Wagoneer rebuild - take 2
Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 4:39 pm
I am sure that some might remember that , a few years ago, I was mightily pissed off because I bought a Wagoneer which was in running order but in need of restoration - and when I sent the body for paint... the Panel Beater disappeared and I found the remnants in a scrap yard a couple of months later missing far too many parts.
So anyway.... I was fornicatingly*** pissed off. It ended up at Richard Middelman's place who then got another Wagoneer and it was going to be spares.
THEN another friend of mine decided he'd like a Wagoneer. As a bit of a favour it's being redone at Apocalypse workshops. It needed some bits so I gave Richard a ring to see if my old one was still there and if he'd sell some parts... and he was selling his one and the shell.
So anyway. I now have 3 wagoneers to play with.
Richards 1965 model is now mine - although I must collect it. It's VERY original except the lift and the motor (it's fitted with a 4.1 Chev) , so I'm thinking it's going to be a spare car for a while, then I'll restore it to original.
Clives one though is under re-construction. it was a sound - ish shell but missing some parts .
He decided he loved it, must have it. then decided he wanted it to have aircon, auto box, power steering, electric windows, leather.... Jirre. why do I get involved.
So it's a bit of a rest-mod
so, it's been stripped right down. The shell has been at a specialist restorer for a few weeks. He also has TWO Wagoneers of his own. One is a real special, the fenders and bonnet were stretched to fit it over a RAM 2500 chassis with a Cummin motor... quite a beast.
The other is probably more awesome although it's a stock shell on a lift with 35s and a 350 Chev motor.
Anyway...
back to Clive's....
As most know, we do a lot of cars for movies, but they are very much built to look pretty. many shortcuts are taken, so it's really nice to do a job properly for once.
I had a fairly rare 1958 Chrysler Spitfire (Polyspherical) motor lying around with an early 3speed Torqueflite box on it (no park) . The original plan was to do a period mod and rebuild the Motor and strap the transfer case to the box. the Problem is... parts are hard to get so we fitted it before sending the shell for a rebuild but the difficulty involved means we will now go for an LS7 motor with the T/Case adapted to the back of the auto box.
other than that... the Waggy will be fairly stock except a power steering box and the aircon.
the shell is in it's first coat of primer with a few things to still sort out - but getting there.
Springs have been done.
Diffs have been done
Brakes have been done
Original tank was replaced and fitted and has been redone.
window mechs and door mechs are being cleaned up and restored while the shell is done.
Will keep you updated....
*** Manny says I can't say Fork on the forum
So anyway.... I was fornicatingly*** pissed off. It ended up at Richard Middelman's place who then got another Wagoneer and it was going to be spares.
THEN another friend of mine decided he'd like a Wagoneer. As a bit of a favour it's being redone at Apocalypse workshops. It needed some bits so I gave Richard a ring to see if my old one was still there and if he'd sell some parts... and he was selling his one and the shell.
So anyway. I now have 3 wagoneers to play with.
Richards 1965 model is now mine - although I must collect it. It's VERY original except the lift and the motor (it's fitted with a 4.1 Chev) , so I'm thinking it's going to be a spare car for a while, then I'll restore it to original.
Clives one though is under re-construction. it was a sound - ish shell but missing some parts .
He decided he loved it, must have it. then decided he wanted it to have aircon, auto box, power steering, electric windows, leather.... Jirre. why do I get involved.
So it's a bit of a rest-mod
so, it's been stripped right down. The shell has been at a specialist restorer for a few weeks. He also has TWO Wagoneers of his own. One is a real special, the fenders and bonnet were stretched to fit it over a RAM 2500 chassis with a Cummin motor... quite a beast.
The other is probably more awesome although it's a stock shell on a lift with 35s and a 350 Chev motor.
Anyway...
back to Clive's....
As most know, we do a lot of cars for movies, but they are very much built to look pretty. many shortcuts are taken, so it's really nice to do a job properly for once.
I had a fairly rare 1958 Chrysler Spitfire (Polyspherical) motor lying around with an early 3speed Torqueflite box on it (no park) . The original plan was to do a period mod and rebuild the Motor and strap the transfer case to the box. the Problem is... parts are hard to get so we fitted it before sending the shell for a rebuild but the difficulty involved means we will now go for an LS7 motor with the T/Case adapted to the back of the auto box.
other than that... the Waggy will be fairly stock except a power steering box and the aircon.
the shell is in it's first coat of primer with a few things to still sort out - but getting there.
Diffs have been done
Brakes have been done
Original tank was replaced and fitted and has been redone.
window mechs and door mechs are being cleaned up and restored while the shell is done.
Will keep you updated....
*** Manny says I can't say Fork on the forum
