Art & Inspiration 59parkwood wagon. I GOT IT!

from looking at to bought. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=568080
I am going to blame Harrison and Woodpecker for this. Harrison I took a pic like your avatar but only the other side. I got some scab tires mounted yesterday only to find at 7am 2 were flat. Then I get there and loading the car was a pain in A**. End of my buddys trailer was bent so ran into town and a guy with torch heated it up for me. But its on there. When hooking it up I discovered its a power steering car. Luckily the trunk didn't rust even though the back glass was out and parked by pine trees. The plug was out of the bottom!
Car hasnt moved since 73. I can't believe the drums were not rusted stuck!
Are the power steering units worth using on these? can I use a regular power steering pump? I know it had the generator/ps pump before.

 

then as I drove on I-40 east our good ol oklahoma wind grabbed the hood. The hood is fine but the hinges are toast. I got some route 66 pics even.(Lucille's off rt 66)
Evidently a fender bender occurred maybe that's when it was painted white. I could tell the fender on the passenger side was changed and the end of the radiator support.
Somehow the mice/rats had left this car alone. Most of the wiring seems intact and not even cut.

 

nice score, looks like a very solid starting place on a fun car.
it even came with the Impala/Nomad steering wheel.

 

Congrats, nice score! You even got an Impala steering wheel too! Edit: we must have been typing the same sentance at about the same time lol.

 

That's a sweet 59 wagon, plus you got an Impala steering wheel, too. Looks like it was a tight fit on that trailer, side to side.

 

Congrats on the buy,glad you got it scooped up.Now,GET TO WORK!!

 

If you are used to integral PS boxes, you probably won't like the way those old slave assist units handle.

They seem to be like a wide ratio standard box with a power assist, so you need to turn the wheel more than a late 60s-up type, and you don't really get much road feel.

My first roadable car in HS in 67 was a 61 conv with that steering. Then 20 years ago got a 57 Olds with it. Felt the same as my old chevy. Both had bias, so maybe big radials would help?

I am fairly sure there is a new integral aftermarket box for these.

 

Great score! Those wagons rule.

 

Looks good. I was just in Kingfisher yesterday. I will have to get with you and check it out in person next time I am over there.

 

That's awesome man ,what a great find. So what plans are in store for it ??????????

 

Here it is after car wash.(Ive learned to vacuum out the loose dirt then wash the outside instead of just making a mud pile inside) I think the back seat maybe useable for a while if I just want to get it running. I think the night is making the dash look better but it has cleaned up. Worst rust is the floor boards and this uh wheel? LOL

 

I have lived in Wisconsin my whole life and parted out hundreds of rotted out cars, but that rim rot is insane, I have never seen that before. Crazy!

Good score on the car, you would have been insane to pass on it for the price you were quoting.

 

spare tire area after wash, still soapy. the wheel was down in the dirt of the car by the open back window but not in spare tire carrier

Plans. I may just rebuild the front end, add disc, dropped spindles, get it roadworthy, drive a year then tear down and make a mild custom out of it. I want this thing to make roadtrips such LSR and Hunnert with ease. I have a 92 caprice, 305tbi, 700r that run great make a good home in it.

 

Wow, that wheel is crazy. Odd that it would rot & not the floorboards. Ask any 59 owner, they are bad for rust in the lower 1/2 of the car.

59's are the coolest of the 50's chevy's IMO, glad to see another one saved. What are your plans for it?

I have a spare set of hood hinges that I would be willing to trade some stuff for if you were interested. I bought a jigsaw puzzle that resembles a 59 Elky and I have lots of extra parts. Check my threads on the trip & the parts:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508434

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=511326

 

a few more. computer is being slow about me down loading these for some reason. the back seat was folded down so why it is saved.
I know the night pics make it look better but from here it looks better inside than some cars on the road amazing how dirty people drive cars around in

 

toner283 what saved this car was it was jacked up off the ground. It needs some rear quarter work and little work under the wings but not as bad as many I see

 

Love the old wagon !! I have a 59 Biscuit sedan thats going to be our family cruiser(avatar). Just a simple 350/350 combo with a power disc brake conversion. Already have the engine/tranny/ PDB kit/automatic steering column. Should be on the road by 2012.

 

Yeah,cool Idea, Its got some nice patina that will be o.k. til you get ready for some paint

 

Nice score, gotta love them long roofs!

 

Slick! I've always wanted a wagon. Good luck with it!

 

Is there anything better than loading up a new project and hauling it home? I seriously think it's as good as the first drive once it's done. You stole that wagon & I doubt that you'll never regret the purchase. I'm just glad you got it bought & home. With your Caprice donor this should run in short order. I have a 305 TPI & 700R4 for mine too.

I've been looking at Champion radiators, EZ wiring kits, and front suspension rebuild kits on Ebay. $250 for the radiator, $150 for a 21 circuit wiring harness, & $200 for the front end kit. Fairly affordable I thought. There are relatively cheap floor pan sections there too. Do us both a favor & figure out how you can use the power brakes from the Caprice. (I have access to an '89. )

Congratulations man!!! The car looks super. I can't wait to follow your progress!!!

Jim

 

very cool car. can't wait to see it running and driving!

 

Best of luck. '59s can be really cool. Some of my favorite threads are "J.Fishbeck", "Nads" and "WOODPECKER". I also like hemifarris' '59

 

Hey Harrison, Have you seen that there is a full one piece floor pan available for the 59/60 chev's now? It looks like it runs from the rear seat brace to the bottom of the front kick panel and from pinch weld to pinch weld at the sides.

I want to get a look at one in person so that I can take some measurements to see just exactly what it covers.

davidh73750, Are you going to turn this into a build thread? The 59 & 60 Chevy's have a pretty solid following here on the HAMB. I know there are several people who will want to see the wagon progress to a finished car, myself included on that list.

 

I've seen them. If you need an entire floor, that's probably the way to go - even if the price is high ($600!). I did a Nova wagon not long ago. It wasn't much trouble & it sure made for a nice repair when finished. The pans came with the car when I bought it. Had they not, I probably wouldn't have shelled out the $$$ to buy them. They don't come cheap either. I drilled out spotwelds for a solid day and installed the new floor just as GM did.

I still need to clean out my '59 to see how bad the floors really are. I'm hoping that I can just use the sections and/or a few small patches on it. The floors in David's new wagon don't look too far gone. It sounds solid. Hopefully they will be an easy fix.

My Nova...

 

im jealous, i have been on the lookout for one of these

 

Awesome grab. $1000 is crazy!

 

Nice! My dad had a 59 Brookwood 2 door wagon when we first moved to Canada. man was it rusty!

 

congrats.
i have complete rebuilt front brake system, master cylinder,and a good shifting pg outta my 60 if you need something.

 

Nice, love 59's and a longroof makes it even better. Oh, and it has my favorite steering wheel. Gary