Well this last weekend I picked me up a new project. 223 Straight six, 3 on the tree. Drove it 15 hours home in 108 degree heat. Only issue was the generator went out, bought a couple batteries for insurance purposes at the local auto parts store and I was on my way. After a couple of days of sitting at home, there were a few puddles under it. Pinion seal on the rear axle is leaking, and it looks like maybe the rear main seal on the engine. All in all, I am pretty happy with my new toy. Plans are to simply make the car a good reliable driver. Drive it to work from time to time, take my family to local shows, and maybe see the inlaws occasionally in it (~6 hr road trip). I'll do my best to keep this thread updated on progress.
Installing seat belts in the car this weekend, they came last night. I know most people wouldnt install seat belts first thing when they pick up a new project, but I have a 2 year old that wants to ride in the car. Per wife "he needs to be in his car seat when he rides in the car". Need seat belts to secure car seat.
Nice! Only modification I would make right away would be to "unfake" the hood scoop. I can't stand fake scoops, even from the factory.
Looks great!! I picture in my head seeing it with skirts and Lancer caps. Neat car to drive and enjoy, have a ball.
Great family car! Congratulations. I always install seat belts first thing in any old car I get. I had a 1957 Merc Colony Park that I drove for several years of college in the early 80's. Never failed to get me home and I took some long trips. Enjoy.
Wow, can't believe the replies this thread has got in such a short period of time. Thanks to all for the compliments. I am not going to chop it, that is way above my skill set. I am pretty happy with the way the car looks. I will most likely add aerostar springs and some lowering blocks in the not to distant future. As far as the hood scoop, I am going to start hunting for a 57 hood once I straighten a few things out. The car has been a pretty good dependable driver, especially in this heat wave that we are in. It never fails to start, or even hesitate in firing up. Goes down the road pretty straight too. Other plans for this weekend are general tune up type stuff - transmission fluid change, oil change, spark plug and wire change, check points, easy simple stuff. Hopefully I can get an alternator on the car too. Need to figure out a way to mount it though.
Man thats clean. How many miles are on it? I scored a 57 that has 56K on it but its nowhere that nice.
When I was a kid, we had a '58 Country Sedan. My all-time favorite car growing up, mainly because of vacations in it with my parents, my four sisters and my brother. Looks like you got a nice one!
The smooth 57 hood would be OK but if it were mine, I'd keep the 58 hood and just open up the scoop for a more aggressive look and a little fresh air.
Great score bro, don't see many Ranch Wagons and few 58's. Love that ride man it looks very very cool! Enjoy, yes I am a Ranch Wagon dude also. ~sololobo~
wow nice '58 man.. wish my fairlane was in good of shape as yours is! cant wait to see what you do with it
luggage rack and a full tank of gas. make that pic with the kids B&W, and its 1958! (crop out background cars). i gotta thing for long roofs.
Nice looking 58, drive the wheels off it. I've had all kinds of old cars and trucks but having the most fun with the wagon in my avatar. Wagons Rule!
Thanks everyone. God really blessed me with this car. I had been looking for an old station wagon for about 2 years, and didn't want to settle on something. The ideal car needed to be running/driving, minimal rust, generally not a basket case, and within budget. The pictures make the car look a little better than it is, but overall it is pretty straight. There is some minor surface rust in the drip rails, and some bubbling and cracking in the paint. Me thinks there may be some questionable body work under that seafoam green, but it looks good for now. The odometer shows 93k miles, and I believe it to be fairly accurate due to the condition of the interior and engine bay. Again, my goals for now are to make the car right mechanically/electrically and make it comfortable to drive. I will probably only have a couple saturdays a month to work on things for a while. A 2 year old and a newborn keep me pretty busy.
My dad hooked me up with a free 100 amp 1 wire GM alternator. It looks odd being the only chrome thing under the hood, but I can't complain about the price! I used a variation of the write up on this page to make the bracket: http://www.ranchwagon.com/tech/alt/alt.htm Also got seat belts in this weekend, the smile on my 2 year old's face when he got to take his first ride made the entire day of working outside in the heat worth it. Other achievements for the weekend include oil change and air filter change. Small stuff, but needed to get done. Hopefully next weekend I can change the spark plugs and wires out as well as check the points.
The Jalopy Journal
