1973 Plymouth Satellite Regent Wagon 9 passenger - $6999 (WA)

The research I have done on these wagons shows there was no power window, power seats or even a 8 track upgrade. Most of them came with the 318 plant, but I like my 360, although they are almost exactly the same engine minus a few cubes. Since it was literally a little old ladies car the clock stands at 52K original miles. I like your wagon a lot, really like these cars with an altitude adjustment.

 

Good decision, Civardi.


Marshall

 

The plan is to put it on bags in the near future. I will be raising the front up a bit as the headers are to low to the ground and keep hitting all sorts of stuff.

 

Bagging the rear is a no brainer with the leafs, but the front isn't doable from a control arm aspect. The lower control arm is too narrow and too close to the upper subframe section. You can bag the front but you'll have to build a cross member cantilever setup that goes over the engine. I opted for hydraulics with accumulators because I spent way too much time and money to make the engine bay look nice. The hydros fit in the stock shock posistions and have been trouble free for the most part. I did however have to make a geometry adjustment to the rear ones. The front has been working flawlessly for 9 years now. If you have questions when the time comes please feel free to PM me, I know this suspension trick inside and out on this particular car.

PS: Had the same header problem when I had my static drop, ended up chroming a set of Sanderson Hot Rod headers which are basically tubular manifolds, solved the problem but they're not cheap.

 

Good to know. The guy I know that does bags said no problem but I already have a Datsun that is 18 months into a build that has way more fabrication then we expected. How is the ride with hydraulics? Can you do a 200+ mile road trip and be comfortable? The last time I was in a car with hydros was back in the 80s and I was young.

 

The key to hydro's I found out is accumulators, it gives the car that big car floaty ride and keeps the rams from being jarred and starting leaks. The accumulators are gas charged and act just like a shock absorber. My set up is not the "hoppy" type hydraulics they are not fast (strickly for ground clearance)I only have one extra battery for the rear pump and the front runs off the cars stock battery. the ride quality is awesome even at lower ride heights, topped out they can be quite stiff but I never drive it that way.


The pump ^ that black ball the hose is around is the accumulator. My front circuit is all under hood...I'm sure you know how much extra room these cars have under there.

 

I don't remember.....do these things have torsion bars and are they adjustable? If so, just crank them up a bit to raise the front of the car and inch or two.

 

Yes sir they do! Easy as hell to adjust too. I removed mine completely but I do crazy sh*t like that.

 

Sounds so familiar. The Datsun I have is going from a 4cy with 90hp to a 300hp+ monster. Why? Because I can.

 

Ha! Yes that's awesome! My old 91 Toyota Xcab had a 383 stroker in it, a tough coversion and completely useless in the winter, but holy hell it was fun...until the rearend just let go. Can't imagine why??

 

A Ford 9" is already part of the fab work to be done.

 

Smart man! We kept the standard Toyota 3rd member, because young and dumb and on a budget...bad idea. The driveline yoke was twisted at the pinion as well, just too much power. Like everything else a great automotive learning experience.

 

Dewey,
Your perspicacity is exceeded only by the ambiance of your driveway.

 

Thanks OldFox! That makes me happy on several levels.

 

Good thing you said that to Dewey and not me because I wouldn't have known if that was a compliment or insult!