426-Hemi

Please keep in mind, during my most recent builds (this one AND the '68 Roadrunner) that I have been in a bad accident, my hands got beat up pretty bad, so....) BUT these 2 models are my "healing" builds to see where my dexterity levels might be from what it was BEFORE the accident! Some of the most simplest things, are in fact either VERY difficult, OR not able to be done, in some cases, other things, easy, (it really doesn't make any sense) I can hold a coffee cup in my left hand, BUT I can't hold a empty trash bag!!!!! I just can't squeeze the thumb and middle finger tight enough yet..... It'll come, I know, I'm just saying how odd things are...... Anyway, enough of that... On with my crazy building, as best I can... Now because of my hands being pretty banged up and all. There are times a lack of pictures to represent what I have done, thats the other odd thing, I had a difficult time running a camera, BUT by God, I could run my Dremel and or my Unimat machining center with ease! So we'll jump right back into it.... You'll see here that the detail EXPLODED right onto my engine! (I almost feel bad that I didn't get pictures during the addition there of but, I didn't! This was one of the times that the camera wasn't easy to run. Plus, lets face it, I was enjoying just being able to build and detail...... Anyway, a little "back-ground" to what you see is in order. I turned Billet Aluminum Magneto's, 2 of them, remember its a dual plug Hemi, SO, it got the full plug treatment, twin magnetos, one with yellow wires, one with black wires, one magneto to one side of the cylinder (each of them) the other to the opposite side of the cylinder. Kinda color coded that way too if ya look! I also added "HEMI" to the Banana Yellow area of the valve covers! Then you'll see the carburetion! WHAT-IN-THE......? TWIN 6 packs!!!!! YOU BET! -I had to use that idea to see what the part was gonna create for casting issues (I plan to mold that intake, for others.... I just had to see what it needed and where to use it as a modeler myself so it could be molded correctly. Looks pretty good so far! When I mold it, the intake part when made, in a kit, will also have 2 6 pack carburetor set ups with it! It won't have the seen detail included, thats up to the person getting the part. The 2 black "wire looking" hoses coming out the front of the engine is the Heater hoses coming from the top of the water pump! Everything up-close...... You can see a little detail added to each side of the carburetor set ups a good side shot will show more of this! BUT they are fully plumbed, right from the mechanical fuel pump! I also turned my own billet aluminum valve cover breather..... Gave it just a little shape other then the stock versions of the same thing. This one won't be connected to the air cleaner setting on top the carburetors!!! -Notice I also painted the water pump a cast iron color as I mentioned in a previous posting when it was left bare plastic for a time. The single black, and single yellow wire sticking up from the Magnetos is the coil wires, NOT going to be mounted to the engine in this case, theres no room so will be on the fire wall OR the radiator core support. So a few "close-ups"..... I think this close up is a GREAT picture of this engine! A shot "down on" over the top showing more detail around the carburetor set ups.... Then ya have the sides..... The throttle linkage side of the drivers side carburetors.... The other side showing all the vacuum advance hoses, the fuel supply lines and fittings as well as the PCV hoses from the valve cover..... Also notice, I hadn't mentioned I even went as far as to paint the Blocks water jacket soft plugs "brass" as they are if unpainted, and added new AFTER the block has been painted. Just to show detail! I also painted the mechanical fuel pump too! And something different then my normal way of building, I opted to paint the bell housing of the transmission the same cast iron color I mix up for the transmission itself, instead of the engine color I normally go with. -Just for something a little more "different" Then, I have to show the start of this all from the back (the detail is going to pile up EVEN back here!) Looks VERY "plain" to me, its not gonna be tho! Between the carburetor set-ups, I got to add the throttle linkages yet, which will work off the back of the Cross-Ram intake manifold. PLUS, I think I have to add in a choke control to BOTH carburetor set ups off the center 2 barrel. And then to top that all off, I plan to add in the winter time running "Intake warmer" piping from the passenger side exhaust manifold or header, this is still in question, I'm not sure what I'm gonna use as far as exhaust manifolds OR headers, we'll see! -I just know the carburetor throttle linkages have to be added yet, and some other things.... The choke lines have to be added to the 2, 6 pack set ups too! A close up to show how plain undetailed the back of the engine is! That WILL change! SO till I make up my mind on the engine, I sat it aside for a bit as I got to looking how the frame was going to be to hold such a monster motor!!!!! Thats coming up next............. the frame! Theres a REAL surprise coming to that as you'll see! Stay Tuned! Thanks for looking!

Well everyone, I've been right at it. I was working on a 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner, sadly, I have yet to try and work my air brush in order to paint it, and so, its been sat aside with a complete frame, detailed pretty nice, and interior done really well too. BUT because of my current limitations, I had to sit it aside and do something else. This began back when I was still "healing" SO, in the beginning here, as you'll see pics aren't as "prominent" as time went on, more were taken. As working my camera at times was a bit difficult. SO, as I'm sure everyone is aware of, I really am a Mopar fanatic, as well as a truck kinda guy. (EVEN model building!) I was working on a "Father & Son" truck build of models that my Dad & I owned at about the same time.... Hes owned SEVERAL Dodge pick ups over the years!!!! -Till my accident happened I had to sit them aside as I don't want my work to show on the models that I was working on when all was well. SO this is why I picked up the '68 Roadrunner build, but got it to be as close to being done as I can right now, and so, I wound up getting ANOTHER '78 Dodge "Little Red Express" Truck, this one however is gonna be a bit different! WHY? Well I have 4 of them now! One built as the real truck I once owned. 2 to make the truck my Dad owned when I owned my old black one, three to make a 1/25th scale "Hi-Rail" Dodge truck with custom made utility bed (made by ME), SO this 4th one? WELL its gonna be my "Dream Truck" and what I would have loved to do, to the one I had in real life..... SO.... This is how it goes: Back in the day, when I was building that truck, one of the Mopar magazines, or Motor Trend, (I can't remember which) had the front cover plastered with the old 426 Hemi gets a new cubic inch raise!!!! And was like a question to what the number might have been (Some of you guys may even recall the magazine I'm referring too) As I truly can not remember.... (I actually had the issue at one time!) BUT anyway, upon reading the article on it, the 426 gained 102 cubic inches making it a "528"!!!! At the time, my age was well, younger and boy-O-boy, would I had loved to have one of those in my truck then the 440 I had!!! Granted that 440 was a GREAT motor, BUT I always have favored the Hemi vibe, and who wouldn't if given the chance? WELL, taking that into consideration, you by now know where this is going. I am putting a 528 Hemi in my "Dream Truck"!!!! YOU BET! BUT, wait till you see how its all gonna unfold..... (Yes, I got serious DREAM plans involved in this one!) SO, we'll start with the engine! Seen above, is a Hemi block, BUT my dream truck isn't gonna be built the way I normally would have, Hemi Orange block, and all that, NOPE not this one! Its gonna match the truck! Plum Crazy Purple block as you can see, with a Banana Yellow Timing chain cover..... Better shot of the Banana Yellow timing chain cover. You can see, that I also opted to NOT paint the water pump! I left it as its gonna become some other color as you'll see! NOW, the part that makes this all interesting is this, remember me saying about the 426 Hemi that came with the Roadrunner kit? I opted to make the motor in the Roadrunner a 383 instead! SO while I was building the Roadrunner I was kinda planning this truck..... As I knew I was gonna get it and what I wanted to do differently to this truck and the first thing was engine, what one, and then what type, and how was I gonna make it "look"? And then there sat the Roadrunner 426 Hemi..... NEW, easy to use and ready for the planning! SO, the first thing as you see I got the block together, added the heads and got the timing chain cover and water pump on it and painted. BUT the valve covers, and intake are missing...... I got to get them out of the '68 Roadrunner box, and the valve covers from AMT are chrome, not badly dome either, BUT looking at them, I wanted something............. more? Yeah that be a way to describe it..... SO, I took the chrome valve covers, and drilled the holes for the plug wires, OK, THEN not 3/32nd inch away drilled another hole! Making them "Twin-Plug" valve covers to look as tho they are dual plug heads too! Then with a file in hand, I took the chrome OFF just the "tops" of both valve covers. Painted it Banana Yellow, and on the valve cover edge I added a Plum Crazy Purple strip.....Leaving the lower "chrome" area and valve cover lip alone to remain chrome! Once done, I then found what I had to make "boots" those that fit into the valve cover on the very top edge..... Also I found and fitted a Cross Ram to the engine, the same one that came in the kit of the '68 Roadrunner! I added a Mopar "M" to the aluminum painted Cross- Ram intake! -Notice, I removed BOTH 4 barrel mounting pads that were to have a raised edge for them to sit, you'll see why in a few.... Stay tuned more to follow!

Gator, I agree. there is always someone else in worse shape, I'm healing, (slowly) but the slowness of it is whats building strength. in my hands, and endurance otherwise..... But, It will come, (I hope to attempt my air brush this weekend) I haven't been able too with things around the house and stuff. SO, that being said, stay tuned!

WHOA!!!!!!!

This would work, BUT the mirrors I have are a bit different and have 3 mounting locations to the door, just not having a lot protruding from the top most mount to make that happen... AND they're chrome......

Thanks guys! Tom, look forward in hearing back.... I await the PM. Sadly guys, please keep in mind, this model has been set aside for a time for body paint, when I'm able. I still haven't picked up the air brush to "try" but, I ought to get the body prep'd first anyway (wet sanding 1000 grit for starters), BUT I have a few small details I'm gonna attemptto make as close as I can get 'em without having to remove/destroy surrounding details. -I'll post pictures of that all too! Thanks everyone, much appreciated!

The Charger was the same way! None in '66, not present till mid-year '67, Then in '68 had the little round ones, and in '69 where rectangular. It was mandated, I just can't remember if it was '67 or '68. BUT the front grill also have this same reflection. They were slightly different. Matter of fact, the '67 to '69 Cuda's you couldn't even "interchange" the grilles from one year to the other they were ever-so-slightly different, EVEN the mounts! Not to mention to get a good grille replacement these days, you'd have to remortgage your house! (go look that one up! NOT to bad when you consider the '71 'Cuda and cost of its grille!

It sure is NIICE to see, I'm NOT alone and LIKE "super-Detailing"..... Specially (for mew anyway) on Mopar....... NIICE work on the brake lines and all that, AWESOME job!

-I'm totally speechless!!!!!

Greg, NIICE car man! The R4 Red was that called Matador Red by Plymouth? As I was looking more towards the PP-1 I think it is! -Went to my Mopar forum site I am a staff member of and found this: R4 "red" isn't even called "red" its "Barracuda Orange! -WELL isn't that confusing! The Dick Landy 383 looks more like a 440.... LOL NOT saying it isn't a 383 but DANG man, that thing is SWEET! I wish my '67 Power Wagon "383" 4 barrel looked half that good! -I gotta ask tho, what for heads is on that thing? They're aluminum, That engine looks mean!!!!!

WHOA! THATS niice!!!!!! You'd do VERY well in doing Diorama's to say the very least! This still together?

NIICE work on the organizer! BUT oneword to you the area you plan to "stand" your paint brushes, BE SURE to make a cover to go over the tops, the dust will settle in them, AND when used be in your paint, both on the model, AND the jar you dipped it into...... Word of the wise, I had that VERY issue so..... I'm speaking from experience!

NIICE! I'm jealous this is one Mopar I don't have...... VERY NICE work tho!

Tyler, GOOD LUCK! Those Ram rims are gonna be difficult (I do not think ANYONE makes them!) BUT they look like a combination between a set of steel wheels, with a Dodge rim for the center, SO, if you got the 3500 Dodge Ram dually, and took the wheel centers and cut them down to fit onto a set of steel wheels to fit the model, I think you could get close, (NOT exact) thats off the top of my heads Tires, BnL resins and one other place I can't seem to recall off the top of my head might have what your looking for to get close (I don't recall seeing any tires exactly like those you pictured) Good luck!

Thanks gentlemen! Much appreciated! Greg, your real Roadrunner, has the same "look" or color? I did the best I could, to get the interior to look as tho it was real. -Wasn't easy, but wasn't to difficult either. Took more thinking on how I was gonna do it (what colors and what sheens Flat, Matte, Semi-Gloss, or Gloss to get the look you see. As for the engine, the Roadrunner 383 well...... in '68 early '69 was a special motor! The one you mentioned being Mopar Performance Orange (NOT Hemi Orange), 2 different colors was a HI-PO version, had even more differences. The heads, the piston type (higher compression) The 2 types of 383s, was a bit interesting. (I have a real 383 of my own actually) NOT in a Roadrunner but, I own one! The part of the Roadrunner 383 to the standard 383 to the HIPO 383 was head type and cam, as well as intake type, they were ALL DIFFERENT! Cam profile on the standard 383 was really mild, heads were well, had not real good flow rates, as well as having smaller valves. THEN the HIPO 383 shared the same heads as the 440, BUT the intake was vastly different. 2 barrel and 4 barrel, there were 2 known types of 4 barrel intakes for the 383, one for the Roadrunner and one for the HIPO version. (I own one of them, in a '67 pick up) The paint a lot of times, dictated what one it was at a quick glance, Mopar Turquoise was either the standard, OR thew Roadrunner (early years '68 early '69) Late '69 to the end of the Roadrunner design of car, with the said 383 in Mopar High Performance Orange, was done till the 383 was no longer in use in the Roadrunner as the 400 had replaced it. (Mopar 400 was Mopar engine blue) The Mopar High Performance Orange, was shared between the HIPO 383 and the 440, Seen mostly on the 440 6 pack or 440 six barrel! I've build my share of real ones both the 383 400 and 440, I've gotten my hands on 1 413, and 3 426 Wedge motors as well, as 2 426 Hemi's and countless OLD Hemi's from the 241, up to including the 392 from pre '57. AND to really get yer eye brow raised, I've done a few of the Poly head engines too! 318 to the 326!!!!! Thanks tho! What color is your 'runner's exterior?

Joe, the bottom one looks like a '69..... The top pic, is that a '66? -I might be doing a bit of confusing as the Notchback Cuda are my favorites of the body style!

Joe, I can't wait to see it when your working on it! I got a "glue bomb" assembled '69 cuda (I THINK its a '69 anyway) that I plan to paint it "Limelight" green after a friends car that has a 340 in it. (Limelight-Sublime green same color)........ Which will give me an "extra" Hemi engine......(Like I need an extra) but I'm not complainin'..... LOL

As far as I know, thats the trick..... For the 2 kits I have had..... YES! Both kits show the car, in "wheelie" stance, NOT showing the front, as the rear dragging the ground looks pretty much the same for the '66 to '69, with very little differences between the model years of the car. The front, however is the difference in the models. The '66 had a VERY distinct "look", the '67 to '69 had a VERY CLOSE the same look oval-style grill, only to have the turn signals be the difference on them! -There may have been slight differences on the rear tail lights too from the '66 compared to the '67 to '69 model year, (I'd have to look further into it), BUT I know they used a '68-9 Cuda in all of the "newer" offered kits! As the side view of the car, was relatively close the same so the decals would fit with very little issue to the model and its looks! -Body side turn signal indicators ALSO could be a spotting feature! The '66 shouldn't have ANY at all, the '67 to '69, went from '67 to having little round lights, to I *THINK* having squarish looking ones. -This was also the case with the Dodge Charger, in '66 it HAD NO turn signals in the quarter panels, in '67 it had the little round lights in the quarter panels, as well as those little round lights carried to the '68 model year, and then in '69 they became the squarish ones...... They did use the same box art, which is why it makes it difficult to tell what one has the true HHUG '66 Cuda and not the '68-9 Cuda..... As the REAL Hurst Hemi Under Glass, is in fact a '66 Cuda, BUT I think in years of its "run" they did find it hard to keep the '66, so it was retired and then began using '68's '69's and so on..... BUT thee first one in real life was built off a '66 A body Cuda. In '70 the Plymouth 'Cuda was made into a Pony Car...... And was created as a E Body. As prior to 1970, the Plymouth was a Barracuda, in 1970 became the 'cuda..... SAME car, firstly a A body Mopar, but Plymouth wanted something to be up with the E body Pony Cars, to compete, with its brother company Dodge with the Dodge E body Challenger! Which was also against the Chevy Camaro, and the Ford Mustang!!!!!!!!

So, the only part of the model yet not done, or touched and the last part that I can actually do as the body paint won't be done till I feel I can. SO that means, this car will be set aside till that time comes. -Meaning, I'll either be working on existing "detailing" of frames of prior models started, OR starting something new. (I have plenty to do, so. Detailing others is what its gonna be till I try to see what I can do with my air brush. ANYWAY, the part or area I haven't touched yet? The interior! Remember its a '68 Roadrunner, these cars had very little as far as options so...... The interior, is VERY plain! Mostly, flat black with some highlights with semi-gloss black to stand out just a little. Seen here with different area's details painted silver chrome to justify the looks within the car! Flat black over-all, BUT, the floor mats painted semi-gloss black to have a vinyl look to them and then the seats to reflect this as well, both front and back bench seats. Better view to show the "sheen" differences on everything! Plain jane dash...... REMEMBER, this car was to have a 426 Hemi in it, meaning it had a Mopar A833 transmission, as a standard 4 speed transmission. I had added the 383, with a 727 Automatic, SO, the pedals had to be changed to reflect this. Automatic, on the floor shifter was the idea..... I haven't to date got a good picture of the completed interior, THAT will follow. (The ones I took did not turn out to be clear crisp pictures, SO......I have to get them yet to date! SO, there will be one more posting to this build, showing the interior, AND I have yet to finish the engine (it needs its air cleaner still) BUT I'm working on that still. ENJOY! Thanks for looking!

Well having the engine in place, to stay, makes for doing the remaining exhaust follow up the build on the frame. SO, without delay, lets get right into it...... I have to say now, I did NOT get good pictures of this as it was happening, so..... They are lacking in detail as I went along. BUT here you see, one in place, mounted and painted Testors steel. THEN across from it, you see a "gold-ish" colored pipe, that will have the same thing done to it for painting it steel. At the first frame cross-member off the engine you can see my exhaust pipe "joint" WITH a black hanger! I made ALL of the pipe work for the exhaust from aluminum wire. The only kit supplied part, is the mufflers! Both pipes match...... A view to where they go and meet up with the engines exhaust manifolds. This was a fun task to get the pipe to fit each side differently, PLUS doing it, with the condition of my hands, (bending pliers is all I was able to use) where I would have used them, a vice, and all sorts of other shaping tools in my shop BUT I was unable to operate the rest of the tools correctly so the pliers is all I had to use, and was able to use somewhat comfortably..... ALSO notice, the tires, rims are in place, both on the front AND the rear! I got them in place as well! The front tires were added with the spindles/axle mounts "steerable" so once the tires and rims were on, I could position them however I wanted..... PLUS, allowing them to steer helped aid me in getting the brake lines and fittings in place on either side if they had been "glued" it would not have been easy..... Not with my hands anyway, had my hands been in regular shape/condition, I wouldn't have had any issues with that. Going out the back. I'll say here, the exhaust tips, will be THEE LAST part added, as the exhaust pipe has been left "long" for when the body goes onto the frame, and the pipes have been bent (if needed) down below the rear bumper. Till then, they will remain as you see them! Slightly long, for tweaking into place. Frame up on all 4's...... Tires having "GOODYEAR" whited in with a white gel pen, (BOY was THAT a task) Doing the word "GOODYEAR" on 4 tires took me 3 DAYS! And on the frame they are, with the front steering turned, and all the brake lines in place on the front as well as the back. -I think it was all worth its effort I put into it! Enjoy, More to come! This has been a difficult build due to my hands, BUT a fun one at the same time just to see what I was capable of doing, and NOT ruin, no matter how long any one thing took.... Why rush? All I had when I started, was, well..............time! Thanks for looking!

Myself, I'd get a good set of exacto knives. A good razor saw, and as many paint brushes "decent ones" as you can afford. DO NOT spare expense in the knives tho, get a decent "set" NOT just one handle and one blade (the blades are replaceable) #11 blades in bulk amounts (I last bought them a box of 100 blades at a time) Razor saw, I'd get it that that the teeth cut on the "pull" stroke, NOT the "push" stroke, you can get them to cut one of those 2 ways. -Again, I'd get one that the handle can have the "blade" area replaced/changed as they make them from Zona with wooden handles, that has interchangeable cutting blades for different types of cut, and or materials being cut fine tooth for metal, medium to fine tooth count for plastic, and course tooth count for wood. ALL will work in plastic.....

I started out a little Train guy way back when I was 2, NOT building, "PLAYING" as I got older got into the trains, I wound up getting a new store in town, a Hobby Shop....... I was sort of into Baseball cards then too, and talked to the owner if he was gonna have any Card related items in the shop, nahhh..... WELL soon as I seen what this store had to offer as a kid, I pretty much lost interest in the cards, in my home town the card collecting days were limited as it was fading away, slowly, and the new hobby shop opens and it all hit the fan! I wound up selling MOST if not all my Baseball cards to a local guy and took the $$$$$$ and off to the hobby shop I went! The first model kit I EVER bought was a 1978 Dodge Lil Red Express truck, followed by a USA-1 Monster truck....... The rest? IS HISTORY! This model? Sadly went up in smoke about 6 years ago. BUT one pic does in fact remain..... I combined both trucks, frame and body of one, with the suspension of the other, used glue bomb rims and tires on it too (wasn't fond of the USA-1 tires and rims)...... Came out something like this: Lower (bottom) shelf, in about the middle its orange and black...... I was so into the trains then it wasn't till about a year before the shop closed for business that I really got into models, BUT by that time, ALL the local stores were trying to compete with the sales this single one shop was getting, EVEN the gas stations local to me had model car kits for sale, some new, (mostly) the 3 drug stores had a whole shelf full, but these little side shops and gas stations even had "glue bombs" for sale!!!!! I can not tell you just how much or how many times I had to choose between model trains, and model cars/trucks at that point..... At one time, I had about as many trains as I did model cars & trucks. NOW however the trains did in fact take over. I got WAY more trains then model cars, as I just recently (within the last year and a half, got back into model cars) My wife....... She never knew this side existed, it was so buried..... Now, shes wonderin, which keeps her on her toes LOL The fun never ends........

-DANG! a 2 cylinder Shay "Side-winder"!!!!! I bet that be a rough one on the hill, but dang you'd pull anything with the movement......

I "WAS" a member to the Randy Ayers Forum till I seen it was mostly NASCAR related builders and models... so is it gone now? I haven't signed in over there in over a year....... Anyway, found a couple friends there if nothing else!

LOL Thanks Dale...... I tell ya, you think this ones "full" wait!!!!! I got a 2007 Dodge Charger Super Bee, that its gonna be even worse! Think about it, new car, 6.1L Hemi, ALL the wires, and hoses to and from, and all that extra BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH they put on 'em now for electronics and controls........ AND I'm gonna CHANGE the engine! (The one with the kit, DOES NOT fit my liking to an engine bay......) -Ought to prove a FULL engine compartment! Sadly, Dale, I got more to add to this one! Air cleaner is missing, (Detail revamp on the wiper motor) And possibly a hood prop....to hold the hood up when opened, and to operate, be "down" out of the way, when the hoods closed, and remain on the model! -'Runners didn't have them, BUT, its nice to have a hood prop built right into the model for displaying purposes!