DRIPTROIT 71

Impressive!

Looks great!!

Thanks! Don’t forget to tilt that engine.

I always decide what I want my wheelbase to be first. I usually look at reference pictures or sometimes brochures. I then build the basic frame and suspension and axles without any extras to get a look at it on wheels. Make sure that your front axle width doesn’t need modification. Then determine cab mounting before adding any tank brackets, battery boxes, etc. Before I finalize any mounting I get the radiator and engine position determined to “try” to resolve any clearance issues that will show up later. You may also consider adding a stinger to the rear or extended frame behind the rear axles as this type logging setup usually had them. Also decide how you are going to make your windows before final paint.

Nice looking fleet you have there!

The Cummins will fit with a little work. These engines were tilted to allow more room as you can see in the pictures and you will need to make a dog house in the cab and cut the firewall. Here is a couple of pictures of the Cummins engine and the interior of a real 4000 and the interior of a 9000 that I built with a dog house. I don't like AMT's hood hinges so I cut down doll house piano style hinges for the hood. This allows the hood to fully open as you can see on the Diamond Reo picture. I built a short hood Diamond Reo with an 8v-71 and a 9000 with a 6-71.

I like it!!

Thanks so much! Thanks Chris!! Thanks for the kind words Hermann Thanks so much Carl!!

Excellent work! It looks great!!

There is so much to say about this one! First of all you captured the original perfectly! The added details, the wipers, the cab latch, the grill, the load and tarp on the the trailer, the corner glasses on the windshield, the opening doors and the perfect weathering are just a few of the upgrades which add to this great build. I agree this is one of the best 352 that I have ever seen. Excellent work!!

I like that alpine green Cummins!?

Small steps. Getting everything lined up. Dump bed mounts are installed. Engine is in the mounts now.

Looks like a great start to a cool project! We don’t get to see anything like that around here.

This is a beautiful build! I’m going to call it flawless! Top notch work for sure! Your attention to detail is excellent! As far as inconsistencies go this doesn’t have to be a factory fresh build but most likely a rebuild. Back in the late 80s and early 90s we built or rebuilt several of these trucks and Blazers. Granted they were all lifted, but one of the first things often done was to swap out the half ton axles for 3/4 or one ton axles. It wasn’t uncommon for the emblems to be taken from the donor truck and reinstalled on the axle recipient as well (it was a redneck status thing). We also had this two tone paint scheme without the trim (not factory of course) because the trim was usually beat up and the front fenders needed replacing, so the rest was removed. So at least in North Carolina you may come across a short bed truck just like this or even a Blazer badged as a 1 ton with 1 ton axles under it. Excellent work again!

I really like what you have come up with here! Your weathering is Awesome! Great work!

Awesome! Great work on this one!!

Now that is one sharp looking funny car! Excellent work!

Very nice!

I wasn’t expecting that one! Very nice work! I like something different than the norm! Great idea!

Very nice!

I like how the paint turned out! Looks cool! Great work! I’m assuming that this was a dipping process?

Sharp looking Mustangs! Excellent work!

Great looking build!

I always enjoy your builds! This one looks great! Top notch work!

I really like these old Mopars with a base model look. I really like the colors on this one. Excellent work for sure!