426-Hemi

By the sounds of it, we're all going up the same dang creek in a somewhat SAME boat, with no motor or trolling motor and the paddles are both BROKE!!!! LMAO

I'm gonna be molding the '70 MPC grill I have, for use.....

I'd use something thin over-all, say .040"-.060" thick. Then lay "C" channel as steel and then between that a veneer to look like the planks! -I'm doing this to a STOCK bed!

Thanks Dale!!!!! Much appreciated! As you know (better then most) just how bad the "detailing" DETAILS grab me..... Plus having the machine tools and hand tools for model building that I've got, well....... I HAVE to use them! so.... ANYWAY, stay tuned man, more to come (hopefully, I'll have the next addition tonight!)

Well while I was building the drive shafts and fitting them, I noticed one other "detail" I had sort of forgot about! The spare tire, and its mount.... REMEMBER this detail is and was to be "removable" somewhat like the real thing! WELL that "mount" bracket had been made, BUT the threaded part of the mount that turned in to hold the bracket to the wheel itself wasn't made, to what a real one would have been OR CLOSE (Its not 100% like the real thing) BUT, you'll see in a minute just how that all went together! I used a screw as you all know. BUT that screw wasn't "good enough" to my detailing so, I took the part out, removed the bracket, and then began bending a "handle" that would "weld" to the screw.... This is all sort of done, with a pretty big bolt, with a cap, that self-centers as turned in to hold the tire against the underside of the beds floor boards. SO, I looked through some of my spare scrap wire on the bench choose what was the strongest that I had and began to bend it to look like a o with squared corners, NOT round. The location where the ends came together is the base where it have the "welds" made..... These "welds"???? Really are a weld of sorts! I soldered the steel wire, to the head of the slotted bold head, in the screw driver "slot".....Then completely cleaned in Acetone to remove ALL the flux and any other contaminate, that would inhibit the paint that it was to get! Painted, allowed to dry, and put into place, it looks something like this: Center of the tire, on the rim, you'll see the gloss black bracket, that spans pressure on it to hold it all in place. In the center of it, painted flat black (for detail variation) you'll see the mount screw! To show some depth of detail. I think to date the frame as far as underside details is done.... I'll look again to make sure, but I'm almost sure ALL the underside stuff, now is complete! (A LOT of little stuff!) So I can set down now and concentrate on the engine compartment.... (Even in it, theres not a lot to be done!) Again, A LOT of little stuff! Anyway, thats it for this posting, Thanks for looking, More to come as I am able.

Thanks Gator! More will come..... I have a few pictures to get the link added up to the write-out for posting.... BUT, that will be when I have a chance to sit down and pull the link and type it all out (ALL of my posts are typed out in notepad, BEFORE they even hit the forums here!) So stay tuned, more to come!

I'm sorry I missed this message, BUT yeah, it ought to fit pretty good! I got a 440 in one of mine, thats under my "Father & Son Dodge Truck build" thread..... My truck got a 440 in place of the original 360 so. my Dad's truck had a 318 in it..... SO, I'm making models of both these real trucks!!! -Need any parts, let me know, I mold a lot of my own parts! Mopar specifically!

The work on the bed looks GREAT! NICE job!

So, as promised, I got some more to add and done to this build..... Its getting there! I got to lookin' and the frame was just about done, all it was still needing was drive shafts to connect the transfer case to the axles! I was originally going to get others to do the task, BUT I got to thinking, instead of robbing another kit for the parts, I took and made special ones for my truck in this build (Mine were heavier built then Dad's, SO, this left the stock kit supplied drive shaft in my kit, un-used! THEN Dad's truck had the SAME one too! As well as a junk one I had stored for many years, (since the early 1990's) I use that one on the truck already (its the "jack-shaft" between the transmission, and the transfer case!) SO, having said that, I took the one from my truck in this build, and the one that came with this kit, and made my Dad's to keep everything "stock" to the kit. He kept his truck Stock Mopar, so there was no "after-market" stuff, on Dad's truck, which made this all fall right into place! With all that said, OFF to making them to my standards, I went! First things first, I took the stock drive shafts, and cut them in half, ONE shaft at a time! I take them larger end of shaft, and smaller end of shaft and put the "cut" end, into the Unimat set up as the lathe. To turn the shaft down just a little to fit inside of Aluminum tube to make a new completely round shaft. This end has to be "short" tho! Because the smaller end of the stock part has to fit inside of a smaller aluminum shaft that slides into the larger one (expand and contract). SO, both ends of the stock part, has to take turns in the Unimat! So that they fit somewhat snug but be able to be glued into the Aluminum tube without "filling" the tube with glue! -Done, very carefully! This task has to be done twice as a 4x4 has 2 of them! This one actually has 3, BUT that "jack-shaft" has no "tube" to it, its merely 2 "U-Joints" end-to-end. Once made, they were slipped together, and put onto the truck, NOT glued.... Sadly, I didn't get pictures of them as I was making them, like I normally do so. BUT they're on the truck, unpainted..... As seen above, they sitting there, with the "slip-joint" spread enough to hold the drive shaft on the truck, once spread enough and positioned correctly (Outside U-Joint ends) to hold itself on the truck THEN the slip-joint in the middle of the drive shaft is super glued, to the aluminum tube. Allowed to dry, and then tweaked if needed (turned) for the best looking position. Once thats found/achieved then the U-Joint ends get glued into place, to the transfer case, and the axles. Then sit aside shortly to allowed to dry. Once the glue is dry (doesn't take long) they're painted in place! NOW the trick, and difficulty (for me at least) Dad's truck wasn't like mine this way, Mine got a bare metal protectant sprayed onto the shaft work and other underside parts, that well looked like a slightly darkened cast iron/metal, Dad's truck he under coated it with a brush on type stuff, and so, the drive shafts got it, as well as the axles, ALL the floor panels except the frame, and springs he sprayed them with flat black paint I do believe (from talking to my uncle) and ANYTHING "mechanical" was left bare cast iron and was treated with something that didn't give a "coat" to it (sort of like what I used, on my truck, but not the same thing!) SO, having said that, the transmission, the transfer case, the U-Joints, did NOT get that black undercoating, they got the other stuff as they were a mechanical, functioning part. SO, they got the same treatment that mine did (sort of) but had a close the same look as mine did. SO, on the model, the mechanical parts, transmission, transfer case, and U-Joints, got that bare metal treatment, that mine got and look a lot the same, BUT the drive "shaft" and all got that black brush-on undercoating.... All is painted, as said, U-Joints the darkened Bare cast iron! The shaft work painted gloss black to represent the gloss undercoating (black) so.... Not bad at all! Rear axle drive shaft, close up. Front axle drive shaft. Over-all, looks pretty good for being painted as I wouldn't have done, but thats how Dad's truck was, and how he did it! So having the drive shafts, done and in-place, as well as painted, the running gear, and all the underside frame details is DONE, I'll concentrate on the engine compartment completion, and then once thats done, The frame itself, will be complete, and allow me to concentrate more heavily on the interior to get it to where it needs/should be to represent my Dad's truck (just like I did mine in this build, to then be able to really set out and concentrate on the body, of both trucks to give them the needed mind-set they deserve! Thanks for looking, more to follow as things are done!

Some of these shop displays ARE NIICE O-M-G!!!!! I'm jealous of those with old "China cabinets" filled with completed models "Under Glass".... literally!!!!

Well, back at it a bit, (Had some home "life" things get in the way of modeling so, had to slow down for a couple days to get things back in order.) So, with that said, getting back at it, again, I got to looking, the radiator core support was together, parts that consisted of, the core support, the radiator, and the fan shroud as well as the A/C condenser all in place, and then it was time for detailing this assembly to get it ready for being installed onto the trucks frame! So, the first thing I did was get all the A/C condenser plumbing "in-place" that would allow me to add the piping and fittings to this part, that way, I could get the connections from where ever to the proper location on the frame once in place. SO, this got the wire treatment, as always, the supply and return lines one low, one high on each side of the core support through it, with drilled holes, and then the wires bent to fit as pipe and once painted, and dry, they were glued in place, with the "connection fitting" at each end of the pipes INSIDE the engine compartment. So once that was all done, I had looked to see what I had, and what maybe was missing. (Just like I did on my truck in this build) I noticed, there was no over-flow tank or piping from the radiator, SO, I took to my pipe 'O scrap parts directly left in front of me, to see what I had as scrap to make the part..... a 1/4th by a 1/4th inch section of Styrene, was used on MY truck so thats what I went looking for to use in Dad's truck. Not to shabby, I had a section (still needed cut to length) and then the edges rounded to look like a tank, had a mount to make for it, it was also scrap plastic laying there, and then found some scraps to make a "neck" and a "cap" with, it was all drilled and glued in place, and then held with an alligator clip, by the cap area, painted the tank Testors "Cream" color, allowed to dry, and then dullcoted it to make it NOT shiny, and then painted the mount flat black, and allowed to dry. So I had to sit that aside, and look to the other side of the core support. And the battery was next, Granted, heres a bit of difference from one truck to the other, I myself, had a Die Hard in my truck. Dad had an Interstate Battery in his truck. SO, this means the part I had done with my stock kit supplied battery made/painted to look as a Die Hard, had to have the battery physically "look" different no less, be painted different too! SO, I took the kit supplied part, and removed ALL the little cap details that it came with, and added my own! The battery got painted all flat white, by spray can, allowed to dry, and then that got taped off, and the lower lip got painted black, and that was allowed to dry, and then got a "base" tray made to hold it in the truck on the core support, the tray made of styrene angle, and then the INSIDE only got painted flat black, then glued to the bottom of the battery, and then once all made to fit the location, and glued in place, I painted the outside of the tray gloss black to match the rest of the interior parts, and then painted the battery terminals, as well as the tops of the 2 new caps I added. Thats a short reply, but there will be more to follow!!! Enjoy for now....Stay tuned!

So basically, your taking a NEW Challenger '06-'08? ...and making it a "Wagon"..... NOT my style, or cup of tea, BUT, what your doing is to a Mopar, and is done with taste..... Chally wagon.... WITH a 6.1L "370" Hemi in it......-NOT a bad thing! Nice work tho, all looks clean, and is well done!!!!!

Yer NOT kiddin' man! Good GAWD man its THEE truth!

NICELY done! The kit I got and the one thats done did NOT come with any power steering! BUT I do have the cross-ram on mine which would signify "racing" that way back when these engines only powered the alternator! -I'd LOVE to get my hands on one of the 2x4 intakes like you have here!!!!! I also have the correct 426 Hemi A990 "Race Engine" air cleaner on mine!!!!

-Thanks Dann, mine really is the 3rd floor of our apartment, that the landlord is AWESOME to let me go about it as I see fit (I used to do Building trades), and the apartment gets that same treatment so, hes all good for it. -ANYWAY, that "Walk-in" storage area, is 8 and half feet, by 18 feet..... GO figure it was unused "eve" space in the attic! Which the attic, really was to be a storage area when we first moved in a long time ago! BUT it has a window that allows me to have AC, as well if the door down stairs is let open, it gets half ways decent in the winter (I insulated it well within the first 6 months I moved in with the land lord giving me materials. its got "Attic Blanket" on every wall, and the un-finished side of the ceiling! Then about 3 years ago, I cut the doorway into the new un-used store room that has my Testors paint rack in it, as well as 3 others needing assembled and filled (I have over 1500 colors of paint and 3,000 bottles to store!) NO, I don't collect paint I just have an array for whenever the time comes and a lot of times I mix my own colors! Ya might say I own stock in the Testors corp and they don't even know it LOL

-I know it Harry, it (I tell ya) bugs the ever-lovin' !@#$ outta me!!!!! I just don't get it.... I'm not even 40 yet and there are those MY AGE that thinks its every day life like this..... I can't imagine! And your right, it WAS a big thing. As it ought to stay too!

I have a 10 year old daughter and SHE STILL READS "REAL" BOOKS!!!!! -Sadly, reading anymore I tell ya, for what I know of it growing up and what it is now has DRASTICALLY changed! Matter of fact locally they took out the "Cursive writing" from the schools! SO, that means when something is written in cursive, (such as a hand written signature) in 10 years they won't be able to read it, and the reasoning is because of the internet or well "computers" they say, I think its terrible! "digital signature" OMG whats this country becoming!? -Don't get me started!

I have I THINK one of these with a clear cross-ram on mine, (I'll have to look, BUT my first one was a AWESOME build! Your attention to detail looks GREAT! NICE work!

AWESOME job on that ole 300!!!!! -Any engine compartment shots? I love the lowered look of these cars... You done that ole smooth rider justice!!!!!

Which part of it? My "shop" is A-L-W-A-Y-S a dang mess, as I'm ALWAYS working/building something whether that be models or something craft-like for the wife...... BUT anyway..... Machine bench and computer area seen good here, to the left of the computer area, is where I do my molding work! This shows my small "general" bench there to the right, and to the left is a better shot of the molding area. Molding area! -Fridge is fulla chemicals, and soda once in awhile.... Its to keep the thinners cool and the wife uses the freezer of it for over flow.... Valuable space here, BUT the Shop Mascot needed a bed to keep him out of harms way (poor little guy got thinner in his eye once time at my wifes work bench so. This was a must, ($350 after the Vet trip that night!) Then last but not least, I have 2 "storage" areas, one really is a crawl space, that you go through the doors in the wall at the fridge. The other is a true "walk in" area, this is what greets you there: Which right now is a REAL mess, I wanted to go and get the "re-setting" of my shop done over the summer but the accidentto my hands did not allow me to get done what I had planned, SO, till I'm able its a mess! (most my supplies for the rest of the "re-setting" are stored in there as well as other things that were in the shop and belong to the 2 other areas I was working on!

WELLL shin guards would be in order just to drive the thing, BUT this also has a way to keep people from coming to close, while moving, OR parked! Pro's & Con's don't ya know! Just can't imaging my shins after a day of city driving AND parking..... My trucks hitch is bad enough! -Least its on the back not the side, BOTH of them!

PHEWWWWWW I had thought for a second. As the build thread in the last pic I seen it looked GREAT, thank GOD LOL Yeah Duplicolor doesn't like Testors spray at all... its because of the type paint the Duplicolor is! -ALWAYS spray a barrier/primer first, ALWAYS LOL

Well it turned out GREAT! (I too use Alclad Chrome over gloss back), but man 'o man that turned out SWEET!

Tom, that Van looked GREAT!!!!!! LOL (Hopefully that was BEFORE your last posting on it in the build!) I'm not sure I'm able to "reboot" in the present time nor in the future, my mind just don't work that way "click, click, click, click, -reboot, thats not in my vocabulary, meaning un-known" LOL I'm in WAY to deep to try to do a simple build..... I just wouldn't be able to stand it......Ohh the humanity of it.....

.063 Solder, theres one I have yet to find locally! A LOT of the heavy stuff 1/8th and larger and then the small stuff I have found is something like .032.... I'll have to look an see what I may have as "just sections" as I recall seeing something I got from a junk pile of stuff I bought for the drill bits that had some solder in it.... HMMM Those you made tho look GREAT!