Woody Wagon Project
 

Don't know if this is the right place for this thread, or not. If not, a mod can move it to the correct location.

I've posted pics of this car before. It's an '87 Safari Wagon. From the time I saw Jack Mullins' Cat drag wagon, and the Tons-a-Fun '72 Lemans wagon, I've wanted a Pontiac wagon.

Well, a few years back, I saw this '87 Woody driving around in our local town. Looked like it had seen better days, so I figured it would quit soon & be up for sale. I followed it one day, and after it stopped & the driver & passenger figured out that I was not trying to harm them, I gave the owner my name/number & ask to have the 1st chance to buy it, when it came up for sale.

Well, I did eventually get the call. Can't remember for sure, but I think I paid $500 for it. It has what I think is a 307 Olds engine, which is bolted to a Chevy TH350, with 2 bolts.

Well, I had a Ventura bracket car, then a '69 Tempest, then a '68 Bird. So, I never got around to doing anything with the wagon. But, the wagon is now the only Pontiac I own. So, it's time to start workin on it.

I've still got the 455/TH400 that was in my '68 Bird bracket car. So, all I need to do is pull the 307/TH350, and swap in the 455/TH400. For me, that's the easy part. BUT, as I've mentioned on this forum several times, I know little to nothing about body & resto work. :o

SO, I'll need LOTS of help ! And the questions I'll ask will be VERY basic, and stuff that most here will consider stuff that any car guy should know how to do. But, although I set up several bracket cars, & did lots of racing, I never learned how to do any body/resto work.

So, I'll need some guys to help me with lots of basic info, rather than just telling me how easy that is to do. I'll liken it to the 1st grade. No need to expect me to be able to write a sentence, when I can't even write all the letters of the alphabet. All help will be greatly appreciated !

OK, I suppose a good place to start is shown in the 2nd pic above.

It has power windows. The driver window is partially down, & not level. For starters, I don't wanna replace the motor & get the PW working. I just wanna get the glass up & secured there.

I love roll-up windows ! But, I reckin that don't make any difference, in this situation, huh ? :)

To let ya'll know how very little I know, I don't evn know how to get the door panel off, without tearing it up. I just know that there are some sort of clips that hold it on. I think I still have a set of plastic clip removers, that I haven't even opened yet.

Anyhow, the 1st info I need is: Exactly how to correctly remove the panel.

Next is : What's the best way to hold the glass up, without fixing the power window mechanism ?

Related to that is the problem shown in the last pic, above. The rear window is down. Need to secure it in the up position.

But, there is another problem that must be addressed, first. The rear tailgate won't open. Feels like the lever/linkage is still hooked up, but is just not moving far enuff.

So, what is the correct procedure for opening the tailgate, WITHOUT causing damage to anything ?

I realize that this is VERY basic stuff, probably known by most everybody on this site. But, I've never done this, and don't know how. :o

Again, all help will be appreciated.

It's always good to see another Longroof.

Finally pulled Woody from Speed Barn #2, to SB #3. It's only about a mile, less, as the crow flies. So, I just hooked up a couple of chains and pulled it with my Kioti tractor. Had TJ & my sister running escort, in front & behind, while on the main road.

The first pic is still in SB2. The rest are just North of SB3. Gonna use compressed air to blow off lots of dust & remove other junk, before pulling it inside.

My dummy questions will be coming soon. :o

Still has the 307 Olds & Chevy TH350 trans. Dogs got in thru the open back window & chewed up the seats. So, we upgraded the seat cover/cushion for the drive over here. Also still has lots of spider webs. Probably some spiders too. Killed a big Black Widow in SB3, a few days ago.

Hey, I reckin lots of Pontiac projects start out this bad, & worse.

Cool! I hope you get it to where you want it.

I had a lot of fun with my Falcon wagon, it hurt a LOT of egos :-) But it wasn't practical to install a decent A/C system in it, and I'm getting too old to sweat to death. I came CLOSE to getting a G-body Bonneville wagon with a 455, somebody else got their money together quicker than I could, though :-(

I'd trade my '73 T/A clone, for the right wagon though! Maybe a wagon with cash, for the T/A... Regardless, I'd love to build a Pontiac drag-wagon with working A/C, and would prefer to have woodgrain 8-)

"...Regardless, I'd love to build a Pontiac drag-wagon with working A/C, and would prefer to have woodgrain 8..."


Hey, if you want this one, you can have it for $1000. That'll pay the shipping for one of the 2nd gen Birds I'm lookin at.

Has a clear title. Also, I think I remember seeing that it has an 8.5 rear. Don't know if it has C-clip axles or bolt-in. Haven't taken the wheels off to check.

I see you're in the Houston area, only 300 miles from me. So, if you have a good hauling rig you can come pick it up for just the fuel & your time.

Appreciate the offer, but currently leaning more towards an early A-body. I saw a '70 with woodgrain recently, and really liked it :-)

Why not, this guy does.

http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P8270008.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/17/73/5b/1...rs-hotrods.jpg