Welcome I get so jealous of you guys that find great deal... That is one Awesome Wagon man...:2_thumbs_up_-_anima
Krash is right, removing those spacer blocks will at least get you that much higher. Plus, on any vehicle the first things to replace are all brake lines, hoses, wheel cylinders, etc. Of course, going to modern suspension and drive train will eventally solve this. But I'd never ever drive far with the stock old lines and hoses. Along with that, replace the fuel lines and hoses. All of these lines is not expensive when buying premade lengths and couplers. And, switch to 12V as soon as possible, along with all new wiring harness and modern compact fuse block. Buy a universal wiring kit. Many are out there and many lower priced kits are just as good as those expensive streetrod kits. All of the above can be done in a few weekends and is not really expensive. Next would be a subframe or MMII conversion kit up front.
Makes sense. I think then my problem will be that the previous owner told mentioned that the car was sitting about 8" lower on one side than the other when it was delivered to him. Thus... removing the block likely won't solve the original problem, and it means I'll have to see why it had been low on one side in the first place. Details, details...
Broken spring leaves. My 55 Chevy wagon only had one or two good leaves left when I got it, most were broken. If you are going modern adjustable suspension you don't want to spend much time or money doing a temporary fix. Might be time to just update it now.
Gotcha. I'm taking it in for its first inspection (they're not 5 minutes from here, with great reviews on Yelp.) They specialize in European sports cars and antiques, so while they're probably an arm & a leg, it'll be nice to have an in-person discussion with this thing on a lift. At that point, maybe I can better gauge what I'm confident or not about tackling myself. I intend to bring a chair, so I can be sitting when he begins talking... Again, wise words. Since I already know the rough weights of the trailer, hitch, etc., maybe this will be a good time to knock it out in one felled swoop.
Bredlo, seem to be a few of us who go on Yelp! I mostly checkout Gainesville, Fl. " great reviews on Yelp"
Thanks for the tip, Rev -- you're livin' our dream, hope to join you and Safari soon! I'll be taking this wagon in tomorrow morning for a first impression and "check up", so I'll let you guys know what we discover after a closer look underneath.
So I'm back from the first professional inspection of our little wagon. It was great being able to see the underside for the first time, and I learned quite a bit. Pleasant surprises: While the previous owner didn't do much in the way of upkeep, the owner before him seems to have done some good maintenance: new master cylinder for the brakes, new brake and fuel lines, new spark plugs/wires, coil, etc. Entire gas tank is just a few years old, though I'm not sure about the sending unit since the gauge is 6v... and while there are a few oil leaks here and there... it has been changed recently and looks like level and pressure is holding fine. Frame: Lots of surface rust, and many areas where the original undercoating is falling away - looking similar to a stack of wet, rotting newspaper. Prodding with a pick revealed that the steel was strong, though there were a few areas that prompted them to suggest boxing in the frame when converting the car into a towing monster. This was a relief, and I suspect for the big conversion we'll coat the whole frame in that rubberized "Rhino liner", or something similar to prevent further rust. Suspension: As anticipated, the front passenger side had a broken coil spring, which led a previous owner to cut the other side down to match, and add 2" blocks between the rear axle and leafs. The car presently has around 4 or 5 inches of clearance, and - to my eye - looks funny and fat on the ground, compared with photos of restored wagons. So... My current thinking: Depending how much new front springs are (and likely the pans they sit in, which are pretty worn out) I may spring for new springs... in order to enjoy the car for the immediate future in its stock configuration. I realize this may be money wasted when it comes time to update the whole car for tow-grade airbags, but my gut says the value of getting to know the car better first is worth it, particularly since all else is functioning as it should. Doing the 12V rewiring right now isn't feasible, I don't think - though we'll certainly spend the next couple months planning the full-scale assault, likely collecting appropriate parts along the way. Thanks all for your participation thus far, it's great to have a few new pals weigh in as you have.
I absolutely agree with your plan to get that car back in stock condition and drive it. You will enjoy that car way more than you can now imagine! Meanwhile, while driving it, you will discover any other small problems and the car's idiosyncrasies. It is a beautiful car and I would love to fix everything that needs fixing with stock parts and drive it! Those old Chrysler six cylinders are TOUGH! I swear...if you were serious...I really WOULD love to take a drive in the wagon and come to see that car.
Yeah there's something about the cushy upgrades that I'd like to feel I've "earned", for lack of a better term. It'll be great to understand its first 60 years of life when people ask about its history, too. Quite serious! If any of you find yourselves in Chicago's northern burbs, along on I-94 about 30 minutes south of the Wisconsin state line - shoot me an email, we'd love the visit. Heck, we've hosted vintage Airstream folks for a couple nights right in the driveway... the extra long extension cord is always plugged in.
Wondering what you guys think of something like this. 2003 5.7 Hemi Dodge Ram. Wrecked, with glass and significant frame damage. ODO reading isn't mentioned, but seller claims it runs / drives great, and he'll sell of parts individually. Just wondering if this truck might be a good theoretical donor, for what I'm now calling the Tow & Country. I have no idea what the MPG's would be after a transplant like this, but the refined grunt of a modern Hemi seems like it might be a well-behaved puller. Original listing, while it lasts: http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/pts/2971261627.html
I think getting access to something that has every nut and bolt is a great idea. And given its primary purpose is as a tow vehicle, you get that extra capability with the truck, every bracket and proper pulley's. That said, I don't know enough about Chrysler products to tell you how difficult a swap it would be. I'd not be afraid to tackle it, given the chance to take my time, and is the route I intend to ultimately take with the Safari. I'm looking for an 05 to 07 truck with the L-33 engine option, I may have to buy a driving vehicle to get what I want. Actually, I might have to use my current truck and replace it with a newer one, I'm trying to convince the DW that it is the best way to go. So far she's not seeming to be listening and I can't figure out why?
