40 replies to this topic

[bandit1]

hi everyone i wanted to post this here for you all "fellers" to see its the 377 ae kit... the red one with the flags on it!...
i posted this over at the truckstop a while ago but again i wanted you guys to see it!

heres where i started with the frame!-


heres the front axle minus the tie rod im still working on making it poseible!


and heres the rear axles the first one i screwed up on and im in the middle of fixing so once i get that fixed ill give you guys updates on the progress-





heres the airbags that i detailed with a "special item"!-





what do you'll think should i stick with the series 60 or do a swap for a cat 3406?



even though the instructions say paint the 60 in yellow! duh! its detroit not cat italeri!





comments and suggestions welcomed!

[Jim B]

So far, so good. What's your "ultimate" plan with this? Reason I ask is if you're thinking fleet truck, stick with the Series 60. If you're thinking Owner-Operator either engine will be fine.

[bandit1]

its not a fleet as far as it goes right now but hey you know how plans change on the fly huh?
im actually building this as a nice o/o i will be the driver!
im going to be using the kit decals (the red one with the flags!
catch you later i gotta meeting to be at right now!~

[bandit1]

hey guys updates i fixed the axle!




and did a little more work

starting to install the cat 3406 just to see what kinda work will be needed and it looks like not a whole lot of mods to the mounts!
maybe someone can get me a pic of how the mounts look for a 3406 in a 377 ae if thats possible so it would be more accurate!





but i dont know i still may stick with the series 60!

[cowboysevens]

looks good so far sean, i like that cat motor better in there than the series60 detroit. but they are both good motors.

[cdnmodman]

Sean,

Thats looking really nice,looking forward to seeing more pics as the work progresses !!

Rick

[bandit1]

hi guys i gotta small but HHHHUUUUGGGGGEEEE!!!! update all at the same time here.

the front steering rod thingy! (im having mind farts like you wouldnt believe today!) rivoted on and get this it didnt envolve any "heat"!

heres the sprue i used out of the parts bag (yeh not a box!)











when i just couldnt believe what i just had done!
i yelled out"D@MN IM GOOD!" i think i disturbed the slumber of the house cat here!

[bandit1]

man i guess im a modeling machine!
i worked on it some more.

here is where i modified the drive shaft that goes in b/w the two rear drive axles.
it just looked to "plasticie!"

heres the photos-





heres the front shocks on!



rear shocks- (probably is not the best pic!)



heres the completed frame! just prior to paint... i think i gotta stop by the paint store first before i get any paint work done!
dang it!


by the way i need some help i looked at the possible engine swap for the 3406 but it looks like i wont beable to use it cause in a 1:1 the axle would come up and slam in to the oil pan on the very first bump and cause all kinds of engine issues!
so is there another cat motor that would work minus the 3408?

[Jim B]

Is it the sump or the oilpan itself that hits the axle? If it's the sump, you can just stich the oilpan around.

[bandit1]

Is it the sump or the oilpan itself that hits the axle? If it's the sump, you can just stich the oilpan around.

huh? never seen a 3406 with the oil pan switched around like your talking and yes its the sump part that will get the damage!

[Jim B]

When you have a set back axle truck, you have to switch the oilpan around.

[bandit1]

When you have a set back axle truck, you have to switch the oilpan around.

so how would you go about doing that without destroying the detail of the oil pan bolts?

[Jim B]

Oh, that's right! On the 3406 the oil pan is molded onto the block. Forgot about that. I'll have to give it some thought. We just might have to get creative.

[cowboysevens]

sean if you have a scribing tool then you can use it to cut out along the line on the bottom of the block where the oil pan meets it, youll have to fill in the back/ now the front of the pan but it should be a purdy easy job. if you dont have a scriber try using the back side of the model knife. good luck

[bandit1]

sean if you have a scribing tool then you can use it to cut out along the line on the bottom of the block where the oil pan meets it, youll have to fill in the back/ now the front of the pan but it should be a purdy easy job. if you dont have a scriber try using the back side of the model knife. good luck

ive been thinking of doing that but i need to look at it closer if i do that just to make sure i dont screw up or something!

[bandit1]

Hey guys just to let you know that this is not a "dead thread"
i just havent gotten around to working on it much due to "general life" issues!
ill get back on it soon though!

[mackinac359]

I say go for the big kitty. Here's one from the 1990 377 brochure.

Tim

Attached Files

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[bandit1]

HEY GUYS I DID IT!!!
i swithced the oilpan without destroying anything... even myself!lol!

i did scribe it but i just have some more work done on it and i even painted the frame!(dont have pics of that though even though i will here an alittle while!

[Jim B]

Excellent! And you still have all of your fingers?

Edited by Jim B, 10 May 2011 - 02:51 PM.

[bandit1]

heres the shots of the frame painted and even the roof is installed on the cab (dont know why i did that now its going to be tricky to paint the interior the flat red its suppose to be!)
AND I DONT HAVE ANY CLEARANCE ISSUES!!! YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





comments and criticizm welcomed!