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View Full Version : Turbo Dodges in a Hot Rod Shop! (Lots of pics)



Mike M
08-24-2007, 12:22 AM
This is going to be long, I'm sorry in advance!

Well, its been a long time since I've had any update on the progress of my 88 Lancer Shelby. Last update was late spring and the car was awaiting room to be squeezed into my buddies shop for paint and body, then I can start reassembly. Well, that day finally happened after some delays (but well worth the wait!) just last week.

My chosen shop is a friend Daves one-man owned and operated "hot rod" shop that does paint and body out of a small-ish shop. He has been a good friend for a few years and I'd trust him with my car to the end of the earth! He is truly skilled. Normally he works on 60s and 70s vintage cars. He is mostly a Fox body Mustang guy but I won't hold that against him! He has an appreciation for anything cool, and is a fan of turbo-dodges as well.

Not only will I show you some snaps from my car (bodywork has just barely begun) but I'm also unveiling another project of Daves that he is working on at the same time that has never been posted before (he is not a forum type guy).

Dave and his son happen to own a '82 Dodge Rampage that is an original Arizona car (ruuust freeee!) that has been Shelby-ized back in the day, using a N/A H/O Shelby Charger. The Shelby Charger was originally Daves fathers and had been in an accident a long time ago, and the goodies (including the HO 2.2 n/a was installed into the Rampage with the Shelby nose as well. I don't know much about it back then, but it had since migrated north of the border and has been sitting awaiting new life... and within this summer Dave has certainly got the ball rolling. This is partially where Dave got his appreciation for turbo dodges and one reason why he is the one doing my car, not just any random body shop.

Finally, here are some pictures!

Extiorior has been primed/sanded several times.Engine bay is ready for a drivetrain. Cool stuff: shaved door handles, shaved drip rail
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr01.jpg

First intercooler mockup, not finalized at all yet. This car will be keeping the air conditioning.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr02.jpg

That is NOT a factory sunroof. Expertly installed by Dave... looks better than factory though!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr03.jpg

More yumminess!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr04.jpg

It looks so clean underhood, and we are going to keep it that way. We will be doing a wiring harness tuck on this bad boy. Very very very few visible wires (I realize there are just some that cannot be hidden!)
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr05.jpg


Rampage owners notice anything? Yea, moulded taillights!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr06.jpg

Yes, if you were wondering - they are 18x8s. Yes, those are 265s on the rear. No, they are not staying on there, lol. New tires have yet to be bought. Yes, the rear axle is flipped.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr07.jpg

Those are Neon struts with ebay coilovers. And for those of you with a good eye, that is NOT 5x100 bolt pattern. Thats the big bolt pattern from Caravans. Front and rear (rear requires modification to spindle, drilling), the fronts bolt in... I realize there may be suspension issues using caravan knuckles but we will see.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr08.jpg

Here is the freshly pulled 2.5 T1 from our parts car, it will be put on a stand shortly and detailed but will remain stock for now.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr09.jpg

Thats all for the Rampage for now, next up is the progress so far on my Lancer Shelby... although not nearly as neat as whats going on with the Rampage. Ask any questions you want about the Rampage, I'm sure I missed some stuff. (the entire underside has been painted on the rampage as well).

Getting the rear quarters fixed is job number one. It had a very poor repair job last time, lots of shady metalwork and bondo were used.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr10.jpg

All metal baby.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr11.jpg

My new fender ;) It will have the antenna shaved. Pretty much the only body-mod that will be done to the car.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr12.jpg

Here is how ugly the rear quarters are, this quarter will be tackled next.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr13.jpg

Thats as far as the Lancer has gotten, its only been worked on for two days.

Here is what is up next after the turbo dodges are done. This is what Dave usually works on!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr14.jpg

This is Daves other toy, but its on the backburner for quite a long time. Mid-70s Civic! He has a bit of time in it already. Custom roll pan, front bumper, fog lights, fender flares and then a bit of rust repair.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr15.jpg

It's been lowered and has this sweet set of wheels. Oh, and we will be swapping the motor to a newer Civic motor + Vtec for a bit more jam. No, it won't be a super fast race car... but it will be PLENTY fun!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr16.jpg

Here is what is sitting in my garage awaiting the return of my Lancer Shelby. 2.5L, Wisecos, ARP hardware throughout, ditched balance shafts. (Normally the head/manifolds wouldn't be installed already but the only thing the shortblock needed was the oil pump installed, it was delayed getting into my hands).
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr17.jpg

Sporting a ported cylinder head, +1mm valves. Ported intake mani with a 52mm tb (port matched). Detailed nicely and topped off with an almost finished polished valve cover.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr18.jpg

Ported exhaust manifold, matched turbine housing and opened up swingvalve port. TU 3" swingvalve all bolted up to my Super 70 turbo, .60/.63stg1.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr19.jpg


That is all I have, sorry for wasting so much of your time. I will try to update on a regular basis as both the Lancer and Rampage are pretty much the only thing being worked on at the shop.

Hope you enjoyed.

Shelbydaytona91
08-24-2007, 12:32 AM
That looks like it's going to be one mean Lancer :thumb: Think Dave's got time to take a grinder to my '72 Charger from time to time when he get's bored? :eyebrows:

Mike M
08-25-2007, 01:28 AM
That looks like it's going to be one mean Lancer :thumb: Think Dave's got time to take a grinder to my '72 Charger from time to time when he get's bored? :eyebrows:

Thanks man. And Dave is a busy man, he is booked for a long time to come. I'm lucky enough to be buddy buddy with him and got squeezed in!

Does nobody else think this is cool? Comments/questions all welcome =)

Here is a bit more work done today on the rear quarters.

The drivers fender is worse but is pretty much finished today, I don't have any finished shots as I left a bit early... but here is what it looks like right before the patch panel is ready to be tacked into place.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr20.jpg

Here is the completed passenger fender, all ready for filler (you know, the proper way to use filler).
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr21.jpg

I also forgot to take a picture of the stripped down 2.5 motor sitting on a stand, it will be painted and detailed by the end of next week hopefully. It's not pretty yet anyway =)

Enjoy.

Birddog
08-25-2007, 02:06 AM
Very nice! It always gets me.. Ummm.. Excited to see bodywork done right.

R/T
08-25-2007, 10:35 AM
Nice to see quality work put into our cars.

Now you know how to do the rear wheel arches and rocker panels on my TII GTS.... :p

Dez
08-25-2007, 12:59 PM
Very nice!!

Keep us posted, I can't wait to see the finished product.

Turbodave
08-25-2007, 01:04 PM
Cool pics, always love to see cars in progress, they are both going to be nice once they are done, that's for sure.

Mike M
09-07-2007, 07:16 PM
Well, its been a bit, Dave has been going pretty hard on my car and has gotten alot done, but of course, being so meticulous, there is still alot to be done.

Here is where it sits currently, filler and sanding has begun on the shell/doors (hood/roof/fenders/hatch have not been touched yet):
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr22.jpg

Here is one of the 98% completed front inner fenders (I thought we were going to patch the holes... apparently it was bad enough to rebuild them, woohoo, all new!):
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr23.jpg

And the other side, more sanding and filler:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr24.jpg

Thats all I have so far, hopefully middle of next week the shell will be in primer. Then Dave will take a bit of a break from the car and work on a couple other little things. No more progress on the Rampage yet, the motor is torn down awaiting a detail job.

Enjoy!

mcsvt
09-07-2007, 11:21 PM
Looking great :thumb:

JeremyL
09-08-2007, 12:29 AM
Awesome pics! It's nice to see a car being fixed & done the right way instead of being patched up.. or even worse.. parted out.

Eventually I hope to do a full resto on my Daytona. Even though the car is in good shape, has a year old paint, and has no undercarriage rust.. I'd like to have it worked over the right way & have all the little dings & waves taken out of the body, undercoat everything, and sound deaden behind all the interior stuff.

Dodge Aries K
09-08-2007, 07:40 AM
A friend of mine would die for the chance to get her Lancer Shelby in there... That's awesome.

Mike M
10-01-2007, 07:47 PM
Well, its been awhile since my last update... but progress has been made! I'll get right into it:

Here is a real nice pic of the car, this was just shortly after my last update:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr25.jpg

The Rampage motor is almost fully detailed now, some assembly required and it will be put into the car for the first time.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr26.jpg

Very nice "titanium" color used, same as the suspension (see earlier pics):
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr27.jpg

And a matching transmission, how cute:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr28.jpg

Apparently Dave can make anything fit onto anything, rear lip off a 90 'Tona ES... we'll see how it turns out in the end:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr29.jpg

Another angle of rear lip:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr30.jpg

He's also finished my gfx and is doing more priming and fitment:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr31.jpg

Another angle of my primered car, its never been one color before... its so nice:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr32.jpg

Grrr... its going to be a mean lookin car:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr33.jpg

Underhood is getting redone as well, as it had looked like a black paint can exploded underhood before:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr34.jpg

This is another "project" Dave has been working on it. He's done a old school fridge for someone who is giving it to his brother as a wedding gift. Going to be a garage beer fridge:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr35.jpg

Full shot... I'll try to grab a pic when its unmasked and finished!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr36.jpg

Enjoy everyone, until next update...

Adios!

Dez
10-01-2007, 07:54 PM
Lovin that fridge :)

Good job on everything!

johnl
10-01-2007, 08:06 PM
That 90 'tona lip on the 'page is awsome.

Dez
10-01-2007, 08:07 PM
What primer are you using?

2.216VTurbo
10-01-2007, 11:16 PM
I've always thought the rear roll pan area of the 'Page needed something, now I know what it needs. I've let a few of those slip by in the yards, not the next one:amen:

Mike M
10-01-2007, 11:41 PM
I'll have to ask Dave what primer he is using, he assured me its "great stuff". He is the expert, thats why he is doing it for me!

I'm not entirely sure I like the rear lip... at first glance its something new and cool. Overall its fatter and taller than the Shelby side ground effects so it doesn't perfectly match from the side view. And from the rear I'm not sure if I like how it lines up at the coming down by the taillights as it flares out slightly... the lines just don't go too great. I'll have to see what it looks like with the tailgate on it too, knowing Dave he'll probably shave the tailgate down too.

Dave spoke about using my Lancer Shelby rear lip on the 'Page... its shorter and I think it would look better. I don't think he actually test fit it though.

Glad ya'll like it ;)

TurboSedan
10-02-2007, 12:32 AM
looks great! i can't wait to see that Lancer Shelby when it's all done! is it going to be the original white or something else?

------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge Spirit R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

Dez
10-02-2007, 01:50 PM
Cool, let me know. :)

minigts
10-02-2007, 02:14 PM
Can I make one suggestion or ask one favor? Please take level shots. It makes it easier to appreciate all the coolness of whoever's work that is. And let me say, the work looks awesome. Just thought I would ask if you could take some nice profile shots of some of the detail. :D

Mike M
10-02-2007, 02:22 PM
Going to be white again, I can't change it... its such a classy color for a classy car.

These latest shots were a bit off I know, the cars are all packed together right now... once there is room I can take some nicer shots.

I'll try to remember about the primer next time I'm in, I usually visit at the end of the week/weekends unless I need something. Chances are I'll forget once or twice ;)

TurboSedan
10-02-2007, 03:42 PM
Going to be white again, I can't change it... its such a classy color for a classy car.

:amen:

-----------------------------
Joshua Mitchell
'91 Dodge Spirit R/T
'98 Buick Regal GS

Mike M
10-24-2007, 07:47 PM
Dez, I'm really bad at remembering stuff... but it is Omni brand primer (not sure on specifics), also a sealer was used but I'm not positive what brand... I really need to write this stuff down. I'm sure at some point I'll get it right.

I also never got any completed pictures of the wicked fridge because it got taken away before I got to see it - awwwwww.

ANYWAYS - WE HAVE PAINT!

I checked it out and honestly walked around the car 15 times and could NOT keep that evil grin off my face... I sure am excited about it. And its not even close to being done yet!

The doors/hood/fenders/front bumper/rear bumper/gfx/hatch still need paint... he is just finishing up final prep... I hope the big pieces are on the car by the end of the week. Paint will still need polishing to make it perfect and get out some small blemishes. I'm excited... not much to caption on the pictures just showing some good detail.

Full shot:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr37.jpg

Dooors:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr38.jpg

It's gonna be deadly to open the doors and have beautiful door jams... especially for a 4-door:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr39.jpg

No rust shall creep up here:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr40.jpg

What a great rear :p :
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr41.jpg

Underhood is puuurrrdy:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr42.jpg

Daves custom strut bars, made for both our cars:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr43.jpg

Smooooth roof:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr44.jpg

And this will be my new background until more progress is made:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr45.jpg


Adios, enjoy!

Dez
10-24-2007, 08:45 PM
Man, that is looking SEXY!!!!

i wish i had a shop, now that would be bad anus. Oh, it's ok on the primer part, thanks anyways :]

blk86trbo
10-29-2007, 07:15 PM
Awesome...like a brand new car! Congrats!

Mike M
10-29-2007, 09:11 PM
Thanks guys, there is a lot more done - ALL the white is done, final paint on all the black trim will be done tommorow... then is misc stuff. New windshield needs to be installed, reinstall old hatch glass, tinting all the back windows, then me and Dave will hopefully be able to do the headliner ourselves at his shop (sunroof H bodies are retarded). THEN I will bring it home and begin reassembly... but well, then I am going to bring ALL my interior plastic trim to Dave and we will respray them all too... it will be new inside and out and all over.

I'm not updating any pictures for a little bit longer, waiting for some final touches and I'll be able to post pictures of the completed bodywork, paint and trim.

The Rampage project is moving along slowly but surely. The drivetrain is almost ready to be dropped in (there have been some delays, and have been quite busy). I will hopefully have pics of the motor installed with my completed paint pictures.

Until next time... you'll just have to wait :D

2.216VTurbo
10-29-2007, 10:26 PM
THat work is almost too nice! Amazing job:thumb: Realistically what would that shop charge for an equvalent paint job? $5K $7K ?

Mike M
10-30-2007, 09:41 AM
Probably... a ballpark figure that was thrown around would be that I'm getting a "6k body/paint job"... that was before both of us realized there was more to be done that originally anticipated. Not tons, but enough... Dave also resprayed the front k-frame/rear axle and entire underbody to freshen it up as well (hasn't been pictured). Being that I'm helping alot getting his Rampage turbo swapped and Dave is a good friend, I sure am not paying quite 6k to get this done... still a good chunk though, it surprised me enough when Dave let me know how much just supplies and paint would cost for a job like this. I'm happy though, its turning out GREAT!

overlordsshadow
10-30-2007, 10:15 AM
Thats some deadly work all around. Reminds me of restoring the shadow.

minigts
10-30-2007, 10:38 AM
Probably... a ballpark figure that was thrown around would be that I'm getting a "6k body/paint job"... that was before both of us realized there was more to be done that originally anticipated. Not tons, but enough... Dave also resprayed the front k-frame/rear axle and entire underbody to freshen it up as well (hasn't been pictured). Being that I'm helping alot getting his Rampage turbo swapped and Dave is a good friend, I sure am not paying quite 6k to get this done... still a good chunk though, it surprised me enough when Dave let me know how much just supplies and paint would cost for a job like this. I'm happy though, its turning out GREAT!

Man, the way you're painting that car is EXACTLY how I would like to paint mine. You're doing it right by getting it down to the frame. Kevin Isenberg went so far as to pull the doors off the car! That is dedication! But regardless, looks awesome and looking forward to the finished product.

Turbodave
10-30-2007, 11:48 AM
That's looking great and I hear you on the supplies getting expensive. The repaint of my Shadow was done similarly and ran about $1700 just in materials. It's nice to see these car getting restored.

overlordsshadow
10-30-2007, 11:55 AM
What colour is that car? Looking exactly like when I painted my shadow now. It looks very similar but that is not Cadialac white gold is it?

GLHS592
10-30-2007, 12:44 PM
That's looking great and I hear you on the supplies getting expensive. The repaint of my Shadow was done similarly and ran about $1700 just in materials.

3-4 years ago, it cost me around $1700 to do my car. Of course, that was a two tone job which requires more paint and more masking material.

Some knucklehead on TD.com made an --- out of himself telling me how stupid I was. I didn't know what I was talking about. :rolleyes: He painted his car for $600. I could tell from the pictures he put up that it was bush league at best. Heck, the basecoat silver cost me nearly $500/gallon and I bought two.

Mike M
10-30-2007, 02:30 PM
It's single stage (whine at me all you want if you are a base/clear person, but it looks AWESOME) Oxford white... we didn't have a color code but we used the only bright white used by Chrysler in 88 - and let me tell ya, it is EXACTLY what I wanted... one of my buddies just keeps whining because its so bright. :D

minigts
10-30-2007, 02:33 PM
Man, the coolest paint job I saw was an enamel flat black early 70's Challenger (or was it a Cuda?) at Mopar Nat's last year. I LOVED that paint job and you can really only do it with single stage paint.

Turbodave
10-30-2007, 02:40 PM
Nothing wrong with single stage, I like base/clear because it's easy to fix mistakes like runs and dirt in it later (I'm an amatuer) and it goes on pretty easily. Some of the new single stage paints are pretty amazing however and probably just as easy to work with, but since I'm learning I stick with what I know til I get it perfected.

Dez
10-30-2007, 06:17 PM
Single stage, really? Sweet job man.

GLHS592
10-30-2007, 07:22 PM
The black on my car is single stage and the silver is basecoat/clearcoat. I don't like any paint system better than any other. Anyway, your car is looking great!

rare_ram
10-30-2007, 10:44 PM
Me next?:D

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/732000-732999/732054_271_full.jpg

Mike M
11-02-2007, 12:03 AM
Me next?:D

Absolutely, but there is almost a 2 year wait to even get into Daves shop :D


Anyway, I was going to wait a bit longer to post up some more snaps but I just have to post more... I already needed to grab some progress pics so I figured I'd post em up as well!! It's looking alot like a car now, only a handful of misc stuff to get done now!!

A view walking into the shop:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr46.jpg

So pretty, the lower nose grills are not originally a Shelby item but I liked them so much (they match the upper grill very well (not installed):
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr47.jpg

Beautiful side profile... paint is all polished (it could be done to perfection with quite a bit more work, but this is not a show car):
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr48.jpg

Misc stuff being painted. The grill and headlight bezels are just base coated white... the edges will remain white but the centers will be done in black:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr49.jpg

And lets not forget the amazing wheels this vehicle will be sporting... I imagine they will be installed shortly (15x8 one-off custom wheels, as seen in previous threads fyi):
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr50.jpg

And there is one more cool thing I wanted to add. I was in the market for a new year round vehicle (mainly winter) and was looking for something different (I've been driving nothing but TDs for 5+ years). I decided it would be neat to get a Jeep, I decided I want a regular Cherokee (required options being 4x4, 4.0L, manual trans). So I got browsing stumbled across the odd white Jeep. Then I thought to myself... wouldn't it be absolutely awesome to get a white, four door Jeep to match my Lancer? Well, the search continued to find a white four door jeep with my required options... low and behold, I found one in the next province over. I got ahold of the fellow and flew out (cheap flights courtesy family that works at the airport) and bought it 2 days later. Let me tell ya, this is one hell of a match for the Lancer. 1990 base model, 219,000 kms, white, four door, 4.0L, 4x4, 5 speed, grey interior to boot. Very clean inside and out, minor body dings but very very little rust. And as an added bonus I painted the steel wheels flat black and left the beauty rings intact - so even the wheels match my Lancers! I think its rediculously awesome that I have matching vehicles (I do get very odd looks when I tell some people about it that don't understand). I've had it for almost a month now, it has a couple issues to take care of but I love it! Anyway, here is a pic:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr51.jpg

Mario
11-02-2007, 12:06 AM
One Sick Lancer.

Mike M
11-10-2007, 09:48 PM
Well everyone, it really is looking like a car again! Dave is now %99.99 done, just need to do some final polishing to get rid of the very last little blemishes and the paint trim is done. Although next week (holidays, woooo) both me and Dave will be working on the interior trim panels (repaint) and headliner (new). Here we go, here are some snaps:

Looking excellent, bottom of the hood is even sexy:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr52.jpg

Check out that lip, yo!:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr53.jpg

So sleek, so sexy:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr54.jpg

This is my fast, he goes everywhere with the car (only funny if you've seen older VW commercials, but I had this guy way before VW ever came out with it) - also check out the grill and bezels, trimmed in white, look wicked:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr55.jpg

Nice arse:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr56.jpg

Believe it or not, both sides of the car look great (not used to this with my TDs):
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr57.jpg

Today was a fun and productive day. Got the last of the drivetrain bits together, enough to be installed. Other details can be done in-car. Here we are getting ready to put it in:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr58.jpg

Safety first, no scratches here baby:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr59.jpg

Almost...:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr60.jpg

And it fits oh so perfect, and the strut bar clears (barely) - no measurements were taken before making it:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr61.jpg

Enjoy! There will be more progress on both cars this week and I will keep ya'll updated... adios!

2.216VTurbo
11-10-2007, 10:03 PM
Very nice:thumb: How come you get to have two projects getting finished simultainously?:o Rest of us are wishing for ONE project to be completed...

Keep showing us pics please:clap:

Mike M
11-10-2007, 10:17 PM
Thanks!! Only the Lancer is mine... the Rampage belongs to Dave and his son. Obviously Dave is being generous and giving me a big break with the paint, so I am helping ALL I can with his project. Keeps me busy anyway!

The Lancer, the Rampage and the white Challenger (going to be pink!!) are all going to be in the big local carshow next spring (end of April). So we still have a lot of work to do between the cars, considering for the next few months we'll be seeing temps of -40^C, lol. I don't plan on making the Lancer a show car, its just a wickedly awesome summer cruiser... I figure while its nice before I drive it I'll put it in the show.

minigts
11-11-2007, 12:50 AM
Check out that lip, yo!:
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr53.jpg



That picture says it all. Look how straight the lines are, no waves. Great work on the car man. :thumb:

Birddog
11-11-2007, 07:44 PM
Maybe I missed it but what are those wheels??? I got a bit of a chub lookin at em!

I love those cars and that's gonna be a badass example once together!

(Dave, "single stage" enamels are easier than base/clear, especially if you have a solid color. Plus 2 stage may mud up non metallics.)

Dez
11-11-2007, 08:12 PM
They are Custom wheels, and i think they look GREAT!!

WVRampage
11-11-2007, 08:13 PM
Wow that looks great.

Birddog
11-11-2007, 08:14 PM
They are Custom wheels, and i think they look GREAT!!

Crud!!

Mike M
11-11-2007, 10:03 PM
Thanks guys.

The wheels are indeed custom one offs made by one of our members (4 l-bodies) about 10 years ago for his GLHS and have since been passed on down to me, and man, do they look good. There is an older thread of mine with a little more info on them. (15x8s, only ~11lbs... yadda yadda)

The day Dave had them polished and installed, everyone who walked in the door of his shop (he gets lots of walk-in traffic, friends and such) and everyone had comments on how amazing they are.

Birddog
11-11-2007, 11:06 PM
Thanks guys.

The wheels are indeed custom one offs made by one of our members (4 l-bodies) about 10 years ago for his GLHS and have since been passed on down to me, and man, do they look good. There is an older thread of mine with a little more info on them. (15x8s, only ~11lbs... yadda yadda)

The day Dave had them polished and installed, everyone who walked in the door of his shop (he gets lots of walk-in traffic, friends and such) and everyone had comments on how amazing they are.

I remember asking the same question now.... Back then...:love: :love:

Mike M
12-17-2007, 11:32 PM
Ook, waaay long overdue update. The car is home and sleeping. At my last update I was about to take a week off and for the most part I had planned to finish up all the odds and ends on the car at Daves shop before I brought the car home. The big stuff was all finishing the interior and headliner. Which turned out grreat. Don't have tons of pics, but heres a few anyway:

One of the first things to go in is the carpet, also me and Dave bought a roll of dynamat sound deadener and we split it between the Lancer and the Rampage. Hopefully it helps some... otherwise its nice and shiny, even though you'd never see it ;)
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr62.jpg

Next big project was to do the headliner. This style is stretched and glued around the edges and its held in place by the weatherstripping and other trim pieces. I'd never even done a cardboard backed headliner before, both me and Dave got this done and it looks very very nice. Not perfect, but I'm way happy!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr63.jpg

After the headliner is in we can install the plastic trim panels. Of course we dyed (paint really, but its called dye) all the plastic panels and we got a perfect match... so the panels look great. Heres a shot of the interior coming together.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr64.jpg

One last interior "project" I did while at the shop was relocate the sunroof switch. I did not like how it mounted in the roof/headliner, if it needed to be removed there was risk of damaging the headliner... so I moved the switch. Yes, its upside down... the way the connector points it will hit the flip down tray if its the other way. So it stays like this for now!
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr65.jpg

Otherwise I have installed my leather seats, rear door panels and all the other little trim. The last stuff to do on the interior is make some speaker ring spacers for the new front speakers (too deep) and do the cluster and autometer gauge setup. I have a custom dash trim piece to house three gauges in the center top vents (boost, wideband, egt) and two more gauges lower in the center console (oil pres, water temp). That will wrap up the interior, but most of it will wait for much nicer weather.

Anyways, I have plenty of shots of the car painted, but none with all the exterior trim on... so here it is, my last picture for quite awhile probably. My Lancer sitting pretty in my garage.
http://horizon.blogdns.net/jdhr66.jpg

I was thinking of installing the drivetrain before I let the car sit for winter, but I impulse bought a certain cast header from a certain vendor... I am awaiting its arrival. It still might wait for warmer weather.

On the Rampage though, we spent a bit of time on it (not enough, it still needs LOTS of love). The drivetrain bits are all done, bolted in. Axles are in. Brakes are wrapped up and bled. We have a good rolling chassis now. It needs some fab work, alot of wiring and a complete custom dash and redo interior panels/carpet/headliner blah blah blah (and paint too!). Taking a bit of a break from it, maybe later this month or January I will get working on it some more.

Anyways, updates will be very slow from this point forward. Thanks for tuning in, hope you enjoyed the show.

Clay
12-17-2007, 11:55 PM
SCHWEET man!!!!!!!!! looks GREAT!

1966 dart wagon
12-18-2007, 12:50 AM
freaking sweet pictures man, that thing looks beautiful. I know i was very nervous when i was installing my motor into my barracuda, the engine bay was all painted. but it looks great now. Nice job on the car, keep us posted

raccoon
12-18-2007, 05:58 AM
mike m for car of the month!

Mike M
12-18-2007, 09:17 AM
mike m for car of the month!

And here I was hoping for car of the year ;)

Thanks guys.

overlordsshadow
12-18-2007, 10:35 AM
Mike, I didn't notice until just now that it was you:p Shame on me. Can't wait until you bring that thing out in the spring/summer. Should be an interesting race if you are up for it.:)

Mike M
12-18-2007, 02:25 PM
Yea, its me, hah, I thought you'd have known. Anyway, you don't stand a chance :p ... the Lancer will be seeing multiple SIR dates next year, so you should head up too!

overlordsshadow
12-18-2007, 02:47 PM
We all know that SIR probably won't let me race and I'm not doing the work to get it race legal I don't think. I think over the next couple weeks I'm going to make a modded intake, the head is at ABS getting valves and porting, going to but running a new, non piston burning cal, still with the alky, same FMIC and we'll see what the boost comes to. Either way, whoever wins, or has faster/cooler car it's still Canadian and it's still Dodge!

88_pacifica
12-18-2007, 02:51 PM
... Either way, whoever wins, or has faster/cooler car it's still Canadian and it's still Dodge!

:yuck:

Mike M
12-18-2007, 07:19 PM
:yuck:

Ya got somethin to say aboot us Canadians, eh? EEEHHH??!? :D

magtec
12-21-2007, 04:56 AM
who do i have to kill to get my lancer in that shop?

Mike M
12-21-2007, 09:34 AM
who do i have to kill to get my lancer in that shop?

Hah, probably the (at least) half dozen people with wads of cash and cool cars who are already on his waiting list!! :D