[Philip]

I purchased this wagon last month from a friend and member here, thanks Jeff. It appears to be in original condition, came with the POP, the wagon owners manual and dealers sales invoice. Speedometer shows 88593 and judging from condition and the length of time it has been sitting it possibly could be original miles. Original engine and transmission are gone so eventually it may get a mild big block. For now it will be powered by an LT1 converted to a carburetor and HEI with a th400 transmission.

Here is the wagon, it is the original color Flame Orange Metallic code 65. I cleaned up a small section to see the color better and I like it.

Although I am really anxious to get started on the project, I need to finish a customers 57 Bel Air before beginning on the wagon but the parts for the 4 wheel disc conversion were just purchased.

The brakes are from a 98 - 02 F body. I was surprised to see how large the front calipers and brake pads were, the rears are the same as the set installed on my Nova.

Church Boys Racing makes a nice set of adapter mounts that can be used with either factory drum or disc spindles. The drum hub is used with the Camaro rotor. If using drum spindles the spacers are not required.

Rear brake install on the Nova

Updates will be posted as progress is made. Any tips or suggestions from wagon owners will be greatly appreciated.

 

[72SSWagon]

Phillip:
Looks good. Nice to see you digging in on her. The rear air deflector is a desirable option. Body looks straight except for the tailgate. Nice bumpers. How's the interior?

BG

 

[Philip]

Thanks Bob, there is just a bunch of small dents and the rear wheel opening repair from a tire falling off. The lower control arm is also bent. The interior needs carpet and headliner, both missing. Sweep dash with a factory clock, bench seats that need reupholstered. The air defector and luggage rack are both in great shape. I will need the left rear pedestal, this one is broken.
Were the rear frame braces standard on wagons? it was just a 350/th350 with a 10 bolt but has the braces

I see you got your rear brakes on, the rear end is looking good :thumbsup:

 

[72SSWagon]

Sounds like the body work won't be too bad. The interior parts may be the more challenging aspect of your resto. My '72 has frame braces - but the '70 doesn't. I'm probably going to pull the braces off and put them on this chassis. Thanks for the kudos!

BG

 

[Philip]

Body work is not one of my strong skills. I am going to attempt it on this car as I have more time than money.
The headliner and seat upholstering is always done by a friend for a reasonable cost. The simple stuff like the carpeting and all the side panels are things I can do. My strengths are in the electrical and mechanical parts of restorations, but this will probably be my last project car. The old body my young spirit is living in tends to get really sore by the end of even a short day in the shop

 

[quietdude]

I wish the cars that came into my shop were like this. Nice looking car and solid as hell,.. must be nice living in AZ for that purpose.

 

[Philip]

I lived in NJ until I graduated high school in 67, then moved west. I recall using a torch to remove most bolts and hated fixing rusty sheet metal. Living here will spoil you, I will not buy a car with rust in the body now.

 

[chevygod]

Philip,

Welcome to the madness. Nice wagon.

Sent you a PM.

Best,
Tom

 

[Philip]

Thanks Tom, hope it will be a fun project. Very little parts were reproduced for the Nova which made it hard and time consuming to build. Hopefully wagon parts will be easier to get.

 

[Philip]

Still collecting parts, can not work on it yet but finding parts is part of the fun. Found this 700R4 on Craigslist for $150 including the converter. Fluid looks good, so it will get installed after a filter change and see how it shifts.

 

[JWagner]

With the 700R4 going in, you now have a 4L60E to sell. You might even have a phone number on hand for a guy who could be a buyer.

 

[Philip]

Thanks Jeff I had not thought of that and already promised it to another friend. It will be a trade deal, for what at this point is unknown. I will see if he wants all the injection and ignition stuff.

The Opti block off plate was ordered and I picked up a used HEI. LT1 parts seem to be over priced, it is like working on Ford
Just need to get the 57 done so I can start on the wagon.

 

[Philip]

Concours quarter emblems have been purchased.

Hopefully they will be here by the end of the week so I can see if they look as good in person. They were advertised as new and I am not aware of these being reproduced.

 

[Philip]

Well I am 0 for 2 on the emblems. They are new and beautiful, but the first mistake made was the auction was for 2 now I have 4, second mistake and this is a big one the emblems for a Concours Estate (as they were listed) apparently mount different than the Concours. Although they appear the same, are the same size the mounting studs are in the wrong place and there are 3 not 4.

why are wagon parts so difficult I need to learn more about them quick before I spend all the project money on the wrong parts out:

 

[Philip]

No progress to report, still gathering parts though. I have a 12 bolt that needs to be built, already have the new Moser axles. Need to order the Eaton posi and decide what gears to use.

Monday I went to look at a 71 El Camino. No title and really rusty, but I was only interested in the frame.
Weird car, manual drum brakes, manual steering, 3 on the tree, 10 bolt, rubber floor mat, standard wipers, but has AC, dual speakers in dash so could have been an FM stereo radio, a vinyl top and code 43 Lime Green Metallic paint
The brake and clutch pedals are still in the car...this really has me leaning towards a manual transmission even though a 700R4 has already been purchased.

It is parked next to the wagon so it could bond with the new organ donor

Plans are to get the frame from the El Camino in the shop to be cleaned and painted. From there the suspension will be rebuilt and updated, the 12 bolt installed, the 700R4 and what ever engine I can come up with (not sure the LT1 is going to be used.) Then the wagon body can be installed on the frame.

 

[sglide]

Phil, what front seats did you decide to go with in the wagon?

 

[chevygod]

Hi Phil,

I think (from what I know about Monte's) that any AC/radio car, AM or AM/FM or AM/FM stereo, got the dual speakers due to the center AC vent taking precedence over the center speaker. So that is just the way it was built, only way Chevy could do it. If the l+r side speaker mounts are factory and you don't need them, please let me know.

If you are going to do the El Camino frame for stiffness, you can add the bolted bushings under the doors, body should have the threaded insert, just need the appropriate bushings and sleeves. You could also add the vert/Monte mount boxes to the firewall to get the extra bushings there as well. Have done this to mine so I can add all the bushings I can to stiffen up that long body. Info in my nightmare wagon thread.

Wish you were closer, may need some El Camino bits.

Best regards,
Tom

 

[Philip]

Phil, what front seats did you decide to go with in the wagon?

No not yet, Mary just says it can not be a bench seat unless she gets to drive

Hi Phil,

I think (from what I know about Monte's) that any AC/radio car, AM or AM/FM or AM/FM stereo, got the dual speakers due to the center AC vent taking precedence over the center speaker. So that is just the way it was built, only way Chevy could do it. If the l+r side speaker mounts are factory and you don't need them, please let me know.

If you are going to do the El Camino frame for stiffness, you can add the bolted bushings under the doors, body should have the threaded insert, just need the appropriate bushings and sleeves. You could also add the vert/Monte mount boxes to the firewall to get the extra bushings there as well. Have done this to mine so I can add all the bushings I can to stiffen up that long body. Info in my nightmare wagon thread.

Wish you were closer, may need some El Camino bits.

Best regards,
Tom

Tom thanks for the info. Send me an email or PM with the bits you need. If they do not fit a wagon I will not be needing them. I saw the vert mounts you added to the firewall, I will not be doing that, the ones under the doors will be used.
Tonight my buddy came over and removed a good chunk of the left quarter panel. He wanted the gas fill door to use on his 66 Chevy truck. The cab mounted tank is coming out and one is being mounted under the bed. It was not a simple matter of just cutting around the door and pulling it out. Although the exterior sheet metal was rusted the wheelhouse looks like new.

 

[Philip]

Anybody know what these relays did? One would be the TCS, but I have never seen 2 installed before.

 

[chevygod]

on 71 cars one is TCS and the other is a reversing relay to make the TCS work right... Seems overly busy to me, but they do work, at least did on my Monte. I think there is another relay behind the dash that has something to do with the system as well, main power supply or something. Only on AC cars if I remember right...

Best,
Tom