Straightliner59

This is my favorite of all the EM Series Porsches. I've never had one, before. I managed to get this one, shipped, for a surprisingly nice price! I also got these six bundles of twenty pieces, each of .020", .032", .040", .060", .080" and .100" plastic rod. hey were less than $20, shipped! Nice!

One of the best parts kits, EVER!

Thank you, Richard. I always appreciate your insights. I try to keep my stuff accurate. Even if, like this project, I'm building something that someone may have built in his home shop, then, I had better be able to explain just how I figure he might have done it, in the real world! I'm glad you enjoyed this!

I am awaiting some items to arrive, for this project, but, there's still plenty I can do. I remade the exhaust, and got it hung. I've been working on little items for the interior, like the door handles (knobs), and the switches for the spartan interior. I am thinking I'll make the switches for the lights, main power and fuel pump resemble the factory switches/knobs, in white, red and yellow, respectively. I'm blocking off the radio and heat controls. I opened the grille, but I nicked the face with the Dremel (DOH!), so I have another kit on the way. I also am getting some stainless steel screen for the headlights. Anyway, here are a couple of shots of it, back on the wheels. Thanks for looking!

I have Tom Medley's book, entitled "Hot Rod History". There's a ton of stuff in there about the early days--El Mirage, Muroc, Bonneville... There was an obscure car called "The Coca-Cola (Coke) Stand", so called because it looked like a big aluminum box. It was built on a T chassis. The car eventually became Chrisman's No. 25 dragster! At any rate, this will be a fun project to watch!

Thank you, Rusty! If I can, I'm always glad to help!

Ya' gotta have a pair! I still need to make the ring for the headlight, itself. I'll probably end up making more of the screen rings, until I get an even pair--these punches aren't exactly simple to align! Anyway...I now know I can have nice headlights. Thanks for looking!

It's called "The Brothers K" by David James Duncan. I loved it!

It's looking so good! Excellent work, Ian!

One of my favorite books is set in Camas!

And, it has two sets! I just checked mine. Thanks, John.

Any chance we could see the Polyglas packs, again? I love those tires, and I keep going through them. They'd be appreciated, over here!

Halfway home! Thank you, Dennis. That's the kind of stuff that's most fun, for me! That, "How can I do that?" kind of stuff.?

My friend, it was a pleasure to watch this come together, over these past few years. These might be my favorite pickups--these '60s Dodges. You nailed it, sir! Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It's been informative and entertaining. Your work has also inspired me to stick my toes in the water, so to speak, with my mill. Thank you, for that. Very well done, Francis! I'm looking forward to seeing what's next on your workbench!

I got the headlights sorted. I will grind away the rear of the tunnels, before any paint goes on the body. A bit more trimming and fitting, and the screen will be perfectly fitted. I punched the screen bezel from tooling aluminum, using homemade punches, then shaped it with a doming block. I turned the headlight ring on the lathe. It was a tight squeeze, getting that in. Everything except the headlight "tunnel" (I still have to do all of this, for the other side) is only white glued in place, and will be fine tuned into position, upon final assembly. Questions, comments an critiques are always welcome. Thanks for looking!

Awesome! Now, you have a place to play with them! ?

Of course, now I actually have to do it, for real! ? Thanks, Rusty!

I got the 1/2" tubing I was waiting on. I made a pair of punches from 1/2" and 3/8" tubing, then formed them to elliptical shapes. I punched this bezel from duct tape. I will make the finished ones from tooling aluminum. I trip to the doming block will smooth the wrinkles, and give them a slight curve. I think this'll work, just fine!

I got 214 yesterday! Always glad to see it!

Here's the link to NHRA's Stock Car Classification Guide. It's used for Stock and SS. If it works: https://www.nhraracer.com/content/general.asp?articleid=46635&zoneid=132

Her paint is better than most of mine! Nice job!

Indeed! Looks right at home!

Okay...I got the wheels and tires mounted to the chassis, and the pipes hung. I used Tamiya's engine/exhaust weathering set. I've used it on a few projects, now. I haven't found anything else that accomplishes the effects, it does. Great stuff! The pipes are essentially sidepipes that run along behind the rocker panels. I have some solder that happens to be 1/8". I'll use it to run the pipes up and out of sight. The roll bars are solder, as well. I'm trying to decide about the paint. I have a couple of ideas. The screen I am using for the headlights is from an old Brita on-tap filter. It's got a fine-wire, and fairly open mesh. The headlight screen bezels are going to be tricky. Given the proper-sized brass tube (1/2"), I can make a pair of punches to cut them from tooling aluminum, but, I am waiting on the tubing. I think, as Rusty said, that the wheels give it a real badass look! I like it. I'll probably work on the interior, next. I have white gauges printed, and drew a custom speedometer in white. As always, comments, critiques and questions are welcome. Thanks for looking!

You are correct, sir! Stock class racers have been allowed to run headers probably since the beginning. The '59 Rule Book says they're fine, but, the exhaust must actually run through the mufflers and tailpipes. Even as late as '75, Stock Class cars could be no older than ten years. After that, you'd have to run SS. I found all this stuff out, when I was building my '63 Chevy II wagon SS/RA! Also, you're right about MP; compared to Stock and SS, MP was the wild west! I would say that, for the most part, by the mid-'70s, class racers were dedicated race cars, and generally weren't being driven to the track. That was a very interesting period for drag racing!

Ya' done good, Jim! That blue is gorgeous!