Thread: 1956 Chevy 210 Handyman Wagon

Tweet

Mark,
That's quite a horror story on the wheels/studs! The PO is probably very lucky that he sold it when he did, and to someone who knows how to make it right.

On your wheel question, I suggest you look at tires before you settle on wheel size. The variety of 15's is shrinking with all of today's OEM's going big. I'd probably set 16's as my minimum, and I'm not a fan of the wagon wheels with rubber band tires that seem to be seen more and more these days. I like to see some sidewall, but that's just me.

Originally Posted by rspears

Mark,
That's quite a horror story on the wheels/studs! The PO is probably very lucky that he sold it when he did, and to someone who knows how to make it right.

On your wheel question, I suggest you look at tires before you settle on wheel size. The variety of 15's is shrinking with all of today's OEM's going big. I'd probably set 16's as my minimum, and I'm not a fan of the wagon wheels with rubber band tires that seem to be seen more and more these days. I like to see some sidewall, but that's just me.

Gotta agree with Roger on this one.. As an older person,,I still like to see sidewalls,and a nice set of wheels to suit the wagon.. Your choice,I know,,but to me,, 18'' or bigger wheels tend to make 50's cars look dorky sometimes.. I saw a set of 20'' wheels on a 69 Impala,a couple of years back,,and in my opinion,,ruined the appearance..Like I said,,your choice,,your wagon..

Nice! Always great to start with a decent runner rather than a basket case. Maybe I should take that advice one of these days!

Yup agreed on the sidewall thing. Rubber band tires aren't for me. I couldn't run them on these roads anyway, even if I wanted to. Wouldn't last a week, the potholes would eat them up.
I put 45 series Nitto's on my truck and they have some good sidewall height. I am leaning towards 17's and 18's to give it the same tire rake the truck has now. Besides, the tire choice is better then 15's or 16's.
We'll see, I'll be pulling the back rims off tomorrow to check the drum brakes. may as do all four corners while I am at it... I'll measure everything up for tire fitment then.

Sounds like you plan to keep that QJ. If so Google "Cliff Ruggles Quadrajet book". He is the master QJ rebuilder and his book has a wealth of info on doing it your self if so inclined.

Jack.

Originally Posted by astroracer

Yup agreed on the sidewall thing. Rubber band tires aren't for me. I couldn't run them on these roads anyway, even if I wanted to. Wouldn't last a week, the potholes would eat them up.
I put 45 series Nitto's on my truck and they have some good sidewall height. I am leaning towards 17's and 18's to give it the same tire rake the truck has now. Besides, the tire choice is better then 15's or 16's.
We'll see, I'll be pulling the back rims off tomorrow to check the drum brakes. may as do all four corners while I am at it... I'll measure everything up for tire fitment then.

Mark, not that you need my input but I think 18's & 17's are probably a good approach. You get a bit of "rubber rake", tires should be available long term, and you can maintain some sidewall.

Thanks Jack!
I'll keep the QJ, no problem with that. I have Ruggles's book around here someplace.
My thinking on this is Lawson's knows these thing inside and out and they will have all of the parts to fix it correctly. I have been through many a QJ and ALWAYS end up having to order or run for more parts. This way it cleaned, rebuilt and ready to go when I get it home.
They are doing this $125 so, to get it done once, and done right, it's well worth it to me.
Mark

Mark, that's a hellofa good price.

Jack.

Originally Posted by Jack F

Mark, that's a hellofa good price.

Jack.

Double ditto!! I'd say you're getting a bargain on that job.

That's what I figured! A rebuild kit alone is over 50 bucks. To have it boiled out, cleaned and ready to go is worth it.
I topped off the P/S and brake fluids, checked the coolant level (the system was still holding some pressure when I cracked the cap!)
I have all of the new parts for the front brakes, the Prime 5 Star mags fit and I am having some lunch. I'll have the brake rebuild done this afternoon and the car will be drivable!

Took the car on her maiden voyage tonight! She did very well! It has some lighting issues but those just may be bad bulbs. The engine ran great, the air blew cold and the wheels stayed on!
I had a set of old 5 star mags I ran on my '89 Pickup. They bolted right up and are lug centric so no more wobbly rims!!!
While I was swapping out the rear rims I saw this!

A 12 bolt! and it is a posi!
The car with my old truck wheels on it. The wheels are dual bolt pattern 4.75/5.00.





Not real pretty but they will do the job till I get some new shiny ones!

A bit of an update. The QJ was junk. Matt at Lawson's pulled it apart and found a melted booster in the main body. He's thinking a Minnie carb fire at some point. When I pulled the carb I noticed what looked like oxidized aluminum on the top of the intake between the throttle bores... It's a cast iron intake so I didn't think anything of it but I looked at it tonight and it is melted aluminum... The car ran pretty good though. I did notice it seemed kind of boggy but I just figured it needed a good tune-up. ANYWAY!!!
I ordered an Edelbrock Performer Square bore carb today along with the requisite spread bore adapter, new cap and rotor and a set of wires. I was hoping to just plug that old QJ back into the system but now I've got some work cut out for me. Hopefully everything will show up tomorrow or Friday and I can have it fired back up by the weekend.

Sounds like you've got a plan so all I could add would be "Sick'em" and keep us in the Loop.

meller

Love this wagon. It's the type of car we wouldn't have looked at twice back in the stone age. But, times change, tastes change and I like it. A. Lot.

BTW, OUCH! on the QJ.

Thanks guys. Yea, I'm a little disappointed on the carb thing but I knew going into this the car needed some TLC. The thing is my wife is just as excited about it as I am! Which, as you guys know, really helps when it comes to spending money on an old junker...
We'll get it. The carb swap just won't be a "plug-n-play" like the QJ would have been...