My wagon build

[karnutz]

Well I guess I should finally put a build thread seeing as I have been on here long enough buying and selling. I was originally just building my sedan but due to some unforeseen issues with the fitment of a couple of body panels I decided to start on my wagon and "bench" the sedan project until I can figure out an easy solution.

 

A while back I picked up a 70 510 goon from crackerjack and hauled it back to Vancouver. I parked it in the back corner of the shop until I could assess the actual overall condition of it. I have since done that and have come to realize that it is a lot cleaner than I originally thought with the only rust issues being the right front fender and a small spot on the lower unibody rail. Simple fixes really as I already have another fender that was for my sedan build and a small patch on the lower rail is extremely easy to do.

 

So here are the plans for it.

 

-Std conversion

-Repair rad support

-Do a bridgeport 13b swap with injection and a nasty turbo.

-Install rear gears (4.88's)

-3" stainless exhaust

-Front coil overs, my RCA's, adjustable TC rods, adjustable LCA's, and T3 camber plates

-Build rear traction bars to prevent pinion slap 

-Install new door and windsheild seals

-Install new window fuzzies and squeegees.

-lower the car

-Rear disk conversion

-shave batt tray and paint/smooth engine bay

-Prep and paint all inners

-Acura RSX front buckets 

-Possibly a front cage 

Once all that is done I plan to just drive it for the summer.

 

Future mods will include;

-Rear IRS from 240sx

-completely paint car(09 Viper orange)

-Replace all window seals

-Straighten and buff out all body trim

-New headliner

-Re-upholster rear seats and door cards

 

Here are some pics of the beastie.

Excuse the quality as they were at night and on my cell from when I towed it home.

I pulled it out of the shop today and started on it's transformation. Spent the better portion of the afternoon on it and accomplished a fair bit.

So far I was able to straighten the rad support with just a little dolly work to do.

Pulled the rear suspension apart and lowered it 3"

Pulled front seats and removed the factory sound deadening from the floors and found nothing more than light surface rust from a windsheild leak.

Took the roll out of the front edge of the hood. Now to sand and fill.

I have to give props to the Portland area as they clearly don't use salt in the winter(if they do it isn't nearly as much as here in Vancouver) Cuz every bolt has come out without any problems!!!! Cars of this age from around here are usually rusted to shit and you are always snapping and cutting the bolts off. Even the u-bolts off the rear diff came off easily!!!

Here is a side shots of it after today. I will take more pics and post tomorrow. 

The rear has a really nice ride height so once I bring home my coil overs the front will come down enough to give the goon a slight rake.

[karnutz]

Oh yeah in case anyone wants to know the rims are 16x8 Drag Racing with 195/40r16 up front and 205/40r16 in the rear.

[izzo]

Cool man. Following thread

[karnutz]

It's going to be a 13b rotary with a full "j-bridge" port job with the RX-7 5 speed. Eventually I will transplant the newer rotary from the RX-8 but there aren't too many around right now and what are available are really expensive. All I want is a running core as it will be coming apart for port work anyways.

[ArchetypeDatsun]

Nice goon!

[karnutz]

Thanks man!! Was a good score from crackerjack. 

[Spoona_Jay21]

It's going to be a 13b rotary with a full "j-bridge" port job with the RX-7 5 speed. Eventually I will transplant the newer rotary from the RX-8 but there aren't too many around right now and what are available are really expensive. All I want is a running core as it will be coming apart for port work anyways.

 

only problem i have heard with the new Renisis Rotary's is they are way more finicky, with injection and timing.

 

anyway i like the rig! looks like it will be a nice build!

 

planin on a carbed turbo'd 13B in my 620 someday.

[karnutz]

My sedan is a carbed 13b right now with a monster bridge port but is a little too much for the street. doesn't idle worth shit and with a holley 850 feeding it fuel consumption is really high!! But I guess you gotta pay if you want to play!!!

[karnutz]

Well made some decent progress today. Went out to my shop and fabbed up my trans crossmember and motor mounts, modified the eng crossmember assembled my ZX strut tubes with the coilover sleeves and RCA's and bolted up the ZX steering knuckles. When I got home I wound up getting the window fuzzies into the goon as well. Overall I would say a good days work was had!!

Here are pics of the progress.

Here is a comparison between the factory steering knuckles and the ZX ones.

This is the assembled strut less inserts and coils/camber plates.

 

Left and right motor mounts.( Keep in mind I haven't finished them yet)

 

 

The trans crossmember.(still need to polish out the welds)

I also managed to build the header today as well. It has 2 1/4" primaries into a 3" collector.

Thats all till maybe next weekend. Hopefully I will sling the eng and trans in by then. This was all mocked up in my sedan as the shop is not at my house.

[karnutz]

Well just did a little more work for the goon. I just finished cleaning up a spare diff so I had it bead blasted and then I put several coats of eurathane on it. The center section is currently getting the gears swapped out to 4.88's. I also made up the template for the rear disk conversion. I will be using Altime calipers and rotors as thats what I had lying around and should work well. Plus they are cheap to replace. The caliper bracket will be a weld on setup as I'm not concerned about a permanent application. I have no wants to convert it back. I also started to black out the window frames on the doors and body. I think it looks a little sleeker that way.

Here are a few pics of the progress.

rear diff mock up. Ignore the messy flange that will be ground to fit the diff before all is said and done.

And here is the template for the mount brackets.

[karnutz]

Well I managed to strip all the factory sound deadening off the floor now and sealed with a epoxy. Next step is to lay down a good insulation and new carpets. My new weather seals came in the other day. With any luck I will have the motor in this weekend.

[Yakuza]

very nice...

[Dirttrack510]

;)

[jrock4224]

wow man i like the mustard goon....very interested to see how the stance is once u get it all brolling again... nice job on the rear discs...

[karnutz]

The stance will have about an inch and a half rake towards the front maybe a bit more as I think I might run a slightly bigger tire in the rear as those ones are perfect in the front but look really small in the rear so I'm thinking of stepping it up to a 205-50/16. That should fill the wheel wells up a bit better. As for the color. It will be changing to the 05 viper orange pearl. Rear disk brackets are all cut out so now it's time to break out the welder and make em permanent then figure out the e-brake cables. It's getting there. I just want to have something on the road for the summer so paint will have to wait a while. I think it will polish up but definitely keeping my fingers crossed.

[karnutz]

Well not much to update. Dropped off the templates to the laser cutter to make for me. Should have those back on monday or tuesday. Ordered a hole whack of parts, got the locks re-keyed. Stripped off the front stock suspension to make way for all the new goodies!! Gonna pull the windsheild this week to replace the seal. New sound deadening/heatsheild is going in tomorrow, then new carpet goes in.

[karnutz]

Well I just finished making up my heim joint tie rod end kits. They look nice and will get rid of any slop/play in the steering that the factory "ball joint" style will allow. Just need to finish weld them and get them installed!!

 

[BadWagon]

Awesome work so far! 

what turbo are you planning for?

[karnutz]

Not sure what turbo yet. Just want to get it running first.

[karnutz]

Well been a while since I posted. Didn't make my "running" deadline for the summer so I thought I'd just get right into the deep. Got the eng compartment stripped and painted. I think it turned out pretty good for being done in my driveway!! Now I can start putting the suspension and engine in.

 

 

 

 

[carterb]

Man, you are going to town on this thing!

Keep it up!

[karnutz]

You should see the parts hoard!! I think I have everything I need now. Just got my motor back from being refreshed, suspension is ready to go in once I powder coat the crossmember then out with the glass and new seals all around.