BigA's 68 Toyota Crown Custom Wagon

[BigA]

Well its been a while but I am back.

Finally got my hands on another old-school car after much going back and forth on several other choices.

Car arrives in mid-May.

Has a 2M and 5 speed but will be swapping out for modern drivetrain later on.

[BigA]

The wagon has arrived and has been taken down to compliance.

Going to be waiting for a big list of things I think but I knew that going into this project.

So far I know the car needs a tune, needs some bushes replaced in the front as it was floating a bit on the road. Exhaust needs to be done properly from the headers back, a patch of rust in the rear wheel well needs sorting and the brakes need adjusting.

 

[BigA]

Having to wait a while while the car is in compliance as they are trying to sort out my VIN number as the car has 2 different numbers. Tag states MS55 which is a 4 door and the chassis number is MS53 which is the wagon.

So I bought some new door rubbers the other day while waiting for shit to get sorted.

[BigA]

So I have been talking to a few of the guys in AUS where the car came from and I just found out this was the same vehicle I was going to purchase just before Covid hit. It went through a couple of other owners before I purchased it but glad to have finally have it.

The guys in AUS have been super helpful with finding parts and even managed to purchase a lower rear cut off one of them and a badge for the guard.

The same guy was actually meant to have purchased all three of the crown wagons the original owner had when I first was going to purchase so was good talking to him about the car.

[BigA]

So got the wagon back from compliance and with a long list of things to get sorted.

Brakes all need to be done including brake lines.

Suspension and bushes need sorting.

Need to replace the seat belts.

Exhaust needs fixing.

Rust in bodywork

[BigA]

Car is at Sterling brake and clutch at the moment getting all the brakes sorted out. Having trouble finding things like brake shoes and some of the dust rubbers on the brake drums but it least I am slowly making some progress.

Once the brakes are sorted then it's off to get the suspension done.

[BigA]

Scored some Crown manuals for free which was really nice of another wagon owner to send me.

[BigA]

So brakes are taking longer than I had hoped for.

I have already had to purchase brand new fronts discs, new rear brake shoes, and new hand brake cables.

Can't find rear drums at the moment which sucks

[BigA]

Finally on the last legs with the brakes. Only part left is the rear drum housings which one of the guys in CHCH may have some that might still be good. 

Once the brakes are sorted it's off to get all the suspension and steering stuff sorted. 

Slower progress than expected but progress either way.

[BigA]

Brakes all done.

Brake lines sorted, discs, pads, brakes shoes, brake hoses all replaced.

Suspension is next.

Had to order new lower ball joints and inner tie rod ends  but everything else will be sorted locally. 

Suspension guy is looking to lower the wagon around 70mm

[BigA]

New shocks, springs, lower ball joints, tie rod ends and nolathane bushes all in the front end

[BigA]

Wagon is sitting a little lower in the front now and will settle down further, they reckon about another 20mm

[BigA]

Suspension is all finished and is now at a panel beater in Swanson for the repair certifier to go through and do his thing.

The guy was really nice to talk to and was super helpful. Funny enough out of the 5 certifiers I contacted he was the only one to call me and talk me through the process. In this day and age with the economy the way that it is I thought people would be jumping at the work.

[BigA]

Well looks like I am going to have to get the underside of the car sandblasted as part of the repair cert process.

More money needing to be spent....sigh.

Car is coming home for a bit before I get that sorted as my role at my job maybe disestablished so funds might be tight. The money I have for the project will just have to be put on hold.

At least I can get a chance to do some bodywork while I am waiting to see what happens with the job.

[BigA]

Wagon is back home...yay.

I have been stripping the rust back on the bodywork as it is a little past being cool patina and etch priming as I go along.

Would have been nice if the previous owner primed the car better but oh well not much I can do about that now.

[BigA]

Dont judge me I had to do it.

Obligatory Japanese inspired gear knob

[BigA]

The wagon is longer than what I thought it would be. Just fits in the garage.

[BigA]

Currently stripping the wagon back to bare metal and etch priming as I go along. Only found a couple of small areas that will some work done as there has been some previous repairs not done correctly and there is a few pin holes and some areas where bog was chucked into a small hole.

[BigA]

Also I have been test fitting the rear spoiler and the front visor that came with the wagon.

[BigA]

Back to bare metal.

Process is a little slow but we'll worth the effort as I'm exposing all the issues.

This side is the worst as far as rust rot goes. So just need to replace the lower portion which I have a cut from AUS to do so. Except it's a little short so unless someone has a 50 series they are wrecking then I will have to work some magic.