'65 Chevy Bel Air Wagon

[BossHogg69]

Just picked this up a week ago. Nice paint, needs interior work/finishing and a couple of exterior trim pieces. Factory air car. Currently running 350/T350, originally was a powerglide car, probably 283 or 327. Still 4 wheel manual drums.

Plans are to get the interior back to stock - I want to rock the light turqoise factory style setup, 4 wheel discs, update the gauges & stereo keep the rally's and drive the crap out of it. I DO want to resist the urge to throw a big block in it along with the TREMEC TKO-500 sitting in my shop right now. I'll keep you guys posted with progress.

[Warrens69GMC]

nice choice!!

[lolife99]

Cool wagon!
This is member hot trux' factory big block '66 wagon.
These are cool cars.

[flashed]

That is a nice looking wagon ,love the color .

[BossHogg69]

Thanks guys - and thanks Keith for posting that pic! I might have to hot trux up for some more pics!

[Clyde65]

Love the wagons! I grew up in them as a kid!

[Andy4639]

Nice long top man!
I love the color.
I just got a 64 SS Impala.
Has a 350/powerglide but I got the 283 with it along with the SS wheels, tires and hubcaps. Has factory AC also.

[BossHogg69]

Well, did a little tinkering last weekend - adjusted the timing to my liking, played with the carb a little (650 Holley speadbore - for some reason I love those little carbs! ), two new front tires, an alignment and tightened up the slack on the steering box. I also installed a tach and oil pressure gauge I had in my parts stash, along with a two-hole gauge pod instead of the three hole pod with only a temp gauge that was in it before. Installed the missing headlight eyebrow, new halogen headlights for the bright lights and polished up all the head light trim rings and buckets, and welded on some 3" chrome exhaust tips to brighten up the other end. Gave her a good hand wash, polished the exterior trim with my Flitz ball, hung some Little Trees inside and then proceeded to drive the crap out of it. I love cruising this wagon - it rides like a dream and fits me just right. I took it out and met up with a buddy of mine who has a super cool '58 Chevy Brookwood, aka 'Drag Safari'.

Next up will be a beefier panhard rod, new Bilstein shocks, new rear taillight lenses, and a complete interior. More pics to follow.

btw, my girlfriend named her 'Wanda' or 'Wanda the Wagon' - here's a short idle clip.

Wanda the Wagon - YouTube

[flashed]

Wow ,both of those wagons look great .

[LEEVON]

Cool '65, always liked these! I have seen your friends '58 wagon, I also have a friend with a '58 like it, though it's a Nomad...they have parked side-by-side before. Maybe I'll see your car some time. SW Missouri Hot Rod Hundred is here in April, we took my Dad's '63 Nova wagon last year. Ya'll should come up!

[BossHogg69]

Leevon - yes, Scott takes that wagon everywhere, he was just up at Springfield last month I believe. He has a cool little matching camper he tows along too. My work schedule usually keeps me from going to very many shows, hopefully next year I can get my '69 C10 or the Bel Air to a few.

[BossHogg69]

Got a UMI adjustable panhard rod to cure the rearend being off set to the driver's side and some Bilstein/Hotchkis HPS shocks to firm up the handing a bit. I also need to swap out the positive battery cable, it's way too small for my liking and it's black, instead of red. I have some extra in my parts stash to make a new one. I have a few leaks that need to be fixed too.

[flashed]

That wagon to me is just Too Cool.

[57larry]

I really like your wagon

[Advanced Design]

Awesome wagon with a great sound. Did you find it locally?

[BossHogg69]

Thanks for the compliments flashed & 57larry. Advanced Design - I found the wagon up in Davenport, Iowa while doing my usual internet scrounging. I feel like I got lucky, you always hear the horror stories of buying stuff long distance, but this one was as described. I was actually looking for a '61 bel air, but ran across this wagon and kept coming back to it.

On another note, I continue to be impressed by Bilstein shocks - I have had two sets of them on my '05 gmc 1500, and put them on this car as well. The improvement in the ride & handling is remarkable. Firm but not harsh and much better feedback & control. Granted, the Monroes that were on the car were pretty much shot, but for an easy bolt on upgrade, the Bilstein/Hotchkis tuned shocks are hard to beat.

[Russell Ashley]

I love wagons and looks like you got a nice one. I love your comment, "I also need to swap out the positive battery cable, it's way too small for my liking and it's black, instead of red." That is so me. I've spent a lot of money over the years correcting things that weren't really causing problems, just because I didn't like their look, LOL. I think most car guys get it, though.

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I love wagons and looks like you got a nice one. I love your comment, "I also need to swap out the positive battery cable, it's way too small for my liking and it's black, instead of red." That is so me. I've spent a lot of money over the years correcting things that weren't really causing problems, just because I didn't like their look, LOL. I think most car guys get it, though.

I knew you guys would understand!

[DBLSPRT68]

LOVE THIS WAGON!!!!!!!!! I owned a 65 Bel Air 2 door sedan for many years. It never go past a project car.... I love the 65's! I would love to get another 2 door or a wagon again one day. Good luck on this one.

P.S. I always loved the side trim on a Bel Air, I even collected all NOS side trim for my car, but sold it with the car.

[MP&C]

Nice Wagon!

[BossHogg69]

Okay, I need some opinions on the samples I got for the interior. I want to do a C10 Highlander style seat (they rock!!!) but in the factory colors this car came with. I had SMS Auto Upholstery make up a Highlander plaid in aqua, dark green & black for the seat insert, and the Aqua madrid vinyl (factory '65 color) will be the outer part of the seat. I'm having trouble trying to decide whether or not to do a true Highlander style seat with vinyl separating the cloth inserts or with a full cloth insert like the factory Bel Air seat has. I'm leaning toward doing the full cloth insert like the Bel Air seat had. I will be changing the black dash pad to dark green and the carpet will be a aqua/dark green nylon loop.

First pic is a Highlander seat
Second is a factory '65 Bel Air in the Aqua/dark green that my wagon came in.
The rest are the samples I got.

So.... Any thoughts or input on this?

[BossHogg69]

More pics

The aqua matches the factory paint dead on, and the dark green matches the accent color on the dash.

[Advanced Design]

Those colors in the factory Belair pattern with cloth insert will look really good.

Interesting how things change...at one time I would have suggested ripping out the stock seat and going with a set of black vinyl buckets...now I like that factory look.

Are you taking this wagon on any of the 2017 HRPT?

[BossHogg69]

I will miss the entire Power Tour due to work this year. I did actually take out the bench seat in my C10 and put buckets in it! For some reason this wagon just looks right with that big bench seat.

[Pick]

Originally Posted by BossHogg69

Okay, I need some opinions on the samples I got for the interior. I want to do a C10 Highlander style seat (they rock!!!) but in the factory colors this car came with. I had SMS Auto Upholstery make up a Highlander plaid in aqua, dark green & black for the seat insert, and the Aqua madrid vinyl (factory '65 color) will be the outer part of the seat. I'm having trouble trying to decide whether or not to do a true Highlander style seat with vinyl separating the cloth inserts or with a full cloth insert like the factory Bel Air seat has. I'm leaning toward doing the full cloth insert like the Bel Air seat had. I will be changing the black dash pad to dark green and the carpet will be a aqua/dark green nylon loop.

First pic is a Highlander seat
Second is a factory '65 Bel Air in the Aqua/dark green that my wagon came in.
The rest are the samples I got.

So.... Any thoughts or input on this?

I say go for the Highlander style with the vinyl strip in the middle! (for what that's worth.)

The Bel Air seat has the contrasting aqua panel printed into the cloth insert, so doing the Highlander style seat wouldn't be drastically different visually, but would still be different. (if that makes any sense)