1963 Rambler "Sugar" Resto-Track-Travel-AutoX-Mod

[exwestracer]

Motor looks so pretty and shiney!

What, no 2JZ Twin turbo swap????

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice details on the build I see you guys safety wired the bell housing bolts any reason for this or just did it because ya could?

[Suzy-Homemaker]

Nice details on the build I see you guys safety wired the bell housing bolts any reason for this or just did it because ya could?

Just because we could. And it looks cool.

[Suzy-Homemaker]

As if tracking down brake conversions, clutch components and other random weird parts wasn't difficult enough, I decided to start making some calls on the more obvious stuff: suspension bushings and the windsheild.
Well, bushings for the rear suspension will cost more than replacing the leaf springs with a triangulated four-link and the windsheild is going to run over $700 with the glass alone costing almost $600.

I think I will have to get away with the glass as it is for a short while.

I also found out that a clutch pilot bearing that I paid $12 bucks for (and double postage because they shipped me the wrong one the first time) has a wholesale price of .76 cents. SEVENTY SIX CENTS! Dear jerkface parts guy that just lost my business: I only shopped you because you're local but now that I know you're ripping me off more than you have to...I'll go elsewhere.
Anyone got a money tree? What the hell?

[cliffs750]

Suzy
Seeing the engine Back in Sugar after all this years. Is Truly a dream come true. Puts some strange wettness in my eyes. Thanks for being so good to her.Are you going to make it to reno with her?

[SRD art]

Hey Suzy, I feel your pain. Although my car is no where as unique as yours I've run into the "it's a wagon" rare parts a coupla times. What a pain it can be. You prolly already have, but make sure you search forums related to your car. Make friends and you find doors open up all over the place, like someone has spare parts out in the garage they're willing to part with or someone knows of a reliable resource on where to get stuff. I also found rather than buying local, patience and searching/shopping on the internet I've saved a ton of $ on my build, something I've had to learn how to do out of necessity because the money tree seeds I planted a couple years still haven't sprouted yet. ;)

All in all, you're doing great work, keep on rockin' it!

[Suzy-Homemaker]

As hard as we're trying, I don't think we'll make it to Reno. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam took a little more from me in April than I had anticipated and progress has slowed a little on Sugar... :(

Suzy
Seeing the engine Back in Sugar after all this years. Is Truly a dream come true. Puts some strange wettness in my eyes. Thanks for being so good to her.Are you going to make it to reno with her?

[Suzy-Homemaker]

I hear ya, patience is definitely a requirement for working on these rare gems.
I have been very fortunate that at one point, there were a ton of Ramblers out there and for the most part, my car was in great shape.
Unfortunately, some things must be bought new or restored and as a result it makes it hard to spend almost as much on the windshield as I did on the car to buy it. If only I had a junkyard with a few Ramblers in it, I'd be happy scouring for parts all day - I'm good at that. Alas, Ramblers were sent to the wrecker, not the yard.

Hey Suzy, I feel your pain. Although my car is no where as unique as yours I've run into the "it's a wagon" rare parts a coupla times. What a pain it can be. You prolly already have, but make sure you search forums related to your car. Make friends and you find doors open up all over the place, like someone has spare parts out in the garage they're willing to part with or someone knows of a reliable resource on where to get stuff. I also found rather than buying local, patience and searching/shopping on the internet I've saved a ton of $ on my build, something I've had to learn how to do out of necessity because the money tree seeds I planted a couple years still haven't sprouted yet. ;)

All in all, you're doing great work, keep on rockin' it!

[Rod]

heres some of the small details going into Sugar, a Corvette dual bail master cylinder custom bent lines and wilwood prop valve, nothing is pre built for the car for a performance disc brake set up, so cut lines add ends and double flair then bend, and repeat

[ryeguy2006a]

Very nice. I like that the car is mostly original.

[ent72olds]

Very cool! Would like to hear that old girl run......

[Suzy-Homemaker]

You and me both Erik...you and me both!

Very cool! Would like to hear that old girl run......

[Rod]

here's what it all looks like stock and original

rear leaf shackle and articulation spring



another angle on this link and spring, with this design the car had 19 inches of articulation (if one side was on the ground the other side had to be lifted over 19 inches to get the wheel off the ground)



here's the front leaf spring eyelet mount

[Rod]

were modding every thing on the kit, here's the plan, Build 4 link, Build Watts Link, custom rear Sway Bar, first we'll build and assemble the setup then take it back out to send out for powdercoating and all the hardware plated, Build 4 link, Build Watts Link, custom rear Sway Bar

the rear perches are cut down to be welded to an axle plate











and here how the front leaf spring mount is going to serve as the front lower locating bar support, the new parts slip into place with just a small tube shim

[Rod]

1963 Rambler Disc Brakes? know how hard it is to find factory ones, the next best thing is a ScareBird brake bracket setup, a well made bracket with detailed parts list to run modern parts on a 50 year old car, front disc brakes made easy!

first strip the old off


next add the sweet Scarebird bracket


then is simply add the Ford ranger disc's, Chevy Cavalier Calipers, and Caddy hoses

[linkstar69]

Nice brake conversion, good to see some pro-touring elements starting

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Nice to see ya back on her...

[5spd540]

Nice work I love the old amc wagons. I hope mine turns out that nice

[LSXZ28]

POR-15 nail polish... you must love that stuff! Pretty cool wagon!

[Suzy-Homemaker]

Looks like the wagon on your profile is well on its way to being a fast cutie!

Nice work I love the old amc wagons. I hope mine turns out that nice