what I'm starting with

Guess I missed it somewhere but what MC is that you are using?

MC came with a kit from BCCP..cast/part number 58600-4a610
well finally had some cooler weather. painted the top, tailgate, gage insert and some trim.



this shows the two colors together. think its going to look good when finished.

Thanks, yeah I talked with Ben a while ago about what he was supplying now. So that's it, looks good.

Man, that project is really coming together nice. You do nice work.

Seriously great project! I love wagons. I am impressed that you've taken on a somewhat rough car and brought it back to this. I can't wait to see it all together.

Thanks for all the good comments keeps me working. Right now I'm getting things ready for winter. I hope to have the wagon completely painted before the end of next month. After that it'll be putting her all back together.

PAINTS DONE!!!!!!!!!



shame I couldn't afford to put in a paint booth 30 years ago. Then 30 years ago I had a job and kids. Theres some dust, the base coat was great then when I put on the clear I ended with a few runs nothing that can't be buffed out. My bigest problem was light and reflections so many curves and shadowed areas......anyways not bad for a garage paint job.
While it was cold I started on the inside.
Not much for wood yet making it wasn't to bad. There not going to be a back seat so I boxed the seat area in for speakers.

boxed off the wheelwells so putting carpeting in will be easier........now only if I could find so real deep shag..

Did a little work the past few days. Got the front and back glass in, finished up the rear chrome except the tag light. Seems I've misplaced that for the time being. Finally I put more of the front sheet metal on. In the spring time I hope to finish sanding then buff her out.

It looks great dood!! Love the seafoam green color! Keep pushin' you're almost there!

Just a little update. started wiring up the wagon which can be a pain and putting the ac.heat unit in the car.
Made my own bulkhead fitting

and made up the lines for the ac unit. this tool is really handy don't have to wait to get lines crimped.

cleaned the tank and got it ready to paint

the fuel sender was bad and couldn't find a replacement so I got this one


took the parts I needed and transferred them to my original unit.
and of course doing the wiring.


The luggage rack is installed as are the front headlights and bumper, ac unit is in and most of the ducting also. Instrument panel is almost complete just forgot to take pictures. I was hoping on being farther along but life just sometimes gets in the way.

roof rack

front end

ac unit and ducts



now for a little rant. used to be you could go to any hardware store or automotive place and get fittings, barbed 90s and any other sort of plumbing parts you'd need to run a ac system. I spend half a day running around trying to find stuff. Granted I live near a small town but still I used to be able to find everything. Last place I stopped said they used to carry the parts I needed only they got rid of it all. I ended up on getting the stuff on the internet. Now I have to wait 3-7 days for shipping.......I feel sorry for you younger guys trying to put this old stuff together.

Doing some electrical work man it's been a real workout for my brain. The easiest way for me to figure things out is electricity is just like a river just have to get it from point A to point B.
dash installed and gauges light up


installed and wired dome lights, still have to do a little work since I'm going to have to reroute some wires to get them to work with the headlight switch.....live and learn even at my age. Biggest headache with a universal harness is is adapting it to the car your working on so there's a lot of gong back a forth from install guide to stock wire diagram along with a lot of banging head against the wall.

just noticed from pictures that I might have something crossed, the fuel gauge shows over full guess I'm gonna have to do some back tracking. Glad I'm posting or I probably wouldn't have noticed that for a while....

Well thanks to the kung flu I haven't been able to get much done so I've thought I'd do some interior work myself.
made a pattern for the front kick panels

cut out the pattern, installed speaker to make sure there's room

installed the panel, won't do and cover work till the carpets in so I can trim as needed.

removed the old edge pieces front the door panel, sand blasted, then made a bucking bar to widen them to fit the material I had on hand to make the panels with. The old panels were actually to sections with the edges smaller the the center.

flattened the indents where the trim secured to the panel  

then made a pattern for the door panel, mine are warped and water damaged so I couldn't use them. I taped the top edge to the door then gently folded over the paper and ran a pencil over the edge to get the outline

took the old panel aligned the armrest holes and marked the rest of the holes

panel still needs a little timing but doesn't look that bad, the material I used is a 1/4 inch thick water proof insulation board the goes on the outside of a house.

Also did a little bracket making, wanted the ac compressor sitting on the passenger side

made a 1 peice bracket to capture the compressor mounting the front off the timing cover

and the back off a hole in the block

orginally I was only going to run one bracket on the rear

but decided since I was only running a single belt it would have to be stouter so made a front bracket also

both brackets

where I mounted the front bracket which also strengthened the original swivel point bracket

another angle of the brackets and the finished brackets for the alternator

You are one man on a mission, great job, keep it going. The corrugated plastic for the door panels are they stiff enough to hold their form? Great idea but I was concerned they wouldn't hold the pins that attach the chrome inside trim pieces.

It's not plastic its like hardboard only its got a sealer on both sides. Its about as stiff as the original panel and has water seal on both sides. Pretty sure I got it at HDepot. If interested I'll get the part # off of it.

Yes please and here's hoping its available here in Canada too!!!

transmission is done. Had to take parts out of spare since, if I remember right, the  reverse clutch springs was toast. If anyone has spares I'd be interested since I might rebuild the other trans also.

The rebuild is pretty simple just have to be careful with the seals and under the valve body there are 3 tubes with o-rings, sorry no pictures, that go into the last clutch pack that are hard to get out, on mine the o-rings were rock hard so I made this tool out of an old hf clip removal tool. Just ground it down to fit the inside of the tube and gently wiggled them out.

finished product.


Btw the board I used for the panels is called thermo ply from Home depot.
last thing is if anyone has a spare one of these sitting around. I'd be interested. One of the fins is broken off and since its A balanced unit I'd like the whole Assembly.

Thanks for the info on the door cards but as expected not available in Canada!!!!!

Sure wish you were closer. I'd be over in an instant to help ( and learn ). You do great work and I've really enjoyed following your build! Keep it up, by the time the car'owna virus is clear you'll be cruz'n this thing!

FWIW @cdnwillyg When I did my door panels I used 1/8" masonite/hardiboard and spray painted them both sides to help stop moisture problems. I'm sure you can get that at any of your home improve stores...

Just a little update.....
Still alive just been busy around the farm. Gas tank is in, hope to run the fuel lines this weekend and installed the emergency brake handle and cables. Took a few day of soaking in oil to break loose the cables and getting them moving again. Still need to find a new spring for the brake return since the old one is almost as old as me. No pictures since I figure everyone know what a fuel tank looks like......

Engine and trans finally in the car. Also been putting the doors together handles etc. Fuel line almost finished. Does anyone have a suggestion for window cranks mine are pretty much toast. Not particular on stock just something that'll work.

still alive and working when I can..
put the seals and windows in

made the exhaust pipes to mount to the side pipes. Would of been easier to cut both header pipes I have to make them only one set I have are still in good shape and didn't want to cut them up. Took a bit of welding and hammering to go from 1 5/8 to 2 1/2 which is the side pipe inlet

mounted ac condenser  and ran a few of the lines for the a/c

ended up  mounting the a/c compressor high and on the drivers side.

the alternator was mounted high also so I made a pipe for the coolant and will be mounting it solid to the alt bracket so the belt wont rub

So when you switched your alternator to the passenger side up high what kind of bracket did you use? I have mine mounted where the generator was and don't care for it there. Open to moisture and its pretty tight for adjustment. Great looking project

Did you strip the paint in the engine bay? What did you use for reaching all the difficult spots around the wheel well, cowl and brace supports?

pressure washed it, steel wool to rough it up then put por 15 over that. scuffed up the por 15 than sprayed the bay. The firewall I stripped since I modded it to fit the ac unit.