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Thread: Project M - 1968 Bel Air Wagon
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03-28-2010 #1
Project M - 1968 Bel Air Wagon
Hey guys. I've been lerking for a while and now have my own new project.
A little background on the purpose of the new ride...
I have recently remarried. My wife had three of her own(7 yr old boy, 6 year old boy, and 4 year old girl) and I had a 4 yr old little girl. We could not all fit in either of our cars. She has a 2005 Mazda 6 and I have a 2001 Cobra Convertible.
So we are both car(old and new) lovers in general and I have wanted to build a pro-touring hotrod for some time. We decided an updated 60's wagon would be a far better family car for us then a modern minivan....it would be more fun and more affordable.
In December, my daughter Adaleigh tragically passed away but we wanted a wagons. We wanted there to always be anough room in the family car for Adaleigh.
I was favoring the Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Olds wagons since the plan is to put in a LSX and 6-speed and build a twin turbo setup. The ultimate goal is a wagon that will be a daily driver capable of making 1000hp when needed...limited to 500hp for normal use.
The other advantage to the 60's GM models is the coil spring suspension on all four corners...make bagging it easier.
Anyway, I've frequented the site for a few months now and just now have something to add.
The car....
I found it on Facebook in Douglasville.
Its a 1968 Bel Air 6 passenger Wagon.
Overall in pretty good condition. I had to replace a oil pressure switch only two miles away from the previous owners house, but then drove 90 miles home.
There is a little rust but nothing to really be too concerned about.
Its a 327 4bbl, TH350, rally wheels. The engine was built 10,000 miles ago according to the seller. He had owned it for 7 years and it only had about 2 tanks of gas through it. Used it to drive the kids around the neighborhood. Unfortunately the last year of its life was sitting outside(previous 6 were in his garage). So, with the leaking weatherstripping, the floorpans will need to be addressed but I don't think they will necessarily need to be replaces...maybe just patched or POR'd.
My plan...and not necessarily in this order.
LS1(at some point this will be built to handle serious power).
T56
air ride
Big wheels(preferrably staggered diameters) and tires, possibly a minitub.
Custom twin turbo setup.
The ultimate goal is a 1000hp twin turbo streetcar. That goal, of course, will be achieved a few years down the road. But I'd like to have it twin'd within the next year or two.
I wanted a driver project so I wouldn't get burned out with constantly working on something I'd never even enjoyed. The idea is to only have the car down occasionally with time to enjoy it in between. This, I think, will turn out to be the perfect ride for me.
Its already enjoyable to drive, just needs a little sprucing up.
I've already cleaned up the interior a little and assessed the car.
I've installed door weatherstripping, have carpet on order, received my front end rebuild kit(BJ's, tierods, bushings), and have done a basic tune up.
I don't want to spend a lot of money on the current engine but want it to run as efficiently and reliably as possible.
Brad
Here are a few pics...including a photoshop of what it should basically look like when I'm done.