falconvan

Looks awesome, Paul; this is going to make a great ride! I'd love to build one of these someday.

If you want a manual trans think about the AX-15 5 speed they put in Dodge Dakotas behind the 5.2 and 3.9. Same bellhousing pattern so either will bolt to your engine. They use a hydraulic clutch which can faily easily be adapted to your pedal and the floor shifter eliminates shift linkage hassles. You can easily fabricate a 40's era shift handle if you want to keep it period correct looking. I had one in my 51 Plymouth behind a 318; great hiway cruising manners.

Very nice! Did Chrysler export a lot of cars to Europe in the 40s and 50s? Seems like I've seen a lot of pictures of nice survivors over there.

I got my fenderwells finished and installed, lots and lots of 1/4 x 20 bolts in the front clip, and the forward wiring harness put back together. I used one of those GM weatherproof 6 pin molex plugs to connect it to the firewall harness; pretty cool stuff. I should have been using those a long time ago. I hope to knock out a big list of little stuff the coming week and then concentrate on driveshaft/exhaust after payday.

Thanks, Adam

It's getting better; i think having the computer programmed will put the final touches on making it run right. Got a few things done over the last few days; got my column and wheel painted and back on and started fitting the inner fenderwells. Both needed a notch to clear the engine; hopefully I'll have them finished, painted and mounted for good by the weekend. Then I can start getting the rest of the front clip back together.

Looks nice!

Here a short video of it running; sounds pretty good through open headers for a little 3.2. http://youtu.be/Q5AYJOrwKVM

Great looking rig. Sometimes working on them is just as fun as driving them so enjoy the whole experience. I'm sure your pop would love the old beast.

Thanks! Much appreciated!

I had the day off and really knocked out a lot of stuff. Got the radiator hoses made, clutch hose figured out and some parts ordered, and a good portion of the front clip back together. Seeing it with fenders on it feels great; can't wait to cruise it around the block! But I still need a driveshaft, exhaust, put the interior back together, finalize wiring and progam, etc, etc, etc, $$$, $$$, $$$, ..........

I haven't posted for a bit but I've been on it. I had a couple wiring issues I had to work out that ended up involving taking off the intake and fuel rails and untaping the harness I spent so many hours putting together. :CRY: But now it's done and I've got power to the O2 sensors and the injectors and it's all back together. Just missed two wires when I was putting the harness together. I also needed some kind of heater and I found this in a Rambler at the boneyard. Bad motor but the core is good and this is about as compact as they come. I was able to make the Taurus blower motor fit with some fabb'd brackets and the shaft just happen to be the right size. Im going to start figuring out how the radiator hoses and clutch line will run tomorrow.

Looking great Adam. My 48 is the same way, it continually gets pushed aside for other cars. Someday, though.

Thanks, guys. Moving the battery was more out of nessecity, I don't think I'm going to have room up front after I make the fender well fit. But I like the way it came out.

Trunk is done.

I think that sounds right, Cass. Mine stuck out about 3" because it was from the Taurus tank. I needed it for the overflow tube.,

Sounds great, Cass! I want to see it on the road this summer so get on it!

Today I got the fenders bolted down, bumper & gravel pan on, and had to do some re-engineering on the gas filler. It stuck out way too far before so I had to shorten part of it and make a couple of brackets to hold it steady. I think the next order of business is clean out the trunk and get some POR-15 on the floor of it; then onto getting the hydraulic clutch hooked up.

Actually, you can buy material with the pleats already in it. Lots of EBay vendors have it.

I dont, Doug. When I was looking for a rearend for my 51 I found someone on the HAMB that was doing a 50 with this rearend so I just went and bought one. I dont think I ever measured it. 49 is the same; not sure about your wagon. Anybody know if the Suburban's are the same width as the coupes and sedans? Yesterday the 8.8 got a coat of paint along with the spring plates and some lower shock mounts I built. She back in and ready to go as soon as I run the brake lines. Next I want to get the rear fenders bolted down and the bumper and gravel pan on.

Very cool car, worth every penny it takes to get it right.

Doug, it's out of a 2001 Mercury Mountaineer (Ford Explorer). Width is the same, you just move the spring pads. 3:73 gears, posi, disc brakes. For now I'm just going to run the wheels that were on the car when I got it.

Got the 8.8 test fit, pinion angle set, and pulled it back out to weld on the spring pads today. Tomorrow it gets some paint, build some shock mounts, and put it back in for good. This week I'd like to get the rear fenders bolted back on along with the rear gravel pan and the rear bumper. I really want this baby on the road by May!

Yeah, it kind of looks like a baby Hemi with those wide heads. Last night I got all the brackets and spring pads cut of the new rearend and got the old one pulled. I ran out of Argon or I would have had the new one sitting on the springs for a test fit. I have to weld the shock mounts on the new spring pads first. Anybody who's running the stock flathead need some parts? This rearend has all new brakes, seals, wheel cylinders, and brake lines; plus the driveshaft is cleaned and painted and the radiator is good. Make me an offer on any or all of it; it's just going to sit in the shop and gather dust.

As soon as I get it runniing right and get some exhaust on it, I'll put a video up. I still have to order the programmer for the Ford EEC and I've got a couple of wiring issues to work out. Right now it'll run but wont idle; I dont have 12v power to the IAC or the O2 sensors. I must have missed a wire somewhere but I'll get it tracked down. Im taking a break from the wiring for a bit and going to go ahead and get the 8.8 swapped in so I can get a driveshaft built. Lots of useless brackets to cut off the rearend and new spring perches to mount but I hope to have it mocked up by next weekend.