1963 AMC Rambler Classic
 

Hi all.

New here. Figured this would be a good place to document a build that Myself and my friend Matt are undertaking along with UTP Racecars (www.utpracecars.com).

A 1963 AMC Rambler Classic Coupe.

The body: Will remain mostly stock with a few subtle alterations like a front valance, and removed inner lights for intake ducting and possibly a rear spoiler.

The drivetrain: LM7 and 4l60e with goodies coming for both.

The chassis/suspension: Mustang II front end, Ridetech Coilovers, 4-link rear on a custom narrowed Ford 9"

The wheels: Boze Forged Clutch 18x8 up front and Boze Forged Clutch Concave 18x10 in the back.

The current weight is right at 2800lbs with stock driveline in the vehicle. It has about a 56/44 weight distribution also. The goal is to keep it right around 2650-2800 lbs after all is said and done.

Progress so far: obtained the new driveline components, removed the old heavy cast iron I-6 and transmission from the Rambler.

Some pics and videos and a rendering below:

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/711/2...a8bdded7_b.jpgRambler-1 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5749/...d02ce417_b.jpgKen Cox - 1963 AMC Rambler 660 coupe logos by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

Sounds great. The light weight will be really nice. Keep us posted.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

Heck yeah that's cool

Welcome to LatG, 63RC! Cool project! Rendering looks great.

Man that's a cool looking rendering :thumbsup: ... welcome and keep us in pictures!!!

Very cool! I like different projects like yours. The rendering looks great!
Wes

Very cool! Keep the pics coming.

The hefty I-6 out. Know anyone interested in a very low miles running powertrain? It's for sale!

Fuel tank removed along with fuel lines and exhaust.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/705/2...0c9a0b43_b.jpgRambler-1 by Matt, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/574/2...f5572d65_b.jpgRambler-1-4 by Matt, on Flickr

Cool, something a little different.

Nice looking build. Great to see something different. Are you going to keep the paint? What color is the paint? Looks like a grey with a blue tint?
Who did the rendering?

Very cool rendering! Different is awesome...
Mark, love the Lark as well bud!

Nice choice! Going to look killer!

Thanks all! I will certainly keep this updated as we continue with the build throughout the winter.

The rendering was done by my friend Tristan. His website can be found here here.

update
 

The vehicle is now on the Frame Table at UTP Racecars.

here are some images of the Rambler getting prepped for the chassis work and sitting on the frame table.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5669/...1184fc9e_b.jpgIMG_88131 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5798/...b0952355_b.jpgIMG_08211 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/726/2...c916be7d_b.jpgIMG_08181 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

Wheels are done! Pics coming soon of the wheels.

Wheels
 

The Wheels: Boze Forged Clutch 18x8 in front and Clutch Concave 18x10 in the rear.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/653/2...b5f08026_b.jpgIMG_24271 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/639/2...227550e9_b.jpgIMG_24261 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5620/...f74d8e19_b.jpgIMG_24251 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5637/...6d4ff29e_b.jpgIMG_24281 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

Awesome build!! Can't wait to see it finished

Great project and love the wheels. What specifically will you be using for suspension? I in your first post where you said MII and 4-link, but wondering about more details? Would a Roadster Shop universal IFS clip or the DSE X-Gen front clip fit with mods?

Wes

updates
 

Entire front suspension has been removed by Matt, Brian and myself and the tires have been mounted to wheels at this point.

Here are some pics of the front wheel being mocked up. It will likely sit 1.5-2 inches higher than this pic. (Ran out of wood to lift the tire/wheel higher into the fender well. Should have decent room for turning clearance.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1539/...228364fe_b.jpgIMG_0618 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5785/...02491e02_b.jpgIMG_0602 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5829/...cee4676a_b.jpgIMG_0597 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1711/...97640d12_b.jpg20151231_151723 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5766/...cc869ede_b.jpg20151231_151653 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

Tires
 

what size tires are you running ? ....Looking good BTW :thumbsup:

Wicked!

I love it. So nice to see something different....

Up front are 255/40 R18s and in the rear are295/35 R18s

I have been following this on instagram, killer build and love the wheels.

Quick question on the rear tires.....manufacturer? I would love to run a 295/35 but the choices in sticky good autocross 200 treadwear is really limited.

Sean

whats the link/name on instagram?

Hey Sean,

The tires are CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DW's. I would not consider them a great performer for autocross tires.

My account on instagram is kcoxphoto for those who want more frequent updates on the build!

Thanks for the support guys.

Looking at brakes right now, but dang they are expensive! any recommendations for a cost effective brake setup around 12.8-13"?

Looking good guys! Thanks for choosing Boze wheels!

Depending on your hubs and bolt pattern, user tubbed69 has a great deal on a full new Wilwood brake setup on the 2nd page in the parts for sale classifieds on this site right now.

Wes

Thanks Wes. I checked them out, unfortunately won't work with my setup. Got to have something that will bolt to a Mustang II drop spindle.

looking at Wilwood 6R's that are 13" for the front and some 12.18"s for the rear.

Quick update. Ordered all parts for the front suspension. Doing a Heidts narrowed mustang II crossmember along with Heidts upper and lower tubular control arms, 2" mustang drop spindles and a power steering rack from a t-bird because of it's width. I'll do a quick video when the parts arrive.

Rear end work should be completed this weekend or early next week at UTP Racecars.

What year t-bird? What's the width? Thanks Kevin

Here are the width specs: Overall width is 45-1/8". 15-1/2" mount centers.

The year T-Bird it's from is 1982-88.

Update without images.

So, a lot has happened since I last posted. We are teaming up with Wilwood Brakes on the build! The front end is being mocked up and installed this weekend. The rear end is also being mocked up this weekend. Custom axles have arrived from Moser, the Ford 9" has been narrowed, the ridetech 4 link is ready to roll. Center section is going to be an Auburn Posi unit with a 3.73 gear. That is getting picked up tonight.

The ride height has officially been set.

Also, the Ididit steering column has just arrived. Since the build is an automatic and I did not want to place a large console in the floor, we are utilizing a column shifter.

Here are the Wilwood components that are on their way:

http://www.wilwood.com/BrakeKits/Bra...mno=140-9802-D

http://www.wilwood.com/LineKits/Line...temno=220-8307

http://www.wilwood.com/BrakeKits/Bra...no=140-10012-D

http://www.wilwood.com/Hardware/Hard...temno=330-9371

http://www.wilwood.com/MasterCylinde...o=261-13270-BK

http://www.wilwood.com/BrakeFluid/Br...temno=290-2210

More pictures and videos are coming this weekend!

This weekend we got a good amount accomplished on the car. The differential got finished and installed (3.75 Roush/Fenway Trac-Lok Posi Diff with polished gears), we centered the axle, cut out a portion of the trunk, mounted the upper shock mount bar, Brian welded the 4 link hardware to the 9” and to the chassis, and installed the parallel 4 link bars. Front suspension has already been mocked up on the floor.

Tonight the front shock towers get cut out to make some space. The front cross-member is going to be welded in later this week (as soon as the brakes arrive to confirm clearances). Brian hopes the car will be rolling with a suspension and working steering within 2 weeks.

And I found an NOS grille for the car for a decent price.

A small video of the work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvNCVsnhxgA .

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1473/...daf77b29_b.jpgIMG_09641 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1518/...9ddf9ec2_b.jpgIMG_09651 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1582/...14ac7677_b.jpgIMG_09661 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1457/...b6e6c323_b.jpgIMG_11271 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1604/...2c5e418a_b.jpgIMG_11301 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1690/...e3401b4d_b.jpgIMG_11371 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1468/...88ecf46e_b.jpgIMG_11391 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1713/...6089b330_b.jpgIMG_11441 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1555/...d19acc96_b.jpgVZM.IMG_20160114_1707461 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

Nice project and its not a Camaro which is so cool. You move fast!

Scott

Neat little project you have going there!

Cool project! I really like the non-traditional body style. It looks like roughly the same size car as a Chevy II, so I'm guessing it's nice and light.

Thanks, and yes it is moderately light by some folks standards. It weighed 2800 before we starting tearing it apart. We aim to keep it around 2800-2900 lbs with the LS. The original iron 6 cylinder was HEAVY.

Some how I've missed this build until now. I love it! You're doing great work so far. Good luck!

Brian at http://www.utpracecars.com welded in the Heidts Mustang II front Cross-Member and mounted the control arms so we could determine how the wheel would turn within the front fender wells.

Here are some progress pics and some welding pics of Brian.

Wilwood Brakes should be here next week.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1651/...3ecf7cb9_b.jpgIMG_1475 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1644/...2f9c6a1f_b.jpgIMG_1492 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1674/...ddb44872_b.jpgIMG_1511 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1495/...f264bd70_b.jpgIMG_1520 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1599/...73b6cd7f_b.jpgIMG_1526 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1445/...a00432e6_b.jpgIMG_1530 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1677/...3bc04616_b.jpgIMG_1534 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1693/...00cd8b21_b.jpgIMG_1537 by kcoxphoto, on Flickr

Just curious what sort of brake pedal setups you guys are running?

Also what are you using for pressure: Hydroboost or traditional vacuum booster?