1961 Pontiac Ventura Drag Car

[Brutalform]

33 minutes ago, crowe-t said:

I got the material from Pro Tech so I now know it looks realistic seeing it in your car.  

What glue do you use to attach the material to the photo etch harness hardware?

Zap A Gap medium CA glue. 

[Brutalform]

Yea, his stuff is really nice. Found a pic from another build. Ignore the glue on the upper belt. I did that belt over after I used too much glue and it leaked out. 

[crowe-t]

8 minutes ago, Brutalform said:

Yea, his stuff is really nice. Found a pic from another build. Ignore the glue on the upper belt. I did that belt over after I used too much glue and it leaked out. 

Thanks!  I appreciate the picture.

[Brutalform]

You’re welcome, Michael 

[Brutalform]

I got a little time in at the bench today. I only got a little bit done. I wanted to work on the fuel system. Adding an electric resin fuel pump out back. I’m going to use Pro Techs braided line and fittings from the tank sump, to the pump, and also under the hood to the carbs. But under the length of the car will be the flexible NHRA approved fuel line. I marked the frame with a sharpie every few feet where I plan to add mounting spots for the flexible line. 

[Brutalform]

I decided to use an appropriate sized Evergreen tube that my fuel line will fit through. Be sure the end is square, so it fits against the bridge in the mitre. 

[Brutalform]

After every cut, I like to make sure I clean up the plastic junk at the end of the tube before making the next cut. This will make cleaning up the small rings I’m cutting a bit easier before adding them to the frame. 

[Brutalform]

After slipping the rings onto a pin, I can hit them with some fine sand paper to clean them up further. 

[Brutalform]

Now it’s time to glue them onto the frame with some thin liquid cement. When dry, a little dab of CA glue should hold them further. As soon as I get the braided lines cut and put together with the fittings, I’ll start to get everything in primer. 

[deuces wild]

Does this kit have the 3x2 carb setup or the 2x4 setup for induction???... I'd like to know before I purchase one... Thanks!....?

Edited December 28, 2021 by deuces wild

[Brutalform]

4 minutes ago, deuces wild said:

Does this kit have the 3x2 carb setup or the 2x4 setup for induction???... I'd like to know before I purchase one... Thanks!....?

It comes with the 3x2 carb set up. 

[deuces wild]

Thank you sir!....?

[Brutalform]

It’s been a while since I even looked at the Ventura. I decided to mess around with the suspension. I just didn’t want it to look totally stock, in the rear department. The flimsy pressed factory control arms just won’t cut it, so I made a more beefier, adjustable set. May not be correct to a real race car chassis, but it’s better than stock. 

[Brutalform]

I got two resin adjustable bars from the stash, and cleaned them up. Then I used some various Evergreen rod, and tube, and square tube as well. Also some aluminum tube to make the adjustable bars, with heim joints. 

[Brutalform]

I have to wait for some aluminum hex jam nuts then I’ll be able to clean everything up, and tweak it all so it fits nice. I do have some now, but they are all already painted red and blue anodized, for fuel fittings, so I got another set coming from ProTech. I’ll have to fill the holes in the frame, where the stock bars would mount. Just wanted to upgrade the rear so it doesn’t look totally stock. 

[TransAmMike]

Glad you got back to working on the Pontiac.  Always liked the big Ponchos of that era. That rear suspension looks great!!

[Brutalform]

A small update, but still progressing. 
I changed my original plan, and decided that the Ventura will have an EFI engine. Joseph at Fireball makes an excellent casting of the FITech fuel system parts. So I decided to put them to good use. I took the cast rails off of this manifold, and added some 1/16 aluminum tube for the new rails. Now I wont go nuts trying to drill the tiny holes in the original rails, when its time to add the braided line, and fuel fittings. Since this manifold has a throttle body already, i wont be using Fireballs body on this. 

[Brutalform]

Also tried some paint with a Tamiya primer I’ve never used before. I laid down some pink primer on the firewall, and then covered that with Tamiya TS-59 Pearl Light Red. Im really liking the results. Looks like a cool color like the car that inspired the build. With all the trial fitting, and re checking of parts fit, it seems paint is a while off yet. But im hoping to get the body shot in a another  day or two. 

[TransAmMike]

4 hours ago, Brutalform said:

A small update, but still progressing. 
I changed my original plan, and decided that the Ventura will have an EFI engine. Joseph at Fireball makes an excellent casting of the FITech fuel system parts. So I decided to put them to good use. I took the cast rails off of this manifold, and added some 1/16 aluminum tube for the new rails. Now I wont go nuts trying to drill the tiny holes in the original rails, when its time to add the braided line, and fuel fittings. Since this manifold has a throttle body already, i wont be using Fireballs body on this. 

Gotta ask Tom, where did the cool valve covers came from

[Brutalform]

On 10/12/2022 at 8:20 PM, TransAmMike said:

Gotta ask Tom, where did the cool valve covers came from

They are from the 55 Chevy Sportsman kit. Im pretty sure the block and heads are too. 

[TransAmMike]

2 hours ago, Brutalform said:

They are from the 55 Chevy Sportsman kit. Im pretty sure the block and heads are too. 

Thanks Tom.

[larman]

This is coming along really well! Love the chassis detail work and the engine is looking great!

[Brutalform]

Was chipping away at the Pontiac today. Got the engine mostly detailed. I plan on adding all the braided fuel lines when its installed in the car. 

[Brutalform]

Also was working on the under carriage. I shot it with some dull cote after I painted it. I wanted to dirty it up a bit in some areas also. Got the interior floor painted, and some of the electronics installed also. I also scratch built a driveshaft safety loop. 

[Brutalform]

Thanks Larry. Installed the frame and the scratch built lower control arms with adjustable heim joints, and the rear end. Gonna take a break until tomorrow. Time for a cigar.