really nice combo as well.

Do you find yourself chasing your tail with all the techowizardry on the car? I looked into purchasing a stealth/vr4 a few years back, but thought better of it when reading all the problems people were having with them...

 

[striker2]

Great looking car. I'm partial to the red ones myself, but the green and cream/tan interior is a really nice combo as well.

Do you find yourself chasing your tail with all the techowizardry on the car? I looked into purchasing a stealth/vr4 a few years back, but thought better of it when reading all the problems people were having with them...

nope, the only thing that doesnt work is the tuneable exhaust and thats because it was never switched out of sport mode (default position when the car is off is also sport mode). not sure what problems you are talking about though, there are a few common things but most of them arent any worse than most cars and are easily preventable. the biggest things are spun bearings (which arent nearly as big of an issue as they are with the Duratecs) and broken transfer cases/input shafts. for the bearings, just replace the oil pump and inspect/replace the rod bearings during a 120K service and make sure the bowl in the bottom of the pan isnt pushed up (if it is just push it back out and replace the oil pickup tube when you replace the oil pump). keep it full of oil and change it regularly and they arent a problem. now the transfer case isnt really a problem unless you launch the car (the halves get pushed apart), and even then its really only the 91-93s. that can be stopped with a transfer case brace. the input shaft is only an issue with the 91-92 cars that have the 18 spline shaft, which tends to strip. in late 92 they changed to a 25 spline shaft which doesnt have any problems (people still upgrade to a better shaft when they are pushing lots of power to be safe, but a stock shaft has done 9s many times without issues).

 

[cetroutt]

i know what DSM stands for, i've just always used it as a generic term for mitsubishi. you'll just have to forgive my ignorance. nice car none the less.

 

[elraido]

i know what DSM stands for, i've just always used it as a generic term for mitsubishi. you'll just have to forgive my ignorance. nice car none the less.

It is the same as calling a Contour a Porsche or since Porsche designed the engine, at least in my book.

 

[JRoX85]

DSM- Diamond Star Motors is a term forged when Chrysler bought out Mitsu until they bought themselves back. Technically all 3000 Gt's eclipse's and evo's are DSM's as well as a handful of other cars created during that span. Being made in Japan has nothing to do with the fact that they were Chrysler owned. this is a huge debate between 3000 gt fan boys, and they all take offense to it lol. I have owned three DSM'S. If you really want to get technical all first gen vr4's are DSM's all 95 up vr4's, eclipses, galants, evo's are not. Just because the DSM term is used primarily for eclipses, lasers, and talons does not mean a vr4 is not a dsm, as Chrysler still had a 50/50 share in mitsu until 95. Clean VR4 though keep up the good work.

 

[striker2]

DSM was a separate corporation from both Mitsubishi and Chrysler, it was a 50/50 joint venture between the 2 groups that allowed them both to sell the compact cars in the US. this was done to bypass the import quota that was in place at the time since, as well as allow Mitsubishi to sell its own cars from its own branded dealers. Chrysler only had their share until Mitsubishi bought the plant in 1991 and the remaining Chrysler shares in 1993. all cars built by Mitsubishi for Chrysler after that point were via contract. It does have to do with where the cars were built as DSM only owned the plant in Normal, Illinois, but not all cars built there are DSMs (such as the Avenger/Sebring). the 1st gen Eclipse/Talon/Laser were the only cars ever designed and built by DSM, the 2nd gens are generally considered to be DSMs as well because they were direct descendent's of the 1st gens as well as some 95s got DSM labeling (although in all technicalities they are not since DSM no longer existed at that time). all others were designed by Mitsubishi and DO NOT have any DSM labeling. the 3000GT was a design entirely done by Mitsubishi, and the Stealth was simply a contract for Dodge where Dodge did some of the body work changes. All 3S vehicles were built by Mitsubishi Motors, not DSM (now Mitsubishi Motors North America inc., Manufacturing Division).

 

[Klasse Act]

i know what DSM stands for, i've just always used it as a generic term for mitsubishi. you'll just have to forgive my ignorance. nice car none the less.

Ditto and then Dan set me straight!

Keep up the good work Dan, that car is beggin' for the Dragon, its got the goods and ready to go!!

 

[wretchedCSVT]

whichever one of you got your info from wikipedia is wrong. lol.. who cares i do the nice dsm thing too..same as saying sounds like a honda, when truely you kmow your talking about a civic.

none the less ive always wanted a 3kgtvr4...<--- lol that looks cool.

 

[striker2]

whichever one of you got your info from wikipedia is wrong. lol.. who cares i do the nice dsm thing too..same as saying sounds like a honda, when truely you kmow your talking about a civic.

none the less ive always wanted a 3kgtvr4...<--- lol that looks cool.

I got my info from various sources around the net, including some DSM specific sites. all of which say the same thing (also checked wiki for S&Gs and it says the same thing too).