suggestion for rear floor material: check out commercial vinyl flooring, heavy duty, lots of colors/patterns. i've got some leftovers from a restaurant kitchen install for my 52 wagon.
Thanks for the suggestion on flooring. I'm really struggling with getting this thing on the road, but I'm slowly plucking away at it. I'd love to throw a party to get some people to help me, but I don't know who would come. I've got a new baby and am just finishing up my student teaching, but I'm bound and determined to drive the thing sometime this summer.
Glad to see that you're back on it. Don't try to do too much at one time. Get her driving and you can handle the cosmetics later. Saw in another thread, that you were almost giving up on it. Don't do that, you'll hate yourself in the morning. (Just make sure that you can get a car-seat in the back.)
For the floor try a product called "Marmoleium" it is traditional linoleium similiar to battleship lino. You may have to have a professional lay it but I think it may have the look you are after, and it wears like iron. Rob.
Well, I haven't updated, but I've been working on the car. I got most of my mustang II stuff rebuilt and I started on the conversion. A few weeks ago, I pulled the entire front clip off the car. The next weekend, my father-in-law came to visit and we pulled the engine and tranny out and the front suspension off. Today, I got off early (I'm a teacher and it's conference time) and put in about three hours before I had to pick up my daughter from daycare. In that time, I got all the measurements done per the instructions from Welderseries, trimmed the crossemember and got it tacked in. I'll put the hats on this weekend, as I ran out of time. I decided to replace the hokey transmission mount I made with the Walton Fabrications crossmember. It's really nice and definitely worth the money. I just wish they sent me the right instructions. After that, the plan is to put the new motor mounts I got from welderseries in, hook up the steering to the stock column and put it all back together.
Hi Glad to see your still progressing, I don't know if you've already installed your transmount but here's Streetrodder's installation on the Walton Fabrication crossmember they did on the '51 for $15K issue the pics might be better than the instructions. Hope it helps. Were still here for you, best regards. gene http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/1106sr_1951_chevrolet_sport_coupe/index.html
Check Rod & Custom's installation issue out. http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/0904rc_auto_transmission_1949_1954_chevy/index.html gene
A small update; I got the front crossmember all done today. All I have to do is weld on the strut rod supports, but the strut rods require a little heating and bending to make them fit.
glad to see you are still working on the wagon. I did a Mustang II on my 53 wagon. best thing I ever did to it...
No pictures, but I've made a ton of progress. I got the Walton's fabrication crossmember in a few weeks ago and proceeded to make and install my motor mounts. I used welder series mounts and they worked out pretty slick. I modified my stock steering column with a bearing and managed to hook up my steering with just a joint at each end and one shaft. After having trouble with multiple steering joints in the past, that was my goal all along. I've got the crossmember done and the strut rod mounts all in. The car has been sitting on its wheels for a couple of weeks. I also installed a big anti-sway bar that worked out great. I bought one of these from this guy on ebay for $25: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e647a64aa A universal sway bar hook-up kit and I was in business for under $60! I even was able to use one of the holes for the stock sway bar in the frame on each side, so I only had to drill two holes to make it work. I'm going to finish up my welding on the frame, adding a few gussets, then I'll paint it up and put it all back together. Next up, fabbing up my own exhaust!
Well, I haven't been working on the wagon as much as I would like, but I have made progress. I finally got my front suspension and motor mounts all welded in and painted. I also got the engine and tranny in for the last time. I took these before I reinstalled my sway bar and shocks, but the front end is pretty much done. I also modified the stock steering column and shifter for the Mustang II and to shift my TH 350. There's bunch I finished underneath that I didn't take pictures of. The master cylinder's in and I plumbed the rear brakes for the new system with a residual pressure valve and adjustable proportioning valve. Today I'll finish plumbing the brakes. Next step, exhaust! I'm going to miss my goal of having it on the road for a family thing next weekend and would make Goodguys if I had some help, but it looks like I might actually get to drive it before winter.
Very impressive work bro, a little more than lower it and drive it. I like your concern for your wife if she is at the wheel. Good man! Keep up the great work. The H.A.M.B, home of the coolest builds on the planet!! ~sololobo~
Well, another winter's here and I'm not driving it yet. My wife had neck surgery and can't lift our daughter for awhile, so I'm on full time Dad duty when we're not at work. I did buy some radial whitewalls and chrome wheels for it though. Since I'm a teacher, I get two weeks off at Christmas and plan to spend a couple of days then on the wagon. Once my wife is back at full strength, I'll be able to spend some of my weekends on the car. It's tough working on your own, but I'm slowly plugging along. Thanks for the interest.
hahahaha, I know a little about a project snowballing, looks a lot like that's what happened to you! Looking really good, I love the wagons!
53-54 Chevy wagons are one of my favorite style wagons, just checking in to see if your still plugging along on this, and your wife hopefully is recovered fully, great work so far keep at it. Murch.
My wife's made a full recovery,but I haven't worked on the wagon since August. I did remodeled the kitchen at Christmas and hopefully can now devote some time to the wagon. With a little luck and some help, I'll be driving it by summer.
Well, I've been working as a long-term substitute all year and lost my job a week and a half ago. Since I'm back to being a substitute teacher, I occasionally get a day I don't have to work. I took advantage today and got my front sheet metal bolted back on, put on the radial whitewalls I've had for awhile and dropped it down to take a look. I would like the front end to come down a little more, but that would require dropped spindles. I'll let it settle and see where to go from there. Now I just need to get this thing running! One with the hood siting on it:
Looking good - like you say, it'll probably settle. Things like bumpers, battery, radiator and water will all bring it down a bit, plus the springs settling in after it gets driven for a while. Mart.
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