1959 Ranchwagon Rat Rod in Australia

[mqhoon]

power steering...

Some more shots during the build

power steering rack fitted in from a holden commodore, very similar to a falcon one, but the holden one was in better condition so i used it, otherwise i would have used the ford one!

Im also running a toyota 8" rear axle as they have ford stud pattern, they are about 1/2" narrower than the tank fairlane diff and they are most likely stronger than a 1959 9" diff.
Yes, Japaneese parts are pretty good, lots of ratios available and lots of diff locks available for them too! (diff lock will be going in one day or an lsd)

Collapsable column built out of many bits and grafted to the original column for oldschool looks.

 

[mqhoon]

airbags

just received my toyota saurer air struts for the front, price: $55 for the pair, time to slam it!

 

[mqhoon]

It runs

hooked up the computer myself, and hey it runs, a bit rough at first as my throttle bodies were just sitting on the manifold with no gaskets and my firing order was out, after that, plumbed up the idle bypass, only used the 1 solenoid for the 2 throttle bodies so it was getting the right amount of air and seems to have worked, she idles ok, sounds loud with straight through mufflers and only a metre of exhaust all together on each side.
started wiring the new efi harness into the old ranchwagon harness, wasnt too hard, worked out most wires coming from the old dash.

will be cutting hoops in no time!

 

[falconvan]

Watch those Toyota parts; it may decide to take off on it's own!

 

[mqhoon]

runs rough

well she runs a bit rough.

will try to stick the original riser manifold setup on and see if its my throttle bodies that is causing the issues.

 

[wendle]

well she runs a bit rough.

will try to stick the original riser manifold setup on and see if its my throttle bodies that is causing the issues.

Good that it's running, rough or not. You'll be driving it around in no time.

I need to decide if I'm going to get Maurice to wire mine up, or get stuck in and work it out myself.

 

[mqhoon]

Good that it's running, rough or not. You'll be driving it around in no time.

I need to decide if I'm going to get Maurice to wire mine up, or get stuck in and work it out myself.

well shes not running that nice, i put the original manifold on and she runs nice, so i milled a plenum into the spacer i made up, its only a 3/4 groove 2" wide the length of the manifold to join all the ports, but that didnt work.

back to square 1 maybe.

i got hawkles up to wire up my jailbar, he looked at it, thought about it a bit, told me to put a holden engine in it and left!
i wired the whole thing myself including computer and on that auto gearbox it was a nightmare!

have a go yourself, at least youll know where to start looking when it goes wrong!
or buy a painless wiring harness, saves a lot of time.

 

[mqhoon]

Kool--I have something similar using the EFI lower half and a 2"x4" sq tube for a 'log' with a single 2bbl throttle body from a ford van..

Removing the big old phlenum may cause a lean run under acceleration unless you compensate with the computer.. They are usually full of atomitized fuel, and allow the motor to eat on a hard accelleration. I use a Megasquirt, and try to tune for it. A fancy wide band 02 sensor will work to adjust for it I think.

I like the look of those two big ole 2bbl T bodies, that will open the whole top of the motor up on WOT..!!

Looking good--I need a family ride too.

Keep us posted.

Hers the 5.0 I did with the EFI log setup. I had a twin turbo on it at first and used it as a turbo manifold, but smoked the motor with them, and went NA, and now use the intake normal. Angle Cut some driveshafts and gave it a stromberg look.

Works fine.
PA41

hey, you got any closer pics of your plenum setup? looks a lot taller than mine, might be a bit of my problem, and of course i may have to go aftermarket computer.

 

[wendle]

i got hawkles up to wire up my jailbar, he looked at it, thought about it a bit, told me to put a holden engine in it and left!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

[cl

 

[Tazz]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

[cl

Thats true - i was there hahaha

 

[mqhoon]

hawkles

Thats true - i was there hahaha

hawkles, the auto electrician that wont even do the job even if your gonna pay him!!

 

[mqhoon]

updates

More pics, stuffing around with some runners to see if it makes a difference, the 108deg bends is what i had that fits!

note rack and pinion was in the way of the starter so i used an aod bellhousing starter and cut out the starter mount and welded it in the c4 housing.

 

[mqhoon]

more pics

Battery location, note these 2 square holes were already in the floorpans, so thats where the battery went, fits perfect.

Fuel tank is in from an xb falcon.

crossmember for a center bearing, tailshaft was going to be way long so this was the easiest plan.

Toyota hilux 2wd diff fitted in rear, need to make up the rear driveshaft now and im driving!

And last, check out the dash!, lights are on and working.

 

[bob w]

If I had your project, I would have quit a long time ago and taken up stamp collecting! I'm really impressed with all the tech work you are doing.[cl

 

[mqhoon]

made moe progress

Well she runs, and almost drives now, sorted out the throttle bodies they run sweet now had a few wires crossed!
built my tailshafts from chrome moly 4140 tube in the lathe, hopefully they dont need balancing!! well see! diff oil is in, just need a throttle cable and a peddal.

lokar nostalgic shifter got installed, got some mickey thompson rocker covers soon to go on with a billet air cleaner setup should look the part when its all on.

How about the height? she sits about 50mm off the floor to the chassis rails!! maybe a little too low! Will have to raise her up a bit, possibly larger profile tires.

 

[Thunder1]

I don't know about Australia but up here she would be sitting about right!! There's always air ride suspension if your interested in that. I like it like it is!

Thunder

 

[wendle]

Looks real good man.

I'm getting itchy feet not being able to work on any of my stuff.

 

[tranhtn]

good work man
the stance is good and it should go well with that motor

 

[mqhoon]

lowrider

unfortunately here in Australia our minimum height is 100mm 3" so it has to get raised a little, i was considering airbags but couldn't be bothered yet, i just want to get it running and driving which should be soon.
too many other projects in the way!
i have a haflinger im workin on a bit,
just bought a 1928 chrysler sedan to rat one day as well.

 

[fuzz]

This is a really kool project. You do great work. So what is a haflinger..[P