Using the following two posts on another thread I decided we need yet another revolving thread. For lack of a better title I just called it WHAT IF WE BUILD IT LIKE THIS? Some of you have already built your dream vehicle and some are building more. This is for any member who has considered reworking a present car, truck, or wagon into what they'd really like to own. Yes, you can even take a mini van and convert it into a station wagon if those are your plans. Let's hear about it and using Photoshop type programs let's see that monstrosity you think would be beautiful. Quote: Originally Posted by Longroof79 Ray, At first, I thought it was a bit sacrilegious cutting into a 2-dr '56 wagon to make a phantom El Camino, but it looks awesome. It appears to be well done. Your '66 wagon is also being done with the same level of craftsmanship. Do you have any recent pics of your progress? Glad you like my builds Longroof79. I was always inspired by the great GM designer Harley Earl designs and enjoy trying to be creative within my own limitations and skills. You are welcome to come over to my 66 Malibu build thread under projects. I am still working on my rear top window hatch design for the Wagon. If I can get this right, the rest of the body work and paint can begin. This was a running, driving car with some new mechanicals when I bought it. I do want to install a disc brake conversion and go through everything before it eventually hits the road. Ironically my brain works faster than I do. I have another vision of Wagon conversion I might like to do and have already been searching the web, taking measurements and may eventually build a model to see if it is something I would really like to do. Remember the movie that was partially filmed not far from where I live? Follow your dreams. I'm glad guys like you take a vision or dream and go with it. I'm sure, like me, many have dreams of our dream car. We just don't follow our dreams for many reasons. Skill, time, space, money are just a few. Old cars, especially station wagons, have been cut up and tore up long before anyone decided to convert them into their dream cars. I remember back when 55 Chevy wagons were fairly new when a body shop cut two up and welded the front halves together as one for advertising. Another cut the center doors out and built a "shorty wagon." Many vehicles fell to this craze. I also saw a 49 Dodge like mine near home and a 40 Ford coupe in the Smokey Mountains turned into two front halves. The only one that bothered me were the two 40 Ford coupes that died a horrible death. Even so they may have been scrapped if the conversion didn't happen. Here is the place to tell us about how you'd build your personal vehicle from a factory original that is far more common and less desirable.
I see why you started this thread, and I'm culpable for that, but your efforts are appreciated. I've had so many dreams over the years and none of them have ever come to fruition. I currently have my '79 Ranchero GT, which is a great candidate for restomodding (and I've been doing so with newer parts just because I can't get original-style repair parts). This truck would look and be so cool with a Cougar front end and high-intensity lighting. Some of the body needs rust repairs in at least four places, and the T/G & rear bumper need straightening, but once done, a repaint back into the original Midnight Blue with blue-to-black ghost flames would really make it pop. I saw that combo on a local tow truck, and it was damned good-looking. Next, it has a rebuilt 351W engine with C4; I'd like to keep the Windsor and change the induction to sequential EFI from an F150 Lightning, including the head and cam work, and replace the C4 with a 4R70W. This means I'd need to deepen the 9" rear gears from 2.47 to a truck 31-spline 3.50 pumpkin, install rear discs with T-bird calipers, and '90s Crown Vic spindles/rotors/calipers up front for excellent stopping power. Get all the rest of the gauges functional, install a decent sound system and rehab the carpet, seat cloth and door panels. Get the A/C working again with Crown Vic components (I already have the compressor and brackets) and change the radiator to a 4-row. Much more stuff, but too much for my disability paychecks and my ability to do all the work.
First, you start with a concept: Then, you build it, making any necessary changes as you go: Or use the parts you have: And always remember: There MUST be a rear wing!
A rear wing? We're building cars here. Not aereo planes. Keep it up. We all have ideas but most never get past our brains. I've always been amazed in those TV show builders who can dream up something then build it. My first real problem with this plan is money.... and lack of it. Thanks fannie. Let's here about your concept car or wagon.
Sorry guys, I was in a silly mood. I have seen people do some really creative, inventive stuff to their cars, but I'm just doing well to keep mine going!
Me too! Still over the years I've come up with hard top station wagons and lots of other custom ideas. I sort of made my 210 55 Chevy wagon look a little like a Nomad by using Nomad rear quarters then blacking out around the windows to simulate a mini van. I even added Bel Air side and window trim. Non Chevy people never notice.
I don't want to do anything specifically. I just... well, tinker with things. I thought my Volvo was a perfectly wonderful car, with the exception of the AW-71 slushbox that nearly got me killed with its leisurely takeoff. So I ripped it out and put in a junkyard Volvo 5-speed. Then another. Then another. Then another. Annnd, one more. Turns out the bushings start failing just about the time they hit the junkyard. The good news is that I can now drop a Volvo transmission in about 35 minutes. Then I decided it was just a little too wollowy. So I put in 25mm sway bars and stiff springs. I can get 3 wheels off the ground with one jack now, and tow a 2800 lb. trailer without the rear end even dropping. Next came the glass sunroof out of a later car of the same body style. Then, when the engine spun a bearing, I got a Turbo block and most of the parts to put a turbo on it. Haven't had time for that yet. After that, I'm finally ditching the explosion prone Volvo transmissions and adapting a Mustang 5-speed. I might be happy then... but there is a 16-valve head that fits on the Turbo block with a little work....
What are you building? A Fire-breathing Scandihoovian? If you do go the DOHC route, you will need a trans that will survive that onslaught. But also, pics. And I must emphasize, pics.
I imagine that you and just aboot everyone else here has seen the Paul Newman/ David Letterman Ford powered Volvo 960 wagons.... :2_thumbs_up_-_anima http://jalopnik.com/5540957/the-ford-powered-volvo-wagon-paul-newman-built
The Mustang 5.0 litre is pretty much a drop in, with the many transmission attached. The shifter even comes through the factory hole in the floor. Easier and cheaper than dealing with the Volvo turbo. Probably better gas mileage, too. Besides, there is something really neat about the sound of a Ford V-8 coming out of a boxy old Volvo.
Dave Letterman is a 'car guy', but in an entirely different way than Jay Leno. He knows nothing about how they work, but is still interested in them. He had a Volvo 7-series wagon once, talked into it by P.L. Newman, race car driver. It had a 5.0 Ford fuel-injected V8 in it, with a supercharger. (there's an audio or video from Letterman doing a talk on the wagon...very funny). Letterman also has (or had) part ownership in a Indy-car team. Don't know where that stands currently. Here's some links related to the Volvo wagon (which he's now sold, BTW) http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/david-letterman-i-like-kettlecorn http://jalopnik.com/5540957/the-ford-powered-volvo-wagon-paul-newman-built
