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'61 Lancer Wagon
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Powerflite
Posted 2014-09-22 3:52 PM (#457057)
Subject: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I just purchased this wagon and drove it down from Washington state to LA. Now I can get rid of my '63 Nova wagon. I stopped by John's place on the way home & found a couple of goodies for it.

Pretty neat original aluminum block 225 slant 6 motor with aftermarket dual BBD carbs. It runs pretty hot & rich right now, but hopefully I will be able to get it tuned properly. I plan to keep the interior red & paint the outside black. Maybe add fuel injection & a gear vendor overdrive to a newer 904 trans. Of course I will keep the buttons working, but I'm not sure about the park function.

Edited by Powerflite 2014-09-22 3:56 PM




(Front.jpg)



(Back.jpg)



(Engine.jpg)



(Dash.jpg)



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Attachments Front.jpg (48KB - 281 downloads)
Attachments Back.jpg (46KB - 264 downloads)
Attachments Engine.jpg (57KB - 287 downloads)
Attachments Dash.jpg (45KB - 272 downloads)
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SavoyPlaza
Posted 2014-09-22 4:45 PM (#457063 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Good score, Nathan! I think that the '61 Lancers had one of the best-looking dashboards of all time. Lots of style in that gauge
cluster.

And a wagon to boot! Congrats. I bet you got a look or two on that journey.
Pete
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Mike McCandless
Posted 2014-09-22 7:44 PM (#457078 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon


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I've seen that car for sale for awhile and always thought it was a neat car at an excellent value. Enjoy the car, glad someone from here picked it up
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big m
Posted 2014-09-23 11:56 AM (#457170 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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It was good seeing you, Nathan!

You did really well on that wagon, I mean, where would you ever find another one? They are just not around.

---John
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Powerflite
Posted 2014-09-23 7:46 PM (#457213 - in reply to #457170)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Thanks John, Mike & Pete!

Yeah, they are pretty rare. This is the only '61 wagon I have seen in drivable condition. I've only seen 2 others in 4 years of looking and they were both big projects with rust and 1500 miles away from me. This one was only 1000 miles :P
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56300B
Posted 2014-09-23 7:54 PM (#457214 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Back in the early 60's my dad's company had one as a company car. We had many interesting weekend adventures using the valiant for various purposes. Enjoy your wagon...........
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-01-02 2:18 PM (#466479 - in reply to #457214)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I've put quite a bit of work into this car lately. I got rid of the moon covers and put on original dog dishes with beauty rings.

Edited by Powerflite 2015-01-02 2:19 PM




(LancerDogDish.jpg)



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Attachments LancerDogDish.jpg (61KB - 269 downloads)
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-01-02 2:19 PM (#466480 - in reply to #466479)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I also installed 3-point seat belts in the back by welding a support to the back of the structure with 3/16" plate and then welding another 3/16" plate with the mount on it. The large washer is there to give support to the headliner that will cover it.

Edited by Powerflite 2015-01-02 2:24 PM




(Seatbelt Template.jpg)



(Right Shoulder Mount.jpg)



(Right Rear Seat Belt2.jpg)



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Attachments Seatbelt Template.jpg (103KB - 281 downloads)
Attachments Right Shoulder Mount.jpg (42KB - 277 downloads)
Attachments Right Rear Seat Belt2.jpg (39KB - 275 downloads)
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-01-02 2:26 PM (#466481 - in reply to #466480)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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And of course, I installed 3-point belts in the front too. I was able to weld up the top mount without cutting any holes in the pillar. I used a bit of super strong thread tied into a tiny hole in the mount, then pulled it up from the bottom into place. Once the bolt was installed, I just pulled the knot through the hole and welded it in place.

Also, I welded captive plates to the floor of the car for the center mounts.

Edited by Powerflite 2015-01-02 2:29 PM




(Front Belts Bright.jpg)



(Floor Mounts.jpg)



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Attachments Front Belts Bright.jpg (51KB - 274 downloads)
Attachments Floor Mounts.jpg (94KB - 284 downloads)
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-01-02 2:31 PM (#466482 - in reply to #466481)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Disc brake conversion from Scarebird. This kit uses 10" rotors. A little smaller than I would like but it works well.

Also hooked up a choke to actuate both carbs & got the door latches & locks functioning properly.

Edited by Powerflite 2015-01-02 2:59 PM




(Scarebird Brakes.jpg)



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Attachments Scarebird Brakes.jpg (72KB - 275 downloads)
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2015-01-02 3:32 PM (#466494 - in reply to #466482)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I've seen a lot of "updates" to FL cars, but 3-point seat belts is a new one on me. Why ?
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StillOutThere
Posted 2015-01-02 4:37 PM (#466502 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Owner's answer may differ but 2-point seat belts proved
over and over to cause internal injuries. Unless the upper torso motion is stopped, you will be WORSE off with a 2-pt belt than no belt at all. 3-point is the smart way to go.
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-01-02 8:55 PM (#466522 - in reply to #466502)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Obviously, 3 point belts are a lot safer than lap belts in an accident. With some cars, you can take the risk that you are probably not going to get into an accident with it because you don't drive the car very much. But this car is literally a daily driver that my wife and I haul our kids around in. To drive a car everywhere, every day without them is just tempting fate. It is a big job to put them in and I sure wouldn't do it if I didn't feel it was necessary.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2015-01-02 9:51 PM (#466524 - in reply to #466522)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Good intel. I hate belts of any kind, but like you said, if it is a daily driver and you're in
stunt driver country ....

I was gonna put them in the Fireflite, but that 3rd point was too tough to weld ....
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-10-21 1:21 PM (#492829 - in reply to #466482)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I want a 7 1/4 rear for this car with 2.76 highway gears in it so I can cruise the highways with ease. I plan to couple these high gears with a wide ratio gear-set (from a 998 trans) in the 904 transmission. I am hoping that I can get them to fit inside the push-button 904 trans. Does anyone know if they will swap in there?

Unfortunately, I have been looking for over a year now, and can't seem to find a 7 1/4 axle with 2.76 gears. I bought one with 2.94, but it isn't quite good enough. So I decided to make an 8 3/4 rear for the car just incase I can't find anything else. I already have stock A-body axles I got cheap from a swap meet. People sell them cheap when they convert to big bolt pattern. So I took an empty housing from a '65 Imperial I had laying around and cut it up. I welded the new perches at 43" separation and used the remains of the old perches to set the pinion angle. After chopping it up, it is looking a lot shorter.

Edited by Powerflite 2015-10-21 1:27 PM




(65ImperialRear.jpg)



(Perch Welds.jpg)



(Chopped.jpg)



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Attachments Perch Welds.jpg (77KB - 238 downloads)
Attachments Chopped.jpg (116KB - 238 downloads)
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Powerflite
Posted 2015-10-21 1:35 PM (#492831 - in reply to #492829)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I used a fixture with a 1.25" diameter precision ground steel bar to ensure that I got things welded straight. I used that to tack weld the ends in place in 8 locations on each end. Then I removed the jig and stitch welded between the tack welds, immediately alternating to the opposite side of the axle to keep the heat distribution as symmetric as possible. After welding, I put the jig & bar back in place to test how well the alignment was retained. It worked perfectly with very little drag required to move the bar in and out. After a coat of primer and paint, I have a coveted A-body 8 3/4 rear ready for brakes and gears.



(Welding_Jig.jpg)



(Welding_Setup.jpg)



(Tacked.jpg)



(Painted.jpg)



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Attachments Welding_Jig.jpg (35KB - 267 downloads)
Attachments Welding_Setup.jpg (34KB - 251 downloads)
Attachments Tacked.jpg (40KB - 238 downloads)
Attachments Painted.jpg (39KB - 259 downloads)
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Powerflite
Posted 2017-03-05 6:11 PM (#535217 - in reply to #492831)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I've been using this car to commute to work off and on for the last 2 years. I started a new job in LA and lately, I have been using this car exclusively. Here is a short video of a part of my new commute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5yG_-N6410
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Powerflite
Posted 2017-05-27 4:55 PM (#540991 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I finally found someone that was parting out one of these cars and was willing to sell me the horns off of it. Then I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how & where they mounted to to the car. Lancers & Valiants in 1962 put them above the front shock mounts in an obvious fashion, but '61 cars were more classy than that. Anyway, I just figured it out! Yea, now I can angrily honk at people just like everyone else.



(61LancerHorns.jpg)



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Attachments 61LancerHorns.jpg (204KB - 207 downloads)
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Powerflite
Posted 2023-02-26 12:36 PM (#627872 - in reply to #540991)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Some fun with illustrations from the owner's manual.



(Lancer Fine Compact.jpg)



(Lancer Mopar Parts-ms.jpg)



(Lancer Wagon Great Service.jpg)



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Attachments Lancer Fine Compact.jpg (114KB - 71 downloads)
Attachments Lancer Mopar Parts-ms.jpg (146KB - 71 downloads)
Attachments Lancer Wagon Great Service.jpg (153KB - 60 downloads)
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frwl
Posted 2023-02-26 2:25 PM (#627875 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon


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Any fender tag picture left?
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Powerflite
Posted 2023-02-26 7:46 PM (#627885 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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I don't know why I didn't even think of looking at it. Here is a picture of it. This car used to be red, as evidenced by the engine bay & interior colors. This is a picture of what it looked like before the previous owner painted it blue. I believe the roof was originally red too, but was the first part painted (incorrectly) by the previous owner.

Edited by Powerflite 2023-02-26 7:52 PM




(61Lancer Wagon Body Tag.jpg)



(My Red 1961 Lancer Wagon.JPG)



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Attachments 61Lancer Wagon Body Tag.jpg (183KB - 74 downloads)
Attachments My Red 1961 Lancer Wagon.JPG (163KB - 63 downloads)
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frwl
Posted 2023-02-27 4:36 AM (#627891 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon


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Thanks for sharing, Nathan!
I think it’s a Hamtramck-built car (VIN fourth character is 2), not a St. Louis (7)…

A7 – 287 – Torqueflite Transmission for six-cylinder engine (A3 – TF for V8)
H1 – 301 – Basic Accessory Group including (based on Valiant Group; no exact info for the Lancers):

- Heater
- Back Up Lights
- Windshield Washer
- Variable Speed Wipers

R9 – 359 – L6 225CID 1BBL Optional Engine, but not sure (Standard was 170CID)
Z3 – no info; but if I’ve mistaken in the Basic Group list, this code 513 could be mean W/Washer and Variable Wipers…

Do you have ’61 Lancer Accessory Groups info?
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Powerflite
Posted 2023-02-27 11:06 AM (#627895 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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The VIN is easy to remember as it starts 771234XXXX so Hamtramck is correct. This car was sold to Montana where it stayed for the majority of it's life, until it was sold to Yakima, Washington where I bought it from.

It does have the backup lights, variable speed wipers, torqueflite, & windshield washer. It also has an optional padded dash, though I don't know if that may have been added later.

This car is somewhat unique because it came with the optional aluminum block 225. So does that R9 equate to the aluminum block version? Is there a different code for an iron block 225?
I don't have info on the accessory group options. The only literature I have is the owner's manual & service manual.
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frwl
Posted 2023-02-27 11:30 AM (#627897 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon


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I don’t have info about aluminum or cast iron block used for 225 engine;
I have only info for optional 1961 Dodge engines:

R1 – 351 – Engine – Dual Exhaust Only
R2 – 352 – Engine – Dual Exhaust and V8 318CID 4BBL
R3 – 353 – Engine – Dual Exhaust and V8 361CID 4BBL
R5 – 355 – Engine – Dual Exhaust and V8 383CID 4BBL – D500
R6 – 356 – Engine – Dual Exhaust and V8 383CID 2/4BBL – D500 Ram Induction
R9 – 359 – Engine – L6 225CID 1BBL
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wizard
Posted 2023-02-27 11:46 AM (#627899 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Sweet toad wagon
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RDP
Posted 2023-02-27 1:14 PM (#627903 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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Radio Heater Group:
radio push button
heater
back up lights
outside left mirror
inside glareproof mirror

Deluxe Group:
wheel covers
padded dash


the Basic Group is probably the same as the Radio Group but without the radio

Edited by RDP 2023-02-27 1:26 PM




(1.jpg)



(2.jpg)



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Attachments 1.jpg (126KB - 65 downloads)
Attachments 2.jpg (58KB - 67 downloads)
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frwl
Posted 2023-02-27 2:16 PM (#627904 - in reply to #627903)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon


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RDP - 2023-02-27 1:14 PM

Radio Heater Group:
radio push button
heater
back up lights
outside left mirror
inside glareproof mirror

Deluxe Group:
wheel covers
padded dash


the Basic Group is probably the same as the Radio Group but without the radio


Thank you Robert.
You have listed Dart / Matador / Polara accessory groups.
Are they relevant for Lancer? Do you have any reference or image?



(1.jpg)



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Attachments 1.jpg (23KB - 71 downloads)
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RDP
Posted 2023-02-27 2:27 PM (#627905 - in reply to #627904)
Subject: Re: '61 Lancer Wagon



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frwl - 2023-02-27 8:16 PM


Are they relevant for Lancer? Do you have any reference or image?






(3.jpg)



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Attachments 3.jpg (101KB - 70 downloads)
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frwl
Posted 2023-02-27 3:27 PM (#627908 - in reply to #457057)
Subject: RE: '61 Lancer Wagon


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Thanks a lot, Robert!!!
Are these all Lancer accessory groups? Or is there more?
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