mustang1989

Thanks Tom! I'll be switching back to the engine after I'm done here with this part.

Don't worry Bob. What goes around, comes around.......and well put BTW.

Gratitude........... is always good and something that's rare anymore. Good thread Richard. I'll take a sec here to cast my thanks in there for the efforts too Gregg.

This'll be cool!

That throttle linkage looks Kick A!!!

While I was waiting on the wires I decided to skip over to the instrument panel for a sec to make some quick mods there. ( I know I keep skipping around... I'll make it back to the engine and body at some point here!). This is what I started with:(which wasn't bad for 14 years old) And here's what I want to use for gauges: So let's get started: more on the way...............

I'll be on my Monogram 1970 Dodge Challenger for the next several months through the "extended fall" and "early spring" time frames here in Corpus. Winter around here??...........HA!

That's a nice looking Cuda Tom! Where'd you get the paint?

Ok, I'll recap a little bit here because I don't think we are going to get anything back picture wise I started on my ignition wires this morning and should have some pics up by tomorrow or Friday morning of that progress. This is where we left off with the engine:

Got the wires in today! Looks like I'm pressing ahead with the build up. Hope to have the engine completed by this weekend and move back to the body.

Thank you Carl. Man I just can't leave 'em. I'll always know it's there and besides, I stripped this thing down to correct stuff like that. Thank you Ira!!!

All skill right there!

A little more work on the engine today. Got a little unforeseen flash on the intake manifold to clean up but other than that the top side is getting there. I have a spare 1970 Challenger 2 in 1 kit in the stash that I ended up robbing some parts from. The original build had no power steering and no brackets on the alternator. I figured if a person in 1970 was gonna shell out money for a T/A, they outta at least have power steering for gods sake! Got the parts cut out and will be cleaning up. Still have to do a little more work on the bottom side before I call that done and have a couple of shades left on the rocker covers here but I got 'em started anyhow.

When did you start building on this level Ira? And what made you transition? Just curious.

Well I still have a little more work to do here but the engine color is coming close to an acceptable color range for me. Maybe a few more AB strokes of the same color after I take care of some more plastic touch up. I did manage to get alot closer look at the body today. I haven't touched it since I sprayed that clear coat on Friday morning. I have a big spot of what looks like a dirt speck in the middle of the L/H door and a run on the R/H rear quarter panel. Looks like the sanding blues aren't over there yet. What are the suggestions at this point in the game so I don't ruin the whole thing?? This is my weak spot right here. This is where I'm at right now. Will get pics of the problem areas soon:

Thanks Stan. I'm getting ready to go back to my home town for Christmas and my parents still have some of my finished builds still in the cases I left them in on my makeshift display case 26 years after I left home. I'm probably gonna grab the rest of em on this trip.

LOL ! I was wonderin....................

Thank you Bob!

Hey Joe, I had a spare kit that had a 340 "Six Pack" decal in it. Thanks pal and if I can help you out any lemme know man!

Biring it on Ira! Youre making this all work out one way or another aint ya?

I'll do a double check in a minute. Thanks Joe

Joseph:Thanks buddy. I'm looking around for my spare "Six Pack" Decal. Hopefully I find it. Randy:I usually use the same technique on all my aircraft engines and cockpits. So far the method hasn't failed me yet. John:I ended up using MM acrylic Insternationa Orange. If I apply another coat or two in the right places it'll be a little brighter. I ran out of time this morning and looks like I'm gonna get my shot at repainting it due to the additional work I'm going to have to be doing on the seams. lol

Alright. I filled the gaps on this jewel and primed it in black to bring out the shadows in the nooks and crannys and to dull the effect of the orange MM acrylic paint I bought the other day at HL that I thought was entirely too bright once I opened the bottle. Oh well, we'll deal with it. Primered black engine.............. Another reason for the darker color is that I'm building this one with a few miles on it and I remembered after all of my real life engine builds had some mileage on it , the paint finish seemed to darken a bit from oils and heat. The valve covers will be a tad brighter and the air cleaner a little more bright. Still got some touch up to do on that oil pan looks like. The benefit of close up pics.............they never lie. and the comparison pics from before and after. Man the original engine is almost florescent in color. What was cool through 14 year old eyes: A near chrome oil pan, exhaust manifolds and gearbox. Hey, I was having fun. I went with a little more realistic look for this build. I've gotta watch it because I've seen this color on Chevy engines a time or two. lol Seems like with each new pic I find something else I missed. That seam line at the front of the oil pan is sticking out like a sore thumb The gaps on the front of the engine I can live with as those are getting covered up but that oil pan. Welp! It looks like its back to the drawing board to take care of that. lol

Lookin' forward to the paint job on this one as wel! MM acrylics I presume?