Little Brown Wagon

[nstyle73]

This car has been for sale on here before, and I picked it up from the guy that Mopar Mafia sold it to, or that is what the seller told me anyway. It wasn't exactly what he told me it was when I got there, but a two year search has netted about 10 of these 71-73 wagons, and only three within reasonable driving distance. So, I bit the bullet after seeing that the engine was not a Magnum 360 and finding the driver's floor rusted out. The two barrel, points and a whole host of things need to go to make it a daily driver. 360, small cam, headers, 904 with shift kit and 3K-ish stall. It needs shocks and tires at a minimum.

I have 5 kids and a third row seat needs to be procured ASAP to appease the wife. (No car seats in the front seat)

I'm about a month from getting to it but a 340 intake, 600 Holley and electronic ignition are in the cargo hold right now. As are an 8 3/4, big block torsion bars, ralley dash and some Wilwood front brakes. I scored a few awesome deals but I will highlight them when I actually get to the installation.

 

[mopar 3 B]

The back of the third row seat is not built into the cargo floor? The seat bottom was basically a cushion.
When the kids 5 of them got into their teen years we obtained a 76 Chrysler T&C wagon plenty of space for 7 in the 9 passenger.

 

[hyde-park]

This car has been for sale on here before, and I picked it up from the guy that Mopar Mafia sold it to, or that is what the seller told me anyway. It wasn't exactly what he told me it was when I got there, but a two year search has netted about 10 of these 71-73 wagons, and only three within reasonable driving distance. So, I bit the bullet after seeing that the engine was not a Magnum 360 and finding the driver's floor rusted out. The two barrel, points and a whole host of things need to go to make it a daily driver. 360, small cam, headers, 904 with shift kit and 3K-ish stall. It needs shocks and tires at a minimum.

I have 5 kids and a third row seat needs to be procured ASAP to appease the wife. (No car seats in the front seat)

I'm about a month from getting to it but a 340 intake, 600 Holley and electronic ignition are in the cargo hold right now. As are an 8 3/4, big block torsion bars, ralley dash and some Wilwood front brakes. I scored a few awesome deals but I will highlight them when I actually get to the installation.

View attachment 552451

I'm digging this one, no roof rack!

 

[nstyle73]

The 6 passenger wagons have a flat metal panel that covers the area that the third row seat would fold down into. Then the middle seat folds forward for a huge cargo area. I know, the lack of cargo rack makes it look almost sporty.

 

[davek]

nice wagon

 

[Chilsam]

400 B.B...

 

[YY1]

Nice classic SUV.

 

[roadrunnerh]

Very nice wagon - if only I had the money and time!

 

[65wgn440]

"LITTLE" ????????...........

 

[nstyle73]

That's a glam photo, it has some rust issues and some character here and there, but for now the body is staying beater-esque. An engine swap and likely a second one are planned, but I won't get ahead of myself. It needs to run and drive for awhile as it was actually bought to use.

 

[nstyle73]

Just for grins. Its 5 degrees out.

 

[nstyle73]

Please disregard the shotty work as the teflon tape and the throttle linkage were a rush job to get it mobile so that I could get to the generator. That said, I need to acquire the correct adapter for a Holley to the throttle cable and kick down linkage and a couple plugs. The Holley fixed the starting issue. It was about 33 today and three pumps and it fired right up with the choke on. Very satisfying after fighting that two barrel to the point of not even being able to get it to start. I had fuel to the 2 barrel but it wouldn't start and if you poured gas in the carb, it wouldn't stay running. The voltage regulator requires some attention as does a hard hot start issue before I even get to the road manners issues.

 

[nstyle73]

Several nicknames have been thrown around and at this wagon, The Deuce, The Brown Deuce, Ridiculous, and several others. I would like to throw out Insidious, which is a big name at this point, but hopefully it will live up to it in time."...operating or proceeding in a seemingly harmless way, but actually with grave effect" The other definitions fit as well.

 

[nstyle73]

I was trying not to get ahead of myself because I wanted to get the 360 running right before moving on, and I still intend to, but the transmission shop called and said my 727 was done today. SO, long story short, I fell into a 727 and GV overdrive for $400. Its not all gravy as its an RV trans and GV, meaning it has a U-joint at the end of the GV instead of a slip yoke, but I spoke with the local truck shop about making a driveshaft with a slip yoke, like a 2 ton and larger truck. Their price was not much more than having a new drive shaft made, and factoring in the savings on the unit, and that its a wagon, that I don't have to hear about NoM, I had the trans rebuilt. The tail shaft is shorter obviously but the crossmember mount is still going to be close enough to make work. While I was standing in the guy's garage I called GV to see how much the wiring and control box cost and how to see if the unit was even functional. It checked as good as it could out of a vehicle without wiring. Worst case, the GV doesn't work and it runs 1:1 and I wasted $400 on a 727 and a couple hundred on a drive shaft. However, some of that wouldn't be a complete waste if this doesn't work out. GV will trade units for $1200 if you have one that doesn't work. Anyway, I have priced it all out, did most of the homework and took a chance.

Obviously, with an RV trans I have to put a big block in front of it and that 360 won't do, so I looked at the 383 on the engine hoist and didn't really get excited about it, so I am using an engine I have for another car that got backburnered. '72 440, forged crank, 1/2" pickup TRW 10.5:1 pistons, Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, Comp Cam XE294H-10 (250/256 @.050) 110LSA .519",.524", Crane adjustable rockers and ported 6 pack intake. The PO of the car that this engine came in said it ran mid 11's in a 71 Charger. He had a stall and gears etc, but still, the pictures of the car at that track had the front tire up. Probably a bit much as far as a wagon goes, but this is really just to get the car up and going good until I can iron out a Gen III swap. Never mind the nitrous plates, those were off of a different car. Who would put nitrous on a wagon........

 

[YY1]

I'm gonna need to see a better pic of that Charger hood on there.

 

[nstyle73]

Lol, it was a strategic photo. THe lines a pretty good except the very back at the cowl, BUT there is 4 inches hanging off the front

 

[nstyle73]

It's back

 

[nstyle73]

New shocks, 1 1/4” front sway bar, new upper ball joints, 1” rear sway bar, 11 3/4” front brakes, Firm Feel Stage II steering box, 8 3/4. I have some 1.14” torsion bars but I am a bit hesitant to put these in until I upgrade the seat as it is a little rough with basically just springs in the driver’s seat

 

[nstyle73]

I took the wagon in for an alignment and they nixed my enthusiasm saying it needs lower ball joints which I picked up yesterday. While it’s apart, I’m going to put in the 1.14” torsion bars and tubular upper control arms. I also picked up a set of bucket seats for $100. I also have a third row seat on the way after a year of looking for one.

 

[nstyle73]

I also picked up a Challenger mirror at the local junkyard. The passenger side had been hit so I got the driver side for $10 to try on for size. It looks like the mounting angle will be ok, which was my biggest concern.