Projects My next project, 55 Pontiac wagon

Have to get out and beat the bushes sometimes. I retired from working in July and my wife and children gave me a retirement party. Kids came up from NC and CO. My daughter has wanted a 47-54 Chevy or GMC truck for 20 years. 2 days after she came up we found a 53 GMC 3 miles from the house. Paid $1000 for it. The cab corners have been replaced badly so I'll redo those. No other rust. Have to find a good set of running boards and a good tailgate. That's all that needs replaced in the sheetmetal department.

 

Finally done with the body work. Have it ready for final sanding before color. The worst is over now it's just mostly money. lol

 

Just put the U-POL tintable undercoat on. Took 5 liters and I'll need another two. Still have to do touchup, outside of inner fenders and the inside of the front fenders.

 

Looks great. Really enjoy the video format. Can't wait to see this wagon come together.

 

Got the rebuilt engine back from the builder. Have made progress on putting it together. Waiting on some parts.

 

A little further on the engine.

 

A little further on the engine.

 

Put some paint down last night.

 

Look'n great! You have come a long ways in a short time.

 

Be a interesting color combo

 

Living in Alaska I have to buy paint by phone from Anchorage. It came out a little darker than we wanted but can't send it back.

 

nice work, the cover for spare was just plywood

 

Yes but it had some hardware that I now don't have. Two handles and the chome/stainless strips down the middle and around the edge.

 

Put a little more paint down tonight.

 

Very nice!!!

 

You work fast, nice job

 

You don't even have a year in this thing and with all the work your put'n down kolor!

 

a little more color on.

 

Good job , looks like you will be done by spring!

 

I like the videos! I love wagons. I had a newer "G" body 1981 Lemans (think malibu) wagon with a 455 and a 4spd.... loved the torque. Although I must say I much preferrred the Led Zepplin in the first video. I will be watching!

 

I've been searching for the rubber body mounts for the 55. Cheapest that I can find is $175 for 28 pieces of rubber. I decided to make my own.

1. I bought a sheet of 1/2" and a sheet of 5/8" thick rubber.

2. cut out the 14 2 1/8" x 1/2" square pieces.

3. used a spade bit 1 1/4" to make the inset for the steel washer in the bottom.

4. next I drilled the 3/4" hole through the middle using the hole that the point of the spade bit made when it exited on the other side to center the 3/4" arbor bit.

That finished the square parts.

5. the round parts I cut out using a 1 3/8" hole saw

6. I then used the same 3/4" arbor bit for the center hole.
Total cost $35.

 

Bump.
No end to your resourcefulness!

 

Haven't been working on the 55 in a while. Had to go down to my son's and spent 4 weeks finishing his basement. 1800 square feet. Still have to go back on 2 June to finish. I've also been getting next winters firewood done and have pulled up my oak flooring, planed the old finish off, relayed to get rid of the shrinkage cracks, sanded and am finally putting finish on. Just wanted to let everyone know I'll be back on it around the end of June.

 

First time I've had time to work on the Pontiac in 2 1/2 months. I'm not going to be able to work on it for another 3 or 4 weeks but after that I should have free time again.

 

I managed to get another day to work on the Pontiac.

 

Finally able to get back to the 55. I was able to start and break in the engine. Have a trans leak up front at the flywheel. Removed it and found the crankshaft to flywheel gasket missing. Ordered new gaskets and will reinstall.

 

Sounds really strong, nice job man. More progress.

 

Finally fixed the leak in the rebuilt trans so with that done the body went on. Now to get all the panels on and get it painted.

 

I just finished with the 4th coat on Winnie's 55 Pontiac wagon.