Thinking about committing the ultimate sin

[Fat ASS Whitewalls]

Last year at the HAMB drags, I bought Rocky's Rambler. I fixed what he broke on it. I drove it around a little. Since then it's been parked in the barn for about 10 months. I picked up an Edmunds finned two carb head for the flat head 6 last year at the KC Goodguys swap. I was going to run the stock engine. Now for the sin. I'm thinking about a small block Chevy with a 5spd. And the biggie, 20" Billet wheels, yes I said Billet, or American 5 spokes. Maybe 18" if the 20's look to big. It will also get painted light green with a tan top, and tan interior. Those are factory colors for Rambler that year. I don't like it red. I really like the looks of this guys Falcon. Wheels can be changed. I could still have a set of steelies, and wide whites. Just swap them out every so often. Tough choice. Dean

[Fat ASS Whitewalls]

The Rambler

[fishtank]

Sounds good to me. Polished saltflats would look pretty cool too. You could get a custom whitewall made for the larger diameter wheel and keep some of the look. Like Leno did on his buick.

[BARNETT]

Have you considered skinny whites? Maybe redlines or goldlines (not sure if that's what they're called, but I'm sure you know which ones I mean). Just a thought.

[yorgatron]

would you be willing to sell the edmunds finned head? how much?

[Jimv]

You do whatever you want, its your car!!I think a semi-worked SBC would make it a nice sleeper.
Doesn't matter what wheels you use if you get tired of them you can change them in 1/2 hour.
JimV
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[RileyRacing]

What about instead of the SBC getting a 360 (AMC, yes there is a difference) or a 401? They can be built pretty stout, and it keeps it "in the family." You can usually pick them up pretty cheap from the Jeep guys putting in SBCs. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Jay

[Boones]

I think you have the right idea for that car. I do not consider that a sin. Small boxy cars look good lowered down with some bigger wheels.. and the sbc is a good choice leaving in the garage for another 10 months would be a sin.. build so you are happy and you want to drive it.

Go forth and build it

[CherryBlossom]

I think the green car looks AWESOME. Go ahead and do it - it's your car http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Screw everyone else's opinion!

[choprods]

Thats goin in the right direction...I built a '60 American once,They respond to the lowering and the larger wheels would probably help put it into perspective, a little better, too.

[zman]

Please oh please keep it AMC. Just get ahold of a 360, 390, or 401. It'll be much better I promise. Do the right thing and stomp some big 3 ass for the little guy...

[Fat Hack]

A hopped up slant six would RULE in that thing! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Or...maybe a warmed over 318 Mopar...

...Buick 350??? (Hey some JEEPS came with 'em!!)

Nah...just go with the small block Chevy...it's what everyone does, and what they EXPECT you to do...don't martyr yourself for the sake of individuality and self expression...it's a cold, shallow Hell best left to the severly disturbed...color within the lines.

It'll still be freaky cool

[hankcash]

Astro Supremes!!!!!!!!

HC

[Donzie]

I gotta say, it's not really my thing but the Falcon looks cool. I'd say do it. Which motor?.... just make it driveable and dependable. I could see Supremes w/ narrow whites. Post a nice side shot of the car so the photoshoppers can give you some ideas.

[colorado51]

[ QUOTE ]
And the biggie, 20" Billet wheels...

[/ QUOTE ]

And change you HAMB name to "Big ASS gangster wheels" or "Big ASS clown wheels" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hey, its your car, give it a try!

[crewcutkid]

Okay-traditional time.
'Tis a Rambler, an interesting choice,
Not the pick of pros, but it's your voice.
Billet aluminum, what the hell?!?
This post hast left me
Feeling not the well.

Nein on billet! Put the nose on the ground! The back end should be raised! Paint her AMC factory colors! Scrounge up an AMC eight! Paint-to-match reverses would be bitchin!

Doth hath asked,
Mineth telleth youeth.
-Crew

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Please oh please keep it AMC. Just get ahold of a 360, 390, or 401. It'll be much better I promise. Do the right thing and stomp some big 3 ass for the little guy...

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh please...
AMC put AUDI engines in Concords and Pontiac Iron Dukes with Torqueflite trannys in CJs.
Other maker's engines are traditional with AMC, Nash, Rambler whatever their Corp. Logo was that year..

[DrJ]

Oh, on the big wheels...
I think they make any car look like it needs some hoops covered with canvas instead of a roof because those wheels look like covered wagon wheels.
And on a compact?
Fecals the clown would love it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[DrJ]

I was looking through "Lowrider" mag yesterday and noticed that even with what seems like half the magazine full of Bling wheel ads, most of the cars featured and seen in show coverage picks have straight laced "normal" diameter wheels on them.
The bling and billet wheels are advertizing hype, don't fall for it just because you have been brainwashed by the ads to think "everyones got them" because everyone isn't buying it.

What I really don't like is the huge wheels with the rubber bands, they remind me of 90 year old REO trucks with the hard rubber tires and 35mph top speeds.
If the bigger wheels also have proportionate size tires fine.
They ride like shit too.
My neighbor with the rubber bands on his Integra says he's going to go back to 16" wheels and some "normal" cross section tires, his kidneys have had it.

[Yo Baby]

I rolled up behind one of those bad boy Ramblers in the dead of winter in Blue Springs Mo.back in 93 that had some 8" snow tires on and had immediate visions of wall to wall rubber in back.I think it would make an ultra cool Pro Streeter.That is probably one of the coolest Ramblers of all no matter what you do to it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[redpunk]

I think some chrome reverse with WWW would look really kool with that car sitting low.. And what DrJ said...

[burndup]

DO IT. It takes balls to buck the trends.

I like Astro's too, though....

Super low profile tires/huge rim combo has ONE huge drawback as far as I see it... you hit one good pothole, you blow the tire off AND destroy the rim. Then, if that wasnt bad enough, you gotta stop the car next.

And you wonder why its so common to drive past an SUV on its side or roof...

[Rocky]

Having owned the car, I've given this thing a lotta thought too. My plan was to go with a 401 AMC from one of the many old 70's Jeep wagonneers in our U-Pull-it auto parts. If it didn't fit due to space considerations, then I was gonna use a SBC with a mustang II front. The old Rambler trunion front was dodgy at best.
I have an old mail Jeep rear axle [40"Dana 44--3.73, posi] I was thinking of using with some steam rollers. That would have required a lot of cutting and the old Rambler is a rust-free car....second thoughts said I'd be better off with a maverick 8" axle on original springs. Lowering blocks would be enough to drop it in the dirt. I like the green idea although it's been done before. I think I'd be happier with competition orange or even that GM yellow used on many late 90's Chevy cavaliers and other chevys. I was planning on painting all the chrome too...it all needs replated and that can run into money.

[Rocky]

..........and, I'm partial to painted steelies with original center caps. Maybe a set of 17-18" painted steelies would rock.

[crewcutkid]

Don't wanna hijack, but jeezus, yobaby, your sig is a monster! Too much!
-Crew

[HotRod60F100]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Please oh please keep it AMC. Just get ahold of a 360, 390, or 401. It'll be much better I promise. Do the right thing and stomp some big 3 ass for the little guy...

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh please...
AMC put AUDI engines in Concords and Pontiac Iron Dukes with Torqueflite trannys in CJs.
Other maker's engines are traditional with AMC, Nash, Rambler whatever their Corp. Logo was that year..


[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gifyes but AMC made a damn good V8 plus last i recalled i've seen GM items on big three shit as well why not a AMC V8 in that guys Rambler instead of them blah boring tired ass chiivy 350 route??it pisses me off when people who don't know SHIT about Rambler or AMCs and start saying wrong shit about them!!! and YEEES i'm a DIEHARD AMCer .Its the guys car and he can do what he wants but imho i think he should go with some trad. wheels and a AMC V8 but thats my opinion and you know what they say about those http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[kustombuilder]

that Falcon ROCKS! i would'nt quit talkin to you just for using big wheels (but then i like em on certain cars), but being it is such a small car maybe run 18s (rear) and 17s (front) with some decent sized rubber out back. maybe some salt flat specials, polished or not (i think NOT would look bitchin). slam it down with some bags all around.

as for power, i think a snarling (but reliable and pump gas friendly) AMC V8 would be the ticket. a built slant 6 would be quite interesting and be a great conversation piece (as much as i hate to side with FatHack http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ).

i can't help you on colors, thats not my strong point, but you can't go wrong with black http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif! the factory colors do sound neat though and would prolly look great with this setup.


just don't run any of those ghetto ass chrome or billet big hoop wheels. something vintage hot rod inspired would really look "RIGHT" on that car. Torque Thrusts are always cool, but there are other cool hot rod style wheels avaiblable in larger diameters.


whatever you do at least keep ME posted. i know i'd like to see it when it's done.

[kustombuilder]

one more thing. having some 2" (or so) white walls vulcanized to yer new large diameter rubber would really be the icing on the cake!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

if ya gotta run a SBC to afford the wheels, tires and stance it could be forgivin. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[colorado51]

I always liked "sleepers" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

I'd leave it just the way it looks, stock wheels and all, and drop in a nasty 401 and maybe a 4-speed. Run a stock width (NOT narrowed) 9 inch or dana with a 3:90 gear.

Can you say "SURPRISE"! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[dixiedog]

Here's my thoughts on this - Having loved Ramblers since owning a 65 back in 1980 I would keep it AMC V8 boat load of torque and the distributer is on the front of the motor less firewall modifications, straight axle like Gowjobs rendering or MustangII front 'cause those towers are mighty tight.

There was a Lime Green 63 prostreet that sold on egay about 2 months ago, he was from Tampa St Pete Fla and looked to be a very nice job complete with new frame etc. Wish I would've snagged some pics of it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

If you go with the Dana 44 like Rocky was saying change out the center to a posi the factory spiders are weak - I've blown one up in a Dauntless V6 jeep before.

[Boones]

thou its a wagon, here is an idea

[Boones]

and same car I believe with modern wheels

[kustombuilder]

don't care for those particular billet wheels. in that case the steelies look much better, but i think some better "big" wheels would help alot...

[Rocky]

Here ya go Dean. Some of the other HAMBers helped me out with photoshopped photos of the little American. Maybe something in a gasser?

[Rocky]

No? Well, maybe something in a mild custom rat rod?

[Rocky]

Chopped?

[Rocky]

Dean...this one's my favorite. Kenny [choprods] and I stood around the car at the Drags and discussed doing this to the car. It wouldn't be such a hard job either. This is what I really wanted to do with the car eventually. Picture it slammed with wheels and paint or one color primer...

[Fat ASS Whitewalls]

I REALLY like that 4dr wagon! The big wheels look to be 20" rears, and 17" fronts. Just a guess though. I'd go bigger in the front. I've always been a painted wheel kinda guy. I'd like something different (for me at least) I have a hard time paying more for tires and wheels, than I paid for the whole car. My truck has chrome wheels with wide whites, my roadster has painted steelies, and black walls, my VW bug has black steelies, trim rings and caps, with wide whites, and my 66 caprice wagon has silver Rallies with big and little black walls. Nothing I own has a mag type wheel, except the Austin Mini Cooper S, it has 10" Mamba wheels. I'd definitely go with a hotrod style wheel on the Rambler. Most likely American racing Torque thrust wheels. Price would be the deciding factor. As for the engine, I didn't even think of an AMC motor. Probably still go with a SBC though, but I might surprise myself and go with an AMC. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Dean

[Rusty]

That Falcon is sweeeeeeeetttttt.