My Antarctic Blue Super Sports Wagon with the C.B. and optional rally fun pack

[BlueJeep]

One of the boys and I also did some experimenting with center caps. Original 1954 dog dish caps may eventually find their way onto this car.

[BlueJeep]

This weekend's goal was to get the 4 link all set up. I knew that I would have some good focus time in the garage and that allowed me to be productive. It went pretty much as expected, the eBay brackets did save time and did require modifications to work. I actually cut some of them up and re-purposed them in other locations. I still need to build mounts for the coilovers, but I want to have them first and I haven't bought them yet.

I did decide to plate the frame where the upper links mount. Since it is only .095 thick, it could use some extra support. The plates will be welded all around and they are rosette welded in the middle.

[BlueJeep]

And with all of that done, here it is. This time, it is a roller! Next task will be to stick an engine in there (mock up engine, haven't bought a 6.0 yet).

[jkk]

Looking good nice fab work

[Advanced Design]

Ride height, rake and wheel/ tire look to be spot on. A friend used a Quick 9" in his Pontiac wagon and was pleased.

If you don't have a center section yet check out http://www.fastshafts.com/Content.aspx?ID=3 located in Des Moines. I used his center sections for two of my projects and he fabricated the drive shaft for my Burb.

[mongocanfly]

looking good....

[Scott2]

Sweet project! I like the approach - a nice, thoughtful process with good components and fab but nothing crazy. This will be a nice ride!

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by jkk

Looking good nice fab work

Thank you

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Ride height, rake and wheel/ tire look to be spot on. A friend used a Quick 9" in his Pontiac wagon and was pleased.

If you don't have a center section yet check out http://www.fastshafts.com/Content.aspx?ID=3 located in Des Moines. I used his center sections for two of my projects and he fabricated the drive shaft for my Burb.

Thanks Doug! I had planned on getting a center out of my pile, and throwing a trac-loc in it. Was Fast Shaft reasonably priced? I drove by that place Saturday, thinking aluminum on the driveshaft when I get to that point.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

looking good....

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Scott2

Sweet project! I like the approach - a nice, thoughtful process with good components and fab but nothing crazy. This will be a nice ride!

Thoughtful and not crazy is what I am going for. Something I can drop the kids off at school in during the week and burn the tires off on the weekend!

[Advanced Design]

Chris, he was very reasonably priced for a rebuilt center section with new gears, bearings, etc. It was decent enough I bought two of his instead of rebuilding one I had. He does a lot of builds for the dirt track racers so he knows what he is doing. I was also pleased with the drive shaft he built for me...and I just like him. A neat, kinda old time car guy. Be worth checking his prices.

[57larry]

any updates? I really enjoy this build, Larry

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by 57larry

any updates? I really enjoy this build, Larry

I suppose I could stop being lazy and provide some updates. Thanks for enjoying it!

I have been picking away at a few things. Not nearly as much as I'd like, but I've been busy with other things. I did get my mockup motor in and used that to get the mounts all figured out. I cut some holes in the firewall so that I could slide it back and leave plenty of room for the dirt cheap truck accessories and allow for a fan and shroud.

[BlueJeep]

Once I knew the final position for the motor, it was time to patch the holes in the firewall. I choose to do it with one patch! Actually, by the time I'm done it'll be more than one....but no matter.

[BlueJeep]

The firewall recess for the 6 cylinder just was not the look that I was going for with the V8, and I didn't like the amount of bellhousing that was visible in that configuration so start from scratch it is. I'm going to take some design elements from the original firewall and incorporate them into the new. That necessitated ordering some 3/4" beading dies for the beadroller. I did some test pieces, will definitely have to put a lot of pre-stretch in these with the English wheel before I roll them!

I also picked up a scratch and dent steering column out of the Speedway garage sale, going to paint it anyway so what are a few scratches!

[BlueJeep]

I received my rear coilovers, so those needed to have some mounts fabbed up. Also picked up a gas tank for a 2002 S10 Blazer, those mounts will be next on the fab list.

[BlueJeep]

And then there's that dent in the passenger door that I've been looking at for months. I told myself I wasn't going to do anything to it until I had a plan, as I didn't want to mess up the paint. After much studying the Key to Metal Bumping, I decided that I needed to make a pry bar so I could control the movement as I worked on the direct damage, in hopes that the indirect damage would pop back into shape. That's largely what happened. I still have quite a bit of work left to do on the door, but it feels good to get the majority of the dent back much closer to the true surface.

[BlueJeep]

And here's a few pictures of what's been keeping me busy. In addition to having fun with the boys, I've been helping a buddy rebuild his Hurst SC/Rambler. It's getting very close to epoxy and bedliner on the bottom and then can come off the rotisserie. The wagon will go up on the rotisserie next! I built the floor and tubs last year for it, and now we're getting them all installed and buttoned up.

Here's a link to his build if you're an AMC fan. http://theamcforum.com/forum/sc-ramb...opic88709.html

[oldman3]

Great update, and some super nice work...Jim

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Great update, and some super nice work...Jim

Thanks Jim!

[mongocanfly]

dang it blue....I see why you havnt updated lately....you've been busy...and its looking great.....
what motor mounts did you use?...those are nice.....
like all your work.. really nice...

[99 to Life]

killer work, luv the whip.

[Advanced Design]

Nice work Chris! The floor on the AMC is impressive.

[youngrodder]

Great progress, I really dig your wagon...

Marc

[NONHOG]

I read and reread "metal bumping" love that book. (wish it would stick with me)
Thanks for the update and how cool is that AMC!

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

dang it blue....I see why you havnt updated lately....you've been busy...and its looking great.....
what motor mounts did you use?...those are nice.....
like all your work.. really nice...

Thanks! The motor mounts I picked up on eBay, bought them because they were tight up against the block. I had some Scott's Hotrods ones, but they were too wide and didn't fit between the frame rails. I'm happy with these new ones, and I will be able to snake the steering shaft between the tabs on the driver's side.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

killer work, luv the whip.

Thanks! What is a whip?

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice work Chris! The floor on the AMC is impressive.

Thanks Doug!

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Great progress, I really dig your wagon...

Marc

Thanks!

Originally Posted by NONHOG

I read and reread "metal bumping" love that book. (wish it would stick with me)
Thanks for the update and how cool is that AMC!

I read it several times too, trying hard to save the original paint because in my mind it's perfect!

[mongocanfly]

"Thanks! What is a whip?"
i had to go look up what it was...i was curious to...
definition:
In the early automobile era, the steering wheel became known as the*whip. In more modern times, various hiphop artists noticed that the Mercedes Benz logo resembled a steering wheel, which as mentioned was also known as the*whip. So by association, the Mercedes Benz and later any fancy*car*was called a*whip.