1962 Lancer Parked for 25 Years: Will It Run?
The newest Redline Rebuild project car is a 1962 Dodge Lancer wagon that was parked in a barn for 25 years . . . until Davin and the Redline Rebuild crew dragged it into the light of day.
The Lancer, looking surprisingly well-kept and straight despite its decades of slumber, is powered by the larger of the two engines offered in 1962, a 225-cubic-inch slant-six. Although they were offered in high-performance trims, slant-six engines did yeoman work in Mopar coupes, convertibles, sedans, wagons, and pickups through decades of production and earned a reputation for dogged reliability. Davin is confident that he can get it up and running, but the first task is getting the car up and rolling.
After swapping on some studded winter rubber to replace the Lancer’s split tires, the dusty wagon was ready for its first road trip in ages, this time on a trailer back to the Redline Rebuild HQ in Traverse City, Michigan.
With the car in the shop, Davin was able to inspect and diagnose the dilapidated engine. After checking the oil and installing a new battery to confirm that the engine turns over and has spark, the Lancer’s fuel line was removed to prevent the carb from getting a heaping dose of stale fuel and sediment. Davin used a boat fuel tank and a small electric pump to feed the engine instead. With Davin manning the tiny carburetor, the Lancer was ready for its first attempt to start this century. Remarkably, the slant-six coughed to life immediately, spouting a rusty puff of exhaust. Almost as impressive, the mechanical fuel pump was still working, spilling the nasty, rusty old gas.
Of course, this is Redline Rebuild, so whether or not the grungy old engine would fire up is moot, because it has to come out and get stripped down to prep for its full rebuild anyway. Make sure you subscribe to catch the following videos and see the engine get refreshed and put back into the Lancer so that it can make its proper return to the road, running better than ever.
Need anyone ask ?
I see this as a desirable vehicle.
I see this as my Aunt & Uncle’s ugly lancer wagon from yore!!!!!! kinda ok now!
Pretty rare care even back in 61. I commuted with a 61 Valiant back in ’68. Ran pretty good but the trans would upshift ok but wouldn’t downshift back into first when you came to a stop. I would have to push the 1 button then the D button and I was back in action.
Davin mentions getting the “generator” out of the way. This is forgivable since most cars of the era did have a generator. But this car has an alternator. I know because I have a 1960 Valiant, and advertisements of the era made a big deal about the new MoPars being able to “charge while idling in traffic”. Fun to watch Davin go through almost exactly what I did 24 years ago tearing down my V-200. But mine was seized from storage and the smaller 170. Also good to see they moved the heater box out of the way BEFORE cracking that old fiberglass like I did… what are parts cars for? Replacing parts I screwed up on during the first pass. All good stuff! I can still smell the stale gas and mouse pee.
That is a 1961 Lancer, not a 1962 unless someone swapped the grill.
That’s an awesome old car. It’s amazing how it just fired right up after 25 years with a new battery and a new fuel source. I’m not sure that engine even needs to be rebuilt!! LOL.
What a dream job – getting paid to do what you love by spending corporate money which is also a write off expense!
I think maybe I saw one of these rare wagons in a “Man from Uncle” episode.
I had a ’62 Lancer 4-door my first couple years of college (it was only 5 years old): small engine, 3 speed floor shifter (which I think was factory). Not a scintillating car, but very reliable and easy to work on. Some buddies and I drove it nonstop from Cincinnati to West Palm Beach, and then back with no real problems, except that the shift linkage failed in 1st gear while driving through Atlanta in the wee hours of the morning. Found a gas station that was open, put it on the lift, diagnosed the issue and replaced the missing cotter pin with a bent nail found on the ground! Already my engineering education was paying off! I’m pretty sure that nail was still in the linkage when I traded the car away (to my continuing regret) a year later.
Nice piece. There’s a 63 Valiant convertible aroud the corner from my place. If I was younger and not about to have my 5th back surgery, I’d def make an offer.
I am looking for a 62 Dodge Lancer GT (my first car). This is interesting to watch.