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Customs The Family Truckster...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by RainierHooker, Sep 3, 2020.

  1. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    Its been a few years since I've started a thread and a half of a year since I wound up with our new family truckster, so I figured it was about time to address that...

    Anyway, after retiring from the Army and completing a degree in traditional wooden boatbuilding (that's a whole 'nuther story) I figured it was time to settle down and enjoy the family life. I cleared out two cars, a '53 Ford Customline and an off topic BMW, and with cash in my jar started looking for a proper rig that could be enjoyed by the whole family. A tri-five wagon had always been high on the list of someday cars, and I had been creeping on one that had been on and off the various local classifieds for a few months. Given a long weekend I said, "what the hell" and told the wife I was just "gonna drive down and take a look." As these things often turn out, that look turned into a test drive followed by negotiations over the phone a week later. Then I drove this home...

    98216884_10158300158249437_3878286456753487872_o.jpg

    Pretty clean '55 210 Townsman wagon. About a 10 year old resto with all the right stuff but execution left a little to be desired. 1969 Full-size 300HP 350, Turbo-400 tranny, dual exhaust, front disc brakes, custom upholstery, everything else essentially stock. Ran and stopped like stale dog poop...
     
    alanp561, 51box, jnaki and 11 others like this.
  2. I really like those 55 wagons, nice find.

    Sent from dumb operator on a smart phone
     
    Stogy likes this.
  3. brokedownbiker
    Joined: Jun 7, 2016
    Posts: 651

    brokedownbiker
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    There's always something. Sounds like it has a solid power-train and it looks great so you're way ahead of most of my finds. You'll have it straightened out in no time!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  4. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    Like a man on quarantine, I just got into it. Vacuum leaks from every seam, tranny a few quarts low, carb packed with gunk fuller than a chipmunk's stash, the engine looked like a 2005 Pep-Boys special slathered in mung...

    100930237_10158324040149437_3906790462479925248_o.jpg

    After a weekend of scrounging, I wound up with a fresh Edelbrock 1406, an early Z28 intake, a '62 Vette air cleaner, a factory PCV setup, and script valve covers, MSD HEI Distributor. I call it a "best of album":

    101319488_10158337031234437_4791004205865238528_o.jpg

    To address the stopping woes, I dug into that CPP master cylinder. Turns out that proportioning valve was Disc/Disc and was locking up since the car is Disc/Drum. Mucho better...
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2020
    alanp561, Shadow Creek, 51box and 6 others like this.

  5. Model A Gomez
    Joined: Aug 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,695

    Model A Gomez
    Member

    Good looking car should be a lot of fun for a family!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  6. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    With the basics fettled, I took the car down to the tire shop and had them flip the tires around to blackwall-out and painted the wheels the stock "Autumn Bronze".

    83140999_10158401178799437_5649015993157473714_n.jpg

    Worked up a new accessory panel to replace the pep-boys-specials:

    97434381_10158302593824437_5875281597527228416_o.jpg

    Then I let the kid spruce her up before her shakedown run...

    104416913_10158406296554437_909913303492824682_o.jpg

    103101989_10158406296639437_4593488248391928002_o.jpg
     
  7. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    The shake down run consisted of a trip to the mini golf course in Leavenworth Washington, via the "living ghost town" Roslyn, a 300+ mile round trip over the mountains and through the desert...

    105049319_10158411036209437_559355201954317985_o.jpg

    104840852_10158411036144437_8352968412922786128_o.jpg

    105001399_10158411036039437_1690393290835625985_o.jpg

    105950552_10158411036179437_905990118607140966_o.jpg

    104915840_10158411036254437_7801082143258746610_o.jpg

    ...all in all it was a good trip. Some issues with carb tuning and other minor issues, but we got long distance ice cream and mini golf on our first post-covid family outing after not leaving town for a couple months.
     
  8. Fantastic looking wagon! One of Chevrolet’s best. I love the very subdued color, couldn’t done it better myself. The hubcaps look the part as well. I’m very envious of your find. Have fun with it and drive the wheels off of it.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    RainierHooker and chryslerfan55 like this.
  9. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    With the shakedown run complete, the wife randomly mentioning that she hadn't seen her family in Southern California in a while, and the fact that my schedule was cleared by the 'rona, I arbitrarily decided that we were going on a roadtrip. In three days...

    I gathered a few travel goods...

    79095276_10158424374124437_170225949235733457_n.jpg

    104873552_10158425684319437_317752262982546384_o.jpg

    105427194_10158425684199437_7427270187911727799_o.jpg

    ...and commenced planning.

    The plan was to head east from Tacoma over the mountains, and then turn right, eventually ending up in LA, but avoiding people by staying away from population centers.
     
  10. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,174

    Budget36
    Member

    Buddy of mine had a '55 wagon when I was in HS, (late 70's) . his I think still had the 265 and an auto tranny. Anyways, it was named the "Draggin Waggin", he put that on the sides with the reflective type stuff of the day. He had straight pipes right out the end. He'd goof with folks on the strip wanting to race, no one would. Car couldn't pull a loaf of bread out of the cabinet. Good times!

    Thanks for sharing and bring back some memories.
     
  11. Greg Rogers
    Joined: Oct 11, 2016
    Posts: 802

    Greg Rogers
    Member

    Love that wagon!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  12. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    Two weeks, four states, 3800 miles...

    Mount Hood:

    106296990_10158431873289437_5454933707078623377_o.jpg

    The Eastern Oregon high desert:

    75456637_10158431873679437_3385250480784651086_o.jpg

    84081811_10158436128739437_4322743066648387051_o.jpg

    Crater Lake National Park:

    106246070_10158434949739437_3889019993154890298_o.jpg

    106457126_10158434981789437_7282420117823388125_o.jpg
     
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  13. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    The upper right corner of California:

    106528151_10158436128694437_965727886533778919_o.jpg

    106456368_10158436128784437_2120025843597978413_o.jpg

    Virginia City, Nevada and the Comstock Lode:

    106344519_10158437780029437_7135124300206495639_o.jpg

    106115917_10158442054434437_938189322417936702_o.jpg

    106354668_10158442061509437_7971248696923735382_o.jpg

    73388462_10158442061579437_1843879689059472989_o.jpg

    106247201_10158442061694437_3374841136808849702_o.jpg
     
  14. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    Running along the California-Nevada boarder:

    105940013_10158442061739437_6446590050043949108_o.jpg

    The long dirt road above 8000 feet to the ghost town of Bodie:

    106507263_10158447615684437_9116039168577479014_n.jpg

    106273793_10158442070969437_8538944366439929827_o.jpg

    105642758_10158442071029437_2381298086352102861_o.jpg

    Bodie, a ghost town in a state of arrested decay:

    104847753_10158442096079437_5460194431014606817_o.jpg

    106133218_10158442096239437_5627718007974014481_o.jpg

    105973431_10158442088279437_5085479886958015488_o.jpg

    106668001_10158442088109437_5443151256532052992_o.jpg

    ...and hammer down across the Mojave:

    82090110_10158442107149437_388026157066026148_o.jpg
     
  15. 1953naegle
    Joined: Nov 18, 2013
    Posts: 281

    1953naegle
    Member

    Family vehicles are the best! Cool project!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  16. Papas32
    Joined: Feb 18, 2009
    Posts: 164

    Papas32
    Member
    from No.Ia.

    Beautiful wagon. Looks like the kids love it!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  17. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    Thanks for pics
     
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  18. panhead_pete
    Joined: Feb 22, 2006
    Posts: 3,487

    panhead_pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    All kinds of awesome. Great to see the car being used as intended :)
     
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  19. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    We ended up at the In-Law's place in La Crescenta a little after midnight and awoke to this...

    106650065_10158450739804437_6176210495078577526_o.jpg

    ...the damnedest thing. Quiet.

    In the early days of the Conrona Virus Lockdown, not Lockdown, waffling, LA was eerily quiet. Everything was closed, and we didn't see traffic for the week we spent there. So we did some sight seeing in the ghost town of Greater LA.

    Griffith Park Observatory:
    106960558_10158450722629437_4791582536963996566_o.jpg

    The tunnel to Toon Town and Hill Valley:
    107180698_10158450735454437_742038546775469231_o.jpg

    My kid Felix and the Chevrolet at Felix Chevrolet:
    107178360_10158462473419437_2811096990595434516_o.jpg

    Rockstar parking at Phillipe's
    107225289_10158452687154437_7090634250440351038_o.jpg

    An empty Union Station:
    83334676_10158453062259437_3434857753080016070_o.jpg
     
  20. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    LA City Hall:
    107062612_10158453064604437_5318435508890003545_o.jpg

    Hit the Formosa for some Chinese takeout and had a picnic at the La Brea Tar Pits:
    106695092_10158450392579437_406596751299058778_o.jpg

    107382370_10158450392644437_6257938428782395436_o.jpg

    A Chevy overhead at H&H Flatheads:
    107665566_10158459238094437_8156538548638222432_o.jpg

    Pasadena City Hall:
    107220299_10158460859674437_4618863585687062957_o.jpg
     
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  21. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    We then invited ourselves over to Doc Brown's house to help out with his "weather experiment"
    106469987_10158459588694437_3852808015772968992_o.jpg

    83521335_10158459588634437_7706025360640440560_o.jpg

    106457634_10158459591414437_4501389176090938855_o.jpg

    107205381_10158459589739437_4472354115338784824_o.jpg
     
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  22. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    We then put LA in our rearview mirror. And headed up the coast were we would ping pong between the Coast Highway, the 101 and the 99 for the next four days...

    106672907_10158467455219437_3439219687728075902_o.jpg

    Los Alamos:
    107799444_10158467466939437_7352624387695494586_o.jpg

    Santa Rosa:
    106739354_10158468370284437_6447529464688287486_o.jpg

    Big Sur:
    107635697_10158468381199437_1766518590784669258_o.jpg

    106993922_10158468381374437_7126334060020156062_o.jpg

    Monterey:
    107493233_10158468381464437_5830004887095807721_o.jpg
     
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  23. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    San Fransisco:
    107961404_10158470104889437_5337027800004128650_o.jpg

    Pacific Coast Highway:
    107791339_10158471413164437_769403655548897322_n.jpg

    Drove through a Steinbeck novel:
    108232585_10158471415514437_949802687462837940_o.jpg

    Found some Redwoods:
    108071596_10158472991939437_8289680204084645983_o.jpg

    109067939_10158472991834437_864409069022158945_o.jpg
     
  24. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    Then drove through one tree:
    107932134_10158471418449437_6969447824710344052_o.jpg

    Then drove through a second tree:
    107700896_10158473034494437_2145155433165294830_o.jpg

    Then got the Hat-Trick:
    107503678_10158474270649437_5825051942988978066_o.jpg

    And saw some Roadside-America:
    107718079_10158474272609437_9093474793394713641_o.jpg

    109120818_10158471421504437_1457224247944227837_o.jpg

    108211887_10158474277509437_872112458328225768_o.jpg
     
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  25. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    The final day of our roadtrip covered the Oregon coast and the last leg home to Tacoma...
    109120221_10158474279519437_106710116434532526_o.jpg

    For the first time in the history of ever, there were TWO cars parked at the Sea Lion Caves:
    107718079_10158475666174437_5470907073487824794_o.jpg

    Astoria:
    108020068_10158478314484437_7269459127377558710_o.jpg

    Just like in LA, we shut down the car in front of our house just after midnight:
    107536566_10158478314529437_364239176773927017_o.jpg

    ...and awoke to scrape the bug guts off the car on a silent morning:
    107635350_10158478328994437_7337698167719495483_o.jpg
     
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  26. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    That is as close to a 50's vacation, as you could have taken, even the dog got to go along !
     
  27. trollst
    Joined: Jan 27, 2012
    Posts: 2,108

    trollst
    Member

    Well, that was awesome......
     
  28. RainierHooker
    Joined: Dec 20, 2011
    Posts: 2,031

    RainierHooker
    Member
    from Tacoma, WA

    The car did great. The only trouble was some altitude related wheezing in the mountains and especially the dirt road to Bodie which crests 8500 feet. We broke one exhaust hanger, and on my post-flight inspection at the in-laws’ drive way I found a weeping wheel cylinder which I replaced down there.

    Almost 4000 carefree miles, four states, more state and national parks and forests than I can recount, and picture and sightseeing opportunities that won’t be matched until the next Armageddon.

    Beyond that, it gave me a list of things to improve on and an idea of what the next step is for the car before the next impromptu road trip.

    And that is to say a slightly custom, highly practical, tow rig for carting loud cars to and from racetracks near and far...
    2A783445-1558-4B78-891B-7A5B944F7FCE.jpeg
     
  29. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    It's broken in now...;)...that is an adventure that mimics many a Chevy ad in 1955...the jet on the hood lead the way in style...

    I was talking to a 63 Studebaker Avanti owner at a cruise and he told me about a hood ornament that was actually a lane position aid and I noticed in the shots like the one above that jet is right in line with the lane lines to the right which could possibly also be a gauge for proper lane position...don't know if that was a feature mentioned in 55 but it may have been...

    Thanks for sharing this milestone drive...the stacked Hotrod looks ready to rock n' roll...;)

     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2020
    F-ONE and RainierHooker like this.
  30. F-ONE
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 3,271

    F-ONE
    Member
    from Alabama

    Thank you for this. That was awesome. We need more stuff like this, it made my night.
     
    1953naegle and Stogy like this.

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