1995 RMW Jade Project Wagon

I have one from eBay.

It took 6 weeks...but my spare steering wheel came back from TX Sat.  Had it refurbished with wood inserts and new leather on the sides.  The leather is a little light...but I think it looks great!  The wood matches the wood on the dash and doors perfectly too.

Looks factory!

Andebe wrote:

Looks factory!

Yes! Feels great too!


Did some Halloween modding today:

*New rear lower control arms
*Alum Driveshaft
*Driveshaft Safety Loop

Well...time to replace the front upper control arms.  I was debating on buying stock replacements or going all out.  Decided to go all out since I only want to do it once (at least, something tougher than stock) AND plan to continue to Autocross / Road Race this more and more.  (so much fun!)  

 So, I'm slowly gathering the parts to do a rebuild of the suspension this winter:

-New front upper and lower control arms
-New springs (Moog 5662 and CC501)
-New shocks (Bilstein HDs)

I still have the HD12 front brake kit to install...and if gigs pan out as I hope this Holiday Season...I want to get the rear disc conversion as well.  

All I have to say is Yeah Baby! Love the Mods Chris Jade is looking awesome!

Question...why did you only do the lower control arms? No benefit doing the uppers on a Wagon?

Big Wagon Guy wrote:

All I have to say is Yeah Baby! Love the Mods Chris Jade is looking awesome!

Question...why did you only do the lower control arms? No benefit doing the uppers on a Wagon?

Thank you Sir!

Well, buying stock replacement lowers was the only thing in my budget at the time...the uppers seemed tight and "ok" and I thought I would upgrade the bushings on the uppers (and BJ) sometime down the line. I only did the lowers because I had a bad ball joint on one side and both sway bar bushing holes were wallowed out badly.    

This is honestly the longest I've ever owned one car and one B/D body (which is crazy! 5 years!)....usually I would have bought something else and started over on another project and never get to the level of detail in replacing parts that I am at now. It took me several years...a nagging (now ex) wife, one wise and patient wife and thousands of wasted dollars later to realize that I'd be better off just sticking to one project. Id get a car...dump a bunch of money in it (because I enjoyed that process and feeling of fixing it up)...and sell it for a loss when I saw that next Bbody.  

Side note: I did buy the lowers to match the new uppers too...they arrived last night.

Well I think I speak for the masses when I say we are glad you stuck with Jade. Your post is a great reference. I enjoy looking back at your starting point and seeing how you have upgraded the car system by system.

My question above re lower control arms was directed at the rear lower control arms...I noticed you only did the lowers and wondered if there was a reason behind that? (Other then cost). I have done the uppers and lowers on my Wagons...seeing your post made me wonder if the uppers were a waste of money on the Wagons?

Big Wagon Guy wrote:

Well I think I speak for the masses when I say we are glad you stuck with Jade. Your post is a great reference. I enjoy looking back at your starting point and seeing how you have upgraded the car system by system.

My question above re lower control arms was directed at the rear lower control arms...I noticed you only did the lowers and wondered if there was a reason behind that? (Other then cost). I have done the uppers and lowers on my Wagons...seeing your post made me wonder if the uppers were a waste of money on the Wagons?

Thank you Sir! And duh... ...the rear LCAs...well....from what I understand (and I am not the pro at this) the lowers do the majority of the work and flexing and since I did replace my uppers with a newer NOS set when I put the rear sway bar on AND I didn't have a need to buy extended uppers to center the wheel like the sedan guys do...I just kept the stock uppers.  I didn't see the need to get them with this rear end / power combo.  

Hope that makes sense and if you find info that would say "yes, upgrade those rear uppers" please let me know!

  Chris

Started putting on some of the gathered parts this weekend with my buddy.  Figured we would start in the rear and work our way toward the front

No instructions with the Kore3 rear disc kit....but I did have a couple of pictures of my AGW when I had another kit installed.




Sometimes its just easier to take the rear out...lol.  I'm not so good with working on my back since the surgery last year.  This was easier for me.  Also installed a new Moser diff cover too.




Put the Moog CC501 rear springs on and new Bilstein shocks too.






I will add...if you get this Moser rear diff cover...you have to trim off some of the bearing cap "support" bolt (on the pass side of the wagon)  Otherwise, you will punch a hole in your gastank!  Luckily I had my buddy run the jack up and down on the rear while I watched for clearance.  

All good now!

Pardon me while I fetch a napkin,to clear the drool from my chin...

Andebe wrote:

Pardon me while I fetch a napkin,to clear the drool from my chin...

Lol...thank you Sir. I find myself staring at the pics too sometimes. I really love my wagon

looks sweet .

Wow. I wish my car would look that nice.

Finally found some time to start the front suspension....Getting the upper arm off the pass side was a pita! I ended up using a C clamp and socket to press one of the bolts out so there was room.  




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Test fit the new swanky upper before cleaning and painting the frame. The tubular one will be a snap to install!



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Im replacing the brake hoses and calipers btw...so I know its bad to let them hang. lol

Both sides torn apart and frame cleaned and painted.  Will put it back together next weekend hopefully!




--

  Chris

Loving the pics,nice to see the progress. Thanks for sharing,Chris.

Andebe wrote:

Loving the pics,nice to see the progress. Thanks for sharing,Chris.

Thank you Sir. Cleaned and painted the spindles and new brake calipers last night....can't wait to put everything back together this weekend. My buddy from Asheville will come down to help, so I should move faster with assembly. LOL!

Chris

Best Wagon porn EVER! So love this build...looks fantastic Chris.

My wagon can only dream of looking this good ! Maybe one day lol . You are doing one heck of a job .

Well..thank you for the kind words! It is fun to work on and improve!

Slow start today...but I did manage to get most of the drivers side done. Will finish in the morn, do the pass side...then see if I have time for the brake upgrades.

Only managed to get the passenger side assembled as far as the drivers side. Brakes will have to be this weekend after gigs.

Can't wait to get it aligned and tested out!!

Jade is looking great, brokecello! You really need to enter her in car shows! I love the carbon fiber wrap that you did, it really looks nice!

That pic looks a little deceiving,as if the top part of the sway bar would be able to move. Its a wild looking link...

Thanks TheRoadmasterKing!  I go to some shows... (The local shows around here are not very open to these "late model" cars. ) but I mainly like to get it out and run it hard! Can't wait to see improvements this autocross season with the setup.  

Those links were a beotch to put on.  I will do the final adjustments on the once I have it under load.  The spherical end links are supposed to perform better...but I bet they will make some noise over time.  

  Chris

brokecello wrote:

Thanks TheRoadmasterKing!  I go to some shows... (The local shows around here are not very open to these "late model" cars. ) but I mainly like to get it out and run it hard! Can't wait to see improvements this autocross season with the setup.

You're welcome! Also, did you do the carbon fiber wrap yourself and what size tires are ya running?

TheRoadmasterKing wrote:

brokecello wrote:

Thanks TheRoadmasterKing!  I go to some shows... (The local shows around here are not very open to these "late model" cars. ) but I mainly like to get it out and run it hard! Can't wait to see improvements this autocross season with the setup.

You're welcome! Also, did you do the carbon fiber wrap yourself and what size tires are ya running?

Thanks! Check out page 8 for some info on the carbon fiber install. I did the black woodgrain the first time around...had help from friends this second time with the wrap.


255/45/18 Dunlop Direzza tires

All back together! Took it out for a quick test drive and will get it aligned now.

Front needs to settle some still...but all in all I like it! Harper's HD12 kit came with instructions to hone and wash the rotors with this soap (air dry)....first time I've even done that honestly.

Looks good.

Must have been an adventure bleeding the rear brakes.

Thanks...yeah...I ended up putting the whole car on jackstands to bleed.  No way I could get my body back there otherwise. lol!!

I also really made sure to flush all the old fluid out and added this in: Berkshdvxuduheiskn Type 200.




Also took it out for a few miles to seat the pads...but now it will sit till I can get it aligned.  Suspension measurements (but I assume they will change after some miles as everyrhing is new.

Looking good yet again. So good in fact I thank you for reminding me I drive a piece of crap..

Is that a fresh air feed,I spy down low in chin spoiler area?

Lol...I'm sure your wagon isnt crappy bigredwagon! Believe me....this one was when I started with it.

Yes Andebe, I run the Rammit intake. I wonder how ling it will last now that the chin is even lower! So far, so good!

Got it aligned and put a new set of rubber on it. Toyo Proxes4 Plus

Been driving it to work all week. LOVE IT! Rides really nice on the Hwy and the lowness has not been an issue like I thought it would be. Just have to go slower on speed bumps and angle my approach on steep entrances. New experience for me.

Found she would sit a little low with people and with a full tank of gas....so I bought some 1in alum spacers and it raised it up just a touch (not an inch...more like 1/2in)

Sits just right now

NIce,..

Did you do a custom set of alignment specs?

That pic in the parking garage is really interesting, makes it look like the wagon is painted with that ford flip flop mystic paint.

phantom 309 wrote:

NIce,..

Did you do a custom set of alignment specs?

Yeah, I went with the "Daily Driving, Street Performance" setup Speed Tech provided:

Daily Driving, Street Performance Specifications
Driver Side Passenger Side
4 Degrees positive Caster 4 ½ Degrees positive Caster
0 to ½ Degree negative Camber 0 to ½ Degree negative Camber
3/ 32 Total Toe-in 3/ 32 Total Toe-in

How is this different from the standard alignment spec? Do they have one for a more aggressive setup?

This is interesting.

bigredwagon wrote:

That pic in the parking garage is really interesting,  makes it look like the wagon is painted with that ford flip flop mystic paint.

Ha! It's the vinyl that gave off that color...and the filter I used enhanced it I guess.  

I kinda wanted a friend's TBird that had that color on it back when i was in college.  Lol

RedandBlack wrote:

How is this different from the standard alignment spec? Do they have one for a more aggressive setup?

This is interesting.

http://www.speedtechperformance.com/pdf/Upper_Control_Arm_Install2.pdf

These specs are only suggestions and may need additional changes to achieve the
optimum settings for your driving style or situation.

Daily Driving, Street Performance Specifications
Driver Side Passenger Side
4 Degrees positive Caster 4 ½ Degrees positive Caster
0 to ½ Degree negative Camber 0 to ½ Degree negative Camber
3/ 32 Total Toe-in 3/ 32 Total Toe-in

Aggressive Track Alignment Specifications
Driver Side Passenger Side
5 ½ Degrees positive Caster 6 Degrees positive Caster
½ to 1 Degree negative Camber ½ to 1 Degree negative Camber
3/ 32 Total Toe-in 3/ 32 Total Toe-in

Original Alignment Specifications
**For reference purposes only. Do Not use these specs.
Driver Side Passenger Side
½ Degree positive Caster ½ Degree positive Caster
¼ to ½ Degree negative Camber ¼ to ½ Degree negative Camber
1/8 Total Toe-in 1/8 Total Toe-in

YachtDriver wrote:

Looks good.

Must have been an adventure bleeding the rear brakes.

Someone pointed out what you meant by this in a PM today!    Funny thing is...I had no problems bleeding and the brakes work great (about 600 miles on them so far)  Lol

Now I know (and hopefully others who read this) thanks to a friend  

I should switch the rear calipers side to side so the air goes out the top when you bleed!

Took the wagon to the Asheville Cars and Coffee Sat morn....I was shocked when I saw another DGGM RMW!  Made a new friend!  His is a 96 with 70XXX miles. Stock except for the baby moons.  Had to take some pics as this is exactly what mine started out looking like (minus the moons)

Very cool!

(video)









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And here is a pic of mine after I first bought it...seems like a long time ago.

So you added the Burgandy later? I totally missed that. I always wondered because I have never seen that combo. Well I gotta spend some more time in the archives...

Andebe wrote:

So you added the Burgandy later? I totally missed that. I always wondered because I have never seen that combo. Well I gotta spend some more time in the archives...  

Yup...completely changed the interior from a parts wagon I had.  Used the interior, trans and engine from it. There apparently really was one made like this from the factory.  Fred had it for sale back in 2003? 2005?  Vin confirmed it.  Lol...mine will not.  
 

You must rrrrrrrreeeeeaallllyyyyy like burgundy to go to all that work,lol.

Andebe wrote:

You must rrrrrrrreeeeeaallllyyyyy like burgundy to go to all that work,lol.

Lol..not really.   But the ruby interior in the parts wagon looked brand new (literally every part was perfect...carpet, headliner...door panels...seats...) 

The stock tan interior was trashed. I didn't have the money at the time to find better carpet, seats and put in a new headliner.

and so Virginia thats how the christmas car was born,..

Well done Chris she is a beauty

Car looks GREAT as-always! So Cool to see another Roady, especially a near twin, at the cruise-in!

-Mike

Just read through your 10 pages, good Job on the wagon!

Thanks guys! And thanks for reading all the pages Jdeshler...wow!

Latest update:

Finally got around to installing the Z28 Cluster and new oil pressure sending unit. Nice to have gauges and it was pretty straightforward to install. I did do some extra trimming at the top of the cluster opening to make the fit perfect.