426-Hemi

I'm sorry, NO they were not called "Tri-Y" manifolds, I've NEVER seen that ANYWHERE in all my books and all from Chrysler them selves! These were called Ram-Horn Manifolds! Schumacher made the "Tri-Y" a name of there own exhuast, and those are headers! Seen here: http://engine-swaps.com/Pages/ProductsType/BRB_Headers.html Those REAL Chrysler Ram-Horn Manifolds are as you say ARE RARE, and sought after for what they are........ And those guys with them, say they flow almost as good as a set of pipe headers specifically made for the Max-Wedge engines. More on the "High-Performance Wedge engine 413" AND the 426 Max-Wedge here: http://www.allpar.com/WEDGE.HTML As you ALL can read, and view the pics posted there, you can see the 426-A Max-Wedge (dated 1962) has those pipe-like manifolds that look like "up-sweeping" headers, but are cast iron! You look further down the page little over half way down the page), you can see a "426 Max Wedge Stage III" dating from 1964!!!!! And yes, you'd be right to say that they were NEVER offered in "street" use cars, they were strictly racing only, just as the 426 Hemi was originally meant to be Till NASCAR rules changed to make the cars used in the races for the general "public".... thats WHY Chrysler did NOT race in NASCAR in '65.... That sat out, to make the 426 Hemi STREETABLE!, and once done, offered them in the '66 Charger to the general public, in '66 to also return to the race track in NASCAR the '66 season!

I'm sorry but those Ram-Horn Manifolds were THEE LAST "manifolds" the Max-Wedge engines used, the first ones were more "tube-like".... BUT these engines were thee engine just before the 426 Hemi came about in '64..... The 426 Max-Wedge III was thee block that the Hemi heads and intake were bolted too! Here have a read on the REAL "History" of the Max-Wedge engines: http://maxwedge.com/orangemonster/orangemonster.php

Joe that Hemi is DA BOMB!!!! The injector tubes are KILLER man! NICE way to make them too! LOVE IT! Something I gotta ask about, the alternator, you know its upside-down, right? OR did you do that to make it "fit" within the confines of the inside? (This would be my guess here) NICE even so tho... (And I agree) I would NOT use a Ross Gibson in there.... GREAT work man! That body color is different, but I like it and the frame is something else too!

NICE Work for a 30 yr old build!!!! Hope to see more of your work when you get started..... Always nice to see someone "returning" just as I did!

This is WILD!!!!!! NICE work!

The "Max-Wedge" Manifolds on the FIRST Max-Wedge pic is the 426, EARLY stage. Those were the on-set of the following ones that were called "Ram-Horn Manifolds" in 1:1 those are worth a complete Collage education! LOL They were however an attempt to make a "cast Iron" Manifold with the out-come of a Header, and were real close to what was available way-back-when.... They are however made in model form Ross Gibson made them (ONLY HALF A "SET" tho!) Then I think Jo-Hans made them too.... The '64 426 Hemi WAS NOT "illegal" in NASCAR, period! It was THAT engine that changed the rules! It came to Daytona 500 in '64, took everyone by storm (Including the drivers that controlled the car they were in) and set SERIOUS records, and then in '65 was said that ALL competitors engines and cars had to have at least 500 to sell to the general public, due to that Chrysler sat out of the '65 NASCAR season.... To get the 426 Hemi back they had to make it a "street" engine as in all its "truest" form was designed to do just WHAT it did, take NASCAR by storm! They didn't know what to do, and thats when the rules changed on it, and so, the 426 Hemi came to street use in '66, and lasted till '71! AFTER Chrysler made the 426 Hemi street legal, and sold 500 of those engines in the '66 model year, NASCAR had to allow them to use the engine, and again, it took the track and drivers by storm! THEN Ford, came to Bill France with the 427 SOHC "Cammer" (ALSO A "Hemi") and was trying to get it "legal" on the tracks, and Chrysler counter-acted it with the 426 DOHC Hemi deemed "The Dooms Day Machine".. The Ford was declined to run on the tracks, and Chrysler dropped the making and continuance of the 426 DOHC Hemi. NOW as far as those headers go, the flange on the NASCAR 426 Hemi headers, the flange part, was bolted to the head, made of cast iron, and had tubing flared-flanged INSIDE that cast-iron head flanged edge. Ran to a second cast iron flange and same thing, and then the 2 flanges bolted together to another run of pipe , to where it run into a pipe manifold under the car. The 2 sides were in fact "different" not symmetrical in any way! Passenger-side had a split mid-flange, and the Drivers side only had a single mid-flange. I've had my hands on BOTH! The Max-Wedge Ram-Horn Manifolds as well as a set of Petty Headers.. the Petty headers I've seen for sale upwards of $6,000!!!! The "Ram-Horn" manifolds normally rust out as they are in fact cast iron, mostly, and go for about $4,000 a side! As they are sought-after by guys with the engines in running shape! And yes to the poster that mentioned about the porting, the exhaust runners in the head are HUGE as well as square with rounded "corners", and NO, those manifolds will NOT just bolt onto ANY Mopar Big Block engine! -Were made specifically for the Max-Wedge heads they bolt too! -And you simply can not just bolt a Max-Wedge head to a 440 block, the intake valve WILL hit the cylinder wall edge/corner, as the 413 AND the 426 blocks were "notched" in the top of the cylinder wall where the valve was for when it was open.... And the heads were in fact closed chambered heads........to keep compression as high as they could get it!

I also found this: The color I'm looking for closely resembles the "6776 Bimini Blue Metallic", BUT that sheet shows these colors for '78, was any of that color available in '79? MAYBE his Scout was a late model '78 classed a '79

That shows the colors to be for the "Commercial" trucks, the Scout I didn't think were "Commercial".......?

I don't normally "weather" cars and stuff, BUT things I make outside of this hobby I often "Dry Brush" I use a "feathering" or "Fading" brush..... Start where the color is semi-solid, and then pull the paint with it till it feathers out like drips and runs of say rust and such..... Lighter the brush stroke, lighter the weathering, and or "highlighting".....

known as the "Petty Headers"..... As Petty Enterprise way back when was a "Dealer" in anything Mopar and to get those, you HAD to get them through him Even Mopar then wouldn't just sell 'em over the counter!!! HOWEVER, Jo-Hans, made them originally, then MPC made them (In the '67 Dodge Charger kit!) and now Moebius makes a set too! They were however found in numerous Jo-Hans kits NASCAR or not! The most recent re-issue of the MPC-Round 2, '67 Dodge Charger kit has a variation of them like the old original kit had! I have a few: IF I remember correctly the Moebius '65 Plymouth Belvedere has them in it! -I know its one of their newest releases (I have yet to get the kit!)

Thats BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH! I'd be getting a hold of Ebay ASAP.... within 24 hours of hearing NOTHING from the seller! He makes good on it, then you got l-u-c-k-y! As for the Charger 500, the rear window is FLUSH, as well as the grille in front! -This was thee car the Daytona Chargers were based off of, to make them more Aerodynamic, they added that front nose cone to the Charger 500 body! I HAVE that exact MPC version pictured box-art, I plan to mold the grille and have to be able to fit in the early MPC and Pre-Round 2 '69 Chargers, that don't have the "R/T" rear window.... -The real "General Lee" or what it is supposed to be, is an R/T. with the rear indented window. the Charger 500, was flush mounted as it created a back draft slowing the car for NASCAR 1/10th of a second! -Back in the day, Warner Bros. Contacted MPC to do the promotional General Lee's and all MPC had was the '69 Charger 500, AND the '69 Daytona Charger.... They didn't then have a true "R/T" to use and Warner Bros wanted that car on the shelves as fast as MPC could produce them, as they sold like hot cakes back then! (I've got an original dating from 1981!)

Nice choice on body color!!!! That turned out KILLER!!!! The engine swap is good too, (I'd LOVE to get my hands on a CAT 3408..... ) You had the 3406 in this one, I need the V-8 Cat, with the saw-tooth'd valve covers....like the 1160!

-Got my interest to see just what these "headers" ARE.....

Very well done Yuri! That turned out GREAT and did VERY well on its representations too, the out door pics as said make it look REAL!!!! The grille work speaks volumes and is totally silent.... NICELY done! AND you made the Big Block 440 look like a BIG BLOCK should..... The kit leaves a lot to be desired of in that aspect.... AND its the correct color! So many go to paint the "440" Chrysler Engine High Performance Orange, when ANYTHING "big block" after '71, went to Chrysler Engine Blue! What a GREAT save!!!!

-I just got one of these kits, and there are very few things I can remember withthe one I'm gonna model, so here goes (its a "Family Build" of mine, sort of, a close a VERY close friend of the family owned it. So I had spent a lot of time with Sylvan, when he owned it and makes it worthy to build! ANYWAY, His was I *THINK* a '79, Scout II, Which I know, and it had a 345 in it, and was Automatic, and had a plow on it, as well and was a light metallic (sort of) blue.... I recall, it seemingly to have white spoked "steel" wheels, WERE Those common? IF I remember correctly, I'm not sure if they were a "added" part by Sylvan or not, BUT I seem to recall them on his Scout! Then, I have to figure out something close to the color, ANYONE know the '79 International Scout color choices? And if so, where can I find the paint swatch online to see? I wanna try and match this up as close as I can get it.... BUT I'm not sure if the color that Sylvan's wore, was a factory color! -I'm normally a Mopar guy most know that, but I traded some stuff to get this Scout as an offering as the other person knew I had one in mind to model after this one my family friend had.... SO, I'm weeding for info that I just can't seem to remember for sure! I THINK it was a 1979, I KNOW it had a 345 V-8, Automatic, and snow plow on it, and it was in fact a light metallic-like blue..... Stock tire SIZE, and I THINK the wheels might have been a "choice" from IH back then, again, THAT I'm not sure of! -What were the stock "wheel Choices" if any? Thanks guys! Any help on this is GREATLY appreciated!

OK this is BULL...... I "deleted" the original posting. and re-made the thread, copy & pasting EACH "update" reply till I got here, and then I get a "404 Error" that says "Sorry We can't seem to find the page your looking for." WTH? I'm REALLY getting fed up with this, as I'm doing everything like I normally would, I copy and past ANYTHING after this last posting, and I get that same error, WHY?

So a little more on this build for today. I got it on its wheels, as you can see, but thats only a mock-up of what it'll look like so then I got it close to my goal. BUT there is a lot of details to go as well, I need to add the electric brakes, and wiring, as well as the air lines to the air shocks my Uncle put on this thing. BUT thats all pretty simple, as then I also need to paint the axle to match the wheel backs! Cast Iron looking color! The frame however, was painted flat black, and let to dry, and once dry with a piece of paper, I went and gloss coated the tongue right to about the area it would go under the trailer bulkhead! As the frame under the "box" was undercoated, and the tongue was painted with a commercial gloss black on the real trailer. So I did the model to reflect that! I have to "clean" it up a bit yet, but that will be pretty easy! Got a bit of detail to add, but as-is, it looks GREAT! I'm pleased with how this whole thing turned out and how fast it went together. But, thats what shows in the thought process when you build, a LOT of thought went into it a long time before the project ever became reality! One thing I'll mention on this if you look closely behind the wheels on the fender edge where the black part meets the wood grain nearest to each wheel on the inside, the deck needs trimmed to fit properly (It fits now, BUT the real one was "trimmed" to fit the bed and fenders, so I will be making that happen when I get a little further on and the deck is in-place to stay! The inner fenders were undercoated that same flat black undercoating, so when I trim that area, it all will be painted flat black Good shot showing the "wear" on the tire tread!!! -I'll also be adding mud-flaps to the far edge of the fenders. I have yet ot think of how I'm going to make those.... Nothing in parts I have would do, plus I don't think I got any "Mud-Flaps" from a kit so..... A close-up of the tongue and ball-hitch receiver. -Notice the "dolly" mount that was on the blue receiver is gone!? It was on the wrong side for this trailer! I will be making the "Job Box" tool bax for that plate on the tongue, BUT I have to say, that its going to be a bit bigger then the plate you see.... It almost spanned from one corner of the trailer "box" to the other! Did NOT go out past the box corners tho.... Thats gonna be a fun little detail to make! A close up showing the cuts out notches in the lower bulkhead plating, where the frame comes through it.... That whole bit, looks and is just like how the real trailer was! I'll be adding a wiring harness for lighting, and I got to add tail lights and brake lights yet and all that fun "finish" type stuff, I just got to see what I have (if anything) for the tail lights, I'm not sure I have anything "close" to what was on the real trailer, I'll be digging tho, to see what I have for options. (I WISHED I had pics of this trailer in real life), and not all from memory, as things can get skewed a bit, like the lights I just mentioned... I remember them being "square" and thats about it.... As I had to tape around them to paint the trailer sides and all so.... Wait you guys following along...... Theres a LOT of details for this to come! I just wanted to have it done as a OOB type thing with a little details on it by today, I got close!!!! I'm not complaining tho, it was a blast going the rate of speed I was with everything I've put into it making it as close as I could to the real trailer..... Thats it for now! More to come as I get it done! Thanks for following along, Comments are welcome, ENJOY!

Well to give you all an short and sweet update, The trailer is on its wheels, sort-of..... I got the frame painted, and the wheels all made up, and got them in-place as a mock-up.... The bed sides and fenders didn't get painted yet and there is very little detail on it, BUT that all will be added slowly, depending on how fast things happen (I have to admit, the deck, and sides went together rather fast, more so then I expected it to happen! BUT, heres the result so far: On its wheels I say! Looks GREAT too even tho it look even better if the bed sides and all were painted! ANYWAY, notice the plate in the front over the tongue? the top side isn't painted, I will be making a "Job Box" type tool box to be mounted here.... Then the wheels were Aluminum slots that my Uncle had, and he used whatever size tires he had spares of that were of matching sizes to fit the rims. SO, I used a pair that came off that original trailer I used/robbed of its parts, so I kept the tires, and wheel backs! I replaced the rims from them and traded the others off, and took an broke up a set from one of my Little Red Express Truck builds not getting the slotted rims. Those rims however aren't exact, to what my Uncle used, but are close! He never really polished them, thats why the chrome was made flat to look like unpolished aluminum. I also added valve stems, and thinned out the back of the rim for the slots to show up a bit better as well as paint the wheel backs flat black to be seen through the slots! -I then took and done the raised white lettering with my white Gel Pen! NOT done "perfectly" as its a trailer, the lettering would have been worn so I wanted that slightly "used" look. I also spun the tires in my lathe to make the tread look "used" as well.... Put some miles on that baby! Up close of the tires and lettering work! Looks really good!

A few extra's of the frame, up-side-down to show over all detail so far: Then in the past few postings, I didn't mention the axle, it was custom turned on my Unimat Lathe to fit the trailer, as the one I had one, was to "light" and 2, it needed to be longer..... SO, I made a fresh new part! Its in-place to stay! Will get painted along with the frame, BUT I made go a tad further and do the axle like that found on a House-Trailer, like seen in a Trailer Park. As my Uncle had replaced this with one of those that was slightly modified to fit this Utility Trailer as the House Trailer axles he had were really wide, to wide for this application, BUT I recall, those being cast iron! Cut down and a new cross-axle put into the housing with new spindles and rotors and electric brakes! Up-Close & personal.... This shows that I built the trailer suspension to be "pre-loaded"... as it will have stuff in it and I can only guess the gross weight unloaded of this trailer so. (I really do not know what it was!) So.... I modeled the trailer suspension to reflect being "loaded"..... Showing the position of the axle above the Bump Stops.... For what they were for..... When I got to adding the over-load leaf-springs, I'll make them reflecting this too, that they're almost touching the "pads" for them as they slide back and forth as weight is added or removed from the trailer.... Thats it for now! As always comments welcome and enjoyed! Thanks for following along.... ENJOY!

So I had an old trailer thats followed me around for quite a while! Its from 1993, that I got in a mess of models way back when I was building years ago, that my Step-Son wound up with for a time.... WELL this trailer he had, that I had built long ago, was in despair..... SO, I robbed what was left of it for parts, and the stuff I wasn't ever going to use, I traded off. The tongue however was one such parts I kept! Seen here is that part! I took the part as-it-was, and left it soak in the purple pond (Purple Power Cleaner) for awhile to get off any and all the paint I could! Low & behold, I never knew it was BLUE!!!! When I got it in parts, if I remember correctly, it was painted silver, and I left it that way on the trailer I had built using it. NOW however that coat of paint had to go! (It'll be painted gloss black when I'm through with it here!) SO, anyway, the original parts of it that were to the frame, I had sliced off, and done one side at a time, to get the angles right, to the frame I custom made for my trailer seen here.... I sat most of it up the same way, altho, this time around I totally scratch built the frame this time, the old trailer's frame was built using parts of an old truck bed, that too I still have! (May use that on a long bed, or an extended cab truck at some point!) SO, with all that said, I went on to save the "plate" to hold a tool box my Uncle had in the front of the bulkhead on the tongue.... As well as the cup-hitch! I will be making a NEW "Dolly" were the pin is seen, just on the other side of where you see it here! Showing the trailer frame right-side-up, and the blue plastic of whats left of the kit-part tongue! -Notice the "Dolly" is on the wrong side! Also on the real trailer when the Uncle had re-done the frame and replaced parts of it, (The tongue being one of such parts on the real trailer) It was pretty much rusted away strong still BUT he didn't want to trust it that way, and put on a new one! The straight part of the ball-Hitch cup and neck was left, (I'm NOT 100% sure the whole drop amount is right, BUT the uncles had this! Sadly, I won't be changing it once done, BUT will have to make the Van its coupled to reflect the level height of the trailer! Easy enough! BUT when my Uncle went and replaced the ball-receiver end, he ran the straight part down to the 2nd cross-member into the trailer frame, for strength! -I did it in section, he did this all one piece! This was done for a few reasons despite brut strength, but he not only used this trailer for carpentry as I said, he also hauled in scrap with it too, where it could get really heavy! Even for Carpentry use, hauling that trailer full of 3 quarter inch plywood, stacked all the way level to the top of the trailer sides, I BET got pretty dang heavy too! I can't image that same load with the plywood being replaced with 5/8th thich 10 foot sheet rock! YIKES! SO, with knowing this when he was making/rebuilding the real trailer as I was wire wheeling off the frame rails, and getting them ready for primer and paint I asked about that. Because it was in fact difficult to get in there with a 6 inch angle grinder with a steel cupped wire wheel..... I also added "Bump Stops"..... -If the trailer did in fact become over-loaded, the axle would sit right on these and ride without hurting anything! I do however need to add 2 over-load springs and stops for them as well! They're to come! (IF I have what I need to make them, they were only on the back-side of the axle, about half way between the axle and the "normal" leaf spring mount!

Then, I got right into cutting apart that fire truck Diamond Plate for the running boards: Not to bad I say! You can't see it easily, but those running bards are in fact made of scale Diamond Plate, with a rolled edge "Rub Rail".... Then, comes the top of each side and the top of the bulkhead! This I HAD to "fudge" a little bit, one, I didn't have the same type plastic sized C channel the uncle had of the real thing SO, I used what I had, and its a little "thick, BUT, the Uncle I remember him mentioning about making the top of the sides a tad wider then normal, He wanted the "hook" edge on the outside to have for hooking Bungie straps to if needed, and or load straps. PLUS on the inside, he wanted a little more then a trucks bed side thickness, as the trailer was in fact wider then a truck (The model also reflects this!) but in the front by the bulkhead, he wanted to be able to sit a spanning tool box, "Saddle Box"..... -This detail WILL COME later! BUT I wanted to sit the trailer up as close as I could get it for such things.... The parts thats fudged is the thickness of that top.... There was not as much "over-hang" inside the bed as I have! (I had to make up some of the difference, and not create a bunch more work..... Which I didn't do to bad! -I can live with it! As once all the detail is in and around that trailer, this will be come more and more less noticeable as I add details to it! As you can see, looks wide now, but will come to size and won't stick out as big and jump out at ya as you see it now! -I also "capped" the ends, where the C channel over laps the sides but not the very end, so I made a lip for this (I can not remember if the Uncle did this or not), so..... IF not I can live with it, if he did, well then I'm right on the money! Above you can see theres an "extra" lip inside the bed rails at the top.... Thats to fill in the gap from the C channel I had! -Also I used some length of wire, to wrap the tops of each black fender at the joint where it meets the white styrene as it doesn't fit as snug as I would have liked it, BUT it was lose and that wire will act like a weld bead, when its all painted! The frame work is coming right up! Stay tuned! Thanks for following along! ENJOY!

So for those following along, I've been right at it on this build! I'm trying to see if I can have this bad boy up on its wheels by Monday! And honestly, I'm so close, but I just don't know if I'm gonna make that dead-line or not but its a GREAT job so far, and is turning out really well! I'm pleased for whats seen currently. I've began assembly of the trailer sides, and bulkhead part of what could be called the "body" of the trailer! So with that, a little more history of this trailer, when my Dad & Uncle were making the sides with fenders, they seen a shot at making running boards too, and with that came a bit of them making a buncha noise inside the garage, slapping sheet metal to be exact! WELL they dug and dug till one of the 2 found some Diamond Plate.... I remember part of this as they took it outside and were cutting it with a Plasma Cutter, along a long section of angle iron for a straight edge.... Then got the mounts made and the diamond plate tack welded to the mounts they made, and then solid seam welded it to the bed sides as well as the fenders! But one thing I remember the Uncle not liking was that really sharp edge the Plasma Cutter left even after being ground with an angle grinder to kid of "break" the edge a bit..... SO, then the 2 of them back onto the Garage, or it may have been in the Uncles shed where he stored things for stuff that was being done in the garage and just didn't want it on the work floor, I'm not sure but they found either it was pipe or some cold roll steel.... I can't remember! BUT they too kit, and welded it to the front edges of the Diamond Plate, and left it hang out long till they ran good weld beads from underneath the running boards. and then when they got all 4 done from underneath, then a lighter weld up top to fully secure it...... I have to give it to my Uncle, ALL the welding done on this trailer as I recall was done by a pretty big Stick-Welder, NOT a Mig "wire-Feed", and he was good at it too! VERY little "grind" clean up was needed! The corners, I ground them to follow the contour pipe or rod they used! (I can't say for sure), but that being pipe and or rod was cut with the plasma cutter on angles so they formed like a picture frame corner on 45 degree cuts so there too was very little grinding to be done and not once did I grind through so. I am not sure if that run-rail was solid or not! So then, on the model, I got right to it! I got a Fire Truck in trade for parts for a completely other build, but it was all most complete so I used what I seen I had in that kit for this build! -A LOT of usable parts in the Fire Truck kit! I got right to assembling the sides to the bulkhead, making sure that they were spaced to fit the floor perfectly!!!! That in itself was a task alone! You can see that the bulkhead had one single stake-pocket in the center, and you can see the markings on the bottom edge for the frame rails to come through after that edge is botched out for such! Thanks for looking MORE to follow these short messages! Comments Welcome ENJOY!

Then with the frame looking as good as it is, I went right on to see just how good it may looked sitting in-place on the decking! Closest edge of the end of the trailer is the rear portion of the trailer, the shallow in-set of the cross member depicts this! As seen depicted in the following picture: Then to show close-up of the sides, looking at the suspension where the wheel opening will be, this is the passenger side: Then finally: A semi-Close-up of the area the axle will cross! Seen here is a really thin cross-member. This cross-member isn't for "strength" its merely for adding shock mounts to it from the axle! Which are to be made and will be seen! Thats all for now everyone! MORE will follow as I am able to add it in! Its gonna be close, BUT I might make my own dead-line on the "Superstructure" of the trailer being done by Monday, ready for all the extras it will get! I have yet to make all the electrical piping, and boxes for the electric trailer brakes, as well as how the wiring harness will be run to the driver's side of the trailer up to the tongue to be connected to whatever truck or van its connected too at any given time! Thanks for looking Comments are always welcome and encouraged! Stay Tuned!

So to continue on, I got the frame built, without a tongue, and without a rear bumper mount, BUT those are coming!!!! -The Bumper mount however will be done when the bed is in-place on the frame, and the sides of the trailer are on the bed..... All goes together in sub-assemblies! The frame: Seen here, if you follow the frame rails, that run length-wise, in the "wheel-opening" area of the frame, you can see the rails have been machined thinner and have 45 degree angles on each end, just in-front of the suspensions leaf-spring hangers. Frame blocks were added to existing leaf spring hangers I had from a kit bought just for parts! On this frame, to this point, they are thee only "kit-Parts" to this sub-assembly. The rest of that white Styrene is Evergreen Styrene that I had! ALL of the angles and cuts to the Evergreen Styrene rails and cross-members as well as the outer-most "ears" was milled to the angle thats seen, to fit within the beds edge supports for the trailer sides! Pic showing the "front" of the frame, where the trailers tongue will be mounted once its made! The smallest diameter cross-member, is where the axle will cross, as depicted by the dark black lines on the frail rail sides! One leaf-spring in-place! Only mocked-up sitting there, as I have a little detail to the frame yet to add! Now both leaf-springs mocked-up in-place! Frame is looking really good right now! I'm VERY pleased with the outcome thus far! Stay Tuned! More to follow right after these brief messages! Thanks for following along!

SO theres a SECRET to this build coming! -The way I did the trailer deck boards! LOL BUT theres a bit of a story behind even that aspect of this build, -Like I was asked to do on the real trailer! See, to give you guys an idea of my background, I went to school for Building Trades Maintenance, and that including woodworking to an extent, I've got a Great Uncle on my Mom's side, that was a finish carpenter tho, so I was pre-knowledge'd of woodworking! So, that being side by the time I got into my Teens I had a lot of woodworking tools saws, you name Circular, table, band, jig, scroll you name it all powered! And then the hand tools I won't even go into listing those. then the Uncle that this trailer belonged too, was also a Carpenter, and he had all sorts of other tools and knew I knew how to use them, planers, jointers, you name it, (Tools I didn't have!) BUT because he was doing most of the welding, and fabricating, he asked if I'd not only paint the trailer steel frame, but do the wood work it needed an because I knew what I was doing and all that, why yes I did it. I had the use of the garage any time I wanted, and whatever tools I ever wanted needed whatever at my finger tips so. not just during the rebuild of the trailer, but ANY TIME I WANTED..... Just how it was in my family if you knew what you were doing and didn't ruin anything.. I have some of this Uncles tools that he gave me just before he passed away! SO with that, fuels this this build..... (I'm seeking out the parts for the Van he had too!) So then with the real trailer being what it was, He & I (My Uncle) went to the Amish, to see what they had for "Rough Cut" lumber.... Dark Oak, was what we found! They had Red & White Oak, but they had this dark colored stuff for half the price and as it is, Oak is Hard Wood so. thats all we were looking for! Something hard to take a beating.... and at to that, that rough cut stuff was a full 2.25 inch thick! 8D -Let me tell ya, did that stuff make his Rockwell Planer GROWL!! BUT it planed out nicely, at getting 2 flat sides smooth to 2 inches thick, and joined the edges to make roughly 2 by 6 planks.... The side were 2 by 8's..... Then a weeks worth of weatherizing it came. A floor sealer went on first, several coats of it, brushed on, and sanded between coats, then we laid some old Boat Urethane to it.... in all the planks we used 2 gallons of Boat Urethane sprayed, with an air-less sprayer..... -To give you an idea of what your about to see..... So that secret? WELL it goes a little like this: The above pics? Are of the TOP of the Deck, whats inside the trailer! This is the "floor".... The above pics here, is the BOTTOM of the deck, this is where all the dirt, road dirt and water would hit from the tires! VERY impressed with how this turned out..... I WAS, going to "dullcote" the top of this, and now, it looks to BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH good to go and take off that shine, its not to much as a "gloss" would have given it, BUT just enough as the bed sides and fenders will have a good shine on them! Thanks for looking, following along, comments welcome, ENJOY!