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Project Rumbler: 1965 Rambler Marlin


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Off on another project! This time, a personal build. I started off in the car hobby with a 1962 Rambler Classic Sedan at age 13, only later going on to Jap cars in my high school years. Sometime in there, I picked up this 1965 Rambler Marlin from California. A bone stock, rust free, super straight car! Powered by the Rambler (not chevy) 327ci V8, PS, PB, A/C, optional front disc brakes... It's pretty awesome as Ramblers go. This car was AMC's offering to compete against the Mustang and Charger. Smallish car with a big motor, and a sweeping fastback! 

Here's the car as it was when I started on Monday:

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Plans are to go through all the mechanical components, all the chassis, and all the systems; get everything running perfectly, and then drive it to the Good-Guys car show in Fort Worth, TX on the weekend of Sept 29th. I know, I just love setting deadlines... ;)

 

But, I can't leave anything stock so... It's getting lowered, custom exhaust (hence the name "Project Rumbler"), and vintage NASCAR spec rims and tires! Idea is to build a "what-if" car. What if AMC had campaigned a car in the 1965-66 NASCAR season? Something to take down the Dodge Chargers? Like this one:
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Something with a bad attitude and some power to back it up. 

 

So, I got to work tearing out a lot of stock components. Exhaust was first to go, followed by the fuel tank. The tank might get reused after getting cleaned out, but I'm waffling on the idea of a fuel cell... 

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Keen eyes will notice the factory "Track-Bar", just like more modern Nascar cars!

 

 

Rims and wheels arrive tomorrow, so I should get some mockup pics then. Going to be doing the messy and dirty work first, fun stuff comes later in the build... :)

~Peter

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do something with that front end it looks like the original desinger had no imagination in that part (I think it need sqare headlights same stile as the rear ones). The rear of the car looks way cooler.

I'm keeping an eye on this thread, this thing you got has a lot of potential.

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do something with that front end it looks like the original desinger had no imagination in that part (I think it need sqare headlights same stile as the rear ones). The rear of the car looks way cooler.

I'm keeping an eye on this thread, this thing you got has a lot of potential.

Plans with the headlights is to convert the innermost lights to airscoops like on the Ford Thunderbolt. I think I'm going to keep the front end stock for the time being. Kinda defeats the idea of a "stock car" if I start modifying too much. :/

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The big three were stuck with the round headlamp till '80? Body styling was designed around round and won't look right without them. Same as putting rectangular lamps on a 620  or 17" rims on a Datsun car...

 

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Got some teardown completed on the brakes. Front is down to the spindle at this point. 

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New shocks, pads, rotors, lines, etc... all incoming this week. 

The back is a little more involved. Have all the brake hardware removed, going to be pulling axles tomorrow and inspect bearings and then clean and paint the brake-backing plates before re-assembly next week when new shoes, cylinders, shocks, etc... arrive. 

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I did receive the new rims yesterday. Discovered the front "should" fit (haven't put tires on to double check yet), but the rear rims were just a 1/2 inch past my comfort zone outwards too close to the inner wheel well. So, some creative figuring, and I realized that if I go a size wider, I can gain some more backspacing to hopefully resolve the issue. That means getting the wheels custom made to order, so hopefully they'll be here by the end of May...

 

Just to stave off your curiousity, here's a stock photo of the rims I've ordered:
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Bassett 15x7Front and 15x8 Rear - Steel rims, 22lbs each, Made in the USA! Combine that with some raised letter tires, and we're half way to the stock car look already!

~Peter

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My mother in law had an old Rambler in the back yard. 327 and vacuum wipers.... I remember the wipers because there was a vacuum booster pump on the fuel pump.

Similar memories here, got used to letting off the gas to build vacuum so they'd wipe faster. Nowadays, I'll probably just Rain-X the windshield and watch the forecast. It really only rains seriously in Lubbock 2 weeks outa the whole year. The rest is just evening or morning showers for 30mins or less. Not the end of the world having finicky wiper motor.

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Got 2/4 tires mounted and balanced today:
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These are actually the fronts, the rears are being custom made, so I just threw these on to check the look.

 

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Obviously, it's still suspended by the hoist, so it'll sit much lower when on the ground.

 

I think it's pretty badass! I'm really more of a JDM guy than a muscle car dude, but this is sweet.

~Peter

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Been making a lot of progress on the Marlin. Got the front rotors/spindles done, and just installed the rear axles tonight. Discovered this is the Limited-Slip Differential! Rambler called it the "Twin-Grip". Had fun getting that set up properly... Nothing pic worthy so far, but I should be getting all 4 wheels on this week and I'll grab some pics of it then. These new rear rims are really wide... ;)

~Peter

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Oh yeah, Good-Guys is definitely doable. May not be in full "race-mode", but should be ready by end of June/July. Running low on funds at the moment, so pausing work so I can get back to some other paying projects... Should be more updates after June 1.

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That's an unwritten rule, technically the only requirement us 1972 or older... But yes, I've heard stories of gate-guards and more blocking 100% import cars. Other option is buying a spot in the swap meet and claiming you're there to sell American parts and the Datto is your parts-hauler...

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