Tulsa VGG Meet 2026

The plan was a 1964 Rambler Classic 770 from Huntsville, Alabama to the Tulsa Route 66 Capital Cruise — a Guinness World Record classic car parade with Vice Grip Garage on Historic Route 66. Plans changed and we didn't make this one. The Rambler's still in the shop, still being built, and there's plenty of road ahead.

Plans Changed — We Didn't Make This One 1964 Rambler Classic 770 232 AMC I-6 · BW Flash-O-Matic Build Still Going

A Note on This Page

We're keeping the build plan and parts list up because the work is real and the Rambler still matters. The trip didn't happen this year — life had other ideas. The car's still being sorted in the shop and we'll point it at something good when the time is right. Below is what we'd planned and what we put into the build.

11–15
Planned Days
~1,654
Planned Miles
5
Planned States
1964
Rambler Classic 770

Where the Rambler Stands

Build Status — May 2026

✅ Running and driving under its own power. Engine runs, car is being driven. The big mechanical work is done.
✅ Rear brakes: All drums rebuilt, new wheel cylinders, new hard brake lines to rear.
✅ Front brakes: Scarebird disc conversion — Duralast C265/C269 calipers, 31168 rotors, Precision GM wheel bearing/seal.
✅ Wheel studs: Dorman 610-287.1 (1/2-20, longer) — bolt-in replacement for original short studs.
✅ Starter: New reman Autolite-style starter installed.
✅ Carburetor: Rochester Monojet 1-bbl (GM 250/292 application, Amazon P/N 7043014 family) adapted to the 232 intake. Running.
✅ Fuel tank: 12-gallon VEVOR marine/boat tank plumbed to the carb — sitting in the trunk.
✅ Combination valve: Generic GM-style brass combo valve installed (PV2 172-1353 / PV71 — disc front / drum rear). The proper OEM-style solution for the Scarebird conversion: metering for the front discs, proportioning for the rear drums, and pressure-differential warning switch, all in one brass body. See the parts list →
✅ Rear suspension — air helper bags: MILLISEC 60818HD air helper spring kit (sized for 2009–2024 Ram 1500 rear coils, up to 2,100 lbs load leveling) adapted into the Rambler's collapsed rear coil springs. Cures the sag and lets us dial in ride height once the tank and gear are loaded.
Still Open on the Build

Floor — patch + rust converter + prime. The through-holes need to be patched and sealed before any sustained highway driving (CO intrusion at speed is real).

VEVOR fuel tank — mount and secure. 12-gallon tank is plumbed but still sitting loose in the trunk. Has to be strapped or bolted to the floor before the next real drive.

Shop Punch List

Hose walk-around (upper/lower rad, heater, fuel, vacuum, brake flex lines) · coolant temp sensor verification or swap · fluid changes (engine oil, trans ATF, rear diff, coolant).

The Cannonball We Planned — Huntsville to Tulsa

~700 miles. No A/C. Late May heat. The plan was to drive at night.

Route: Huntsville, AL → Memphis, TN → Little Rock, AR → Fort Smith, AR → Tulsa, OK

Option A — Full Overnight Push

~8:00 PM, May 26
Depart Huntsville
Leave after sundown, cool temps
~Midnight
Memphis, TN
+200 mi · fuel, stretch, coffee
~2:30 AM
Little Rock, AR
+140 mi · optional rest stop
~5:30 AM
Fort Smith, AR
+160 mi · fuel, breakfast
~9:00 AM, May 27
Arrive Tulsa ✓
+175 mi · check in, sleep, recover

Option B — Split Run (1.5 Days)

Afternoon/evening, May 26
Depart Huntsville
Drive to Little Rock (~340 mi)
~Midnight, May 26
Little Rock — Overnight
Roadside motel, a few hours of sleep
Morning, May 27
Little Rock → Tulsa
~340 mi · arrive afternoon

The Tulsa Schedule We Were Aiming At

DateEventWhereTime
May 27 Arrive & rest. Explore Tulsa — Route 66 Plaza, Golden Driller, Woody Guthrie Center, Cain's Ballroom — All day
May 28 Capital Cruise Expo — driver check-in, credentials, activations Expo Square 2–8 PM
May 29 Expo continues · Tailgate — live music, food trucks, tire kicking. VGG will be on site. Expo Square 10 AM–8 PM
May 30 PARADE DAY. Stage at Expo Square, roll at 8 AM. 5.5 miles of Historic Route 66 (11th St) — Guinness World Record attempt. VGG confirmed on site. 11th & Yale → 11th & Denver 8 AM
May 31 Depart Tulsa — heading home — Morning

Return Route We Mapped

R1
May 31
Tulsa → Fort Smith

Tulsa to Fort Smith, AR (~180 mi)

Short easy day. Decompress. Let the car breathe after the parade.

  • Fort Smith National Historic Site — Judge Parker's courtroom ("Hanging Judge"), original gallows. Genuinely great.
  • Garrison Avenue — downtown main street, good food
Overnight in Fort Smith
R2
June 1
Fort Smith → Hot Springs

Fort Smith to Hot Springs, AR (~190 mi)

Cut straight south — skip Little Rock entirely.

  • Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro — $15/person, dig for real diamonds in an actual volcanic crater, keep everything you find. Plan 2–3 hrs.
  • Hot Springs: Bathhouse Row (National Historic Landmark), Fordyce Bathhouse (free museum inside), optional Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Overnight in Hot Springs
R3
June 2
Hot Springs → Texarkana

Hot Springs to Texarkana, TX/AR (~135 mi)

  • Federal Building state line photo — building straddles TX/AR, line painted on sidewalk. Classic road trip shot.
  • Lindsey Railroad Museum — $5, 30–45 min, small train museum worth the stop
  • This is the town from Smokey and the Bandit — the whole premise of the 1977 film was running Coors beer from Texarkana. You're driving a classic car through the right place.
Overnight in Texarkana
R4
June 3
Decision Point

Two Options from Texarkana

Option A — The Louisiana swing (~14 days): South through Natchitoches ("Nak-uh-tish"), the oldest settlement in Louisiana (1714) — Cane River waterfront, Front Street, the meat pies everyone tells you to try. Then deeper into central Louisiana to spend a few days with family before the run home.

Option B — The home stretch (~10 days): Texarkana → Memphis for a Beale Street night and proper BBQ, then a final morning push to Huntsville (~205 mi). Back in the driveway by June 4–5.

Fuel Planning

12-Gallon VEVOR Marine Tank

At 15 MPG (conservative for the auto/1-bbl/3.08 axle combo), you have ~180 miles per fill. The cannonball to Tulsa needs 4–5 fuel stops.

Rule: Fill every 100–120 miles. Don't push toward the 180-mile max. Gas is available every 30–40 miles on every leg of this route.

Tank note: Still not mounted. Must be strapped or bolted down before any road miles. Confirm all fittings and fuel lines are ethanol-compatible (E10 attacks old rubber).

Vehicle Quick Reference

Engine — 232 AMC OHV Inline-6
Displacement232 cu in (3.8L)
Power145 hp gross @ 4,300 RPM
Torque215 lb-ft @ 1,600 RPM
Main bearings7
Oil capacity5 qts (4 pan + 1 filter)
Firing order1-5-3-6-2-4
Thermostat180°F stock · 160°F recommended
Carburetor — Rochester Monojet 1-bbl
Type1-barrel downdraft, Rochester Monojet
Part numbers7043014 / 7043017 / 7047314
ApplicationGMC/Chevy 250 / 292 inline-6 (adapted)
ChokeElectric — needs switched 12V (ignition-on hot)
Fuel pressure3.5–5 PSI
StatusInstalled · running ✓
BW Flash-O-Matic (BW35) Automatic
Type3-speed automatic
FluidStandard ATF — not Dexron
Pan capacity~4 qts (total system ~6–7 qts)
Service neededPan drop + filter + ATF refill
Brakes — Disc/Drum Conversion
FrontScarebird disc — C265/C269 calipers · 31168 rotors
RearRebuilt original drums · new hard lines
MasterFactory drum/drum master (retained)
Combination valveGM-style brass combo valve (PV2 172-1353 / PV71) — disc front / drum rear. Installed. Metering + proportioning + warning switch in one body.
Wheel studsDorman 610-287.1 · 1/2-20

The Build Checklist

What we worked through to get the Rambler trip-ready. The car never left for Tulsa, but the work is real — and the list is a useful record of where this build stood.

Done — Confirmed Complete

  • Rear drum brake rebuild — all wheel cylinders replaced, new hard brake lines
  • Scarebird front disc conversion — C265/C269 calipers, 31168 rotors, Precision GM wheel bearing/seal
  • Wheel studs — Dorman 610-287.1 (1/2-20, longer) installed in front hubs
  • New reman starter installed
  • Rochester Monojet 1-bbl adapted to 232 intake and running (Amazon P/N 7043014 family)
  • 12-gallon VEVOR marine tank plumbed to carb
  • GM-style brass combination valve installed (PV2 172-1353 / PV71) — metering for the front discs, proportioning for the rear drums, warning switch in one body
  • MILLISEC air helper spring bags (60818HD) adapted into the rear coils — cures the 60-year-old spring sag, dial-in ride height once the car is loaded
  • Engine running — car driving under its own power

Where the Build Sits — Still Open

  • Patch floor + rust converter + prime — CO intrusion risk at highway speed. Welded patches or properly sealed sheet metal. Rust converter on surrounding rust. Prime.
  • Mount/secure the VEVOR fuel tank — strap or bolt to trunk floor before any road miles
  • BW35 Flash-O-Matic — pan drop, replace internal filter, refill with standard ATF (not Dexron). Adjust kickdown band and low/reverse band while pan is off.
  • Run switched 12V feed to Rochester Monojet electric choke (ignition-on hot)
  • Verify lug nuts are 1/2-20 conical/acorn seat to match Dorman studs
  • Confirm firm pedal feel and proper brake balance before highway miles
  • Register the Rambler for the parade — deadline approaching (link in resources below)

Service & Maintenance — Still to Do

  • Full engine oil + filter change (5 qts)
  • Coolant flush + 50/50 refill
  • Drain and refill rear differential — GL-5 SAE 90
  • Hose walk-around — upper/lower rad hoses, heater hoses, fuel hoses from tank to carb, brake flex lines, vacuum lines. Replace anything cracked or 5+ years old.
  • Coolant temp sensor — verify gauge accuracy or swap (232's main vulnerability is overheating)
  • All lights — headlights (aim for night driving), tails, brake lights, turn signals, dash
  • New spark plugs — Champion H10Y, gapped to .035"
  • Book Tulsa hotel on Marriott points — event weekend, book early
  • Seat covers — after floor work is done

Resources & References

Event Links (for anyone else aiming at it)

AMC Parts & Tech

Contacts

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