Brilliant! You've got the GRM mindset down pat. Old wagon + big six + modern brakes = very cool.
I'll keep my eye out for it in the wild.
Brilliant! You've got the GRM mindset down pat. Old wagon + big six + modern brakes = very cool.
I'll keep my eye out for it in the wild.
I love it. What master cylinder are you running?
In reply to Javelin: Rear discs are factory Explorer that came on the narrowed donor 8.8 rear.
I'd be happy to help with some brackets.
In reply to Nitroracer: Factory drum/drum '69 Rambler master reman from Rockauto. 1" bore, 1.4" stroke. Stops hard with a hint of front lock-up at the end.
The rear end was $150 craigslist score out of a '97 Explorer. Cutting 3" off the passenger side tube and using two driver side axle shafts is the hot ticket for 60's/70's Ford/Mopar/AMC compacts. The width ended up about an inch wider than the original. This has been covered on the interwebs before, but here's how my buddy Jesse and I narrowed it.
Drilled the Factory Plug Welds(use a good bit, this can take forever with a dull bit in your driveway...)
Used a port-a-power between the original spring perch and the carrier housing, and a torch, and a BFH, if you used two port-a-powers it would be easier. It's also a good reason not to remove any of the factory mounts before narrowing, I'd read about people bending the disc brake mounts and axle flanges by pushing on them. The spring perches don't budge.
Tube pulled, it was pressed in 3", which is exactly how much needed to be removed, it's like it was meant to be:
Friction Saw made short work of the axle tube(I affectionately refer to them as Hell Saws).
Clean Up courtesy of Jesse:
Just enough press to get it back together, used a torch and hammer to make up for the slight press angle.
Plug-welded, just like the original, it worked for a 4500lb SUV for a couple-hundred thousand, should be ok in a Rambler Wagon.
Set it on a couple jackstands and checked it with a digital angle finder, turned out perfect. We also installed the shorter axle shaft and double-checked the seal witness mark to make sure everything was kosher.
In reply to Samaleshi:
Great build! You say you used the Jeep AW 4 transmission. I am guessing you somehow blocked off where the transfercase was, or is This beast isn't 4WD by chance
In reply to Billy_Bottle_Caps:
There were 2wd XJs.
In reply to Kenny_McCormic:
right you are..my bad..
Bitchin' Rambler! I love everything about it! Now we need a build thread on Jesse's van - I used to doodle something that must be very much like his van, 30 years ago in High School!
I am also interested in buying a set of those brackets, or the pattern to make them.
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