What have you done to your wagon lately? (Let's keep the thread going!)

Engine getting paint..

 

Don't forget a set of 3 into 1 split manifolds! Those are cool.

 

Finished up the seats for my '67 Mercury Commuter. Also working on finishing up installation of a 4-post lift so I can finish up more work on my projects. Actually, the lift is in. Now I am helping my brother-in-law with removing the trusses above the lift. (Yes, I did hire an architect to draw up new plans so my garage roof doesn't fall in. )

Pictures are here: http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19639&page=6

 

Initially I'll work with whadIgot.. After all I do call my garage "Nickel Nose Restos".. ha! I do things "on da' cheap"... I bought a complete muffler setup off the guy I bought the motor from. I will adapt it to the wagon.. it does have a nice new turbo muffler. I'm buying another 250 from the same guy and this one does not have the integrated head.. so I will have more room for hot rod upgrades. I'm finding as I get older I'm liking a quieter driving experience.. Unlike my '49 Chevy with the dual cherry bombs... sigh... I am trying to design an interesting air cleaner setup that has 3 small 1 barrel dome type air filters going into the one carb.. still in design stage, but I think it would look kind of cool.

 

Yeah, I understand that. I have a couple Turbo mufflers on my wagon and they provide plenty rumble. I just am tired of them scraping on every darned driveway...

 

Searched high and low for a blower control module for my 89 Electra Estate.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I wish we had of checked the distributor before I tore down the front of the engine. We checked and checked the timing, so it may not be setting. My uncle said he is going to try to help me with it soon, so we will see. Since its down to the harmonic balancer, we are going to go ahead and check the timing chain if we can ever get the balancer off. I went and purchased a puller and never could get it back off. I do want to get HEI on it if possible.

Very nice wagon Swanny! I liked it even with the original hubcaps and whitewalls!

It may not be all the way up to 3000, its like it cant get the RPMS up even when floored. I dont think its the brakes, as we have let it roll down a little on slope and it rolls easily. We also had completely redone the brakes and no change before or after, so pretty sure they are free.

Yep, no converter, but muffler may be collapsed. Going to check that too. Thanks Jim.

Dont know, it may not be turning that fast, but it seems like the RPMS are not getting up enough to move the car and we know that the throttle is going all of the way. It acts almost as if the exhaust is clogged, but there is alot of air coming out of the tailpipe.

Yeah, Swanny right - no converter on this one and I think I may have been off on the RPMs. Pretty sure brakes are free, as it will roll easily even on the slightest slope.

Transmission fluid and filter was changed the same week I purchased it, full and clean. Not really sure about the tranny, as I have not even been able to get it on the road other than up and down the driveway when it will move that is.

Hopefully my uncle will keep his word and help me with it before winter gets here. Going to check the t-chain, distributor, exhaust flow and go from there. If that dont do it, I guess I will sell at a huge loss or see if I can take the 402 out and junk it and put a 350 in it... OR see if someone wants to trade me something for it.

Thanks again for all of the advice.

 

4-post lift...

Not sure if this counts or not, but I recently purchased a 4-post lift from BendPak (HD 9ST) so I could better address the underside of the Commuter and I have been working my tail off assembling it, getting it powered up and now modifying the garage roof from trusses to rafters.

Yes, I called an architect who used to design trusses to draw up the plans for the conversion (as one should do) and have been told by both the contractor (my brother-in-law) and the building inspector that the plans are overkill. Thank goodness!

So no fear of my roof falling in, and soon I will be able to take the wagon up about 5 feet without crashing through my garage ceiling that used to sit at 9 feet 9 inches. Plenty tall to work on, and park under.

 

I have the same lift, excellent choice.
I assembled it by myself too, used my cherry picker to lift the ramps into place, took less than a day.
I've been a carpenter for over 40 years and for that vaulting job you don't need no stinkin' architect, or building permits.

 

That's what my brother-in-law said, but the big concern wasn't whether the roof would stay up, rather would the building inspector/home inspector/future owner let it fly if/when we sold the house some day...

 

In March a customer saw my 65 Chevelle "rat" wagon parked outside my parts store. He came in and asked me if I'd be interested in buying his 65 Buick Sport Wagon before he hauled it to the scrapper. Well 7 months later this unexpected summer project is a real fun cruiser!
-All new brakes (everthing!) front and rear.
-All new wheel bearings, u-joints, cut coils for a major lowering look.
-Massive interior cleaning and surface rust removal.
-Pulled motor & trans for "freshening up".
-New alternator, starter, water pump, fuel pump, carb rebuild, aluminum radiator, new hoses......new everything.
-Every part & bolt was cleaned & painted or replaced.
-Ect......
......oh yeah, then a bent axle was discovered so a Chevelle rear end was swapped in......it never stops.

 

what i did

what i did? i dropped 25g and restored the 70 chevy wagon. will never do that again. (in my lifetime) but it was worth it. will have pics shortly.

 

Very cool can't wait to see those! 70 chevy.....what? impala,chevelle???

 

Did my normal every few days flash up the parts 82 and Ruby the Buick but went a bit further and drove them around the block a couple times... Parts had a very slow leak on one of the rear tires (age cracks) and I guess the tiny drive took it's tole.... have to change a tire, it's flat, flat, flat now...oh well.

Ruby, I'm guessing the temp change in the air (?), but had a couple areas of headliner sag. Last week just a couple places..... today the front area it a tarp hanging and rubbing your head while sitting in the car. So when I'm more up to things I'll have honey take me to Wall Mart and we will get some new material from the fabric section and time for headliner #2. Some of you lnger term member may remember me doing the headliner in my 83. First one I ever did and it's holdng up great! leaned alot from round one so I figure round 2 should not be a problem. I want to be driving the Buick come winter due to it's comfort, it's tires, it's pure size!....

 

Spruced up interior with new pedals.

Dear Station Wagon fans,

Needed some parts from Original Parts Group as part of the da' trusty wagon engine swap that hopefully will start in about 2 weeks or so (waiting on a radiator.) There was free shipping last week over $250, so I snagged a nice looking pedal kit. Here is a photo of the original 47 year old pedals:



The old pedals weren't in horrible shape, but the parking brake pedal had been damaged years ago and was being held there by glue.

Here are the new reproductions:



Since the car has been upgraded to front disk brakes, I went with the version of the brake pedal that had the metal disk brake logo. It isn't exactly genuine, but is how Buick indicated disk brakes on later 60s Buicks. Disk brakes weren't available in 1965 (as far as I know.)

I also replaced the parking brake release lever while I was at it. It was a quick job and everything fit nicely. The OPGI stuff is no bargain (even on sale), but does really dress up your car.

Cheers, Edouard