Hey, Hello and it's been a while since I'll touched base with anyone here. My name is Rennie and I live here in Burleson TX. I own and drive a fantastic 1970 Belvedere 2-Seat Wagon with the Slant-6 & 3-speed on the column. I have not been able to do much of any work to my wagon as I've had to drive it as my only working transportation for the past 6 months or so. Needless to say it is time for some much needed maintenance, even before I do any clean-up work to it. Right now, my biggest problem is that I need the Column Shifter Linkage Bushings to connect the tabs or connections on the column directly to the linkage shafts themselves!!! I see listings out there for some Ford & GM bushings but nothing at all for the Mopars. I'll go look for my calipers today to get the ID & OD diamentions of what I'm needing to better help you to help me. I have also not been able to do much of the mechanical work on it due to re-breaking the fusion holding L3 to L4 in my lower back. I really try to do some work to it against my better judgement and end up hurting for days! we're finally getting closer to a surgery date to repair L2 thru L5 the Doc sez. Well this set back hasn't keep me from enjoying the Wagon in the meantime. Everywhere I go with it it seems to draw a small gathering of great people with their memories of a wagon in their youth. As usual, I, happily, share what I know (only takes up to 5 minutes, cuz I don't know much) about this direction of the Classic car hobby. That has been a dream come true for me. A B-Body Mopar Wagon to trick out. All the Coupes and other Muscle Cars versions have been taken or cost far too much for me to play. My wife and I have had some Muscle era cars in pretty good condition thru the years but the last 2, her 70 Charger 383 and my 71 Chevelle Coupe, had to go during the period of rehab back 8-some years ago for some surgery to my lower back. It really hurt to sell either car but we couldn't eat them, if you know my meaning. But even way back then I thought of owning a wagon to "Clone" or as hot rot was a way cool thing to have. I ran across this wagon a couple of years back and took the pics of it to show you of what I had found. I have not taken too many recent pictures here lately for one reason or another. It came very basic from the factory as a Slant-Six cylinder manual 3-speed car. They did check the box for the A/C, which is good news as I reside in Texas. I have bought the "firewall forward kit" from Classic Air but have yet to finish the under hood install. I have the original evap, compressor and pretty much all the hoses set aside for someone elses future needs. Somewhere down the line someone has installed a "factory" AM/FM radio to it also. Otherwise it is basically as it came from the dealer. I have installed a complete front suspension replacement kit from PST. I can see where a new / thicker sway-bar would come in handy, even for the slant 6. I've had to park it for who knows how long due to the Shift Linkage Bushing problem and other tranny problems I've dealt with since I bought it. Maybe I'll get a spot in the garage cleaned up and yank the engine and trans out so I can clean up the engine and engine bay and rebuilt the short block. I also need to get behind the dash panel for lights and to replace the defroster outlets. I far as I can see, I guess I'll have to "drop" the steeing column to start the journey to the firewall from the inside. Any suggestions from those who've been there would be appreciated. The body is real straight save for the Passenger side fender. A previous owner had filled in a dent with bondo and covered that whith white paint. I really have to redo that because people think I did that repair. Sheesh! I wanted to stop by and say hello and to get re-aquainted with all of you again and to see if anyone might have any leads for those pesky shift linkage bushings. Here Comes spring! Hopefully my injury won't put this all on a back burner because I just LOVE to drive this and to show it off. Thanks and hello again! Rennie Kontak
Hey Renko, I am also in Burleson. Small world I guess, however, I do not remember seeing your ride. I live south of the golf course on I-35. Been trying to get my wagon running. Hope to see you around!!!!
backrenko . First, good luck with the surgery. Take it easy doing too much strenous or bending type work. Of course working on the engine bay and under dash are the worse for a back! Glad you stopped in to till the old members, and us newer members, what you've been up to. Hope you and Walruslip can get together and talk about your station wagons.
Welcome back. I remember you posting pics of your wagon when you were here before. Glad to hear you still have it.
Geeze, Rennie...great update and much appreciated. I have serious back problems so I know what you are going through and right where you hurt and it ain't fun. First off...I hope that gets taken care of soon so you can enjoy working on your cool wagon. There are many Mopar guys here and one in particular that I have observed as knowing his stuff is Jim 68cuda. He is knowledgeable and a helpful guy. I'm sure he or others will steer you to the right places. If your back permits...please stick around and if it acts up or you go in for surgery let us know and let us know as soon as you get back. Good luck to you Rennie and quit hiding on us! We like seeing you here AND your wagon, of course.
I'm still in Burleson and I still have wagon. This has been posted years ago, sorry for the delay! Do you still have the wagon or what are you working on now? Be good to meet up!
Hi Renko. Since you posted that a while ago, that means you've had your surgery. I'm hoping it went well and you're back up and running and able to play with your wagon. Did you ever find those bushings you needed? I love the "strippies" almost more than the loaded ones. People tend to go for the well equipped long rooves, but there's nothing like black wall tires and the little dog dish hubcaps.
I"M solid as can be despite having to now be on disability. Changed the budget some. I found the bushings and now have extras. Yeah, the minimum works plenty fine for me. The wagon has a new short block last month and is a blast to drive on all six once again! I bought a '65 Sport Fury about a year ago for my wife, Rene, to race with but she went and had a stroke last October and lost about a third of her vision and won't drive any more. We're dealing with it as best as can be. The Fury was a roller when I got it, I stuffed a 383 in it but spun a bearing. Takes all the fun away real quick like when that happens too! I'm going to pull and keep the engine but we're going to sell the roller to the next guy to build as they like. We really can't afford to keep 2 old car. It keeps me busy and broke just keeping the Loadrunner as a daily driver! In the back of my head are thoughts of the big block in the wagon for a change of pace. Literally! It's good to catch up here! Later, Rennie
