Hot Rods '63 Rambler Classic 550

cool build, i'll sub in to keep up. love the amc's.

 

Love your build guys!
I currently working on a 65 classic right now!
Ohand, listen to farna, he knows his stuff when it comes to these old Ramblers!

Sent from my SM-G960U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

You got that right, he knows his shit!

 

worked a bit more on the cross member. I practiced my welding. Never used a wire fed welder before but its awesome. We also put on a bigger, thicker tire from my Dad's '32 to see what it would look like. I really like how it looks in width.
above is original width
Below is thick.

 

I remember when the 1963 Ramblers were new cars. They had a nice refreshing look compared to most other makes. I always thought that they were not appreciated for their looks. I am happy to see what you are doing to your Rambler.

 

The 63 Rambler Classic/Ambassador was the Motor Trend Car of the Year if I recall right.

 

Thats why I love the car so much, it's different from everything else.

 

It sure was. That must've been a big accomplishment for AMC. Every ad I've seen for the car boasts about it being the motor trend car of the year.

 

I knew a stripper who had a Rambler Hardtop from these years. It was red and had a splash of chrome on it. I really never looked at it. I was always looking at something else. Rambler always reverberated Nash from when I was a kid and they all looked like bathtubs and appealed to me like a mashed potato sandwich. On the other hand, anything that is built with performance in mind turns that equation on its head. Maybe part of that sensibility comes from the bootlegger cars I grew up with around here that were always sleepers. I think your project will certainly be in the 'sleeper' category. Just don't make it loud and no one will figure it out, until you leave the stoplight.

 

I just scrolled back through the photos. Y'all can't be too bad off if you have such a nice ol' Beemer Cycle to toy around with. More than anything I've ever owned that reminded me of a RailRoad PocketWatch was the pair of those fine German Steeds I rode back when I was still full of piss and vinegar. Good on the car.

 

I’m glad some one else said put quite exhaust on it. My pops and I’ve been telling Brooks to be a sleeper it has to be quiet. I’m pretty sure we will put some cutouts on it so he can get his loud fix.

 

turbo mufflers?

 

That’s what I thought.

 

I've been all for a quiet car since I found out about cutouts. Best of both worlds I think

 

I put a pair of Hemi mufflers I bought from Blair's Speed Shop on a Big Back Window '57 Chevy Pickup, when I lived in Pasadena. It even had a pretty wicked 350 Steve Freketti at Hollywood Machine Shop built for me, and I swear you didn't realize it was even running. Quiet as the proverbial mouse.

 

Cool little hot rod!

 

Mocked up the engine and trans today. It went well.
Also my Papa brought in this don't know if we're going to use it or not but it's wicked cool

 

Motor and transmission went in remarkably smooth. I can’t believe how well a small block Chevy fits in these ole ramblers. It’s like it was made for it.

 

Looks like a big block would fit good between those fenders! Didn’t realize they had that much room under the hood.

 

If I'm not mistaken, AMC had their own 327!

 

What is the red stuff in the exhaust ports? You going to clean it out before installing this engine?

 

They are plastic plugs to keep critters out. This motor is just being used to mock up transmission and motor mounts.

 

I have the motor mounts built and tacked in place on Brooks car. Just trying to keep the ball rolling when he is not here to help.

 

I need to find a set of new rubber bushings. Let me know where to find some.
Here are the seat raisers,it's all going to be covered up by some chrome eventually
Some work dad did on the rear end.
Some pipe showing where the driveshaft will be more or less.
The engine mounts all tacked in.
Did a bit of cleaning on the floor mat.they should clean up nicely. Maybe a bit of rubber restorer will bring back the glossy black. A pressurewasher would make this alot easier.

 

The bushings should be the same as the old mustang 2 units.

 

Throw it in the bed of a pickup and take it to the local car wash (make sure it doesn't blow out of the bed in transport). Hopefully their spray wand also has a degreaser spray setting.

 

Mocked up a shock mount for the rear of Brooks’ Rambler. We had a c-10 shock mount that came with the truck arms we used so I cut one up and mounted to the top of the truck arm right where the coil spring would have set on the truck. Use what cha got. In one little area there’s Chevy c-10, Rambler and ford parts to make it all work.

 

That is going to be a nice little build, two-door sedans are cool you already have clutch pedals. Let me know if you need some floor pans I might have them I have a bunch of Rambler Parts laying around email me at [email protected] and I'll help you out the best I can. That car looks pretty straight, good luck with it.

 

Thanks for the offer! That's really kind of you. I'll let you know if I need anything.