Built to compete against the Corvair and Falcon, the Dodge Lancer GT had the added flair of body louvers, bucket seats, padded dash and a paint accent under the side windows and windshield.
Built to compete against the Corvair and Falcon, the Dodge Lancer GT had the added flair of body louvers, bucket seats, padded dash and a paint accent under the side windows and windshield.
Here's how to really Nerdify yout Lancer!
Here's how to really Nerdify yout Lancer!

Building the Engine

 Mullins Machine Shop did the machine work. The blocked was bored, custom forged pistons installed, mild cam, etc etc. Stainless valves, springs, and custom lifters finish off the head.

Into the shop

 

After about 6 years, the car finally makes it to the shop. Of course I have been driving it all this time but as I mentioned earlier, the automatic transmission was hardly moving the car any more and dropping fluid like crazy. The rust in the rocker panels was really beginning to take off and the stitching on the 50 year old seats was ripping. SSR Restorations was a shop I have been going into originally when it was Orangeman Custom Cars. Just about the week I rolled in the car, Richard Dryer (6th Street Restorations) bought the building and continued the operations as SSR.

The clutch and brake pedal from the Dart fit right into the Lancer. The four speed was fit into the new tunnel hump we bought for a dart.

Here it is minus the exhaust. It has been running!
Here it is minus the exhaust. It has been running!

About mid-July, we fired the "leaning tower" for the first time. It sounded good, good. A little rich but it had the wrong carb. We are in debate about turbochargers and headers.

I found this 1961 grille on EBAY. I believe it was out of a wrecking yard in N.D.. I like it so much better then the "electric shaver" of 62. It is not swappable without some modifications.