Straightliner59

That's very cool! I'm going to find one, for myself. I don't care what else is in there, it's worth having just for those illustrations. That was one of my favorite things about Motor Racing Replica News.

I have half of the injectors/lines installed...

Thanks, George! Glad to help.

I stacked discs of plastic, to make these. I used strips of electrical tape for the belts. It's over 20 years old, so, it's held up, just fine.

I got the manifold in paint, this morning. I need to reopen the holes for the port nozzles. Injectors and fuel lines are all but ready to install. I am using model railroad bolts I modified, for the injectors (port nozzles). I may be able to get those installed, tomorrow morning, after work. I got a pleasant surprise, when I painted the manifold, in that, it looked better than I thought it would! After the induction, and its inherent plumbing, I will build the headers. I need to drill the holes for the windscreen rivets, and install those, as well. I've made "hella" progress in the past two or three weeks!

Brad, I think you might be right! I can certainly live with this one (so far! ), Feels good to be closing in... Thanks so much, Chris! I appreciate your kind words. I have the article I used, in which Tom Hanna explains (with a few photos) how to build one of those bodies for a 1:1 car. If you ever want to build one, I can get it to you--I mean it is digitized, and all.Thanks again, sir!

Well, it's happening; I have begun construction of the last major assembly for this project: the Enderle injection setup. I've somewhat explained the history of the stacks, themselves. The manifold has its own story, as well. This is the fourth manifold I've started building, since I decided this thing needed Enderle injection, instead of the Hilborn unit I first installed. They've floundered for various reasons, mainly stemming from a lack of planning, on my part. In order to atone for my sins of the past, I planned a bit this time. That dictated that the throttle bodies needed to be cross-drilled before they were to be installed (In these photos, nothing is cemented, beyond the manifold flanges and the bosses for the mag, and the water outlet. In order to assure that the throttle rod bores were properly aligned, I devised this simple tool from a short length of 1/8" square K&S brass channel. The throttle bodies are .100" styrene rod. In its manufactured state, the channel is too narrow, inside, to fit the plastic rod. As luck would have it, my Nicholson 6"mill bastard just happens to be .100" thick. After a bit of work, the throttle body rod fit snugly, in the channel. Next, I measured about .040" from one end of the channel, and marked it. I then marked a line longitudinally down the center of the "spine" of the channel. At the intersection of these lines, I drilled a hole with a #80 bit. By laying the cut sections of the throttle bodies/intake runners in the channel, and aligning them, I could, by drilling from one side, and then the other, achieve a bore that went straight through the T.B. assemblies, and I didn't have to worry about if they were actually going to align! In these photos, you can see how the rod assembly fits into the drilling jig, along with the T.B.s sitting on the manifold, bisected by the throttle rods. Other photos show the beginnings of "the brain" of the system, as well as the manifold adorned with the injector stacks. I need to install a few ribs, down in the valley. I'm not sure how to, or even if, I will address the "ENDERLE" lettering, on the manifold. I'm considering a tiny decal, of a 3-D vectored graphic, on which I would create the appearance of raised lettering via light and shadow. Anyway...

Very nice work, Bill! I always find your models well designed and constructed, and, even better--interesting. Keep up the great work, man!

Here are a couple. I was messing around with the camera, one day...

Fantastic, Bernard! I HAVE to know how you're doing that steel. I'd swear I'm looking at the real thing, both here and with your hot rod. I expect to see them begin to rust!

Since the last update, I have added the "rollout" plate, fashioned some tabs for the body, (although the one on the right side of the car has disappeared inside the cockpit, somewhere), added the mag kill switch and wiring and got the steering set up.I also installed the valve covers,which really look tall, with the spacer plates under them. Apparently these SBC cars used tall cams, so, the valve covers had to match, and this was a few years before Moroso's stamped aluminum covers came along. She's rolling! Getting very close to doing the induction setup. I have already begun working on the manifold. She's gettin' done, Snake!

I hear that! This is my only case. It may be time to think about putting some of the stuff that's in there, away. I have three or four diecast dragsters that don't need to be out. You have some serious display space!

That is awesome! I have an old glass display case, from a jewelry store, as I recall. It's the best way to display models, and memorabilia that goes with them. AND, they never need dusting! Here it is, in a less than friendly environment--an uninsulated, detached garage, in Minnesota.

Thank you, Stu! It's getting closer and closer.

They are to give the car more "rollout", which i essentially a bit of leeway, with the starting line beam. The front motorcycle tires and wheels had such a small profile, that the beam didn't always "see" them. The plate made for a larger "target". I hope that clarifies it, some.

If I can do daily updates, that means I am making progress! I got the drag link all put together and installed. I still need to paint the "hardware", but, this is otherwise done. I had a couple of spokes break away from the outer rim, on this side. I figured the easiest way to fix that was to put on a "rollout" plate. Next up is mopping up behind myself, and beginning the induction setup. I really feel like it's the Enderle injectors that will totally "make" this dragster. It's getting closer...

Thanks, Snake!

Thanks, JC. They are definitely better than those abominations that come in the box(es)!

They're done!

Painted, tires installed. I cut a divot in the end of a piece of .75" aluminum rod, as a tool to help slip the tires onto the wheels, after assembly. I didn't want to find out what might happen, if I had tried to "wrestle" them on. I'll get them permanently mounted before I hit the sack, I think...hope!

The wheels are built, except for joining the wheel halves, and finishing them. I was thinking about using Alclad, but, I may go with metalizer, instead, to avoid extra coats (the undercoat for Alclad). I think they'll work!

Just a bit of clean up, then join the halves, and get some sort of finish on them. But, it's on all four wheels!

I like that! A lot! My first car was a '63 four door, with a 194. I really loved that car. I bought a 283 that I was going to build, and put in it, but never got around to finishing the engine... Looking forward to watching this come together.

Those are excellent! I really should learn more about using my mill, by making more chips!

Thank you, kind sir. I'm halfway done with the other rim, now. Should finish that, tomorrow, then, I can fire up my recently-ducted spray booth and airbrush, and shoot some paint on these babies. I'll likely go with Alclad, but, will look around and see what other possibilities I might have.