62 Rambler American Wagon 5.3 swap
12-23-2013, 02:17 AM
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
62 Rambler American Wagon 5.3 swap I've been looking for a nice classic wagon for a while to do an LS swap on. I finally found a rather unique one that I really dug and picked it up.
My plans with the car are you to do a straight forward junkyard 5.3 swap with a 4l60e and a ford 8.8 rear. I'm intending on completing a power steering setup and getting AC working with the car as well as a few other amenities. I'm intending on keeping the interior/exterior basically stock and adapting everything as necessary to match the stock interior for a nice sleeper setup (similar to my LS M3)
I tend to get swaps done pretty quickly and that's my plan with this one as well. Unlike my previous swaps I don't know how a few portions of this will go so I expect it will take a bit longer. I'm planning to be driving it within about a month as long as I don't come across anything unexpected.
I started on the teardown tonight and have a number of PTO days to burn before the end of the year that will give me good time to make a good dent in it.
You may see my friends 67 mustang in the background that is also getting an LS swap
The day I bought the car
setup in the shop
the stock engine getting ready to come out
the pile o junkyard parts
the now empty bay
the trimmed part from the factory cross member the PO had performed when they fitted the mustang 2 front suspension.
My plans with the car are you to do a straight forward junkyard 5.3 swap with a 4l60e and a ford 8.8 rear. I'm intending on completing a power steering setup and getting AC working with the car as well as a few other amenities. I'm intending on keeping the interior/exterior basically stock and adapting everything as necessary to match the stock interior for a nice sleeper setup (similar to my LS M3)
I tend to get swaps done pretty quickly and that's my plan with this one as well. Unlike my previous swaps I don't know how a few portions of this will go so I expect it will take a bit longer. I'm planning to be driving it within about a month as long as I don't come across anything unexpected.
I started on the teardown tonight and have a number of PTO days to burn before the end of the year that will give me good time to make a good dent in it.
You may see my friends 67 mustang in the background that is also getting an LS swap
The day I bought the car
setup in the shop
the stock engine getting ready to come out
the pile o junkyard parts
the now empty bay
the trimmed part from the factory cross member the PO had performed when they fitted the mustang 2 front suspension.
12-24-2013, 08:06 PM
#5
I'm doing this on my '63 American. No way I'd even consider it w/o removing the factory suspension and fenderwell bulges, hope it works out for you. I'm 60 and cannot/will not resort to any swap that requires actual "work" to do basic maintenance like oil filter and plugs.
Trending Topics
08-15-2014, 08:43 AM
#8
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Rocky Mtn thin air & snow...
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Wow, this is a neat project, that car's going to get lots of attention when done. I sure don't envy whoever builds the headers on this vehicle though...
BTW - did anyone else have this song pop into their heads when looking at the pictures??
BTW - did anyone else have this song pop into their heads when looking at the pictures??
