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An exercise in daydreaming
I have, in my spare time 
, been thinking about what to do with my 1961 Superior Limo Style Endloader. Keep it origional? Nah, too far gone for that. Restify it? If I liked the body enough, yeah, but I am not in love with limo style hearses. Modify it? Maybe so, but how? Heres my thoughts:
1) Modern drivetrain ~ I was thinking about going as far as a complete chassis swap with a Chevy truck with a similar wheelbase, along with the full engine/trans/rear. This would give it a bit of a lift and make part easier/cheaper to find. And maybe better motivation with either fuel injection or a big block. I love the fact that my 61 M+M is almost completely origional. Except that I am always afraid the engine will let go if I push it too hard, the brakes are drum/drum with a little single resivoir master cylinder (panic stops are always exhillerating) and the transmission is... expensive and obscure as far as transmission shops are concerned. So I want one I can drive with complete confidence long distances. AND it will give me a spare drivetrain for the M+M.
2) Body ~ Since I am not big on limo style hearses, maybe filling in the windows between the C and D pillars and finding appropriate landau bars. I would find some that appeal to me instead of the "right" ones. I like curve in my bars, not Superior's straight ones. Hmmm.... I have some off a 79 Crown...
3) Trim ~ I picked up a pair of MX7000 lightbars because I thought about making this a "Gothic Ambulance", but now I am not sure I want to put up with the headache of not only wiring them, but the one rookie cop that is looking for his "big bust" that is around every corner. If I went that route, it would get an Ecto-like paint job, but in Black with either purple, green or orange stripes with matching lenses for the lightbars. Logos would be in 18" on both the front doors and "etched" on the rear side windows (in place of the cross or star of life) in the style of the era. On the other hand, if I went Landau with it I would want it to have some sinister touches without being gouche. Limo tint the windows, 18" wheels of a simple design, chrome skull centers on the landau bows and a hood ornament based on this: http://www.cas4.com/Skulls/Accessori...-Curved-01.jpg. Oh, and a nice throaty dual exhaust.
So what do you think? This is my one "play" car, and I can't afford to do it once, much less multiple times. Chime in with experience, stories, advice or random thoughts PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT!
(I know you cornholes are out there
).
, been thinking about what to do with my 1961 Superior Limo Style Endloader. Keep it origional? Nah, too far gone for that. Restify it? If I liked the body enough, yeah, but I am not in love with limo style hearses. Modify it? Maybe so, but how? Heres my thoughts:1) Modern drivetrain ~ I was thinking about going as far as a complete chassis swap with a Chevy truck with a similar wheelbase, along with the full engine/trans/rear. This would give it a bit of a lift and make part easier/cheaper to find. And maybe better motivation with either fuel injection or a big block. I love the fact that my 61 M+M is almost completely origional. Except that I am always afraid the engine will let go if I push it too hard, the brakes are drum/drum with a little single resivoir master cylinder (panic stops are always exhillerating) and the transmission is... expensive and obscure as far as transmission shops are concerned. So I want one I can drive with complete confidence long distances. AND it will give me a spare drivetrain for the M+M.
2) Body ~ Since I am not big on limo style hearses, maybe filling in the windows between the C and D pillars and finding appropriate landau bars. I would find some that appeal to me instead of the "right" ones. I like curve in my bars, not Superior's straight ones. Hmmm.... I have some off a 79 Crown...
3) Trim ~ I picked up a pair of MX7000 lightbars because I thought about making this a "Gothic Ambulance", but now I am not sure I want to put up with the headache of not only wiring them, but the one rookie cop that is looking for his "big bust" that is around every corner. If I went that route, it would get an Ecto-like paint job, but in Black with either purple, green or orange stripes with matching lenses for the lightbars. Logos would be in 18" on both the front doors and "etched" on the rear side windows (in place of the cross or star of life) in the style of the era. On the other hand, if I went Landau with it I would want it to have some sinister touches without being gouche. Limo tint the windows, 18" wheels of a simple design, chrome skull centers on the landau bows and a hood ornament based on this: http://www.cas4.com/Skulls/Accessori...-Curved-01.jpg. Oh, and a nice throaty dual exhaust.
So what do you think? This is my one "play" car, and I can't afford to do it once, much less multiple times. Chime in with experience, stories, advice or random thoughts PERTAINING TO THE SUBJECT!
(I know you cornholes are out there
).
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