joe_padavano

...I broke down and bought this 1962 F-85 wagon. Some of you may have seen it on ebay.






185 HP 4bbl version of the aluminum 215, automatic, manual brakes, manual steering, no A/C. Car is in Nevada and has been a west coast car all it's life. Allegedly 88,000 original miles. Now I just need to get it shipped to the east coast.

It does run and drive currently. Plans are a T-5 swap, brake upgrade (that will take some work), and eventually a 4.6 liter fuel injected Rover V8. For those who aren't aware, GM sold the design and tooling for the 215 to Rover in the mid-1960s and Rover built these engines until 2006. The Rover version is just about a bolt-in for the Olds/Buick versions.

There were two different EFI versions, the GEMS and the Bosch, as shown in the following photos. Finally, the last series of Rover 4.6 blocks used cross-bolted mains, as seen in the last photo.

GEMS motor:



Bosch engine:



Cross-bolted mains:

stlbluesbrother

Very cool. The chrome looks like it's in fine condition. How about the interior and dash?

Aron Nance

Way to go, Joe! That heart surgery affect your thinking senses, also? LOL! Looks as if you are doing very well, and glad for that. Love the little LongTop, and that will really be neat when you fix it up. Regards, and look forward to seeing you in Sturbridge. We are planning on driving the CC up - it's only 1792 miles! Looks as if about 5 or 6 couples will be driving up from Texas. That may say something about our senses, also!

Jamesbo

Congrats Mr. P

Vera nice and sounds like a cool idea

joe_padavano

Most of it is, which is one of the reasons I bought this car. Trim parts for this car are unobtainium.

Funny you should ask.









And one of the business end:

joe_padavano

Thanks, Aron. My first car was a 68 Vista and I've always had a soft spot for wagons. Glad to hear you're driving. As the date gets closer, we should coordinate a caravan. We've got several folks from the DC area planning on driving up.

Bluevista

Congratuations on the new addition to the family.

She looks a little sunburned and slightly worn in places, otherwise appears mint inside and out, literally and figuratively.

The '62 Buick my girlfriend had in high school had a 215, ever since she called the cops and said I stole the car and they put an APB out on me I have a soft spot for those engines.

1969w3155

Straight and solid. You just don't see these cars anywhere, glad that an Olds guy was able to snare it.

67 Cutlass

Awesome looking project and a great idea on the powerplant swap!
I'm looking forward to the thread on the overhaul especially the transplant.

joe_padavano

To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen one. It was one of those "gotta save the injured puppy" moments.

70 cutlass s

Joe this project sounds like fun. The engine swap is very interesting indeed. Can't wait too see the progress. Best of luck with it.

citcapp

Congrats Joe , it hadthat lost puppy dog look didn't it. Good thing you have all of that property and the large barn. Your collection of proects is growing. Pretty soon you will have to have a show and meet at your place so all the guys can come see. We'll bring the refreshments

joe_padavano

Yeah, I'm really trying not to let that turn into the auction after I'm dead...

Bluevista

I'll bring the Jagermeister and Red Bull.
Sandy has that bottle of Grey Goose in her closet that she's saving for a special occasion.

They made a plastic toy of that wagon with a camper trailer or boat trailer and boat IIRC?
It had Bear stickers or something on it, maybe woodgrain? It was about 1/24 scale, red with snap on axles, black plastic spoke wheels, possibly made by Processed Plastics.
I sold a couple or more in my toy dealer days.

joe_padavano

I'd rather you brought tools and coveralls...
Don't know about a trailer, but here's a 61 promo:

68conv455

Nice looking wagon. I like it.
I like it more when I'm thinking sleeper.
How about a centrifugal supercharger to add a little oomph to that Rover V8?

OLD SKL 69

Very nice and solid looking project Joe. Just the thing to get you feeling better! Engine swap idea sounds really neat, is the Rover engine hard to find and expensive?

Did you just see Avatar?

70vista

Good looking Project Joe. First one I have ever seen. Hope you enjoy doing it.

f-85

Nice find, thats gonna be a cool project! And alittle sleeper!

ent72olds

Was keeping an eye on it on E-buy! Looks like a nice car for the money...I am partial to wagons! I take it you've seen the few tempest wagons in race form from the factory? Could do an Olds "what would have been version", if you change your mind on the rover set up......

Jamesbo

Have you given any thought to adding a W-36 stripe to your new wagon?

I know how fond you are of them being properly placed.

Whatcha think?

2blu442

Fun Toy, congrats Joe!

66ninetyeightls

WOW that puppy is cool!!!! I really like your idea about swapping the Rover engine it into it. Do you have a source for the engine?

rocketraider

I had a bunch of 1/24 scale polyethylene toy cars back in the day. Had a red and a blue F85 wagon that appeared to be made off the Jo-Han promo tooling. Had forgotten about the boat trailer that came with them.

The coolest two I had were a 1960 Impala ragtop and a 62 Thunderbird.

Yup. Time to make a Jetfire wagon the way it should have been made.

70 cutlass s

Don't die Joe there are so many questions I going to need an answer to when I get further along in my build.

joe_padavano

I'd be lying if I said that had not occurred to me. As soon as I bought the car, a Jetfire turbo and carb setup appeared on ebay. Must be a sign...

Actually, having seen what my friend went through converting his 62 convertible to a Jetfire (see a picture of it in the current JWO), I think I'll pass.

Actually, the supercharger from a Buick 3800SC can be adapted:



No, I've worked in the aerospace industry for 30 years. The term has been in use there since long before I was born (in other words, shortly after the earth cooled).

NIIIICE!

(Clearly SOMEONE has waaaay too much time on their hands)

Bluevista

Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

cutlassgal

You are such the artist!!! LOL

Bluevista

That promo is cool, wish they did a Vista.
I'll keep an eye out for another red plastic wagon.

This Palmers Plastics model would be nice to get, has some cool ideas you could use too.
Is the stripe placement correct on the tailgate?

The Stickman

Are you talking about the International wagon owners show? BTW nice wagon Joe. Odd to see you with something other than a big block. There are lots of trick parts for those 215's. You could use the Rover FI system with a vintage Hillborn intake.

Aron Nance

Stickman: No, don't know when the International Wagons show is; referencing the OCA Nationals in Sturbridge, MA, in July this year. You haven't posted any pics lately of your wagons, and your wife's excellent welding handiwork. Y'all aren't throught with them, are you?

rcorrigan5

Wow, Joe, that brings back some memories. My parents owned a '61 f-85 station wagon that hauled them and us 4 kids around for 5 years. In the end, the tranny was giving dad a lot of trouble (wouldn't shift out of first gear) and he traded it in for a brand new, red-on-red, '66 F-85 Deluxe 2-door hardtop with a 330-4bbl. That happened just about the time I got my driver's license......!
Randy C.

The Stickman

Oh for some reason I thought the OCA show was in Conn this year. No we aren't through with the wagons. I have been dealing with my migraines lately. Last thing I did was to add swaybars to mine and buy a Megasquirt ECU. We also took the SBC out of the Wife's wagon to make way for a SBO's. Her car will also be getting new wheels and tires and we will be dressing up the engine compartment and interior. Sorry to hijack Joe's thread.

Hark442

Joe, Was tracking that car on ebay as well. I would be getting a divorce If I would have bought that! At least A good olds guy got hte car. Have fun with it!

joe_padavano

Thanks. I did ask the wife first, and once again, the fact that she has the more expensive hobby (horses) paid off. I'm really trying to get the car to the 2010 Nationals. It will not be painted by then (hey, it's called PATINA ) but I'm hoping to have it roadworthy.