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Posts Tagged “

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engines

Workhorse Engine of the Day: Mitsubishi Astron

From a distant galaxy of single overhead cam engines comes the Mitsubishi Astron series. The mighty Astron began life in 1972, and is still ticking away under the hoods of everything from Mitsubishi Starions to the panoply of Chrysler K-Car variants. In the beginning, the Flying Sikh himself pummeled an Astron equipped original Lancer to numerous rally victories. Patented silent shaft technology canceled out harmonics as the engine grew in displacement from 1.8 to 2.6 liters of four pot fury. The last production car to pack the Astron was either the the 1991 Pajero or the 1990 Starion, but only if not counting the diesel version of the Astron - which motored on with turbo until 1993 amid Galants. 21 years of Astron! In sourcing a new cylinder head sans jet valves for one of the two 2.6L G54B turbo variants of the Astron in our garage we learned that the 'ol G54B aspirated on propane with propane accessories serves in many forklifts to this day. The odd marriage of Mopar, Mitsubishi, and K-Car station wagons also led to some innovative badging - as seen in the bonus pic after the jump. [Mitsubishi Astron] More »

2:30 PM on Tue Oct 23 2007
By Mike Bumbeck
2,864 views, 26 comments

Latest by Magna260: Mitsubishi Motors Australia actually continued production of the 2.6 Astron at their Lonsdale, South Australia engine plant until 1996 for use in the Mitsubishi Magna sedan and wagon. It was a transverse mounted petrol version. more »

classic ad watch

'87 Plymouth Sundance: 47 Standard Features To Convince Ya!

The pride is back! Just ask Lee Iacocca! Featuring Lite-Brite-style graphics and Reagan-era patriotic fervor, this ad captures both the optimism of Chrysler's rebirth and the gloom of the still-fresh-in-memory Malaise Era that nearly doomed the company. The Sundance, sibling to the Dodge Shadow and based on the P-body variant of the jack-of-all-trades K platform, could be had with the base 96-horse 2.2 four, but the smart buyers plunked down the extra $815 for the 146 horses of the turbo 2.2. Actually, the really smart Mopar buyers in '87 went straight to Mr. Shelby for the Omni GLH-S!

Related: Shelby Dodges: More Turbo Emblems! [Internal]

11:11 AM on Tue Jul 10 2007
By Murilee Martin
474 views, 21 comments

Latest by bd_juju: @danio3834: Miata daily driver, Porsche 928 when it's not broken, Ducati Monster when the weather isn't completely ridiculous, Locost in the works.. And for some reason I still miss my '72 Vega 350/TH350 - sick, isn't it? Where's the more »

k-cars across america

Chryslerati: Gorman Edition


A recent stop in lovely Gorman, California for some overpriced gasoline and a bag of peanuts revealed this Chrysler TC. A ghostly sheet covered what was assuredly a fine interior, and also hinted at possible hard or soft top trouble. Out of state plates and location next to one of America's numerous yet fine numbered hotel chain and Sizzler oasis told us this TC was traveling. Not just any TC - Chrysler's TC. Go Chryslerati go. – Mike Bumbeck More »

2:30 PM on Wed May 16 2007
By Mike Bumbeck
800 views, 14 comments

Latest by JCWhitless: I've always wanted to make a Daytona convertible... I'd call it Daytonus Maximus by JC Yeah, that'd be sweet. Oh and Bumbeck, we still have some Mothers Day Chocolate still available. http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Browse/c-10101/Nty-1/Nt... more »

alphabet soup

Ultimate K-Car: PPG Dodge Twin Turbo Interceptor

Although based on an eighties Dodge Daytona which is technically a G-platform, the Indy World Series Dodge Pace Cars nonetheless represent the apex of K-platform engineering. A Chrysler 2.2L topped with a Cosworth twin-cam head served as the mid-engine heart of this eighties automobile of the rear-drive future. Twin turbos helped the mill create 440 horsepower. An even more futuristic version of these cars known as the M4S Turbo Interceptor starred in The Wraith alongside Charlie Sheen. Though a slew of the cars were built for the movie, the M4S was never put into anywhere near production. Gullwing doors made for star quality egress – Mike Bumbeck More »

4:30 PM on Wed May 9 2007
By Mike Bumbeck
11,520 views, 27 comments

Latest by papajim_48306: I find it extremely interesting that Mr. Bumbeck has taken credit for a photo that I took at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum on September 30, 2006. For the record, the exhibit changed shortly after my picture was taken, so more »

k-car

Feel the Turbo Activated to Serve You Forever


We just can't make up a better line than used by the seller to describe this 1986 Plymouth Caravelle. The turbo sedan also features a cassette deck, and enough burgundy velour to make even Ricardo Montalban jealous. Where was this guy in 1986 when Plymouth needed a catchy ad slogan for this fine Chrysler Corporation K platform derivative? – Mike Bumbeck More »

3:00 PM on Wed May 9 2007
By Mike Bumbeck
1,564 views, 25 comments

chrysler

LeBaron Turbo: Luxury and Performance

From the faded luxury sleeper department comes this Chrysler Lebaron turbo. Grandma picked up the turbo K-car off the showroom floor and passed it on to this guy, who installed a manual boost controller along with an exhaust and brought it out to the track. Running 20 pounds of boost the turbo K clicked off the quarter mile clocks in the mid-thirteen second zone. After being stamped into dozens of somewhat different variants that stretched across numerous brands, it was the K-car that saved Chrysler last time around. At the nexus of this cross-engineered platform jamboree was the Chryslerati, which saved neither Chrysler nor Maserati from anything but opera windows. – Mike Bumbeck More »

2:00 PM on Tue Apr 3 2007
By Mike Bumbeck
2,625 views, 18 comments

Latest by Frost Face: Don't get me started on sweet turbo minivans 4g63 AWD Eagle Minivan FTMFW! A buddy of mine used to hustle the hell out of some local cavalier/neon ricers with one! more »