104 replies to this topic

[Custom Mike]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

OK, I got some more engine work done, and here's where a big issue popped up. Sam, who did you get those valve covers from? I ask because out of the three you sent, one had a huge void in it on the corner, another had a bad pinhole, and the third had most of the flange missing, along with the fact if was badly warped into an arc. I did my best, then the flange broke off of the second one, and I gave up and put 'em back in the bag. A quick search through my parts box yielded the same engine you sent (Apparently you robbed it from an AMT Challenger kit), so I stole it's valve covers and smoothed 'em out in preparation for the decals that came with the crappy resin ones. Problem #2, they fell apart as soon as they hit the water. So the valve covers were painted with Metalizer Titanium and buffed out. Whoever you got those valve covers from, lose their address, their stuff sucks!

 

 

Nice pinhole, huh? 

 

Look at the missing flange on the two on the left, and that pretty void on the right hand one...

 

And this guy charges for these? What a rip-off!

 

The old AMT Valve covers, cleaned up and smoothed out.

 

Edited by Custom Mike, 09 January 2013 - 06:16 PM.

[Custom Mike]

Next up, I got the fuel rail attached, and fuel line all bent up nice and pretty, then attached the freshly painted and buffed valve covers...

 

 

 

 

 

And the last shot for tonight, the rear end was painted Metalizer Steel, the shocks were pained Chrysler Engine Red, and the coils were painted with Metalizer Aluminum Plate.

[Modlbldr]

You're doing some beautiful work here. I have to say that nose does look good on the Duster.The engine work is looking great too. Here are the photos (as bad as they are) of my 69 Super Camaro start. I started this over 20 years ago. I need to get it finished.



This is the old "Rampage" Camaro. I just eyeballed the cut on the nose and the slope of the fenders matched up perfectly with the curve of the nose. I did have to narrow the nose a bit to fit though. I also lowered the tail in the back to line up more with the height of the roof. I thought it looked better that way. Thanks for letting me post photos of it. I got to dig it back out after all of these years.

Later-

[MachinistMark]

Seems a super bird nose looks great on anything BUT a super bird..

[Custom Mike]

Mark, I think you're right, that nose does look good on just about anything but what it was designed for. That actually looks great Tom, are you gonna finish it?

[MachinistMark]

it's kind of like bob dylan songs, they sound great when sung by anybody BUt bob dylan.

[Custom Mike]

I think that's because nobdy but Bob Dylan knows what he's saying!

[Modlbldr]

Mark, I think you're right, that nose does look good on just about anything but what it was designed for. That actually looks great Tom, are you gonna finish it?

In SOME lifetime. Thanks for the nice comment on it.

Later-

Edited by Modlbldr, 07 January 2013 - 07:16 PM.

[johnbuzzed]

I like your work, Mike.  Very clean and not overly complex.

[Custom Mike]

Thanks John, it may show up at a contest in SC sometime this year, we'll see!

OK, I got a bit more done on the engine, since I'm out of Primer/Sealer, I can't do much else at the moment. I got my fuel lines run from the fuel rail up to the carbs, which was really fun, you should all try it! Then I got my belt/pulley assembly painted, and looked at the white metal alternator that Sam sent with...it's a GM alternator! That just won't cut it, so it went back in the bag it came from, and the alternator from the '70 Coronet Pro Street kit was snatched and detail painted. Once I get back on this, I'll add some photo-etched brackets to the alternator and possibly the power steering pump. I have one that will fit that is, there's not a whole lot of room around the power steering pump to attach a bracket, so I'm not sure if I'll add one, we'll see!

[martinfan5]

The engine is looking great

[Sam I Am]

Sorry about the alternator, I was throwing all the aftermarket goodies I had in the box and never even noticed.  

Yup, 383 was what I was thinking 'cause its more Plymouth correct than a 440. 

[Dirty Gringo]

I saw the pictures of this somewhere else on this site and actually saved the photos wanting to build one down the road.  This thing is beyond cool to me and then the Camaro pops up and man looks great to.  Thanks for sharing these great projects guys getting the ideas rolling now

[W-409]

yea he is posing it in the CBP area as well ( if I recall the prostock CBP )

 

 

Pro Street CBP.

 

Pro Stock is completely different, as they are Professional Class Race Cars with very tight rules.

 

Anyway this looks excellent to me. Nice engine detailing, looks like real engine coming together. I really like the colors and paint job too. Can't wait to see more of this.

[Tonioseven]

This is a really cool build!!! Mike, you are a master!!!

[Dirty Gringo]

Started a camaro version of this as well but didnt pan out as I thought it would.  Oh well I will get around to it someday

[Custom Mike]

Thanks guys, Tonio, I'm no master, I'm just a goober with some paint and glue, and a whole lotta imagination! Jeremiah, get back to that Camaro, since seeing the one that Tom's got, I  want to see one done, it looks great with the Superbird nose on it!

 

Alright, let's see if I can get this update in before the internet goes bye-bye again! I got the under-dash gauge sets that Sam sent made up, I started by polishing the faces up, bent them, then applied the gauges to the back side, A drop of Testors Clear Parts Cement to each gauge, and they'll look good. Next up, I polished the "T" bolts Sam sent for the valve covers...

[Custom Mike]

Now, another shot of the "T" bolt in place, they'll be glued down once I get the plug wires in place. Then I opened up the ends of the Challenger T/A exhaust Sam sent, it looks 1000 times better than it did originally! I'm gonna strip the exhaust and repaint it Metalizer Stainless Steel once I get it fit to the engine and chassis, it's gonna need a bit of modification to fit the Duster chassis right.



Pretty bad looking exhaust pipe, right?


Much better once it's opened up. Not the easiest thing to do, it requires a drill bit big enough to fit top to bottom, then you have to carve the sides out with an X-Acto knife to make it look like this. A real pain to pull off, but definitely worth it!

[Custom Mike]

Time for more? You bet! I got the engine wiring done, I used white 30 gauge wrapping wire and some yellow jacket from some 26 gauge wire for the boots. I was going to paint the wrapping wire with some Tamiya Clear Yellow, but it wouldn't dry (I waited about 5 hours and it was still tacky), so I just decided to go with the plain white wire.

Resin distributor from Replicas and Miniatures of Maryland, these things are great!


Wiring in place on the distributor...


2 boots on each wire, time to get it installed on the engine!




Right side of the engine complete, more to come!

[Custom Mike]

Another shot of the engine wiring, and then onto the coil. Since there was no coil in either one of the kits Sam sent, and I'm out of 'em, I tried to make my own from some sprue. I chucked it in the Dremel, hit it with a sanding stick, drilled a hole in it and called it good. I painted it semi-gloss black, then made a strap from a piece of PE fret, drilled a hole in the block, and glued it in place. That's all for tonight, see ya later!