My 54 Conestoga project

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My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Stu Cool » 2013 Jan 07 Mon 2:18 pm

My '54 will be built in the fashion we might have done back in the 60s or so. As a car we were driving to school or to work and adding things as we could. It will inherit a 289 from a '64 Cruiser along with all the front suspension, 11" finned drum brakes, and TT Dana 44. One concession I am making to more modern times is a 200-4R overdrive automatic and eventually air conditioning. First steps are to swap out the suspension and brakes, cleaning and painting as I go, then the engine after updating valve seals, freeze plugs and painting etc. At that point I hope it will be road worthy and I will throw some blankets over the seats and drive it for a while. At that point I will decide what I will do with the interior and exterior.

Moved the Conestoga into the shop today

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And introduced it to its future 289

Later today I will begin removing the front sheet metal in prep for pulling the motor and front suspension.
Attachments
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Last edited by Stu Cool on 2013 Jan 17 Thu 6:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Pat Dilling
Olivehurst, CA
'54 Conetoga Retirement Project starting 2012
'53 Custom Starlight
Stu Cool
 
Posts: 52
Joined: 2010 Feb 24 Wed 9:40 pm

Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Mike » 2013 Jan 07 Mon 3:58 pm

Cool...no pun intended...!
My "new" wagon is the same color combination, light blue/dark blue. Like you say about your interior, I'm gonna leave the paint/body work till last.

If you're gonna leave the Champian dash in place, I've got an "ok" cluster and a good cluster assembly if you're interested.

Hmmm...freeze plugs, hadn't thought of that "upgrade" before installing my engine. Maybe I need to do that while it's on the stand..! Thanks for the heads up..!

Mike
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Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Stu Cool » 2013 Jan 07 Mon 11:23 pm

Freeze plugs are so much easier to change on the engine stand :) And they are cheap! Also gives you a chance to dig out any core sand or other gunk between the cylinders.

I have it in my mind to change the dash, I am going to look for a 59-60 Chevy dash and make it fit. I also want to make it deeper so there is more room for AC.
Pat Dilling
Olivehurst, CA
'54 Conetoga Retirement Project starting 2012
'53 Custom Starlight
Stu Cool
 
Posts: 52
Joined: 2010 Feb 24 Wed 9:40 pm

Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Stu Cool » 2013 Jan 10 Thu 5:57 pm

Found the original Body color label under the glove box today. Two tone, Vienna Blue & Nocturne Blue. 2522 C Nason, WYL - WWE W-F-Y-C-K Models

Removing front sheet metal. Came to the conclusion that this car has been driven a lot on dirt roads. Very lucky there is not more rust on the fenders than there is. Dirt was piled up under the headlights. Had to use a nut cracker on the nuts holding the core support and fender to the frame. Driver fender is off. Next step is getting the climatizer out of the passenger fender so I can remove it.

Pat
Pat Dilling
Olivehurst, CA
'54 Conetoga Retirement Project starting 2012
'53 Custom Starlight
Stu Cool
 
Posts: 52
Joined: 2010 Feb 24 Wed 9:40 pm

Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Mike » 2013 Jan 11 Fri 7:11 am

I had a 59 El Camino for a coupla years, I did like the dash design. May take some narrowin to get it into the Stude...!

Yea, freeze plugs, I'm also gonna stick one of my adjustable gear drives in the stock Stude engine, just to make sure everything lives on the street fairly well. While designed more for racing, it should be ok.

I had given some thought to cutting my frame to lower the upper control arm mount location (to get some negitive camber while turning), but decided since I had to take the fenders off to do the work....I decided not to. I'm already much farther into the car than I originally wanted to be. All the wiring, the steering box (finding all the Saginaw parts), putting a Commandor dash in it...it's a daily driver (or will be), not a show car..! Gotta stop somewhere with the changes..

Keep taking things apart...maybe I'll finish before you do...

Mike
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Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Stu Cool » 2013 Jan 12 Sat 9:25 am

DSCN2116.jpg
Removed the front sheet metal yesterday
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DSCN2115.jpg
Found some rust in the passenger door pillar I will need to repair.
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Fedex guy brought this nice eye candy. Hope it will fit under the hood!
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Next step is to push it outside and go after it with the pressure washer. Then the old flat six comes out.
Pat Dilling
Olivehurst, CA
'54 Conetoga Retirement Project starting 2012
'53 Custom Starlight
Stu Cool
 
Posts: 52
Joined: 2010 Feb 24 Wed 9:40 pm

Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Mike » 2013 Jan 13 Sun 5:03 pm

The intake assy. looks nice..
Boy, there IS a lot of crud in the front suspension (and I imagine the rest of the car). I like the home made body mount..! At least someone was thinking a bit there.

Questions -
Does your wagons dash have a cigarette ligher ?
Do you need it if it does ?
Would you be willing to sell it if there's one there and you don't need it ?

Thanks

Mike
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Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Stu Cool » 2013 Jan 13 Sun 7:57 pm

Yes there is a cigarette lighter. It's all yours. I assume you need the face plate too. No need to pay for it, maybe you will have something like that when I need it.

Pat
Pat Dilling
Olivehurst, CA
'54 Conetoga Retirement Project starting 2012
'53 Custom Starlight
Stu Cool
 
Posts: 52
Joined: 2010 Feb 24 Wed 9:40 pm

Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Mike » 2013 Jan 14 Mon 7:42 am

Pat -

See PM
Thank you very much.

Mike
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Re: My 54 Conestoga project

Postby Stu Cool » 2013 Jan 17 Thu 5:10 pm

DSCN2129.jpg
Scored some better front fenders. A little rust and the metal on the bottom of the passenger is getting thin, but much easier to fix that the ones that came on the car. And the battery box in intact and not corroded!
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DSCN2128.jpg
Today I attacked the build up of dirt on the frame and suspension. Also jacked the car up high on one side and took the pressure washer to the under side. Man that is some hard clay under there. Scrape, pressure wash, scraper, pressuere wash; repeat. At least it was a nice day to get wet.
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DSCN2130.jpg
Here are the results, still a lot of gunk on the motor, but not worried about that. It is coming out in the next few days. I'm giving it away and the receiver can worry about the dirt.
DSCN2130.jpg (158.75 KiB) Viewed 28589 times
Pat Dilling
Olivehurst, CA
'54 Conetoga Retirement Project starting 2012
'53 Custom Starlight
Stu Cool
 
Posts: 52
Joined: 2010 Feb 24 Wed 9:40 pm

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