1961 AMC Rambler American Super 4 dr wagon

[hechtrod]

So, I may be potentially scoring this 1961 AMC Rambler American Wagon Super 4 door wagon (see attached, not the finished green one, the project white one ah ha). It has no engine/trans. My buddy who has the '61 I'm possibly getting also has the front end cut out and an S10 front frame and suspension for it, including drop spindles and springs. It's ready to weld on if that's the direction I desire. He's thinking a fatma fabs front clip with mustang II stuff could be had for about $2k...

Anyway, looking for opinions on engine options. Like many, this will be a total budget thing. I am looking for affordable fun with a mild custom/touring vibe. I have a FREE 2.3L Turbo Coupe 4 cylinder from my uncle. Would be cool to do a T5 trans as well. Not sure how that setup will work.

I was just offered this car, so I'm just starting to brainstorm ideas/concepts. I love that its so unique. :)

Attached, is two pics of the actual car in my buddies garage in Az.

What do you guys think? Got any info on the green '61 with the big chrome wheels? He found that pic and its great inspiration.

Chris

[The Stickman]

I would say go for it. I like the idea of a different than normal engine. The 2.3L ford is a good one. A straight 6 is more like what came in it. I know there are turbo manifolds for the 250/292 Chevy Straight 6. And plenty of room in there for it.

[68Formula]

Don't know how good the S10 suspension really is geometry-wise, but the Mustang II is great either, and hardly worth the cost. (Reason for it's popularity as a Hot Rod swap, is simplicity, not handling). Choice between just the two, I'd save my money and go S10.

Budget build, the 2.3L Turbo is a cool swap (how many of those do you see) and a T5 from a 1990-1993 should have no problem living behind even a modified one. I'd probably go somewhere between a 3.55 to 3.90 rearend gearset to help get the car moving when not putting your foot in it. (Also compensates for the slightly different 1st gear ratio fo the old SVO T5 (3.5) vs. the newer V8 (3.35).

http://www.hotrod.com/techfaq/hrdp_0205_chevy_ford_mustang_pontiac_v8_bolt_on/best_ford_turbo_2.3_bolt_ons.html

[LSXZ28]

That looks like a great project, no matter what you choose to put in it! Use that finished pic for inspiration, and go for it...

[hechtrod]

Don't know how good the S10 suspension really is geometry-wise, but the Mustang II is great either, and hardly worth the cost. (Reason for it's popularity as a Hot Rod swap, is simplicity, not handling). Choice between just the two, I'd save my money and go S10.

Budget build, the 2.3L Turbo is a cool swap (how many of those do you see) and a T5 from a 1990-1993 should have no problem living behind even a modified one. I'd probably go somewhere between a 3.55 to 3.90 rearend gearset to help get the car moving when not putting your foot in it. (Also compensates for the slightly different 1st gear ratio fo the old SVO T5 (3.5) vs. the newer V8 (3.35).

http://www.hotrod.com/techfaq/hrdp_0205_chevy_ford_mustang_pontiac_v8_bolt_on/best_ford_turbo_2.3_bolt_ons.html

Good stuff man! Thanks for the link and info about the comparison between the s10 and must II suspension setups. I agree, stick with the S10 to save money. I know the turbo coupe tbird came with a version of the T5. Not sure what it needs to put in a newer Ford manual trans.
Chris

[Ash]

Love me some wagons. I'm drawn to 6 cylinders the most, and always have for some reason. Seeing a modern version of an old engine dropped in would set you apart from the heard. The Trailblazer 4.2L DOHC I6 L88/vortec 4200 would be the 6 cylinder equivalent of a LS series swap (as far as GM engines go)....add a turbo to the already respectable HP/TQ numbers, It would scream. It's been discussed as a swap heavily in the forums, but very few have seemed to follow through with it. As with everything, depending on skill-set, this could fit into the "budget" part like a glove. You'd be hard pressed not to find a trailblazer in a local junk-yard.

Like stickman said, the 250/292 would be a really good option as well. ( check out the Chevrolet Inline Six-Cylinder Power (http://forums.hotrod.com/70/6436512/pit-stop/chevy-250-292-need-sum-help/index.html#) Manual by Leo Santucci ). N/A, Turbocharged, Supercharged, and F.I converted versions can be found with a little Google.

The 2.3L sounds interesting, and If different is your goal, there are a quite a few options on your table. You may not be blowing doors off with some of them, but heads will surely turn.

[hechtrod]

Question for you handling guru's. Since the front clip is cut off and the inner fender wells are removed/cut out, what would you all recommend for the best handling front clip/front end and adaptability to different engine setups?

Thanks again,
Chris

[The Stickman]

Question. Could an entire S-10 frame fit under that car? It looks about the right wheelbase. From what I have heard the S-10 is very similar to the G-body front suspensions. I know when I raced my S-10 it handled well with stock suspension parts with the exception of lower control arms and a huge swaybar. As for engines fitting the S-10 should make it easy for any swap esspecially a GM engine.

[hechtrod]

Car has 100" wheelbase. The current owner said he didn't want to remove the entire frame because it and the car was so clean. The less I have to remove the better and should be cheaper. I think for the first iteration of this car, simple and cheap with some nice wheels/tires and cool engine/trans setup will be my direction. I like the late model 6's with old school look. I'll have to look into that.

[hechtrod]

The details about Rambler from the current owner.

"Totally stock except the front end is almost completely cut off except where the front fenders mount. I didnt' want to have to re-align them, so I left the stock mounts in place. Cool except for they're kinda in the way some times. I have all the stuff to turn it to S10. Frame clip from S10, prepped and ready to weld on with a spacer on one side (oops, cut too much). Then the unibody "frame" is stepped to get the car down where it needed to be and it's boxed and ready to go. Mount them together and assemble the frontend and you've got s10 dropped front spindles (will probably need new springs depending on the engine, but I have some lowering springs for a V6) with disc brakes and 5 lug chevy bolt pattern."

What rear end does it have?
"The rear from the rambler is gone. I have a rear from the S10 that would be enough for most engine apps. It has drum brakes. It looks like a really close fit for the width needed. Not sure of gear, most likley Non-posi."

What original pieces are there? Glass? Interior? Seats? Dash?
"I have everything. the front glass is still in it cause I figured that's the safest place for it. Most of the other stuff is either in it or in the attic. The front seat is TOTALLY trashed but I was gonna use it cause it has the coolest feature! It reclines back to lay dead flat with the back seat. Plus I like bench's for getting momma to snuggle. You'd need it for the boys, but a rear facing back seat wouldn't be out of the question!"

"Steering would be stock S10. Non-rack, big ole gearbox. Should be fine. The steering column from the rambler's gone, I didn't get the one from the s10 when I bought the frame. You'd need a new steering column."

"The front end clip won't be that bad, I don't think, but replacing the firewall would be pretty hard, unless you could find a premade one from a truck or something and cut it to fit. Other than that, the body's not bad. The front lower valence is pretty beat up, but probably repairable if you coudn't find another. The bumpers aren't great and the front glass has a star chip in it. Kind of a bummer, but glass may still be out there, I never looked."

So, there you have it. More details from the current owner.

What do you guys think? Even though I'm not a huge Chevy guy, the cost to power ratio of the sbc is hard to beat. Or even an s10 v6 (I think thats what they came with)
Chris
ps one more pic for fun attached

[hechtrod]

Here's the wheels I'm digging. This is a smaller car. 100" wheelbase. I'm thinking I won't go bigger than 17's. 15" and 16" will fit much better, but I really wanna get some 17x9 or 17x9.5 in the rear and some 17x8 up front. The tire size I'd like to run would be 205/45/17 or 215/40/17 in front and 235/40/17 in the rear. I really dig the grey painted wheels in these styles and maybe paint the car in its original off white/light beige color?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/15x855x475boltpatternTorqThrustDsum-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/17x9-1.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/17x95-1.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/09/17x95n17x8x17x7-1.gif

[The Stickman]

I think it would be a great project. That front bench sounds pretty cool. As for engine options I still like something non-traditional.

[68Formula]

Those wheels are too big for those tires. I'd look to a 17x7/17x8 rear combo if thats the widest tires you can run.

[hechtrod]

Those wheels are too big for those tires. I'd look to a 17x7/17x8 rear combo if thats the widest tires you can run.
Nah!! :)
No clue if that wide of rear wheel can fit, but that's what I'd want to shoot for. Looks cool to me!:yum:

[ProMav71]

Nice project. I say stick with the free 2.3 Turbo engine! Of course Im kinda partial since I have one for my Pinto.

[Boyd]

....Got any info on the green '61 with the big chrome wheels? He found that pic and its great inspiration.

Chris


That green '61 was built by a shop near me called Stoked Out Specialties. They are out of Rockwall, TX. They used to have a website with a ton of build pics of that car but I just checked the site and it's been pulled down by the hosting service. Maybe it'll come back up soon.


www.stokedoutspecialties.com

[hechtrod]

That green '61 was built by a shop near me called Stoked Out Specialties. They are out of Rockwall, TX. They used to have a website with a ton of build pics of that car but I just checked the site and it's been pulled down by the hosting service. Maybe it'll come back up soon.


www.stokedoutspecialties.com (http://www.stokedoutspecialties.com)

Ya, I know. Totally bummed out. My buddy Pikesan from MyRideisMe.com sent me that pick and told me the same news.

Found more pics from a jalopyjournal.com thread pikesan started when he bought this '61 wagon.

[craigs73]

personaly i like these wheels
http://www.vintagewheelworks.com/products/images/V48-17x9.5.jpg



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[hechtrod]

Craigs73, great call man! I dig those. Have that Trans Am feel. Love the painted look and polished lip.

[craigs73]

yeah i really like them i would get them for mine but already have wheels and not only that there expensive

but im digging the wagon i have always had a soft spot for one. after i finish my nova im gona get one.

[68Formula]

Besides being different, here's another reason to go the freebie route:

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60531

[Rod]

whats the projects current status?

[LSXZ28]

Any updates?