chunkypeanutbutter

I saw one of those Power Horse tractors up in Dover-Foxcroft. There's a place up there that's like a tractor salvage yard. Go in the building, tell the guy what you're looking for, and he'll write it down. Then you across the road to the yard, pick the part, come back and buy it.

I'll start off with this: Isn't that just an aesthetically-pleasing design? It's got a lot of character without being too flashy. What other cars do you wish were in the USA?

All kinds in the car culture...

Ugh. Not a Foxbody Mustang. I'd love to have the Merkur, though!

Well, if you have a local hobby shop, going there to actually see the stuff in person helps with sizing. Get some standard-sized tubing or rod, stuff you could use for hoses, filler gaps, that kind of thing. If you're making, say, a utility body for a truck, some bracing in the form of angle-iron stock would help with structural integrity, as well as plain square rod.

Might have to get one! I love IH stuff, tractors and trucks.

No problem. I think it'll be more pleasing to watch people's reactions when I grind the tires off a tired-looking VW!

Where'd you get this?

I can weld. Stick, torch, MIG, spot. Decided not to take this project on right now. The floor is on the ground and the bottoms of the front fenders are rusted off. The VW is a little more unique, anyways.

Yep, I know I'll get hammered with the insurance if it's under my name. Radiator is possibly gone. The gas tanks are good... at least the right one should be. That one was replaced, and I think all the fluids were drained before it was parked. Needs tires, some attention to the door hinges and latches, the trunk doesn't completely close, and the window seals are cracked. This stuff I expect from any used car I'll get. Work on a car doesn't frighten me as long as it's not a complete restoration. (This seems nearly close to it, but not a full one )

Why not? It's certainly a faster project than the Volkswagen! Besides, I really, really love working on anything mechanical and making it work. Also, our Ford E150 conversion van that rusted out last year is still sitting in the yard with a V8.... Hmmm... have to consult the owners, maybe. From what I've heard even so far (thanks for the tech write-up, Charlie) the L-6 might be enough oomph to satisfy my hunger for a while, as well as avoid a little trouble with engine mount compatibility, header space, etc. Another question of issue: gas mileage. What could I expect with a V8 in this? I know we barely ever hit 19 with the 6 in it. Ford engines are what I would like to lean towards for choices, but I wouldn't necessarily scoff at a Chevy if it was of decent quality.

No fire for this one. I'm rather emotionally attached to it. I recall when it ran that it was a complete cherry. Went up to 70 at the snap of a finger and liked to stay there. As for the engine, I believe that my dad redid some of the wiring with Bosch components. Come to think of it, I even recall the night that we bought it. I must've been four or so years old.

Seems I may be buying an '86 Jaguar XJ6 from my mother. Car's been sitting since the spring of 2005. We drove it the winter of '04 and the salt on the roads took the floorboards out. Good news is that it's been on a patch of tar for the past 10 years and not in the grass. Today I asked my mother how much she'd sell it to me for, and she said $500. Once I come up with it, it's mine. Ala Roadkill, I was thinking of putting a FoMoCo V8 in it, and getting another hood to cut a hole for a blower in. I'd like to retain as many of the original parts as possible if I think of selling it at some point, so I wouldn't want to wreck the original hood. Apart from the floorboards, the car is solid. The seats have split and molded, the varnish on the dash has come off, and the paint is getting little "bird-foot" chips in it. Would it be really worth it to swap the V8 into it?

#3's purple paint job is terrible, as well as the tub being too long. #2 has goofy huge wheels and beady little headlights.

Got it.

This is the Corvair kit I started with.

Anything without nylon bristles. That should be your paintbrush rule. There are lots of good paints, and some just have their applications. Testor's stuff is good for small parts. However, for a really good selection of colors and better quality, go for Tamiya or Model Master. Apple Barrel is a good base for making washes as it thins with water.

I think I'll be building the Crew Chief Blazer from AMT.

I used regular paint thinner with xylene, readily available at any Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Took nearly all the paint off one car I did in about two days.

Happy birthday!

Chisel another entry for me into the block. Decided on the AMT '69 Corvair instead of the Ranchero. I want to do the Ranchero as a beater and not necessarily a sleeper, so I'll save it for a later date. For color on the Corvair, I was thinking either flat black with worn patches or flat yellow with some red or blue replaced panels. The front end will be dished way down for a more junky look.

I'll just obscure the lower half of the truck since it ain't my cup of tea... I do look forward to the rest of the build.

The Johan Superbird.

Yep, the white/green interior looks great!

Don't have a phone or anything to get it with that's mobile, and didn't even think to print it before I went. Would've saved, what? $10 or $15? It is money, but right now it isn't that important.