Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
October 2007
And here is the 71 300 4dr that will be donating to the cause....440/auto etc for the ol' T/C...
I know I'll probably get flack over parting out this car but I only bought it for the drivetrain......but at least it's a C-body helping to save a C-body....
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Tue Oct 13 2009, 01:30AM ]</span>
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
October 2007
Well I give you guys a brief history of the car and how it was optioned and were it's going...
The car was bought brand new in Yakima WA and was still in the original owners hands up until around 2001-2002, when the woman finally passed away. The car was then left to the/a son through the estate and since he had no need for it, it ended up on e-bay as a 67,000 rust free running and driving factory 440/auto wagon.
I was then bought buy a guy in Portland OR and was drivin from Yakima WA to Potland OR were this owner then pulled the original motor and tranny for his Duster race car. It was then Re-e-bayed and a fellow from Wyoming bought it and brought it from Portland to Wyoming.
It was then that I was looking for a rust free 68 T/C wagon, and through a want ad online this guy contacted me in August 2005. I bought the car and he let me store it on his potatoe farm until spring 2006. We then worked out a deal and he transported the car from Wyoming to Seattle WA were I picked it up and brought it across the border into BC Canada.
It was then stored in a shed at my dad's farm until about 2 months ago when I finally got the garage cleared up enough to bring it home.
The car was ordered, 1968 T/C wagon, 6 pass, 440/4bbl/350HP, auto, Dual exhaust, A/C, power steering, power drum brakes, rear window washer system (rare), electric rear window, 14inch wheels, and deluxe 3 spoke steering wheel. And that's about it for options. The car is almost criminal it's so rust free, Yakima Wa is in Eastern WA and is High desert so the car is rust free.
SO my plans for the ol' girl are such...I have to quickly pull the motor and trans from the 300 and get the car running and driving so I can get it inspected to register it in BC, hope to have it ready by spring for this. Then I will probably drive it this way next year and then next fall it will go back in the garage and I'll pull the motor and trans and go through everything.
I will then rebuild motor and tranny, High flow manifolds with 2 1/2 inch exhaust with dynomax super turbo mufflers, and removable pipes for 2 high flow cat's for our emissions test every year. I will rebuild front and rear suspension, with KYB shocksd all around and rear sway bar. Upgrade the braking system, 73 C-body disc brakes and new booster and master cylinder, 11x3 rear drums for now and disc eventually. The motor will get a spread bore intake with a Demon sizzler Thermoquad, and will be running a HEI style dizzy and modern Denso high AMP alternator. Will be running stock style rad, for now, with electric fans. Upgrade the A/C system with Sanden compressor and new componets under the hood and eventually install a rear A/C system in the car. Also be installing the cruise system from the 71 300 as well.
Interior will get the driver seat back fixed, torn from original elderly owner using it to climb in and out. I will be installing a 200KPH speedo I am getting from Wishnu (strokerkid) in Holland. Eventually I will install modern electric windows and door lock, and modern sound system.
Car will be lowered about 2 inches and I'll be running 20x9 inch rims with 255/(35 or 40)20's all around. replace all the woodgrain with new decals for now but eventually I would like to get the woodgrain either painted or airbrushed.
That will do it for now but I'm sure many more things will happen along the way.
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
Late October 2007
Well Here's what I've bought for the wagon in the last few weeks,
New Repro Washer bottle New inner splash shields New K&N air cleaner Nice used 3 speed wiper switch New 73 newport, caliper, brake pads, inner and outer bearings New front and rear flex. brake lines New batt. hold down brakets New OEM 69 C-body battery cables New NOS A/C vacuum switch New Timing chain New Oil pump New Windage tray
Will be ordering the woodgrain decals, U-joints, corbin clamps etc soon....
I also have tons of stuff I have bought over the last couple years as well, gasket sets, intake, carb, New booster, master cylinder, NOS lights and lenses, rear grab handles, rear bumper steps, roof rack, radio delete plate, Better steering wheel center cap, etc, etc My shed is packed with stuff.
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
End of October 2007
Well I decided to order up a ScareBird rear disc brake brackets for the 8 3/4.
I have ordered the Lincoln rear rotors, cadillac rear calipers and pads and that about does it for the conversion....think I'll be into everything for about $350-400 when done and installed.
More parts still too order...next is rear springs I think
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
November 2007
Well I bought this rear a/c switch and bezel off e-bay and thought I might use it as a secondary on/off switch for the rear passengers. I have the proper NOS dash bezel for the, rear a/c, tailgate up/down and rear washer system.
Anyway just wondering if anyone knows what this originally came from??
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
November 08/2007
Well I have to get the motor/tranny pulled from the 71 300 and then install it, get it ready for the Gov't inspection, then hopefully drive it a bit next year (2008) then I will pull the motor/tranny, suspension and start the drivetrain rebuild next fall/winter and hopefully have it ready, drivetrain, suspension, exhaust done for 2009.
The body and interior are in good shape, just need the drivers seat back fixed, and then if I have time maybe re/re the wood grain sides.
The wife wants to use the wagon to drive from Abbotsford BC to California to go to Disneyland etc with my 2 daughter in 2010....should be a very cool retro road trip in the ol' wagon!!!
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
November 26/2007
Well got the donor 71 300 home last week, drove it about 30 miles on an original wheezy carb, running on maybe 6 1/2 cylinders and no back brakes, no heat or defrost. Neighbour friend of mine drove me to my dads farm were I picked it up and he followed me all the way home, he said his car stunk of over carburated/half burnt gas for the next 2 days.....
Anyway I have been working on the motor the last few days, want to get it running smooth before I pull it and drop it in the wagon.
So I have pulled the original carb, put on a 626 eddy with electric choke. Ran a bit better but still only firing clean on maybe 6 cylinder, lots of poppping and farting.
So today I spent the day on my back pulling the plugs...I had forgot how wonderful it is to pull plugs on a 440.... Laying under the car and using my spark plug socket and a wrench to pull 6 of the eight plugs. I thought I had new plugs for it, they are autolight 65's but the threaded part of the plug was over twice as long as the ones in the motor...didn't want to risk slapping or burning a piston with those, so I cleaned up the V-power ones that were in there and put them back in.
I swapped on a new cap and rotor, and thought I'd change out the old points and condensor.....well that turned into a bit of a wreck show.....I asked some time ago about points and if SB vs BB points were the same, YES I was told....anyway i put in a set of NOS points(SB set) and a new condersor, set my gap and turned the key....AND...AND...AND...nothing.
SO I messed around checking everything and I was not getting any spark. SO I pulled the points and condesor and just threw in the old set, no gapping, and she fired in the first crank...so anyone know why??
SO even with the old points and condensor the car is now running on probably 7 3/4 cylinders, will be getting new plug wires this week so that should help even more. Forgot I need a new coil so that will be on it's way tonight.
So once the motor is purrring I'll be tearing it apart and dropping it in the wagon, hopefully in the next couple weeks the wagon will have a new heart again...not running yet but at least in the hole.
Joined: Wed Oct 12 2005, 01:10AM
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2690
November 26/2007
wrote ... Originally posted by Foamy_302
UPGRADE! the electronic ignition kits don't cost too much
I would if I hadn't already spent a bunch of money on a new HEI style dizzy for this motor. I'm going to install that, and other parts, until I redo the motor next year.
Points should work fine for the little bit of driving I'll be doing in it this comming year.