64 F-85 FLAT TOP WAGON PROJECT

[a64olz]

Here's my beast of burden, slow process but it's coming along, I can almost see the light.

64 F-85 Deluxe factory column stick
66 330 stock motor
stock exhaust manifolds with Flowmaster super 40 duals with x-over
Edelbrock Preformer 350 intake
Edelbrock 500 cfm manual choke carb
70 3 speed Saginaw with Hurst shifter
Zoom clutch and pressure plate
rebuilt stock rear
SSBC front disc brakes
2" dropped spindles
Polyurethane suspension
Monroe shocks
Air Lift rear air bags
65 442 rear control arms
65 Dash and pad
65 Vista Cruiser radiator
65 Vista Cruiser upper core support
67 4 speed console
66 Vacume gauge
IDIDIT steering column
Manual steering
70 Cutlass seat
Grant steering wheel
Seats and carpet are OPG
So far I have done all work with the exception of stitching up the rear upholstery panels and the rebuilt rearend.

[NAS Backyard]

NICE!

[ent72olds]

Lookin' good my brother! I have a '65 Vista I did similar mods to on the motor. I can't wait to see more, get out there and get working!

[Bluevista]

Too cool. It looks like the car's practically finished to me.
I really like the Bigfoot gas pedal.

[a64olz]

The beast has stirred from it's slumber, It has been sleeping in the garage for over a year now, got some sunlight today and saw some road, (just down the street and back) Installed the rear seat today, the 2 door sedan (base) seat actualy works in place of the original wagon seat, it is a little high but the seat back still folds down and locks in to place. Big bummer the front suspension has no travel and it rides bad very stiff bounce, the spindles are a 2" drop and the springs are Moog I don't have the originals any more as I tossed em when I purchased the Moog springs, and I can't find the papers on the Moog springs so it looks like I need to find some different springs, I believe the application was 65 Chevelle wagon, so.... any suggestions?

[a64olz]

Installed my tailgate saturday, not to bad, as ent72olds stated, pictures and notes are a must. I even took pics of the inside when I cut off the skin on my original gate. I also finished up the carpet and the sill plates, side glass next, the old purple tint that was on the glass was a major hassle, I tried the amonia and black plastic but with no luck I ended up using aircraft stripper, took me about 4 hours and a few Miller Lites.

[f-85]

The wagon is looking great! I might still have my original 330 springs out of 64 F-85. I can look, if i have them there yours. I bought a set of 65 442 springs from the Parts Place. It think it was $130 for the set.

[gearheads78]

Sweet I love it...only thing better than a wagon is a converible.

[ent72olds]

a64olz, car is coming along nicely...makes me want to get my '65 going. I had a couple of questions on your 2" drop in the front. Did you buy the spindles or do them yourself? I've seen them on e-bay and other places and was wondering if it was a good way to go. We want to do the same 2" drop on the '70 VC I'm doing now. You said your car is riding a little stiff. Did you use the same stock springs and shocks or did you switch those out also. Just looking for a little hands on advice before I get to that point. Want it to go as smooth as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I could probably start another thread on this, but being you mentioned you did it I figured I'd ask. Thanks!Oh, keep the pics and story going. We need to represent for the wagons!

[ent72olds]

Sorry, reread your post and saw you put moog springs in. That part of my question has been answered.

[a64olz]

ent I purchased the disc brake conversion as a kit (SSBC) that included the 2" spindles,from a suspension place in Phoenix Az, the springs were purchased at the same place but not as part of the kit, and as I recall they were for a big block chevelle wagon or el camino, as they could not reference an olds wagon, poor choice on my part.
The kit was fairly simple to install but then I had the front of the car off and engine out so lots of room to work, at the time I replaced the whole front end and replaced the steering column as well. The most difficult part was bending and fitting the brake lines, and mounting the adjustable proportioning valve. The front springs will have to come out it's not a little stiff its super viagra over 4 hour stiff, so I am going to try a set of stock F-85 springs and see how that works.

[RickSE]

Check with Supercars Unlimited on the springs, they've always been pretty helpful and seem to have some older specs on some of this stuff. Car looks good, I'll come see you next time I'm down so we can compare notes.

[Aron Nance]

What kind of wheels are on the VC? Really going to be a nice ride, and a sneaker w/the/455!

[Aron Nance]

Neat ride! What a sneaker w/the/BB455!

[citcapp]

Nice looking project and good information on the springs. keep up the good work and continue to post pictures

[a64olz]

I installed the 1/4 glass went ok with the exception of some sealing problems on the drivers side upper front , the opening seems bowed as the glass would not sit tight to the pinch weld in this area will have to reseal now. I got started stripping the guts on the doors, WARNING do not attempt this at home unless you have extreme amounts of patience, the service manual helps with tips such as "use a screwdriver or other suitable tool to remove the clips", access sucks bad, I was thinking maybe a BFH or a torch, 2 hours to gut one door after that it was Miller Time.

[Bluevista]

A BFH always works, at the least you can get rid of some frustration.

Those outer window sweeps are a real pain, the door panels were hard enough to get off. I plan on using a little Door-Ease on those clips and panel hangers when I put mine back together. I've heard of using it on the molding clips when you put the trim back on too but have never tried it.

[66f85deluxewagon]

Nice choice of options! The manual 3-speed is unusual but I like it. Your wagon is going to be really nice! I'm curious. What's the rear gear ratio?

[a64olz]

Originally Posted by 66f85deluxewagon

Nice choice of options! The manual 3-speed is unusual but I like it. Your wagon is going to be really nice! I'm curious. What's the rear gear ratio?

Builder told me it is a 2.93 (open)

[66f85deluxewagon]

Originally Posted by a64olz

Builder told me it is a 2.93 (open)

Nice......You can eat some highway with them gears!

[a64olz]

OK so it takes me awhile, but here we go, some door progress I know Erik would bang this out in a night but this is a week and about 18 hours real time for me.

[ent72olds]

LOL! I don't feel so lonely now...

[csstrux]

I don't know if you are done stripping the tint on your windows, if not try a heat gun, then follow with mineral spirits to clean the residue. beautiful car. Nice choice of body styles.

[a64olz]

Yep, it's only a door one of four, but it's my door and even though this door kicked my ars I still came out on top. Reassembly of the latch and connecting rods and clips was a nightmare, the service manual is only for moral support, after a couple of hours I was looking to Mr. Miller Lite for some guidance, but I did survive. A few notes, the Soft Seal brand weatherstrip fits great I had to drill one hole at the front below the front edge of the glass frame for the first clip, the glass run channel also fit good, the window sweeps or "fuzzies" fit ok but look a little "bulky" as they do not have the chrome bead, they also distort very easy and look a little wavy, but it is the only sweep I found ( 64 Chevelle wagon) and they do function as intended. The glass runs up and down nicely and fits tight.

[a64olz]

It's been a while as I took a road trip to Ohio from Arizona with my son and have been swamped with other must do crap since I got back, but anyhoo I managed to destroy the nylon cam latch or whatever it is called in the door lock/latch assembly that I was soooo proud of I soaked the lock/latch in Purple Power cleaner for 2 weeks and yep the latch is squeaky clean allright, installed the said clean assembly then installed freshly painted door and newly installed weatherstrips on said nice door on the car and stood back to admire said nice door, opened said nice door 3 times to check alignment and to my horror the door would not unlatch, well it took 3 hours of prying wedging, picking and praying ,to get the door to unlatch, the nylon whatever broke and a large piece wedged in the lock assembly and would not allow the door to open, after getting it to open I managed to put about 30 chips scratches and gouges in the door and the door jamb. I believe the cleaning solution I used broke down the nylon part and caused the crisis. Anybody else? Any one know if I can get replacement parts?

[NAS Backyard]

Originally Posted by a64olz

It's been a while as I took a road trip to Ohio from Arizona with my son and have been swamped with other must do crap since I got back, but anyhoo I managed to destroy the nylon cam latch or whatever it is called in the door lock/latch assembly that I was soooo proud of I soaked the lock/latch in Purple Power cleaner for 2 weeks and yep the latch is squeaky clean allright, installed the said clean assembly then installed freshly painted door and newly installed weatherstrips on said nice door on the car and stood back to admire said nice door, opened said nice door 3 times to check alignment and to my horror the door would not unlatch, well it took 3 hours of prying wedging, picking and praying ,to get the door to unlatch, the nylon whatever broke and a large piece wedged in the lock assembly and would not allow the door to open, after getting it to open I managed to put about 30 chips scratches and gouges in the door and the door jamb. I believe the cleaning solution I used broke down the nylon part and caused the crisis. Anybody else? Any one know if I can get replacement parts?

OUCH! I feel your pain. I had a repop door latch (China) on my 53 Chevy Suburban get stuck and did the same thing to my door and jam getting the door open.

[67 Cutlass]

Nice project you have going there. I'm working on a 67 Cutlass post but I've often wanted to get a Vista Cruiser project going.

I see that you have black paint on the interior side of the door. How did you go about doing that? Did you rattle can it or spray from a gun? Is it laquer, enamel, urethane, single stage, bc/cc? I ask because I need to do the same thing on my 67.
I also noticed that you sprayed your red color only in certain areas. I'm not a body man or paint man by any stretch, I think the intention I see is to do the jambs, etc., put it all together, mask off what needs to be masked then spray your final coat? School me here, I'll take all the info I can get because the way I see you doing your car leans me toward doing mine the same.

Keep up the great work!

[a64olz]

Interior was shot with a Finex HVLP gun, acrylic enamel with a flatening base and hardener, I'm not really happy with the sheen of the black as I wanted a bit more of a satin look. I shot the jambs with an acrylic enamel with hardener, being that I am changing exterior color and interior color, and all weatherstripping, I am jambing then assembling, I know some TV shows hang check and fit and then paint and reassemble, but I don't have a bunch of guys hanging around to help me, I would much rather deal with jamb touch ups and minor primer boo boos than finish panel work. I went to body school in the mid 70's and ended up in the housing construction biz, so I may have an old school aproach to this project. Here is picture of the door I jambed tonight.

[csstrux]

looks good to me.

[67 Cutlass]

Originally Posted by a64olz

Interior was shot with a Finex HVLP gun, acrylic enamel with a flatening base and hardener, I'm not really happy with the sheen of the black as I wanted a bit more of a satin look. I shot the jambs with an acrylic enamel with hardener, being that I am changing exterior color and interior color, and all weatherstripping, I am jambing then assembling, I know some TV shows hang check and fit and then paint and reassemble, but I don't have a bunch of guys hanging around to help me, I would much rather deal with jamb touch ups and minor primer boo boos than finish panel work. I went to body school in the mid 70's and ended up in the housing construction biz, so I may have an old school aproach to this project. Here is picture of the door I jambed tonight.

Thanks for that info. It may be old school to you but it's still new school to me. I'll take any tips I can get However, I'll eventually be going with urethane bc/cc so how would your method be applicable? Would I just spray the jambs with color and not the clear coat? or clear coat after the car is assembled and painted?

[a64olz]

However, I'll eventually be going with urethane bc/cc so how would your method be applicable? Would I just spray the jambs with color and not the clear coat? or clear coat after the car is assembled and painted?[/quote]

That is my plan no clear on the jambs.There are a few guys on here that have mountains of experience with body and paint issues, these guys can school you much better, I am a backyard garage guy so my way may not be the best route, so please take this in consideration as I may not know what the heck I am doing.

[67 Cutlass]

I do weigh all advice I get and eventually come to my own conclusion. I am also a 'backyard garage' type of guy and sometimes I don't think I know what I'm doing either. LOL.
Thanks for the input. Keep up the great work on your project!

[rktolds]

Anymore updates on this car? I know of a '64 F85 flat top sitting in a local yard. It's tormenting me!

Matt

[a64olz]

Originally Posted by rktolds

Anymore updates on this car? I know of a '64 F85 flat top sitting in a local yard. It's tormenting me!

Matt

Been in a summer long slumber, looks like it may get under a 100 degrees in the next week or so, and I will be back to work on it. I have not touched the car since May, It's kind of a reverse winter shut down. Just way to freakin hot to be doing something enjoyable.

[rktolds]

That sucks. I haven't touched my '72 Cutlass in a couple of weeks either. But my torment is over. I didn't get the '64 but a '70 flattop Cutlass wagon. I'll post a thread when I get it home early next week.

Matt

[67 Cutlass]

Still looking good! I haven't touched my car since June! Like you said, too damn hot but cooler weather is just around the corner.

[a64olz]

Hooray the Arizona HELL is over it is now under a 100 degrees so let the games resume. I pulled out the wagon and fitted the front end sheet metal to assure thet no bent flanges or twisted parts would snarl at me after body work and jambs were completed.Almost looks like car now.

[delmontcrusier]

Originally Posted by a64olz

Yep, it's only a door one of four, but it's my door and even though this door kicked my ars I still came out on top. Reassembly of the latch and connecting rods and clips was a nightmare, the service manual is only for moral support, after a couple of hours I was looking to Mr. Miller Lite for some guidance, but I did survive. A few notes, the Soft Seal brand weatherstrip fits great I had to drill one hole at the front below the front edge of the glass frame for the first clip, the glass run channel also fit good, the window sweeps or "fuzzies" fit ok but look a little "bulky" as they do not have the chrome bead, they also distort very easy and look a little wavy, but it is the only sweep I found ( 64 Chevelle wagon) and they do function as intended. The glass runs up and down nicely and fits tight.

I was looking at this older post and need advice on the window sweeps or "fuzzies" the ones on my car are shot and haven't been able to figure out were to get replacments.

[a64olz]

Originally Posted by delmontcrusier

I was looking at this older post and need advice on the window sweeps or "fuzzies" the ones on my car are shot and haven't been able to figure out were to get replacments.

Fusick Automotive, download the "big" car catalog.

[delmontcrusier]

thanks I'll try that though I contacted them before on other things and they couldn't help me.