1985 Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country

[Turbulence]

Made the trip home from Northern California with little drama, here is the travel thread:
http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...rip&highlight=
Now through safety, and on we go. All it needed was an inner and outer tie rod on one side. Here is the car:


I need to get rid of the wire wheel covers soon. I like the GTC mesh wheels, and found these on line which I really like. They are Enkei 92s and come in 15 inch diameter 4x100 or 5x114.3, either 7 or 8 inches wide:


The wagon is 4x100 right now, I figured it would be 5x100 but it ain't. I have the rear solid discs off of a 91 shadow es and access to the full K frame off of an 89 LeBaron GTS (stamped dual pivot). I also have a set of 16 inch pumpers with nearly new tires which I could use. But, that is all 5x100. I'd like to improve the brakes but staying with the 4 bold hubs will make that more difficult. I could do LHS brakes to change things to 5x114.3. I would like to eventually make this into a comfy cruiser that can hold it's own at the drag strip.

Thoughts?

Martin

[Turbulence]

I placed my 16 inch pumpers up against the car today. One of them is for the other side of the car but you get the idea. What do ya think?



Martin

[Rrider]

Those enkie meshies look real nice! I don't know that I'd want to pay full price though. I'd just run the pumpers. If you do go 114.3 you could try to find some cheap crow vic mesh to see if the offset works.

[Turbulence]

The Enkei 92s are nice but, the more I look at the pick with the pumpers the more I like it. So I'll start with the 5x100 swap and run the pumpers. Now to find the patience to wait a couple of weeks for my garage to be finished! It's seems to always be the case that when I have the time to do something, something else keeps me from it!

[blk86trbo]

Congrats on a successful trip, that's a great looking wagon! Here's an older thread that I started with some pics of pumper and lace wheels on my wagon if ya care to check it out...http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...ace&highlight=

[Turbulence]

Wow, lots of choices, lots of different looks, thanks for the link. You've just made my decision more difficult.

[Turbulence]

Finally some progress. Rear 11 inch disc conversion in progress. Also Eibachs and newer Monroe shocks. Car still had the originals in the back



There should be a bracket where the rear brake hose connects to the hard line. Anyone have a pick so I can put something together? Right now they are just connected without support, but I don't like the amount of movement that is possible..

The rear pads I got are also slightly narrower than the ones they replaced but everything fits. Are the 89/90 rear discs and calipers the same or different from the 91 and up?



Had to try the pumpers. Need to space them out a bit me thinks. A spacer between the back plate and the axle?



Martin
85 T&C wagon

[Turbulence]

on the road again.

[Turbulence]

Swapped back to the stock springs



I don't like the current gauge layout. What other gauge options are there? I prefer analog round speedo and tachs that are easy to read. Are there any bolt in options?



Martin
85 T&C wagon

[Vigo]

Not trying to be rude here but i hate the pumpers on that car. I would have rather had stock brakes and pretty wheels than big brakes and wheels that dont fit the car.

15" 5x100 wheel selection is somewhat limited but surprisingly it's more by width and offset than anything else. Most of the cool looking 15" 5x100 wheels are marketed toward the VW stance crowd and they are either too wide or have too little offset, or both.

I am planning to try a 15x8 +25 on my lancer shelby. I think it will work out ok.

As far as a bolt in cluster with an analog tach.. I actually dont think that exists for the k-body. There are digital dashes with tachs but no analog ones that i know of.

[Turbulence]

It's a "to each their own" thing I know. I kinda like it, and the big brakes make a nice difference. I also had the wheels and nearly new tires collecting dust so that was kind of a no brainer. Wheels may change down the road, who knows.

[Turbulence]

I'm interested to see what wheels you get for the LS.

[RoadWarrior222]

I'd prefer pumpers on a plain colored wagon, they're not too bad on my woody Voyager, but then it's far less woody.

There's some GM lace wheels in a 15" 5x100 you might be able to find that would probably look okay.

[j4278h]

toss some fiero gt 15x7 wheels on there. would look perfect with the wood

[Turbulence]

toss some fiero gt 15x7 wheels on there. would look perfect with the wood

That was my first thought, was looking at Enkie 92s before I swapped the brakes. Current wheels may not stay

[Vigo]

Every time ive run the pumpers on anything it was just because i had them around, so i can relate! I've had several sets but got rid of them over time. The last set i had was mounted to my 3.0/5spd dynasty which i thought was pretty ok.

I agree that the fiero wheels would be great. Unfortunately other people want them too and i found out when shopping for my lancer shelby that its tough to get them truly cheap, and you can buy wheels that look just as good in perfect condition new for $400 shipped on ebay any day of the week. You have to get a pretty good deal for them to make any sense.

[Turbulence]

Moving along. Pulled the driveline and hauled the car to Rob (Shadow) in Manitoba. Should be ready for next season. Can't wait. Was the car's first and hopefully last experience of road salt.



Martin

[Vigo]

Big plans then?

Hope it gets a good wash to get that nastiness out. There's few enough nice examples surviving that we've got to take care of what's left.

[Turbulence]

Rob will build the motor and tune it. 2.5 G head with some work done, forged Pistons of course, BMF intake, Rob's ported exhaust manny and 3 inch swing valve, I asked for mid 12s and comfy, on pump gas. Keeping the a/c. A413 that's been gone through based on the knowledge centre info. Gonna be fun!

[Turbulence]

Time for an update. Build is still ongoing. It now has a digital dash which meant a complete rewire of the dash harness (looks completely stock thanks to Rob's bro Brent). I don't have an installed pic.



Block with goodies installed





Head pics




Knock sensor mount. Stock mount cut out of one piece intake welded in stock location



BMF all shiny black. Valve cover now matches it (later picks)




ported exhaust manifold



Intercooler, trans cooler, condenser and rad.








attention to detail!





Monster swing valve mounted in the jig waiting to be finished



And finished