1962 Lancer Wagon, Lancersaurus!

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Ok, more progress. It's not done yet, but I wanted to pop the bezel in to see what it looks like. The dash is really a PITA, but I have it about 1/2 done. Shifter tomorrow if I am lucky and then some tests of the circuits with the body wiring. I have a goal, hope I can make it.
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Thanks Wayne
Really wanted to get the shifter in before I go back to work. Got it lubed and was working it in the floor before putting it up behind the dash. It was real stiff on the gear changes, I suspect the cable has a kink in it. I have another cable so I shot it with penetrating oil and I will let it sit and soak. Just need to figure out how to get it out of the transmission! Service manual is worthless, the picture they show tells you nothing! I guess that is to be expected when you put all these parts together that have never know each other before!
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Well the last time I looked at this thread was just after the wagon was stolen.

Today I read whole 17 pages and what a story.

Kudos on a job well done Looking forward for a compleation very soon.
 
Thank you GGs66GT! I worked all day today, pictures tomorrow. I got the cable changed out, the shifter adjusted, thanks Deb! Then got the shifter installed behind the dash, the dash bolted in, the wiring routed and the gauges installed. I started pushing the shifter buttons in and they didn't want to go so I called it a night. You know the next time I do this I will know what to do..... WAIT, I am never doing this again! LOL.
 
Another long day. So my NOS shifter buttons, turned out to be 61 Buttons! So I found the 62 Buttons and got them installed with the heater buttons. Then I got the bezel installed and the light, wiper knobs. Then the steering column install, fought the coupler for a couple of hours, got it done. Then all the bolts under the dash and stuck the steering wheel on to take some pictures. Dang what a tough car to work on, this will be my last "early" A for sure!
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Wayne, I can't tell you how many times I go back and look at pictures along the way. There is a stupid little steel rod that runs from an air vent on the drivers side to somewhere???? I moved wiring, the heater pushbuttons, and in a couple of pictures I could see it going up to the right. So I finally figured it goes behind the nut on the heater switch assembly. What the hell it does, I have NO idea, but I am stupid like that, if it was in there I put it back. Of course after I got it in the right place it blocked the wire harness, so out it came, moved the wiring and put it back in. That is why it is taking so long. But the transmission shifts nice now! At least with the pushbuttons!

Thanks to everyone who is following the progress. It helps.
 
Got the steering wheel fixed, I had a click with the new turn canceling cam. Just needed some fine tuning. Took the door panels to the upholstery shop. Going be great getting those done and the interior just about done! Also bought a set of oxy/acel bottles go I can do some gas welding on a few parts I need to weld. It was a good day.
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Wire Welding machine broke, so that set me back. I got it gas welded and then cut a fit a couple more down into the collector. I will get started welding the rest this week or weekend. I might have the collector a little low, but I figure a header would hang even lower. Any input?
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Burg, my man! Good to hear from you. Yes I agree with your observation. However, with the MC in place the picture would be pretty bad. You would have to have x-ray vision. And, putting this thing back together is hard enough, so I take every chance I get to work smarter, not any harder! How are things on old VA? Still raining, or worse, snowing?
 
Yes, we had snow and sleet yesterday here in Central Virginia.
I'd love to see your wagon race this year...Clay City perhaps?
 
I got the front exhaust pipe fitted today. It has been cold here in DFW, I am NOT complaining, sorry everyone having BAD weather. I just don't like welding in the garage with the doors closed, so I just tacked the back pipe together. I welded the head pipe to the front flange to do all the downstream cutting and fitting. I promise Ver 2.0 won't have duct tape holding it together. I set the collector too close to the transmission crossmember so I put a spacer in to move it back a couple of inches. I will replace the spacer with a pipe of pipe. Lots of steering clearance, cable clearance and I hope it will come out if needed, but I will have to see. All the pipe is 2 inch and the Flowmaster 2 to 1 is a 2 inch to 2.5 inch. Should be enough air for a 170.

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I worked on the driveshaft issues this week. Thanks to some FABO experts we figured out the problem. I had purchased a ball and trunnion slip joint conversion shaft a few years ago. I knew it had to be cut 2+ inches for the 8 3/4 swap. What I ran into was someone had drilled the rear yoke for u-bolts or a girdle, but I didn't have those parts and it wasn't done like I wanted it to be. Then the driveshaft had a 1310 or 1330 conversion u-joint in the rear. That won't work on a yoke with no tabs. So I am sending the shaft to Driveshaft Specialist in San Antonio to be cut, balanced and a 7290 u-joint. They are going to sell me a rear yoke to match the 7290 and then I should be ready to go on that issue.
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Worked yesterday and today welding and fitting the head pipes and the collector. Lot of work and something I am not real good at, but I am close to being finished welding. So I guess you could say this my first header. Now I can really see why a custom header would be so expensive. After I finish the welding the collector on tomorrow I will dress it up a little and get it ceramic coated to match the exhaust manifolds.
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MoKan...is the plan.
I will be retired.
Make sure you announce the weekend here. I dont live far away and I would drive to see a Lancer wagon run there. Just because I dont think I have seen one for a real long time. 50 this year I plan to be lurking at the shows this season. Try to keep my hands off the cars no promises!
 
Wanted to get to the powdercoater, but just to be sure I refit the header, and I didn't like a couple of things. So grinder, cutoff wheels, band saw, welder, 6 hours later I was happy. At least my upholstery guy got the door panels done. I think they look great. Colors are spot on to the seat patterns. No more cracks, splits, funk!
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Speedo cable went in, started working on throttle rod and carb linkage. Front left drum was dragging so I worked that, after I get header back I will install the master and get that going. Then I started on the engine harness, changes for ECU, left side alternator, electronic V regulator, new starter, new horn locations, etc.
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Got off the phone with the driveshaft shop. My Cobbed Up Shaft is worthless. Turns out the shaft I bought from a member here is a GM shaft, that did use a hanger bearing. The only thing usable was the front flange. Everything else is trash. It was said to be a 64 Valiant ball and trunnion conversion shaft. I never removed from the shipping tube till a couple of weeks ago. Lesson Learned.
Worked wiring today, lots to change and a couple of repairs. Mounted on a board, easier than laying across the fenders!
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