165 replies to this topic

[torinobradley]

Not meaning to change directions but how about an old style racing injected V6 along the the first set of wheels that look like the old Minilites? Would make an awesome GT-esque style street racer.

As for color, how about a dark silver main body, matching wheel centers and black GT stripes, along with monochromed bumpers, blacked out trim, a blacked out grill and tail. Put a modest airdam painted black and maybe a small rear deck lip to give it that street racer look.

Any way you build and any color you choose, I am sure it will be a terrific looking car. Keep up the good work!

[cruz]

Not meaning to change directions but how about an old style racing injected V6 along the the first set of wheels that look like the old Minilites? Would make an awesome GT-esque style street racer.

As for color, how about a dark silver main body, matching wheel centers and black GT stripes, along with monochromed bumpers, blacked out trim, a blacked out grill and tail. Put a modest airdam painted black and maybe a small rear deck lip to give it that street racer look.

Any way you build and any color you choose, I am sure it will be a terrific looking car. Keep up the good work!

Your idea sounds terrific my friend along with the others posted but I am more old school, a GN motor is quite the modern engine for my usual old school taste but thanks for the heads up!!!

[cruz]

I want to be able to use as much of the original chassis as possible. The Grand National transmission was way too bulky which meant that I had to cut a lot of the original middle part of the chassis off for me to be able to integrate it. My biggest concern is making sure to have enough available space between the radiator and the front of the engine, this area will be housing most of the turbo and hose connections and accesories.. I managed to get a bit more space and will show this after I shoot a few more pictures later.
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A lot of the chrome parts on this engine had to be "Easy-Offed", these cars had a lot of non-shiny parts on the Turbo area and I intend to simulate them with various shades of Testor's Metalizer paints.
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[cruz]

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Don't be fooled by this little engine, it has lots of parts to it which will make this a challenging build. I will have to do a lot of cutting and adding to ultimately try to make this thing work so please, wish me luck....

[Foxer]

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Don't be fooled by this little engine, it has lots of parts to it which will make this a challenging build. I will have to do a lot of cutting and adding to ultimately try to make this thing work so please, wish me luck....

Looks like plumber's dream! Gonna be a real looker thou.

[made007]

I want to be able to use as much of the original chassis as possible. The Grand National transmission was way too bulky which meant that I had to cut a lot of the original middle part of the chassis off for me to be able to integrate it. My biggest concern is making sure to have enough available space between the radiator and the front of the engine, this area will be housing most of the turbo and hose connections and accesories.. I managed to get a bit more space and will show this after I shoot a few more pictures later.
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A lot of the chrome parts on this engine had to be "Easy-Offed", these cars had a lot of non-shiny parts on the Turbo area and I intend to simulate them with various shades of Testor's Metalizer paints.
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hi marcos, are you gonna paint the intercooler black like the pics, or aluminum? wich i think it looks better

[cruz]

hi marcos, are you gonna paint the intercooler black like the pics, or aluminum? wich i think it looks better

I will decide on that later, have to see how much of the intercooler I have to cut down, right now is a little too large to just fit it in there so I will have to reshape it.....

[Raul_Perez]

Nice mods and mockup of the engine and tranny!! They look like they now fit really well!!

Easy-Off??? That's some pretty nasty stuff for removing what we like to call "chrome". I use household ammonia. In a pinch I'll use Windex, because it has ammonia in it, but it's a lot more expensive and doesn't last as long before you have to dump it out.

Later,

[cruz]

Time for a little more updates on this thing. I have been working with the intercooler and doing lots of modifications. Didn't have many choices and had to downsize it significantly since the front of the Vega is a lot smaller and shorter from top to bottom than the Grand National's.
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[cruz]

I will try to install a few metal parts here and there to bring the engine alive since these modern engines are kind of boring.
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[cruz]

Here is a partial installation of the exhaust manifolds and engine parts on the chassis. Had to remove some plastic on the chassis to get the engine to fit better. Also removed the molded in exhaust which made this chassis look so toyish.
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[cruz]

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Also had to work around the upper part of the engine and also make some modifications to these parts. No way I was able to use them without cutting them down. Is all part of the build and I am having some fun with this, the challenge gets crazier by the minute!!!

[ajulia]

Hello there friend! Man I havent seen a vega in a more than 15 yrs.. This is turning out nice and the engine mods are jus great!!! Will be checking this thread from here on out!! Keep on wit the keepin on!!
paz
ajulia

[cotto]

Wow Cruz, this one looks like a tough one, I am getting a headache just looking at the stuff your'e doing to this thing. If I could build like that and have my way I would keep the outside Vega look intact and surprise them with the Buick engine. Do they make any photo-etch detail sets for the Grand National? You could put the GN badges all around the car and paint it all black, this way you can go all GN.

[cruz]

Wow Cruz, this one looks like a tough one, I am getting a headache just looking at the stuff your'e doing to this thing. If I could build like that and have my way I would keep the outside Vega look intact and surprise them with the Buick engine. Do they make any photo-etch detail sets for the Grand National? You could put the GN badges all around the car and paint it all black, this way you can go all GN.

Thanks Jay and the rest of the guys!! A few days back I was talking with my boy Mike Dube and he suggested exactly that but after checking around I had no luck, no one makes the P/E detail set for the GN. That leaves me with one choice, keep it Chevy on the outside and Buick at heart. In reality it was what I originally intended to do even though I would have considered Mike's advice as well as yours. The GN decal sheet has various options if I were to consider this but I have never been too crazy about adding decals as badges, you just can't beat P/E for this....

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

Wow Cruz, this one looks like a tough one, I am getting a headache just looking at the stuff your'e doing to this thing. If I could build like that and have my way I would keep the outside Vega look intact and surprise them with the Buick engine. Do they make any photo-etch detail sets for the Grand National? You could put the GN badges all around the car and paint it all black, this way you can go all GN.

Once upon a time, someone made PE for the GN but they are LONG OOP. I saw one once on Ebay but didn't win it.

[cruz]

r

Edited by marcos cruz, 07 July 2009 - 03:26 AM.

[cruz]

Did some painting and building of the engine in the last couple of days. Various other parts of the engine will be added once they are installed in the engine
bay......
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[Tonioseven]

You need to get some "Bumblebee Yellow" paint from Scalefinishes.com. That's the perfect color for it! I have a bottle but have not yet used it on a project.

[cruz]

Okay guys, I promise this will be the last change on this build. I will have to go w/ Bill Geary's suggestion and incorporate a Rotary engine on this thing.

After putting together the Grand National engine I was having troubles with the oil pan being too close to the ground and since I want this thing in the weeds that became a problem. I can bring the model up and make the stance a bit higher but I don't want to do that.

Some people suggested that I install a scoop on the hood but I want this model as stock and quiet as possible on the outside so that option is out the window. I started working w/ the Rotary engine and I am starting to like it, it will definitely be unique!!!
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This is more or less what I'm going for, this is just the block (or cylinder if you will) of the engine.
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This is a souped up version of a 1/1 Rotary engine.
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