Restoration

03/08/2019 - Finally found the correct can type oil cap for the Rambler. Used but, OEM and correct model year. Took a lot of scrubbing and then sanding to get it ready for paint. After a couple coats of gloss black engine paint and it looks great.

04/30/2018 - Rambler got a Dash Mat today.

04/26/2018 - Finally got a couple things taken care of since December. Found the correct model dome light lenses and assembly for our Rambler. One lens alone has been going for $50. We got a used set of three for $10 off eBay. Took care of a couple oil leaks and in the process got a new harmonic balance, front seal and oil drain plug. She also got new headlights.

12/04/2017 - Finally got the chrome windshield molding reinstalled. Required the windshield to be removed once again and reinstalled with a new gasket and the chrome. Charlie, the owner of Drop Dead Customs, did the work. Because he knew how much our Daisy meant to us, he chose to do the work himself. EXCELLENT JOB!!!

9/29/2017 - Here's our Rambler sporting new tires. The out of round tires, caused by many years of sitting, were finally replaced. Tires, balance and alignment by North Brevard Tire. The ride is so much better.

8/30/2017 - The 1982 Midas muffler has finally been replaced. As you can see, it was in bad shape. The new muffler was installed by Economy Muffler & Brake in Cocoa. Amazing how much quieter she is.

8/26/2017 - Our Rambler finally got it's gas tank replaced. The modified 72 Matador Station Wagon tank (on right of first pic below) was removed and a restored 1966 Rambler Classic gas tank (on left of first pic below) installed. Nice to have a properly fit gas tank and finally a working gas gauge.

05/23/2017 - Got a set of replacement kick panels for the Rambler. Here is one painted and ready to be installed.

12/16/2016 - After a little more than one year , our Rambler came home from it's engine compartment, firewall and dashboard restoration (by Tim Harper). Also had the transmission over hauled by JW Performance in Rockledge. Also had a wonky shifter problem straightened out by Jamie's Auto Repair and Transmission.

6/3/2016 - Engine compartment painting complete. Engine, in a sporty red, and the transmission have been installed. Wheels back on her. Work continues. Our Rambler radios are back from the Alabama Historical Radio Society in Birmingham. One was a little to far gone but, the other, which came from the donor car, was in better shape. Some parts swapping and a little work got it sounding like new thanks to Tom at the AHRS.

5/27/2016 - Just a few photos of the painted engine compartment and cleaned up steering box.

4/8/2016 - Our Rambler radio on the bench at the Alabama Historical Radio Society in Birmingham

3/18/2016 - Our Rambler having it's replacement firewall installed.

3/15/2016 - Work continues on the engine compartment restoration. The firewall from our Rambler has been removed as well as the firewall from the donor. Pic 1 shows our Rambler with the firewall removed. This was taken from the driver side with the front to the left. Pic 2 was taken from the front. Pic 3 shows some expert welding that was done on the passenger side. Pic 4 shows some rotted out floorboard and firewall parts from our Rambler. The fiberglass on these pieces had never hardened. The piece on the right is a kick panel from the donor. Pic 5 is another kick panel from the donor. Pic 6 is part of the firewall from our Rambler. Pic 7 is the cowling from the donor after sandblasting and primer. Pic 8 is the donor car firewall toe board and floorboard (drivers side on left upside down) after sandblasting and primer.

2/1/2016 - The fabrication of the cowling was going to be a very involved and expensive process. Instead we found a 1966 Rambler Classic 2 door at Martin Supply Inc., a salvage yard in Colorado. We contacted them and purchased a large piece of the front end, including the dashboard, firewall, and cowling. We are amazed at how big of piece we had actually purchased. Other than having some surface rust, the cowling is in great shape. Lots of great replacement parts and we will be able to convert to electric windshield wipers.

1/4/2016 - The Rambler's transmission is back from the fine folks at JW Performance. After the rebuild it looks like a new transmission. I mentioned the engine being removed in the last post. Here it is on a stand. The cowling is worse than we expected. The windshield was removed and the top of the cowling cut away. You can see what was left of the top of the cowling and damage caused by the rust. Some rust holes were fond inside the cowl on the drivers side. But, the worst is on the passage side. Almost 2 feet of the inside is completely gone and you can easily look into the passage floor board.

12/14/2015 - The Rambler's engine compartment restoration has begun. Tim Harper is doing the restoration. Engine and transmission are out. Fenders are off. The cowl where the heater box mounts under the dash, was completely rusted away. Heater core and valve are shot. Nothing we really didn't expect. Surprisingly, where we thought there would be rust, under the fenders, it was solid. The transmission has been delivered to JW Performance in Rockledge for overhaul. Stay tuned for future updates.

04/15/2015 - One of the big problems we had was replacing the strut arm bushings. The strut arm on the Rambler isn't like the shock absorber type "strut" we know today. Today, it would be called a radius arm. So, once we reviewed the service manual with our mechanic, Mike, for the right part name, the search was on to find a pair. Originally, the Rambler may have come off the assembly line with single piece bushings (pic 1 below pair) but, at some point in time they were replaced with better two piece bushings. After about a year of ordering bushings, we still could not get any to fit. The last set, and the closest, is pictured below (pic 2). Mike suggested we see if the bushings could be cut down. Will not mention the name of the first local car parts store, with a shop, that we took them to but, they are a National Auto Parts....store. The guy in the shop took one quick glance, said it couldn't be done, handed them back and walked off. This is when our neighbor, who we call "The Amazing Mr. Sees", came to our aid. He has about every tool made and has made a few never seen before. He examined the bushings for about 20 minutes, made several calculations to get the measurements right and said he would have them done in a few days. About four days later, Mr. Sees delivered a PERFECT set of strut arm bushings for the Rambler (Pic 3). I can not tell you how appreciative we are. Thank you Mr Sees!!! Back to McMan Auto Service to have the bushings installed as well as a new alternator (Pic 4).

03/21/2015 - A couple Saturday mornings ago the Rambler over heated and proceeded to throw up in the parking lot of Louis's BBQ. Found the lower radiator hose was split. After repair (new lower radiator hose) it was driven back to its storage unit where it once again over heated and threw up in the parking lot. It was taken to McMan Auto Repair for a new upper radiator hose, thermostat and water pump. The radiator was removed and taken to Melbourne Radiator for repair. They found it completely plugged up but, were able to clear it. Came back looking almost like a new radiator. While at McMan, the Rambler got new shocks, the front brakes worked on to stop a vibration, new master cylinder and an oil seal leak behind the vibration damper repaired. If you want to know what automobile atherosclerosis looks like, look at the pictures of the water pump. BIG THANKS to those fine folks at O'Reilly Auto Parts on Garden Street for helping round up all the parts.

02/11/2015 - Photoshoped this Northeast Rambler decal for the back of the Rambler. Had the decals printed at Firehouse Graphics and Signs in Merritt Island.

2/18/2014 - The armrest frames came back from the plastic chromer. We used Quicksilver Finishes out of St. Augustine Florida (http://quicksilverfinishes.com/ ). They did an excellent job.

2/15/2014 - Our Rambler came home last night. While we still have work to do, it is nothing we can't handle.

11/11/2013 - A little more progress. More chrome installed on the front. Front passenger vent shade installed. Carpet and back seat being installed. The tailgate sporting the Cross Country logo.

10/29/2013 - We got new factory carpet cut for our Rambler from our friends at American Parts Depot. Vintage Garage has it laid out to relax before install. We bought bulk carpet in the same color for the cargo area. More chrome has been installed, along with the front bumper and the RAMBLER letters for the hood and tailgate. The dash pads have also been installed. Years ago, the front passenger vent shade fell off. Found an eBay vendor with an OEM set of three (the two front's and one back door). Originally, we had problems finding a fuel pump that had a fitting for the vacuum wipers. We planned on converting the wipers to electric. During an eBay search a NOS fuel pump for vacuum wipers was found. It was quickly purchased, solving the wiper issue.

10/26/2013 - A couple years ago we bought an OEM Rambler radio just like the original one. Working radios were expensive. We decided to get one that didn't work just to fill the holes in the dash and install a hidden stereo. The radio we bought did not seem to be in that bad of shape. It was cleaned up, hooked up to a speaker, an antenna and power put to it and sure enough it worked. The speaker wires and power cable were replaced. Bought a replacement 6x9 speaker that is stereo. The radio is mono. Later on we may figure a way to install an amp and an input for an MP3 player and a switch to isolate the two inputs to the speakers.

09/18/2013 - We actually tracked down some reproduction trim clips for the side chrome molding. Let's just say they weren't cheap. The chrome molding was cleaned up and installed. The luggage rack was cleaned up and installed with all the mounting bolts sealed. The headliners were also installed. The headliner side supports were stripped down and painted. These were originally covered in a trim material but, we didn't think we would be able to find any so, the material was color matched and painted the same. The center headliner support was also painted and installed.

04/21/2013 - It has been a while since an update has been posted but, that doesn't mean there hasn't been any progress. Chrome parts are being reinstalled. The grill, right headlight frame, left headlight area chrome, right rear chrome and door handles have been installed. Here it is at the Vintage Garage with the installed chrome pieces.

The armrest frames have been prepped for plastic chroming. The original chrome had mostly come off and they had been painted a silver color years ago. Below is an image of them in various states of preparation. Note that three were molded in a green/silver bowling ball looking plastic and one was molded a red/silver/green. The other image is after all prep.

The original dome lights had to be replaced. Exact replacements, either used or NOS, were just to expensive. So, we got a pair off ebay that will do just fine. These are from the early 1970's AMC Javelin and Wagoneer.

Took apart the speedometer. Gave it a good cleaning and painted the visors.

We have been really scratching our heads about what to do about the headliners (front passenger area and cargo area). These were molded pieces, made of some type of foam material. The originals were stained, water damaged and torn so badly they couldn't even be recovered. We actually found a set at American Parts Depot in West Manchester, Ohio. Other than dirty they were in excellent shape. We expected to have to recover them because of the color described but, once they arrived we discovered they were exactly the same color as our originals. so, they are going to be installed and under go some light cleaning.

Bought this original 1966 Rambler Classic Station Wagon promo car with box on ebay. Looks like it is Britannia Blue in the image but, actually Cortez Aqua. Also picked up on ebay, original sales brochures and set of owner manuals and a reproduction Tri Poised Power decal for the air cleaner. With a little Photoshop work was able to make this reproduction owners manual envelope.

05/04/2011 - The dash pad was removed and was in sad shape, I took the dash pads to Kev's Auto & Marine Upholstery at 212 Cheney Hwy in Titusville. I had it back in 24 hours and the difference is amazing. Before and after pics.

04/23/2011 - Several months ago the Rambler was moved to the Vintage Garage in Childersburg. Here, it is going through more restoration including interior and exterior parts. Unable to find a new fuel pump with the vacuum windshield wiper fitting, we decided to use a standard mechanical fuel pump and convert the windshield wipers to electric. The Vintage Garage will be handling this as well. I finally got to see it for myself and the body work Brown's did is excellent. At the Vintage Garage, it was parked in a spot that made it hard to get some good overall pictures. In the rear end picture you can see the new gas tank in the back and where the rust was repaired over the tail gate.

Driving through Midfield on the way back from BAMA we spotted this 1966 Rambler Classic 770 4-door for sale. We had to stop and check it out. All original, except for the add on stereo. Shows just over 32,000 miles.

02/18/2010: The body work is underway at Brown's Auto Collision & Paint in Sylacauga AL. Here it is from primer to post paint booth.

03/06/2010: Joe did a great job picking out the perfect vinyl upholstery for the seats. It really gives it that no AC, hot and sweaty, legs sticking to it look of the 1960s. Beautiful job by Hill's Upholstery of Sylacauga AL.

10/16/2009: Transmission is repaired and Joe took it for a short cruise down SR 285 to the body shop. I don't think this cruise was legal, but it got it there. Thanks K&R!

10/11/2009: On a rainy day it was loaded on a car carrier and off to K&R Transmission Repair.

09/23/2009: FINALLY, the brakes are done. The problem was the rear wheel cylinders. Once the right parts were found they went right in. Brake lines were flushed and leaked all over the place, so it was new brake lines. Next stop, the transmission shop. Thank you Cooper's!

As of 08/16/2009: The engine has been started and run up. Brakes are a work in progress. Transmission was filled and it was driven around at shop a little.