1961 land yacht… Beyond needs more builds build.

[gretz]

I’m a glutton for things that are different, because I’m a strange duck. I picked up a 1961 Chrysler Saratoga, because I like wings as much as the next they/them. The 61 was only made in Canada, for one year and one body style. End of history lesson. Got it as a barely limping driver, did an rpm intake manifold on the factory big block and 600cfm carb, to which I grenaded the cast push button boat anchor of a trans. I’m not going to show pics of this, because it’s boring. Here is the unit when purchased



As much as the 215s were too wide to handle, ended up changing out the wheels, 18x9.5 tears with 315/40/18 nt01s fit with no modification minus hammering the leaf spring clamps like a professional would



End of build… wait, this isn’t a world of wheels car…. After pulling the motor and trans / undercoating the floor which is mint thankfully and stopping and reselling the trunk, also mint and can fit a small army, I moved to the brakes. Note, tapered bearings + old means I’m making a puller that made life too easy



Not going to post a video of me in daisy dukes and mesh belly top doing the brakes, but rocked them… getting the return springs back on the shoes is a real gem. After the motor was yanked, I stripped the bay, sanded too much, and hit it with some cloverdale marine paint, cause who doesn’t like to sparkle



I ended up sanding and doing another coat, doing the booster and subframe blah blah blah…. Next was the sweet padded dash that was for safety according to the brochure, you don’t need seatbelts when you have an inch of foam



-end 5 attachments only

[D'z Nutz]

[gretz]

Against my better judgment, I stripped it, sanded, filled holes, fixed a few dents, and wore a mask for once when painting inside a car. I won’t show the newspaper masking pics, which is the only use for the high river times, but here was the end result



Carpet is new too, but it’s carpet, so… ya. The headliner was gross and the back was, missing we will call it, so I started an in car repair as the roof is so long you have to take glass out to remove it, and I’m not that cool



I need to piece in another at the back with a strip of polished aluminum hiding the seam, but I had bigger fish to fry… rear speaker deck was re-covered too



Although the deck isn’t the prettiest, my couldn’t give a shit / better than most sema cars was good enough

[gretz]

Now, I know what you’re thinking, d series all the way. As much as rage2 I’m guessing would have wanted me to, I went k20… or bought a charger. Here’s a pic on the utility trailer, and yes, I backed it off, and yes, it saved me at least an hour on the engine pull



Yes, the wheels and tires are for sale, no, I’m not making a listing. Drove the car 10 minutes away, completely legally might I add to my buddies bay, as the car is 20 feet long and my shop isn’t length friendly.



A bit of painters tape to hold headlights to where I’m guessing they were bolted, made it safely. Yanked the motor / trans and cut the cats like I was in forest lawn. That’s pretty much up to speed, I’m selling the trans and got a 71 727 I’m going to build (no overdrive Sam, supporting the economy). Got the flex plate adapter on the way, led halo Amazon special black bezel headlights to retrofit, and bolt it in with no modifications needed. Or, bash the freshly painted firewall and grind / weld mounts, but we will cross that river in the weeks to come

One last pic of my car getting to my buddies behind his killer tow rig, which is smaller than the damn car

[SJW]

That mercury gives me wood.

[gretz]

That merc makes 450hp, sitting on interceptor running gear, and has a wild interior. Towed like a champ too

[SKR]

I like the cars and trucks featured in this thread.

[ExtraSlow]

Thread of the month right here.

[03ozwhip]

Very cool.

[mr2mike]

Subscribed.
Looks like a great winter project.

[gretz]

Winter project? That’s the bodywork and paint. I’d like this doing donuts before December

[SJW]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Winter project? That’s the bodywork and paint. I’d like this doing donuts before December

Do you do the painting and bw?

[gretz]

Ya, I’ll do it. I’m a glutton for hating myself lol

[Gman.45]

Very cool Gretz, like what you've done so far. Look forward to seeing your build/work on this. Be a rare and bad ass car once you finish it.

"I cut the cats like I was in forest lawn." Hahaha.

[gretz]

Small update, factory front sump oil pans are a no go. Cut the factory one and did some test drops to see where I needed to end up. Holley gen3 midsumps sat too far forward, ended up going with the speedway. I hate you ups for 3 out for delivery flip flops, but eventually it showed. Going to modify the Holley mid sump pickup to run in this pan, clears the k member / steering shaft perfectly. Picked up a flex plate adapter to run the 727, bolted everything up, and she goes in minty. No firewall banging which I would have enjoyed, but not needed. Now to weld mounts, make a trans mount, driveshaft, wiring, everything… still lots to do, but it’s moving now, not literally, but, ya

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Out of curiosity, why 727 over A518/46RH? OD is very nice to have if you plan to cruise it.

[gretz]

The factory gearing is a 2.93 in the rear, should be right around 2500rpm @ 70mph with the tire I’m running, not the worst. I didn’t want to mess with the abs garbage that’s needed to run the charger trans ecu. Ah for the 518, finding a reasonably priced core doesn’t really exist this day and age and the 727 kinda fell into my crotch. I can always switch things up when I do full retard, which will be in a year knowing myself. I like proving things out cost effectively before going to the end zone (definitely a turbo in the future)

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Fair, if you got the 727 for cheap and you've got highway gears, should be pretty good going down the road.

But if you still want a cheap 2WD 46RH core, there's one at PnP right now. Will have lockup and OD.

https://row52.com/Vehicle/Index/1B7HC16Y2RS686363

Add a lockup/OD control kit from PATC and you're golden.

[gretz]

Ya, it was $300 with converter. Hard to beat. And it keeps things simple to get this unit rolling sooner with cheap rebuilds to make it stronger when need be. I’m not lazy or cheap, rather both of those things lol

[gretz]

Been a bit, time for an update… trans is built, upgraded clutches and all. Went with a new hughes converter and a burst shifter to do the dirty work. Hooker Blackheart hemi swap headers were needed and landed the outlets perfectly, new intake mani gaskets, machined some egr gasketed block offs, intake made, rad in and plumbed with upper/lower hose sensors, one for each electric fan, batterybox in, all wiring done and tucked with an obd port in the ashtray, new fuse box in the glove box, and all factory gauges work, even the speedo will work as the cable is identical to the factory. Finished the headliner and rear deck / made a bow where the front and rear seams as well… What’s left?
Bolt the trans
Hookup the shifter
Tranny mount
Driveshaft
Retrofit headlights


Hp tuners tune to get rolling
And exhaust built. Should be kicking before Christmas if all stays on track