Hello, The Name's Mike. Been a hot rod wanna be since I was about 7. My then Step-father had a '65 vette that was very nicely done. It had some early '70s custom touches. He also had a hot chevy truck. He did garage style paint and body at the house. Along with van murals (it was the mid '70s after all) and other custom paint work. I got my taste of modifying cars from him. After modifying several hundred model cars, I built my first hot rod... It was a Vw squareback wagon 'cause thats what I had at the time. I put a 351W engine midship behind the front seats... That was a fun car...took alot of engineering to get it all to work. I have been steadly practicing body working and metal repairs (mostly on Vw's because they rust and I'm decent at it) looking for the right "real" hot rod project. I have subscriptions to rod & custom, cl***ic street trucks, etc... Always on the sidelines looking.... One day I'll get one...
I'm going to check out a '59 Rambler 6 Wagon tomorrow. I figure I will have to make a lot of the parts for it as there doesn't seem to be much available in the usual outlets. I can't wait to see if I'm gonna bring it home...
Howdy, welcome. I have a VW Bus, about 63 w/ ***le looking to trade for about a 49 Dodge Step Van or sell. VW has rust & needs engine work, but pretty complete. Even has factory jack. Call or email if interested, donh97@gmail.com 830-739-4364
Mike, there aren't many parts in the "usual channels" for the Rambler, but there are some AMC/Rambler specific vendors. Most popular one is Galvin's Rambler Parts in northern California (Lodi -- www.ramblerparts.com). There are a few others as well. I see you're in Charleston -- we may have to hook up one day! I'm between Aiken and Columbia (Batesburg-Leesville), a couple hours away. There is a Carolina AMC Club that welcomes custom Ramblers. We have a guy with a 68 Amb***ador with a Chevy V-8 in it. He gets ribbed a little, but all in fun! The only thing to remember about that Rambler 6 is it has a torque tube drive. So almost any engine change will require engine/trans/rear axle replacement and mean building a rear suspension. Ladder bars or a four link aren't too hard, and you can retain the stock coil springs -- just take the spring seats off the original axle and bolt to the replacement. Late model Ranger axles are about the right width, Explorer might be a bit wide with the Rambler wheels, may have to get a bit deeper than standard custom wheels.
Well Guys, the Rambler didn't work out. I'm too tall to get in and out without bashing my head on the door pillar. I was looking at a 1963 Falcon as well and THAT one turned out to be a winner. It has some brake issues and the cowl floor is rusted out around the vent tubes. But it does run and is a stick car.
The cowl can be fixed, fibergl*** is your friend there! May have to pull the dash. The longer door on the two door Falcon (I'm ***uming it's a two door!) helps a lot with the door post issue.
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