My 1980 Eterna GSR Turbo Coupe

fuel · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 3:20 am

hey guys, a newbie here from NZ. I see a few familiar people on here though from various other forums.

I'm fortunate enough to own this wacky Mitsubishi that is the Eterna. It was imported into NZ with just 33,000kms in 1987 where it was owned by one owner until I picked it up with 128,000kms on the clock.

It features the same 2L G63B ECI Turbo engine the early jap spec Starions have, with a 5 speed manual gearbox, IRS and 4 wheel vented disc brakes. Inside it's got electric pillarless windows, electric fender mirrors, working air con, and even an alarm clock haha.

Here's how I picked it up:

I drove it around as it was like that for a few months, but I just had to start toying with it

new suspension:

exhaust:

wheels:

Did a couple trackdays like that, and my last trackday with a TC06 and E39A VR-4 intercooler:

But that's going to change soon, as I'm going to go DOHC and do the suspension properly:

Evo TME TD05 I'll use:

Evo III manifold and AFM:

So yeah, that's about where I'm up to now.

Comments welcome yo

Garant · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 7:29 am

hey, we got a white one of those here on the forum

i was surprised to see irs. didn't know they came on these.

question is, did the usa cars also have irs?

kev · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 7:36 am

I like it!

It's interesting that model had so many names....Dodge Challenger, Scorpion, Lambda, Sapporo and Eterna

Old Colt · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 2:05 pm

Quote:

question is, did the usa cars also have irs?

No, none of the RWD sedans came here with IRS. But that is the chassis the Starion was built on. I bet that is a fun car to drive cause I sure have enjoyed the Starions and having a sedan on the same suspension would be sweet.

fuel · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 3:54 pm

Yeah so many names for different markets.

In Japan they are Galant A coupe (where the A is the Lambda symbol), but in the type II's the upper spec range are called Eterna A's which is what mine is.

In Europe they are a Colt Sapporo or Mitsubishi Sapporo, in Australia they are the Chrysler Scorpion or Mitsubishi Scorpion, in NZ they are either Mitsubishi Galant A's or Mitsubishi Sapporos for the last of the type II's.

And in the States.. well you guys know what they are haha - even I'm not entirely sure what they are called there.

All turbo models had IRS, including the Galant E (sigma) sedans (apart from the Aus spec turbos). It was the platform of which the Starion was heavily based on. Almost everything is identical apart from the Starion being a few inches shorter in wheelbase.

I saw that white Dodge - it's looking fricken hot and I wish mine would eventually live up to his standard of work.

I've got another nostalgic car too but it's not japanese

fuel · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 4:06 pm

I'm bored so I thought I'ld post up some more pics:

repainted wheels:

retro speakers:

tidied up the engine bay a little while doing the turbo swap:

IRS setup:

On the track the first time:

How I want it to permanently sit:

picked up these wheels for it, current rims will end up on the Corolla:

The last trackday outing, intercooler hose popped off haha:

horrible handling which needs to be sorted:

short youtube video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbeaGjEfpf0

ben · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 5:10 pm

Welcome to JNC. Great car there. I love the stripes and decals. Sure won't let you forget it's a Turbo, will they?

Also what's the story on that wagon in the background. Yours?

fuel · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 6:01 pm

nah that used to belong to a girl called Kerryn but she sold it. It's a '79 KE36 Corolla 'Van'. Had a 5K in it.

Haha yeah the japs loved to advertise it was turbo that's for sure.

Some more pics I just snapped now - engine:

Intercooler:

Which is nicely hidden from view

:

city hunter · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 10:37 am

nice ride.

Interesting. All the provisions are there to bolt the starion rear subframe in a live axle lambda?

Old Colt · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 10:52 am

I expect much of the floorpan is a different stamping but the framerails may be the same.
Same goes the other way too, Take a look up under a Starion, the saddle for the center bearing on the propshaft is there for the live axle.

fuel · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 12:11 pm

yeah I think the IRS subframe shares some mounts with the live axle counterpart, except the strut toweres are definitely different.

Non turbo Starions come with live axle tis why they have the provisions for one.

Old Colt · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 12:44 pm

I have never seen or heard of a non-turbo Starion, did you get them over there?

jono · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 3:05 pm

you could get non-turbo starions in Australia.
my mate had one, it came out with a 2.6, 4 cylinder motor.

fuel · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 10:47 pm

the Jap spec non turbo Starions were just 4G63 2L carb, I think it even had a cable clutch. They had solid discs on the rear.

Old Colt · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 2:41 am

Ahh the true evolution from Galant to Starion.

city hunter · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:30 pm

I;d like to see a picutre of a non turbo starion.

fuel · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:30 pm

Not much to see, just like a normal early flatbody Starion (ie, ugly) usually with steel wheels the same as what my Eterna had originally.

I can't remember what badging it has, maybe just GS.

found an expired auction for two flatbody jap spec Starions on TradeMe (NZ's version of eBay) - one is turbo and one is non-turbo:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.asp?id=155393314

There's alot of variation with Jap and general export spec of Starions, you can have a 2L carb engine through to 2.6 ECI-turbo, live-axle or IRS with 4 bolt or large 6 bolt diff, 3.545 or 3.909 either LSD or non LSD, leather interior, vinyl interior, or cloth interior in many different colours (usually deep brown/maroon or black, some light grey). There's two types of injection systems used, can be non intercooled or intercooled, 4 stud or 5 stud, flatbody or widebody etc.

A bit of a contrast to the US models which are all 2.6 widebody with LSDs.

john · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:32 pm

fuel wrote:

A bit of a contrast to the US models which are all 2.6 widebody with LSDs.

There are flatbodies in the US also. :wink:

IIRC most of our flatbodies are 4-lug wheels, widebodies are 5-lug. Never seen a non-turbo here though.

fuel · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:56 pm

you guys got flatbodies as well? are they 2.6 powered also?

john · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 8:01 pm

fuel wrote:

you guys got flatbodies as well? are they 2.6 powered also?

Yep. As far as I know, all US cars are 2.6L turbos. I believe ours came around in '84 (flatbody 4-lug), and widebodies not until '86?

My 1980 Eterna GSR Turbo Coupe

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