1971 Chevelle Wagon- project "BootLegger"

[YancyJohns]

I just picked up a 1971 Chevelle Wagon, project "Bootlegger", w/ only 53k miles for my wife. Mint black interior w/ 6 dent/dings on the outside and underneath perfect. I have Ben Hermance http://www.hermancedesign.com/working on exterior colors schemes and wheel designs. Future plans include, the LS1 and 4L80 transmission I have, along w/ a mild cam and of course a SS Hood and wheels. Work on the wagon will be done by my buddy Brian Finch. So you know it will be killer!!
http://www.hotrodtransformations.com/
I haven't decided on the suspension system yet, but holy smokes there are allot of A-body suspension company out there. Thanks Bill Howell and Scott Parkhurst for the wagon bug...lol
Here are some pics, and "Yes" I plan on auto crossing the wagon!!
You've got to love the first pick.......j/k

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/IMG_0103-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/IMG_0109-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/IMG_0106-1.jpg

[Bill Howell]

Charise said she wanted a boat, looks like she got one....haha
Gotta love the FM converter under the dash.
Cool project and with Finchy on it, it has to be a winner!

[HELLCAMINO]

Been trying to sell my Elco on and off for sometime now.........always wanted a wagon.:smoke:

[HotRod47]

Nice solid looking car to start with.

[carguy502]

Love the wagon, but I think these wheels would be sweet on your ride, plus the price is right...
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?input=z28+wheels&SM=1&SC=

[Jims78elky]

Love it...those are hard to find these days,and it looks like you got a pretty solid car!

Great project!


-Jim

[WEAVER]

Wanna sell it?.....lol

[BanditDave]

I absolutely LOVE this idea...looking to do the same thing for my fiancee!

Dave

[Wiedo]

I've always been a fan of the LONG ROOFS. It should be a real neat project, (nice car to start with). Wiedo

[CruizinKev]

looks great! :twothumbs

[The Stickman]

That is a great looking wagon. Keep us updated ok.

[Tony_SS]

Look at all that room... You've got to love wagons. Amazing find.

[dropit69]

Nice buy Yancy..im sure itll look awesome after Finch gets a hold of it..

[hdesign]

Glad to see you got it home Yancy. That thing was a true time machine when I looked it over...I couldn't believe the undercarriage and interior. Concepts coming shortly!

[YancyJohns]

Glad to see you got it home Yancy. That thing was a true time machine when I looked it over...I couldn't believe the undercarriage and interior.
Hey Ben, Thanks again for going to look at the wagon for me and giving me the thumbs up! It was your opinion that made my decision to buy the wagon. Thanks Again, the wagon was worth the $7,500! I also scored a third row seat (wrong color) form a guy 30 miles away from the original owner of the car that delivered it for a combined total of $100. That's the great thing about pro-touring.com, we have friends living across the country, willing to drop everything to go and check out a future project build.
Colors I'm thinking about are Cyber Grey w/ Silver SS stripes or Silver w/ Cyber Grey stripes. Finch and Ben would like to see a 2-tone wagon. It's still up in air. As for the wheels, I'm looking at
http://www.bozeforged.com/force.html or http://www.bozeforged.com/mesh.html. This may change after the rendering. The interior, maybe some bucket seats, even thought I forgot how much fun it was to turn the corner and slide to the middle, carpet and a stereo.

[Finch]

I am going to cut the back section of the roof off and make it a crew cab El Camino

[tazzz25906112]

LOL step-off Big Billy the rollback just got replaced roflmao........
JK the car looks killer Yancy congratulations. I know Brian and Ben will turn this into a trend setting build as they are without a doubt two of the industries top notch professionals in their respective disciplines...

I guess I'll have to ask Charisse if I can borrow her ride when it comes time to stocking the cabin for the Run Though The Hills ;-).....

[jake72ss]

A cool chevelle wagon idea that I saw a while back was to use the doors and hinge pillar from a 4 door hardtop. The door glass didnt have a frame, the only thing was the guy had to use a elco frame to regain the ridgidity lost by losing the b-pillar, einstyn.com I think. Food for thought

Jake

[YancyJohns]

I am going to cut the back section of the roof off and make it a crew cab El Camino
You've got to keep a close watch on these "Prima Donna's"......lol Hurry up Ben, Brian got the reciprocating saw out.....lol

[hdesign]

I am going to cut the back section of the roof off and make it a crew cab El Camino


LOL...I was thinking the same damn thing when I was looking it over Brian!!! "El Wagino" If Yancy didn't need the additional doors I also thought it would make a killer panel truck custom.

...or woodgrain and surfboard....

Oh man Yancy.....this car is trouble for me...I could drown you in ideas! :bananna2:

Maybe I should just sell the Camaro and get my own damn family Wagino to chop up. Honey, look what followed me home. But...but...but, see I was thinking about the family. Look 4 doors and a 3rd row seat!

[Bill Howell]

I am going to cut the back section of the roof off and make it a crew cab El Camino
Would it qualify as a truck at goodguys then?

[Scott Parkhurst]

Looks Killer!! There are a slew of wagons getting the PT treatment now. Man...just when I thought I was being unique. LOL!!

Yancy that thing will be a monster when you get through with it, and honestly, when you're driving it hard and the suspension is really working, you totally forget it's a wagon.

(at least until the event is over and everyone wants a ride to a bar or something...suddenly you're reminded you've got 4 doors and seating for 6)

Oh- I think the 3rd row seat wagons had a different floorpan to accommodate the flip down seat.

[796spdbu]

Yancy,I dig the long roof. Im going to follow this build! Good luck with the build!

[Finch]

LOL...I was thinking the same damn thing when I was looking it over Brian!!! "El Wagino" If Yancy didn't need the additional doors I also thought it would make a killer panel truck custom.

...or woodgrain and surfboard....

Oh man Yancy.....this car is trouble for me...I could drown you in ideas! :bananna2:

Maybe I should just sell the Camaro and get my own damn family Wagino to chop up. Honey, look what followed me home. But...but...but, see I was thinking about the family. Look 4 doors and a 3rd row seat!

On a serious note I would like to see a rendering or good photoshop with the back glass lowered about 3 inchs so it is in line with the door glass.

[hdesign]

Details like that drive me nuts too but I know why GM had to do that though. Screw visibility...make it look cool! LOL

I don't know if we're doing a rear 3/4...it's up to Yancy. That mod has my blessing though, for what it's worth.

[YancyJohns]

I received the Awesome renderings that Ben Hermance did on the Wagon. I like concept 1 the best. What do you think?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/06/CONCEPT1-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/06/CONCEPT2-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/06/CONCEPT3A-1.jpg

[Krazed]

I'm a fan of 1 and 3! Love the Dark/Mean look of 3.. especially if it had Satin black stripes! Maybe even Brushed lips on the wheels... hmmmm

[Bill Howell]

I still think a four door El camino is the way to go.

[vintageracer]

Cut it in half. Shorten the frame so you can use El Camino doors and make a 2 door wagon!

[hechtrod]

3A for me. Dark wheels is mean!

[SimplyKC]

Consider making the B-pillar and door frames black. It make the windows look so much better.

Just take a look at any modern wagon.

[6'9"Witha69]

1 for sure!

[Tony_SS]

I still think a four door El camino is the way to go.
Interesting.. wait... No, dont do that! lol

Those windows need to be tinted to loose the greenhouse effect though!

[406 Q-ship]

I am a fan of #3, Love the dark wheels. Another long roof racer is born.

[bonecrrusher]

#3 ftw!

[796spdbu]

I like the wheels on 2. close second would be 1.

[OLDFLM]

1 with tinted windows FTW!

[Zanie]

3a!!
Very cool. 18s look so right on 70-72s. i need to get rid of my puny 17s and step up.

instead of the SS emblems on the front fenders how about the 67 chevelle "Super Sport" script on the rear quarter, just to mix things up.

BTW, changing out the malibu sweep dash for the super sport gage dash, isn't a big deal............ really.
um, time consuming? yes.

I could only take 2 miles of driving my malibu, before I had to change the dash.

[progoat]

I'm diggin 3A:cool:

[Chevrolaine]

Sweet ride! #1 with #3 following real close in 2nd.:cool:

That would look awesome with a billet roof rack to haul spare tires on.

[Bryce]

#3, I'm lovin the wheels

[66 mustang]

Going with 3A...... How about a painted front bumper???

[YancyJohns]

Update on the Wagon:
The painter has painted shell, firewall, jambs and started putting interior parts back in. This week he is painting the doors, hood along with the SS stripes.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/10/b1cf0466-1.jpg

[YancyJohns]

I just recieved the wagon back last night from paint and body and snapped a few picks today. I think it turned out really good except for looking like a 4x4 ....lol Soon, we shall fix that!!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/P1020934-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/P1020933-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/11/P1020937-1.jpg
Does thing need an engine transpant or what?

[Tig]

Holy Shmoly, THAT looks great.
Nice seeing a boat in here.
Great job.

[srh3trinity]

Like the color choice. Are you going to put some nerf bars on it? Which wheels did you decide to go with?

[Steve1968LS2]

Can't wait until it's in my garage :D

Came out killer..

[Steve1968LS2]

Sweet.. guess what showed up here today in not-so-sunny CA?

Everyone here loves the wagon and it should be a great project. Pro-Cruising

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/kb5vl-1.jpg

[CruizinKev]

wow looks great :twothumbs

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Turned really nice... Love the colors together..

[Steve1968LS2]

Just wait until I'm done with it.. ;)

[Steve1968LS2]

Lol bootleg cool

The wagon showed up in CA with 18 mason jars filled with some mysterious fluid.. Let's just say the wagon was way popular around the office :)

[Nessumsar]

The wagon showed up in CA with 18 mason jars filled with some mysterious fluid.. Let's just say the wagon was way popular around the office :)

Gotta love them boys!

[ProMav71]

I'm loving the old wagons. Im getting one soon as I finish my current project. Be great to have some extra room in a hot rod for a change.

[bonecrrusher]

Rupp doing a suspension and engine swap in this one?

The car going back to Yancy when your done? Car swap? LOL.... so confused...

[Bill Howell]

:secret: Yancy don't know this, but me and Steve have a plan. We are cutting off the back of the wagon and making it a 4dr elky! How cool is that, never seen one of them have ya?

[Steve1968LS2]

Rupp doing a suspension and engine swap in this one?

The car going back to Yancy when your done? Car swap? LOL.... so confused...

Yep... giving it a mechanical makeover.. Nothing crazy on the suspension.. tighten it up, makeover the steering and get the ride heigth right. New rollers, brakes and then some sort of LS swap.. thinking LS3 with a 4L60e.. think Pro-Cruising.. Should be great for the long haul. Right now she is parked next to Project X until after Jan 1 when we dive in head first. The 2010 is getting paint and a bunch of finishing touches. Then we shoot the Camaro, test it and HOPEFULLY give it back at the RTTC event. I'll be busy for sure. The wagon will take longer but I hope to have the suspension done by RTTC.

Then back to Yancy..


:secret: Yancy don't know this, but me and Steve have a plan. We are cutting off the back of the wagon and making it a 4dr elky! How cool is that, never seen one of them have ya?

I have a new sawzall.. hmmm

[Zanie]

did someone say 4 door el camino
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/mainphpg2_viewcoreDownloadItemg2_itemId7-1.jpg

[YancyJohns]

did someone say 4 door el camino
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/mainphpg2_viewcoreDownloadItemg2_itemId7-1.jpg
That's just not Right in so many Ways!!!!

[YancyJohns]

:secret: Yancy don't know this, but me and Steve have a plan. We are cutting off the back of the wagon and making it a 4dr elky! How cool is that, never seen one of them have ya?
Bill has fallen off the Wagon again and needs to stay away from the Apple Pie!!! :lmao:

[FreakShow]

Your car is very cool! Can't wait to see it finished. The Bootlegger also saved another wagon today. We have a 69 that was bought for its front clip and it was on its way to the crusher till I saw your wagon. I pulled it out of the weeds and stuck it in my " I get to it one day barn". Keep the updates coming.

[tommycomfort]

Hey Yancy,
Not sure how I just now stumbled across your thread, but obviously we're big wagon fans and look forward to following along from here.
Tom

[tazzz25906112]

Bill has fallen off the Wagon again and needs to stay away from the Apple Pie!!! :lmao:

LOL Yancy,,,, you know that boy is up to something funny and the Pie just makes his creative juices flow so I'd worry if I'd
were you ROFLMAO... Oh and BTW I hear that Rupp guy can be bribed too just in case you're wondering LOL....

Being a member of the RatPack can have it's moments buddy,,, just think I'll be unsupervised in Calli for close to a month
after RTTC2 and you're how many miles away from a 4 door El Cam,,, I mean Apple Pie wagon LOL....

[Steve1968LS2]

Well, after months of collecting parts the wagon is officially under way. The first mod was ditching the peg-leg 10-bolt and installing a Currie 9" posi rear. The rear was narrowed 1" so we could get a deeper dish on the back wheels.

This week we started on the suspension using Global West's new coil over conversion kit.. pretty sweet deal and with the templates they supply the frame cuttting is fairly foolproof. The big benefit is tons of shock travel. The kit normally comes with Penske shocks in the rear and QA1s up front but we opted for Penske single adjustable shocks all around. The goal for the wagon will be to make a nice cruiser that can hit the occasional track event or winding road.. this is NOT a track car, but after seeing some of these suspension parts I imagine it will be great fun on a track.

The upper bracket comes pre-made and slides into a hole that is cut in the frame. It's placement is dictated by bolting it to the mount for the upper control arms.

Coilover bracket in place:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/fopqj5-1.jpg

Suspension installed:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/29aqvpi-1.jpg

[The Stickman]

I love the look of that. Got me thinking. Wonder if it would fit my wagon?

[Steve1968LS2]

Does it share it frame mostly with the Chevelle?

[cobragt]

There is one of these sitting at the shop waiting to go in the paint booth. The owner claims it only has less than 6000 miles on it. Straight 6, 3 on the tree, AM radio and rubber mats. I'll post some pics of it latter.

[The Stickman]

Does it share it frame mostly with the Chevelle?

No I don't think so. All B-body chassis.

[protouring70]

I tried talking the wife into one of these. I tried to tell her it has a 3rd row seat like her Tahoe. But I can't get her to buy into it!!!!
Yancy, do you have any hints on how you talked your wife into it? HAHA

[Chadly B]

Love it......subscribed.

[YancyJohns]

Hey Brent, I took my wife to a Nomad show here in Pigeon Forge. This planted the seed. It's a great way for the whole family to get involved in Hot Rodding!!

[coolwelder62]

Very Cool.

[Steve1968LS2]

Work is progressing at Global West on the Penske coil over installation package.. I like how the set it up to be able to easily decide where the brackets need to be welded.

Wagon is wearing its new EVOD Ind wheels and KDW tires (275 front and 295 rear). The wheels just clear the massive 14" Wilwood brakes.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/rjljwi-1.jpg

[Rick D]

Steve, is the coil over kit just for A bodys or are they going to offer others?? Think F Body.

And by the way awsome looking wagon

[Steve1968LS2]

Steve, is the coil over kit just for A bodys or are they going to offer others?? Think F Body.

And by the way awsome looking wagon

They are working on F-bodies and just got their first set of Penske 1st gen coil over shocks in..

[johnny68]

boy wagon looks great i love the look and its the same or similar to the color id like the nova
john

[Kustom_dude]

Steve, What spindles are running and what spirngs in the rear. Are those 18 inch wheels

[SRD art]

Maybe I should just sell the Camaro and get my own damn family Wagino to chop up. Honey, look what followed me home. But...but...but, see I was thinking about the family. Look 4 doors and a 3rd row seat!

Lol Ben! I tried the same thing and it still didn't go over well. But I did get to keep the wagon after the kitten eyes...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/BOOTSeyes-1.jpg

I like 3A the best but I'm a dark wheel sort of guy.

Super Nice long-back ride Yancy. Looking forward to more build progress! Hope to meet up at the same autocross track someday.

[Steve1968LS2]

Steve, What spindles are running and what spirngs in the rear. Are those 18 inch wheels

Stock spindles.. susp geometry changes are made with the control arms. Wheels are 18" front and 19" rear.

[Steve1968LS2]

boy wagon looks great i love the look and its the same or similar to the color id like the nova
john

It's Ford Mustang Mineral Grey..

I'm helping Yancy make wagons the next big thing.. wait till ya see the engine I have squirled away for it...

[Steve1968LS2]

Did a little after testing today at El Toro.. HUGE difference in how the car felt since we installed the Global West coilover kit and Nick Licata reported it felt great through the cones.. no push and once we adjusted the shocks the back calmed down as well. Can't give away the numbers but it knocked over a second off the time. Most importantly the car is nice to drive on the highway, steering is great and it's not harsh at all.

New Wilwood brakes did great as well, but we have a bad power booster. Still, the wagon stopped in 131 feet.. fix the booster and that number will get even better.

The wheezy small block is just about done.. by the end it was making an awful rod-knock noise.. time for that 480 LS3 to go in I guess. Didn't do the skidpad since we didn't think the engine would survive, so we will test that after the engine is in. The engine should help slalom numbers as well since the wagon has zero acceleration at this point.

Before:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/308i2yv-1.jpg

After:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/sboako-1.jpg

[Steve1968LS2]

A couple more shots..

Much flatter in the turns:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/2ylmivr-1.jpg

And prettier when parked.. love the EVOD retro-styled wheels (18 front and 19 rear)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/07/1e07sk-1.jpg

[Steve1968LS2]

For reference.. this is one of the scary before shots...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/02/nec3k3-1.jpg

[rallystyle]

any more on the suspension setup? i dont see it on the GW website.

[YancyJohns]

She's finally alive!! The new ls3 hot cam motor from Gm Performance and t56 magnum, she should run now!!66929

[YancyJohns]

Here's a pic from the underside
66930

[Later-A-body]

I just read through your entire thread. Really teriffic build. Love the color and all the GW suspension upgrades. I have also had GW install the long travel coilover kit on my front suspension. As a reference...what spring rate did you install in the front?

[jake72ss]

275/35-18 or 275/40-18 front?