"Father & Son" Dodge Truck build.. NEW progress pics 9-10-16

[DeeCee]

WOW!! John, your scratch building goes from strength to strength mate. This latest lot of installments is just mind blowing yet again .

I know what this build means to you, and you are blowing it out of the water, SUPERB work Big Ears..........

[426-Hemi]

Dale,

Thanks guy! I tell ya, my middle name ought to have been "Scratchbuild" LOL I seem to be ALWAYS doing something whether light scratchin' or heavy scratchin'.... BUT in some form, I'm always seeming to do it.....

I have to say tho, give me the materials, and watch as things just "happen" always been that way too!

I have to look around and see if there is a "shop" or work area place as the next pictures will be of the work I'm performing in the shop for bench work!

As for the scratchin' tho. what ya mean from one strength to the other? "strength to strength" Not sure I follow that one, but thats me I bet, being a bone-headed Big Ears LOL

But yes, you'd be right knowing what the build means to me....... Just nice to remember Dad & I having 2 Dodge trucks at the very same time! Matter of fact, when he passed away, he had am '84 Power Ram....... My cousin owns it now.....

Thanks tho ma, MUCH APPRECIATED!

[426-Hemi]

So a little update, not much mind you, but a little..... As you all should know by now, I'm remodeling my shop, and most of the work benches..... Which will make model building and all a bit easier once done! BUT, in the evenings when the noise has to cease, I work on Dads truck in this build, just to keep it going, and not stop on it completely.....
SO, what I have done was searched out a "junk" drive shaft, as Dads truck would have had whats known as a Divorced transfer case, meaning it had 3 drive shafts! One from the transmission, to the transfer case, and then one each, to the front axle and one to the rear axle. The transmission would NOT be bolted to the transfer case on this truck, as it was on mine! BUT, because, I didn't want to cut up a good one, I took the donor frames "front" drive shaft (not the best of quality of details), BUT had half ways decent "u-joints" to be salvaged from it to make the needed one to go from the transmission to the transfer case! REALLY short one I might add, there is no real "shaft" to it..... Mostly all "U-joint" detail!



Notice, the engine? Its upside down! WELL I had to get the plug wires to the locations in the head in order to make this part happen, the loose plug wires would NOT have allowed me to flip it over like this to "fit" the first drive shaft to the frame! SO, that was a pre-step, I had to do in previous postings of the build, as it all goes together like a jig-saw puzzle!
Thats it for now, More to come on this build as I am able and have the shop in somewhat of a orderly fashion! (I got my work cut out for me!)
Enjoy, for now.....

Edited August 30, 2016 by 426-Hemi
New Link Update

[426-Hemi]

Well guys, As you all know, I have been busy..... Before Fathers Day, as well as this past Thursday, a few know I was in the hospital for a day procedure that came out OK, I'm a bit sore, but to have a stent added to either leg is a bit of a task on the person having it done so. but anyway, I'm doing good and feeling "OK" just a little sore" but handling it pretty well.....
As you all know (or so I thought I've mentioned) I lost my Dad a little over a year ago, now (was a year in March) SO with that, and have had thoughts of him on my mind with the builds a few of you of/from me, this Father & Son build was directed towards this whole thing, and Fathers Day, all I wanted to do was relax, (because I had too) and work on my Dads model in this build (because I could), in honors to him, and thats just what I did!
This is one of those postings, to show a little of a lot of little parts, small details that will lead to much bigger sub-assemblies in the near future!
So with that, I got to thinking how the rear axle needed to go together, and got to looking at where I left off on it. THEN before getting into that looked over the frame to see where I was on that (kind of "reflecting" past work), and where to "pick up" again, so-to-speak....
So, I took the frame, and thought,A LOT had to go onto my trucks frame in this build BEFORE the axle could be placed onto it, (I WAS NOT going to attempt working around a mounted rear axle!)


Very "end" of the rear brake line. This is the "hard" line that goes to the mount seen mid-frame, to a fitting, that will run forward to the brake master cylinder lower manifold.... The hard pipe itself, has a fitting on it, that carries it through the little angle iron bracket on the frame cross members! This line was made formed and placed for the picture. I had been removed, painted and let dry before gluing in place! The fitting is now brass colored, and the line is steel colored, as these had steel brake lines!

Just like my model trucks frame in this build, the brake line will follow the inside of the frame rails, in the corner of the frame, where it meets the floor boards, all the way to the front. My trucks frame was built this very same way! Only difference is Dads truck was 2 scale feet longer then mine! (He had a full size bed "Sweptline" so.... mine was Step-Side short box.


As you can see, I went through drilled need mounting holes, and got the copper line ran to be in place, got it all fitted, and then, removed it all to paint:

Which means, this step to getting the rear axle in place is complete! NOW, I got to get the engine in place, with all the exhaust pipes in place in order to get the axle onto the rear suspension! I got a ways to go! (Thats what I get for taking the time to remodel my shop!) BUT the things I have done in it to date, has been much easier, much more user friendly, and way more comfortable to do with it set up as I have it! -SO, that alone makes the time WELL worth  the effort involved! -HOPEFULLY LESS "make shift" tables in the near future (Unless they're in MY WIFE'S side of the shop, then, I don't care!) LOL
Engine work coming up next! ENJOY....

Edited August 30, 2016 by 426-Hemi
New Link Update

[426-Hemi]

Well as I mentioned, Engine work was up next......
I had to add a oil dipstick to the 360 in this truck, which was a fun added part (I make them, myself, paint the "tube" install, into/through a left over wire loom and done......

The "chrome" loop is just in front of the valve cover, difficult to see, BUT you can see the shadow of the wire itself, on the engine block, just behind the fuel line! Very fine black line. I will attempt to get a better picture of this next time I snap pictures its such a small detail part!
Then, what took the most "patients" was the engines pullet and belt set up..... What a task! I needed to incorporate the following:
Water Pump
Alternator
Power Steering
Air Conditioning
Crank
and a single tension pulley
What FUN that was! I took a few "glue Bomb parts, broke factory belts, and removed them, chucked the pulley in the Unimat and left 'er rip.... Spinning the pulleys back "round" again, to wrap Evergreen Styrene around them (as belts) for strength, and then flattened the outer most pulley glue bomb, to use to over lay it onto the rear ones, and make it all fit and look the part.....
I *THINK* I managed to get 'er done!


Blue pulley to be the crank pullet, black one to be the water pump pulley, the very highest mounted one A/C Compressor pulley, silver to the left of the AC pulley is for the Alternator, and off to the right is power steering MID-mounted silver pulley a tensioner pulley.
I'm NOT 100% sure how this was to all be under the hood of my Dads truck, BUT because his was "stock" and NOT trusting on-line sources as being 100% honest to the stock location, I set it up as best I knew how and look right..... Got to remember this truck is/was after all a 1979 model Dodge! A LOT can be changed over time so..... SO, I tend to go with what little I know added to the know-how on my own truck was, and thinking how it reflect on a slightly different truck a year newer.....
I do think however, I pulled it off! -It really isn't a "detail" thats going to be fully 100% seen when all said and done ANYWAY, so only needs to "look" the part 100% top end! -Which, that I know is 110% accurate!
Tedious little details done, MORE to come as I'm able! Enjoy!

Edited August 30, 2016 by 426-Hemi
New Link Update

[hjracing]

Just awesome!

[426-Hemi]

Thanks Jose! More to follow...... I got more done then what I could post due to the nature of drying time and glue and painting so..... I had to wait to get pictures because of handling sake.....

[426-Hemi]

So, on Fathers day, and a little bit yesterday, and more will come after tonight..... I did get some done, but could not "handle" for pictures and so, had to wait till I could.....
Our very own "Stray" had posted pictures of his "spare" wheel on a build, and his persistence, on showing me what he had done, I simply did it on this build! I wasn't originally going to "open" the "slots" in the steel rim, BUT....... He persuaded me to do and do it just for looks sake! And with that here is how mine turned out! (THANKS for the inspiration Stray!)
I took this:

To this:

With flash ---^

Without flash ---^
I think it came out GREAT! I like how it looks even tho when all said and done, and in-place on the truck it won't be easily seen! BUT, theres more..... Me, being well, ME, I took it a STEP further!
The truck, has to have a spare tire mount, in the "stock" location under the rear portion of the bed..... SO, I took the frame, and began measuring to make one......

Right now, it doesn't appear to be much, BUT ohhh yeas it is! This "pole" is mounted to a resin frame, NOT glued, its machine screwed to the frame! This will hold it in definitely, BUT I plan to also "glue" it to keep it from rotating over time, WHY? WELL thats why I say its something "more"..... The Spare tire WILL BE REMOVABLE! Once all is done and the mount detail is all added to the pole itself, I plan to go back to where it screw mounts and totally fil in the head of the screw in the top side of the frame thats fitted by means of countersinking the screw and all and will be covered and buried in the frame itself, NEVER to be seen again!
I have yet to paint this as I have some angle plates to add to it to date, so is left bare machined white styrene.

Tire "in-place". just setting there for now! I have to make the cross bar that will have a screw that will thread down into the mount pole that will "pin" the rim with tire to the under side of the bed, AND look as tho it can be removed with a 1/25th scale hand! NOT a screw driver! I however do have a little detail to add to this and then after that it all will get painted. Exception to painting will be the underside of the cross bar that will hold the tire by means of pressure to the rim, I do NOT want the cross bar to have black paint get onto the white rim! SO, only 3 sides of that cross bar will be painted!
More to follow, stay tuned!

Edited August 30, 2016 by 426-Hemi
New Link Update

[426-Hemi]

So while I was working on the engine, and working on the spare tire, I also got to thinking WELL I've got the frame near ready for the rear axle, so why not assemble and detail it as for when I am done with the frame, I'll have the rear ready to go right onto the suspension!
SO, I did.....

Now, as you all reading should know by now, I had been taking parts from a Donor frame, to make all this happen, this rear axle came from that donor frame! Thing is, even in good shape, it was still too narrow to fit right and look right, SO, I had to widen it just a bit 3/32ns per side to get the width right.... BUT the issue with that came along as I was not using the stock rims or wheel backs! Meaning, I had to make a lot of my own parts to have this all come together. The wheels in the tires and the wheel backs used left NO rear brake drums! I had to turn my own brake drums, to fit the application. Which you'll see better views of in just a bit. BUT adding all that, plus having the narrow axle issue, I had to fit the axle casing with a turned "addition" to get the width right so it went from 3/32nds inch to something to the tune of 5/64th inch to get it close.... SO, I turned one longer piece about 2 and 1/2 the needed length that way I had the same diameter addition for both sides! OR some for error.....
Once I had all that assembled and ready to go, the detail adding was next! I took the rear, and added "L" angle brackets to hold the hard brake line plumbed on the rear axle, to these brackets on either side, drilled and then fitted with the pipe itself. Once glue was dry, I took and then fitted the ends of each with fittings, and ran into the rear of the brake drum housing. And then let alone to dry, for an hour or so, and once ready, slid the fittings to their proper locations in the line CA glued them, and let that to dry.... Once dry ALL got painted in-place. Brackets painted gloss black to match that one the rear axle. The lines painted steel, as per factory Mopar. And fittings painted brass, as per materials they're made from, and then from the brackets to the brake drum housing "rubber" for hoses......

That large "brass" fitting seen next to the rear axle "pumpkin" is the fitting that will have a hose running from it, to the little cross member bracket fitting on the frame that will have a hose going from one location to the other. You can reflect this detail on my truck in this build, both were the same but slightly different. NOT by a lot tho..... I think mine was on the other side of the pumpkin, but the frame bracket was in the same location.....

Other side, same thing.....
Over-all it looks really good! Detail is spot on to a real truck of the same type and everything is just...................... pleasing to date! I'm happy thus far with everything......
Then as you all know, I made my own belt system set up for this truck, last you seem there was no power steering pump on the belt cluster, that has been remedied.....

I got to paint the "cap" to it flat black, and this whole detail assembly will be ready to go onto the engine!
One step closer to getting the engine in the bay..... THEN I'll be able to begin running exhaust pipe!
Thats it for now, more to come when progress happens! Enjoy!

 

Edited August 30, 2016 by 426-Hemi
New Link Update

[mustang1989]

Brake line detail turned out great as well as the work on that spare tire John!

[426-Hemi]

Thanks Joe!

This has been a fun build, even if I did take a short break from it to remodel at least one bench in my shop till I knew I was headed to the hospital for the procedure on my legs. I knew once I got home, from that, I'd be on light duty so. kinda had it all planned to go as it is, which is a good thing.............. a little remodeling in the shop, surgery, and then some model building bench time..... worked out pretty good, and the modeling bit of it, allow me to do something and not hurt myself doing so!

PERFECT way to heal don't ya know!?

[mustang1989]

Well I can certainly see where it would get your mind off of the recovery end of things after surgery. Hope all goes well there.

[DeeCee]

More SUPERB work there John, this is going to be another brilliant build mate...

[426-Hemi]

Joe,

You bet! -I've also been designing "new" things to make masters of for molding purposes...... Healing, light duty, I have to be doing SOMETHING or I'll go crazy, (and honestly, its a short ride to begin with! Going crazy that is!) LOL

Dale, thanks guy! You know it and you know part of whats fueling this one............ BUT I'm throwing A LOT into both these 2 trucks, IF I "THINK" I can, I'll try/do it, detail wise.... A lot of the time, I second guess myself, BUT so far so good one if I think I can I will thing on these.....

I have to cough up a class 3 hitch for BOTH trucks..... I'm gonna scratch build those tho...... Thats a no-brainer, I know I can make those..... Which, I have to admit, I almost forgot about! WHY? I don't know, but I almost forgot about my truck having one and Dads having one (Dad towed a small single axle trailer around transporting lawn equipment from the owners to his shop, for repairs as a side-job and I was looking to get a small 2 person Fishing boat..... My truck came with it already all I had to do was get whatever size tow ball for the receiver!

The funny part of this almost "forgetting about them" having class 3 hitches is the fact that when I was working on MY TRUCK, the receiver reminded me it was "there" by putting one hellofa scar on my shin, that I recently noticed pulling up my socks! That ole saying.... "Don't worry, I'll remind you I'm here"....... YEPPER, I felt it happen when I noticed the scar all over again!

[Stray]

Jeepers man... your eyesight must be fantastic! I gotta squint to even look at the pics on here, and I have a 32" monitor/tv!

Yeah the spare treatment is always a winner. But you are definitely taking it to the next level. Way to go John! Just don't let anyone talk you into doing valve stems

[426-Hemi]

Stray,

Thanks man! I have to tell you, I AM thinking of how I can do valve stems, (I'm NOT 100% sure on chrome rims, BUT these white ones would be EASY.....

Not much to talk me into that one

As for eyes, yeah, I've got pretty good sight! But, I been doing miniature work my whole life, mostly in 1/87th scale and I can get REALLY into adding details! BUT, 1/25th scale is a TON of fun seeing just how "far" I can go.....

[Tom Geiger]

, I AM thinking of how I can do valve stems, (I'm NOT 100% sure on chrome rims, BUT these white ones would be EASY.....

For valve stems, all you need is either the spark plug wires in black... drill the right size hole in the rim. Insert a small length of wire into it and then glue from the INSIDE. Don't worry about the length up front. I usually cut those to length afterwards. Put a small dab of Zap-A-Gap on the tip of each to create a cap. Dab of black paint on that and you've got it

[426-Hemi]

Tom,

Thats my issue. On the white rims, I can STILL glue them on, Without issue on the rim looking bad, BUT. the chrome rims, are TOGETHER. and I don't like the chance on CA glue on chrome...... On the INSIDE it be a different story, and its to late now..... I'll figure something out tho......Stay tuned.....

[Tom Geiger]

the chrome rims, are TOGETHER. and I don't like the chance on CA glue on chrome.....

What I'd do... one of two things..... thought one: use a drill bit one size smaller. Sharpen the wire end going in, and just pressure fit, screw in the wire. No glue. I often have spark wires that go in so nice and hold in place that I never glue them.

It's just wire, so you get an infinite amount of tries!

Or drill as normal, insert wire with something harmless like white glue. It's not a part that will have any stress at all, you just want it to stay put. And again, it's only wire. Lose one someday? Cut another piece.

Edited June 26, 2015 by Tom Geiger

[landman]

A drop of "future" may be sufficient to hold it too and not mar the chrome.

[426-Hemi]

I think I'm gonna try pressure fitting the valve stems! (Its not the wire, I'm worried about!) The axles are glued solid, and the rims and rim backs are glued to the resin tires, the tires, I can no longer get, as well as the chrome rims (on the first truck) are ALL I got..... IF say I used "CA" and it turn the chrome that powdery white color, the rim is junk! It ruin which ever axle its on..... SO with that, I'm VERY (And I mean, and can not stress enough, "CAREFUL") with these rims, as they are to the factory Dodge truck...... I'm lucky I got the 3 late '70's Dodge trucks I got, never mind parts to one in half decent shape! -Out of the 3 trucks I have..... this is THEE only one WITH the right rims that were to a Little Red Express, and look the part!

But thanks guys! I do appreciate the "cheering on".....

Stay tuned..... There are more to follow! Maybe a few surprises as well!

Edited June 27, 2015 by 426-Hemi

[426-Hemi]

Well its been a little since I've added any updates. Just a few "short" ones, but no less........"PROGRESS"!!!!!
SO, As you guys know my last posting, I was working on making a removable spare tire mount. WELL, its done, and on the model! Took a bit to figure out how I was going to go about it! But, its in-place!

The "pole" was turned on the lathe as you know, but the ring base, was a part I had to drill out a center hole, and then pop the scrap through a hole punch to get the roundness of it, slightly filed the hole as the drill bit I used was undersized, so I could "fit" the part to the pole and then off to glue it to the frame as well as the pole with a good CA on the trucks frame (remember the frame is resin) and the pole is styrene! SO, once the frame CA dried, I glued the ring to the pole with Tenax 7R!
Then while that was sitting and drying, I worked on the firewall. Now this was FUN, as I had to make an identical copy of the one I made in my truck (in real life, on the 2 trucks, they would have been VERY close the same!) SO, I had to take my Power Wagon truck, and literally "copy" it, a second time!


That looks pretty good (There is ONE, difference!) I had thought my Dad, (being "Dad") and thinking, I knew him, and I did....... BUT, in normal things with him, he would HAVE removed the A/C, for the power consumption it used. BUT to hear my uncle, he tells me Dad NEVER did it on this truck! Which, surprised me to hear, as I know for a fact this was one of VERY FEW that Dad didn't remove the A/C compressor from! SO, with the firewall detail, I'll be adding the heater core hoses and fittings (like I did on my truck, BUT I'll also be adding the A/C piping too, that runs from the compressor to the firewall! (Meaning, I'll have running pipe from the front of the compressor to a condensing radiator near the standard radiator!) SO, a little "extra" detail being added over-all, BUT the extra fittings to the firewall as well and I have yet to add them!
So, while some of the paint was drying,and CA drying from the added wiring to the firewall. I got to working on the belt set up on the engine, A/C compressor added, as well as the power steering, and alternator. This all looks GREAT! Alternator is painted so, the internal wires are seen between the cooling ribs of its casing, as well as "drilled" for the wires that lead off of it, just as I did on my Power Wagon model. The blue wire runs to the coil, and back to the firewall. The red wire on the alternator runs to the battery, and across the radiator core support. (I have to get that all detailed up pretty soon too!)


-and now to top it all off, I'm working on adding valve stems to the rims on Dads truck! I haven't yet gotten pics of that yet, BUT, they are drilled for them, and 2 or 3 have them in place! -Thought I'd let everyone know, I did choose to add them, as I said, they are drilled with having the hole smaller to "press fit" the valve stem, and because on Dads truck the tires are solid vinyl, I drill partly into them and press the wire "valve stem" into the vinyl to "grab" and hold in place without glue!
More to come as progress happens! -Enjoy!

Edited August 30, 2016 by 426-Hemi
New Link Update

[stitchdup]

Looking pretty good mate, looking forward to the next instalment

[426-Hemi]

Thanks Stitch!

This one is a slow one, A LOT of small details and I find, the smaller and finer the detail. the slower the build becomes...... BUT, the pay-off in the end is what will make it all worth it.....

Much appreciated tho, thanks man!

[Duellym]

Thoose are some nice trucks! I really like the stepside.