Taking the big boat down a slow steady stream…1961 Parkwood project.

[FONT=&quot]Finally I can make a contribution to the HAMB. I present to you my 1961 Chevy Parkwood. Pretty much an all stock 283 cubic inch/powerglide Chevy x frame. She is pretty rough but after I spent a few weeks getting her legit and running, I now have a “light weight” cruiser. I say “light weight” cause she is not near freeway condition. I still need to do a major tune up, the trans has a slight slip, and I am going to swap to a dual brake master cylinder. And damn it! I gotta bring that *** down too!!! Basic **** really. Then after that the plans are too start chipping away at all the rust. Fixing whatever will inevitably break. So I will spend my time this summer driving her back and forth to work, and hitting up as many local cruise night’s. All why slowly cleaning her up to make her a lil prettier.

[/FONT]<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/Users/sales/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/04/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDo***ent> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDo***ent> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style>[FONT=&quot]To get you up to date on what I have done thus far. I threw on 500cfm Edelbrock and performer manifold. She already has dual gl*** packs (all burnt out inside like they should be). The brakes have been gone thru. The ****** was rebuild but she sat for a while after. I rebuilt the front suspension. I have gone through most of the wiring (although I plan a rewire sometime this summer. Gonna quit smoking to pay for that!). New Coker bias ply’s (that currently look like ****). Let’s not forget that painful flame job and faded, nearly non-existent primer. My first paint job ever, done a long time ago. (All spray can baby!)[/FONT]


<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/Users/sales/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/04/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDo***ent> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDo***ent> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style>[FONT=&quot]The end goal is for 1965 era Boulevard cruiser. The only thing that may not go over well is, I want to “modernize” a couple of things. The way I want my car is to be a go anywhere anytime car. I wanna upgrade to an overdrive ******, an alt/gen, pertronix kit, probably gonna go back too radials, I wanna add brighter brake and headlights, ac and finally a fully hidden but rockin stereo. The truth is drivers of “modern” cars are complete idiots. I also have a young daughter who will be riding in it a lot. PERIOD. Color is still up in the air gonna go with a sold body color and a flaked and lace roof. Interior will probably white pearl pleats in marine vinyl with some angel hair sprinkled in. I will stick with a static drop cause A. it is cheap, and B. I want as little maintenance as possible. As far as rolling stock, I have not decided yet between steelies in chrome or paint. With skinny or wide whites. Maybe Supremes or wires with skinny whites.[/FONT]


<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/Users/sales/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/04/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDo***ent> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDo***ent> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style>[FONT=&quot]Now the painful truth. The last year of my life has been the lowest point I have ever been in. Totally spiritually, and emotionally broken. I have been cut down to part time and I can barely keep the roof over my head. Finally my daily driver for the last 11 years or so finally bit the dust. There is no public trans from my house to work and it is NOT walking friendly. I am not sayin all this to gather sympathy. If anything I hope this helps the people who think that they can’t have their baby out there on the road. With my daily driver dying, it finally forced me to figure out how to get my 61 drivable and safe. So with nearly all the time in the world, only replacing what was absolutely necessary, asking anybody and everybody for help figuring out the problems I couldn’t, obsessing over diagrams and service manuals, and a little cooperation from the weather, I was able to have my first, fairly nice old **** box that will never get lost in a parking lot. SERIUOSLY if I can do it…. You get the idea.[/FONT]

 

cool ride man

 

Well that sounds alright... thank god your getting rid of those flames (no offense) but they dont fit that car at all.

Be pretty cool all said and done. good luck

 

Cool longroof! Should be kool when done.

 

Allways liked that body style,,

My dad had one and I used it to haul our band equipment,,I crested a blind hill late one night and hit a fuel oil truck sitting in the middle of the road with no park lights on.

Needless to say it was a total loss and getting hit in the back of the head with a fender amp ain't excatly a treat!

Back to the topic,,,If the wagon comes out looking like your first drawing it will be a knock out,,,and I'm with the other guy with the flames,,they don't work on that car,,,but that's my opinion. HRP

 

Rad guys thanks for the support! I spent sum time playin around with her before work. I gave her a quick rub down with a scotch brite pad, and I painted the wheels a nice satin black. Big improvement. Like the ***le sez this will be a slow and steady build. I will post pictures tomorrow.

An idea for the grill and another color choice I have been experimenting with.

 

Love the Grill
Scallops are good two
go for it

 

Here are some pictures from today. Perfect weather today.

 

Another concept sketch...

 

You've got a good start... Just remember sometimes they have to be ugly before they can be *****'n........ hang in there you're get it..
Mine started out as a daily driver but since i've redone it i don't drive it as much as i like...

 

cwayne your car is rad. I really like the color. I am hoping that if nothing breaks or acts up i may throw a quick primer job on her...

 

Cool project there, I like Your artwork, esp. the first sketch rules! What size steelies and whitewalls are You running now, BTW?

 

Thanks Sauli! The steelies are junk yard 14x7 that had Skylark written on them. For tires g78-14 coker cl***ics with 2 1/4 white walls.

 

Good luck with your project, next to Oakland? Berkeley maybe? Anyhow I'll keep my eyes open for you as I'm up and down the Bay Area all the time.

 

I couldn't sleep last night... so I did a couple more concept sketches.

 

My Dad has a 61 (as well as a 58 and 59). He and my little bro put a big block and 4-speed in it a couple years ago. Sits so low it s****es on even the littlest bumps.

 

My grandparents bought a 61 Parkwood new in 61 and Kept it until 69 when they traded it for a new 69 C-10 to pull their travel trailer. I rode many a mile in that wagon when I was a kid and rode up in the mountains in it to cut Christmas trees when I got home from Viet Nam in Dec 68. They are one of the better looking Chevy wagons out there.

Outside of the cast iron glide they are easy to work on but that can easily be swapped out if it does die.

 

love your concept sketches. The grill idea is very cool. Totally different......stay inspired.

 

Thanks for the good word fellas. She has a pretty narly exhaust leak from the drivers side manifold, it is driving me crazy! Hopefully I can get to it either sunday or monday.

 

Well time for a mini update. I was going to install some new exhaust manifold gaskets. I had to remove my generator first. Well as I removed the gen I heard the sound of metal clankin on pavement. I looked under the car and there was the mounting bracket for the rear of the gen! Damn it! Well anyway I have it cobbled together pretty poorly for now. Luckily tomorrow is payday and know exactly where to get the new part. So I should have it fixed properly tomorrow. Pics coming later.

 

Rad! I dig the white with red 'flaked roof.....pearl white, chrome reverses with the centers 'flaked red and Bellflowers....

*****in' car man...

 

Dig the concept drawings man. Two-tone or panel job would be my vote as far as the paint goes. Rock on!

 

Thanks for the complements!