I had been in the search for one of these little gems for a few years, and on Thursday March 7th 2002, I was checking the on-line Trading post, and came across one for sale. I rang the owner and arranged to inspect the car on the following Sunday. Feeling a little hung over from the night before, which was my sisters wedding reception, I headed off with my girlfriend and kids, from Bendigo (Victoria, Australia) to see the car.
After what seemed like an eternity (because I forgot to take a map, I got slightly lost once or twice!), I arrived at Clifton Springs near Geelong (Victoria, Australia) about three hours later. I inspected the Lancer and was impressed with it's condition for it's age of about 25 years, and I knew right away that this was the car I was looking for to build my "club racer". The engine had recently (Less than 12,000 kms ago) been reconditioned by a reputable mechanic (who has also done engine work for some of the V8 Supercar teams!) and starts first time, every time! The rest of the car is in quite good condition, again, for it's age of about 25 years, however, the paintwork was badly oxidized but with a quick polish, came up great! A fairly new clutch and pressure plate are also part of the package, as were new brakes, good tyres, spare clutch cable (which I'm told are no longer available!?) and some spare gaskets!
All this for a fantastic price of only $500 (AUD)!! I'm happy, to say the least.
^^That was from the website I used to have, which I hope to resurrect one day. Alot has happened since then.
Ok, basically, this is how it goes.....
1. Got the car home....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/FadedLancer1.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/Lancerinterior.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/DirtyLancerenginebay.jpg)
2. Put my plates on her and gave her a polish....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/PolishedLancer2.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/PolishedLancer.jpg)
3. Then took of the side strips and badges, added some extractors and central locking and alarm system....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/Lancer001.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/extractors.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/Centrallockingfrontdoor.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/Cebtrallockingreardoor.jpg)
4. Then took out the dash cluster and primed the inside of it, painted it gloss white, then added ultra bright blue l.e.d's and red neon under each side of the dash, it looks awesome at night! Oh, and added the monster tacho, steering wheel and gear knob....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/dashout.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/dismanteleddash.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/l.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/04-06-06_2355.jpg)
5. Repaired some rust areas....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/bootrustrepair.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/bootrustrepaired.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/rustrepair001.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/fixedinnerguard001.jpg)
6. Swapped original small Lancer struts for GH Scorpion struts, with new monroe shocks, then got DBA slotted rotors for them....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/16-4002.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/slottedrotor001.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/slottedrotor002.jpg)
7. Dad made a "spit" for the "spare parts division" and started making the new exhaust....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/sparepartsdivision.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/Spitroast002.jpg)
8. Put newly rebuilt 1600 (4G32B, my first attempt at a rebuild!) in the bay, and Painted wheels in "Ouch my eyes" bright white 2pak. Added extra leaf spring and new shocks in the back, reset leaf springs to lower height Modded fuel tank for exhaust to fit....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/newmotor01.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/newmotor02.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/wheels011.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/tankmod006.jpg)
9. Foolishly rubbed the car back for painting, and still haven't had it painted, then ran car into a deep dirt gutter, DANG! (repaired now, and car sits lower than photo shows)....
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/wheels013.jpg)
![Image](http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/pistol-pistol-/dang003.jpg)
Will add more pix.....as I bloody well feel like it!!
![tongue :P](./images/smilies/msn_tongue.gif)