[Filippo]

Hi all, I am building a 59 super wagon and hope to be the first to chop the top on one of these beauties. I am in Afghanistan but will start back on it when I return. Got lots of work to do...its stripped down and ready for chopping...want to suicide the doors as well...have a 2010 corvette engine ready to go in with an automatic tranny attached. Will be checking out your posts for other custom rod...I build a '50 for street road years ago...shaved it and chopped the top...mustang II front end and Ford 8" rear end...air bag suspension so we could drop it to the ground...but sold it before the interior was done due to finances...bummer...so now its the Rambler...

Ciao

Filippo

[boatbob2]

Welcome,that Rambler SW is sounding good,gonna be a lot of work though,KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN in AFGHANISTAN,my son-in-law,is on his 7th deployment, 4 IRAQ,3 Afghanistan,Lt-Col,Special Forces.when are you coming home??

[Filippo]

Thanks for your kind reply...I am working for the Army in Kabul....petty darn safe were we are....but the FOBs are getting hotter. I have a lot of respect for the guys who go in to Indian country - a lot of risk...pray you son stays safe and returns home safely...I will be home in February but they have asked me to do another year...not sure but will have to decide.

Give your son my best wishes....

Ciao

Filippo

[farna]

The Rambler has a torque-tube drive (driveshaft inside a pipe, more or less). So you have to change the entire rear suspension. Not hard to install ladder bars or a four link. Since you've bagged and dropped a car before shouldn't be difficult. I'm a big Rambler guy, so ask away when you start!

[Filippo]

Alread dropped an 8" Ford rear end in and a mustang II front clip....but considering changing out the Ford rear end for an early 2000's vintage Vette rear end. Still debating on this one but finally figured how to chop the top and the back hatch door and keep the stock rear window. working lots of hours here in Kabul but on my time off I am planning the how to go about building this masterpiece. Enjoy your Rambler.

Ciao

[farna]

I've got an 86 Jag rear axle in mine. As long as you're not bagging the car the Jag or 'Vette axle is about the same deal to put in.

You need to make a crossmember or use the stock mounts for the Jag. I suggest using the stock mounts and "cage" for the rear end -- it would work better. I get vibration transmitted into the body from the solid mount CM I built. No easy way to rubber mount it, but could be done. The stock cage wouldn't be hard to use at all -- the Jag axle was designed to replace a live axle in the early Jags. Just need to weld four mounting tabs to the body.

The 'vette stock CM could be modified to work easy enough, I think. I haven't pulled or mounted one, but my brother recently had a friend's 74 'vette in his shop on the lift. It mounts on a CM that is rubber mounted to the frame. Once the unit is out it would be relatively easy to weld in some attaching points to use the stock CM and mounts.

[Filippo]

Super, thanks for your feedback...I have buddy with a Cobra replicar and it has a Vette rear end in it...looks like it would be fairly easy to install...thanks for the tip on ensuring its rubber mounted as well...Another year and I will be home working on it..