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

[BlueJeep]

So I finished up my holiday break with pulling the frame out from under the car. I had originally planned to blast it after I had everything mocked up, but it is sooooo nice to weld to a freshly cleaned frame so shifted gears and pulled it out. Hopefully next weekend it will warm up into the 20's, so I can get that done (some of you will be amused by the warming up to the 20's comment).

[BlueJeep]

I needed a way to be able to shove it in the corner while it waits, so this is the solution I chose. Worked really good, and feels stable.

I had some parts show up this week. Bought universal 4 link brackets off EBay thinking they would save some time (but still anticipating having to modify them). Also got my dropped spindles in to set the front end down to my desired ride height.

[Advanced Design]

Chris, did you happen to get a level, straight on side pic of entire car? I would like to see the rake you are going for.

I really like the approach you are using to get ride height and rake ...clean, logical.

305...I double dog dare you!

[mongocanfly]

that's gonna look killer....thumbs up

[NONHOG]

Great car! AMC on the wheel question?

[see ten]

Looks like you've got a great start on your project. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

We did a 54 Chevrolet two door sedan several years ago... You get a new respect for people building cars that don't have the aftermarket support of more popular cars/trucks

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Chris, did you happen to get a level, straight on side pic of entire car? I would like to see the rake you are going for.

I really like the approach you are using to get ride height and rake ...clean, logical.

305...I double dog dare you!

I've never really been one to take on dares. Pictures of entire car coming.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

that's gonna look killer....thumbs up

Thanks!

Originally Posted by NONHOG

Great car! AMC on the wheel question?

Very good, you win! 69 AMC SC/Rambler!

Originally Posted by see ten

Looks like you've got a great start on your project. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

We did a 54 Chevrolet two door sedan several years ago... You get a new respect for people building cars that don't have the aftermarket support of more popular cars/trucks

Yeah, definitely can't order this car out of a catalog like I could have with my truck.....

[oldman3]

Looks good...Jim

[72 tigger]

Very nice- like the way you work

[alsriv2]

Great job Blue...
Regarding the Rim size...what diameter did you go with? And how about the tire size to give you that 11.125 tread width?

[BlueJeep]

Thanks, it is a lot of fun!

Rear wheels are 20x10 and tires are 275/40R20 (and the 11.125" isn't tread width, it's section width)
Front wheels are 18x7 and tires are 225/45R18

Sidewall height works out to be pretty close with this arrangement, with the rear sidewalls being slightly taller. One of my motivations for doing the 20's in the rear over 18's was more clearance with the brakes for the ability to get the wheel off the axle, considering how low the wheel opening in the quarter panels is. I may still have to unbolt a coilover to get a tire off to change it, time will tell.

[BlueJeep]

In the past few weeks I had some more exciting parts arrive. My parents came down and delivered my front seat I had shipped to their place. It's a beauty, I know, but it has all the charm and character someone could ask for for a 64 year old car! I also got an axle in a box, very happy with the service and the product from Quick Performance!

[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.

[Bean Counter]

Super cool to find this! I'm just starting a build on my grandfather's '53 150 sedan and was psyched to find this project! Keep up the good work, and I can't wait to see the end result!

[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!