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Wild Willie Funny Car


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http://www.flickr.com/photos/studio_782/7359206176/I started this build at least a year ago, starting with a Bruce Larson Sentry Olds kit. It is a fictitous build of what Wild Willie might have driven in 1989. My inspiration started with an article in Drag Racing USA Oct '73. There is an article in there about Willie's Charger funny car. I emailed the photographer that took the pics and he said he did not have any more color photos of the car. Just what was in the magazine. I do not have the experience or talent that many of you have, so I'm learning as I go and especially learning from this forum of people like John Teresi, Romell, Tyrone, Rickart, Comp 1839, Clay Kemp, etc. This is a WIP. I know, I know, I failed to fill in the door line before painting. post-9531-0-84124900-1341195749_thumb.jppost-9531-0-07587300-1341195757_thumb.jppost-9531-0-23377400-1341195768_thumb.jpThanks for looking.

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A few more........

http://www.flickr.co...782/7270838006/

http://www.flickr.co...782/7270821666/

http://www.flickr.co...782/7270840684/

I already had the frame painted and then added to the rear part of it after seeing the Sentry Olds car in person. I took a piece of 2x8, drilled a hole in it for the axle to rest in, and added the frame. You can also see the drain plug in the puke tank.

Also a pic of the fuel tank with the hold-down strap made from a soda can.

Edited by GoatGuy
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/studio_782/7270820462/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/studio_782/7464270910/

The brake calipers from Strada that I filed down, painted, and attached to washers from the hardware store that were a great match for the solid rotors used on the '89 cars. Not sure why the image doesn't show up. Just the link.

Thanks for looking.

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Dave......."Wild Wiilie" was so cool man........to drive that altered with one arm was crazy...... great subject........the color looks spot on......you got a great start going......glad to see you posting WIP pictures......can`t wait to see the next progress pictures.

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post-9531-0-87052400-1341197182_thumb.jppost-9531-0-01763100-1341197190_thumb.jppost-9531-0-14505000-1341197203_thumb.jppost-9531-0-12844100-1341197212_thumb.jppost-9531-0-09208300-1341197221_thumb.jppost-9531-0-92844600-1341197229_thumb.jppost-9531-0-57549600-1341197238_thumb.jppost-9531-0-24578800-1341197254_thumb.jppost-9531-0-01128000-1341197266_thumb.jp

I have parts from RB Motion for the wheelie bar, levers from futurattraction, and hose clamps. Here you can see the bracket added to the rearend for the parachute lines, and detail added to the brake lever before final painting and attaching.

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post-9531-0-44166400-1341197821_thumb.jp

Here is one of the brake lever attached with a cable for the extinguisher that I will add to later so the cable reaches the front of the chassis. Also rear wheels from Micro Nitro. I'm using the kit front wheels because I already had the center section "whittled" out to fit the rotors.

The rest of the harness will be added this week. It is obvious that it is not there yet in this pic.

Edited by GoatGuy
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Richard that's good to know. Makes me feel better.

Dave- thanks, coming from one of the Masters. I should have some more pics by this weekend. I put boltheads on the access panel of the bell housing and lost one already. I should have put them on at the end, after all of the handling was done. Live and learn.

I showed this motor to Bruce Larson the last time I was there and pointed out the photoetch starter bracket above the top pulley. He took the motor out to the Sentry Olds and had a big smile on his face. Said it looked really good. Made me feel good. Hopefully the barrel valve and fuel lines will turn out ok.

Thanks for the encouragement.

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post-9531-0-92109000-1341533528_thumb.jpHere is the fuel pump bracket, for lack of a better word. It holds both fuel pumps. Only one pump came with the kit. I found another and will glue them together and add another line to the white one. The bracket was made from a piece of sprue turned on my "Kentucky lathe" - the ol' Black & Decker held in the vise.

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post-9531-0-76459600-1341881217_thumb.jppost-9531-0-44875800-1341881232_thumb.jp

Question for the guys that know - isn't the frame supposed to go almost the full length of the body? That way the front latch will be right there at the body? If I leave it as it came in the box, the front latch will have to reach back to the frame quite a ways. Appreciate your input.

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Yeah Dave, I think that they did, I have(had) a few 1/16th Diecast F/C's (a couple of John Forces 'Stangs & Don Schumacher's Stratus's, the Schumacher cars (the diecasts) had a pin that went into the nose of the car into the fuel tank to hold the body down, the chassis was pretty close to the body.

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Terry- that is an awesome link. I wish I had the $$ to buy the arm, and the history he gives is great. I downloaded some of the pics so I can make my fake arm look like that, only newer. Thank you very much for posting that. I'll keep an eye on the auction.

Richard- I was watching the funny cars run Sunday on ESPN2 and was looking carefully to see how much room there was between the body and frame when they had the bodies up after the burnout. I'll have to add some more to the front frame.

Edited by GoatGuy
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post-9531-0-00915900-1342401878_thumb.jpThanks Dave. Those are nice clear shots. No, not too late. I haven't extended the frame yet. Maybe I won't add as much as I thought I should. Instead I've been working on other parts. Here's the shot I took of the Sentry Olds car's latch. I'm still kicking myself for not doing what you told me to - take a tape measure with me and measure parts as I take detail pics of the car. I talked to Bruce a few days ago and he's busy going to car shows, so I'm not sure when I can get over there again.

Thanks Jim. Your wheels will make a great addition to this build.

I just read the encouraging words on the previous page. Thanks Darryl, Art, Niko, and Brad. I appreciate it.

Edited by GoatGuy
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post-9531-0-84196200-1342663512_thumb.jpFor those of you who didn't know, like me, a 1:1 barrel valve (k-style) is 7" long with fittings and 3.25" high. The main line is a #8 size and the return lines are #6 which is basically 1/2" according to the guy on the phone at Enderle. I'm going to attempt to make one. Ted's modeling has good info on making one, too. Those of you who are good at making them, please add your wisdom.

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Dave... i am totally digging this build man. I am planning on scratch building one of these barrel valves myself for my vega F/C. not sure how soon I will get to making mine but will try to jump to it soon and show you how I am doing mine. keep up the great work in this build.

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