Getting a Wagin Ready for the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour!

Thanks Marty. The I6 engines with AC rads and all the related plumbing just don't let you do that. The cooling fan only has a 2" extension to get it inside the cowl and clear the power steering brackets. With a 4-banger that might work, but they've got room between the block and the fender skirt.

 

Well last week was a bust because the weather was lousy and I had a million errands to do. The good news is that I went to Summit and gathered up a bunch of parts for my race car project and now I have just about everything we need to get that rolling.

This week was a different story. We got an early start and got a good bit done. We swapped in a small size starter, got the fender liners back in and secured, did the entire front dress on the motor (AC/PS/Alternator) including sizing and hanging the serpentine belt, and we also got the fuel rails and injectors set up (no thanks to my eBay intake LOL!!). It took a good bit of time to get the front dress done because we had to fab up our own AC bracket but it came out great.

We also test fitted the underdash AC unit and I think it is going to work well. Oh, and we also reinstalled the heater box, heater core, and heater relay and related wiring.

Last night I ordered some more parts - the AC condensor, various fuel fittings, and some exhaust bends and flanges so that we can finish up the exhaust.
The car is finally starting to take shape. Hopefully next week, we will start the wiring although I may fit the AC condensor and radiator first.

I forgot to get pictures as we were wrapping up but I will make sure I take some next week.

 

Well we got a good bit done today.

We installed the AC condenser and drier and ransome of the AC lines.

We installed the radiator, electric fans, and catch can.

We installed the battery and fab'd up the hold downs for it. We also installed the solenoid and darted some of the main power wiring for the car. We also started working on the engine harness and got the injectors wired.

The car is starting to move along pretty well know. I think we are on target to be done by the end of April (keeping in mind that we generally only work on this project on Mondays.

Here are some progress pictures. Because everything in the engine compartment is black they came out a bit dark. Next week I will try to light it better.

 

Stripped the donor harness from the van down this evening to get ready for wiring the wagon.

It is amazing how much gets stripped out of the factory harness like the HVAC blower, headlights, etc. I wish that I had taken a "before" picture, but here is the "after"picture that we need to start with next week when we start wiring the car:




Wish us luck!!!

 

LOTS of luck... and patience... and keen persistence. Done it myself a few times. Get some of those heat shrink tubes to cover wire splices. Tape always falls off after a few years.

 

Have lots of all of it on hand!

 

I was an Elect-Mech Tech in our military. If there's one thing they drove into us, it was "solder every joint!" Army vehicles bounce around alot, so they didn't want loose wires, when our guys were running down the hill!

 

LOL!!

I am not a big fan of wires coming lose!

Monday will be a busy day. I hope we have enough wire nuts and zip ties on hand!!

 

I often use heat shrink that has solder and flux inside it. Heat the tubing, the solder melts, and you have a weather proof, solid, soldered joint in no time.

 

Wire nuts and Scotchloks are the biggest source of electrical problems ever foisted on hard working mechanics. Do the guy down the road a favor and do it right.

Never heard of it for an automotive application. How do you get the wires thru if its full of solder and flux?

 

dang Marty....shes really comin along

 

Well today was a good and productive day.

We got an early start and got a lot done. We got more than 90% of the wiring done and the car is just about ready to crank. Next Monday it should fire off if everything goes according to plan.



In addition to the wiring, which took a pretty good hunk of the day, we also plumb the trans cooler plumbed, the fuel system plumbed and wired, the intake and throttle body are mounted, and some of the vacuum lines have been run.

We also made part of the shift actuator linkage and it came out great.



With some more hard work, we should have the car on the road in just a few more Monday's worth of work.

 

That engine just looks mean and nasty! Is it street legal?

 

Another lawyer out there in the car world, holy cow! I never find fellow lawyers, just a lot of lawyer jokes and lawyer haters!

I am a 3rd year law student at Suffolk Law in Boston entering my last couple of months of law school. I managed to actually line up a job after law school in this terrible market and I am looking forward to working full time and quitting this darn school stuff. Maybe I'll get some weekends to work on my cars finally.

Now, getting to your wagon: What a fricken cool project! I have been pondering a similar direction for my 69 Coronet, though that's a lot rougher than your Ranch Wagon. I've been considering heading to VA and picking up a 69 Satellite wagon I found to start with. My project, if all goes as I would like it to go, should be eerily similar to yours no matter which wagon I use: Fuel Injected motor out of a mid 90s Ram truck or van, updated suspension, disc brakes, etc. I've even been considering going with a vinyl mat instead of carpet!

I am following along now for sure!

 

Worse yet, a lawyer that runs a speed shop in a redneck town!!! It is a TV show in the making!!! LMAO!!!

I went to law school at Boston University (loved the town, hated the school), but life since then has been good, so stick with it.

If funds permit get a 440 crate motor, carb it and ride that wagon!

The Ranch was a little more of an undertaking than I expected - you would think I would know better, but I never learn! The good news is all I can focus on is the poissibuility of cranking it over next Monday!

I spent the week gathering up a few bits and pieces here and there (sensors, power steering lines, etc.). I also got my buddy to run my driveshaft over to the driveshaft shop - I am not sure it is salvageable but at worst they will build me a new one from my old one. It needs to be shortened up.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel - I am just not sure if it is on a freight train rushing towards me!