R. Thorne

Outstanding!

Part of the problem in assessing what these cars looked like (front end lift wise) is that most popular pictures of these cars were taken from leaving the line, not from a stationary position. This is a picture I took in the mid 60’s at a match race in Chandler, In. This was taken behind the starting line. Big John and Stone Woods & Cook were , of course, 2 of the most popular cars at that time. It seems like only yesterday that I was introduced up close and personal (about 15 ft. Away) to 2 blown hemis.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with advice from Ace. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of the early gassers were built using the stock front end. A couple of mine using the 41 Plymouth and 37 Chevy kits . One imaginary and one a replica of a real car (37 Chevy).

Get yourself one of these and place it near where you paint as it is difficult to gauge relative humidity accurately by guessing. Also, I don’t hook up my exhaust fan to the window until I am ready to paint.

Do you paint outside?

If the center hub is not bigger than .350”, this works good in conjunction with a pin or other device or tiny drill for the centering hole.

Finally, the Ammo by Mig tape on the lower section (not very sticky, but looks ok)

This picture better shows the difference (Hasegawa on the left).

Taking a break from wheels and tires and trying some chromy stuff. First, some pics of the Hasegawa mirror chrome. Definitely different to work with than BMF, but, also very shiny. I put it on one windshield post (passenger’s side), then BMF on the other (driver’s side). Excuse the roughness (poor prep of the windshield posts which shows the dinkleberries present). The pictures do not reveal the difference in shine as much as looking at the car in real life (probably the result of my poor photography).

Drilled out the axle stub holes from .075” to .093” in 2 or 3 increments to fit the Corvette kit stub diameter.

Nice work on, possibly, the hardest part to build on this car.

Sort of a ho hum day. The closest wheels (Alumastar, that is) i can find measure about .660” o.d. That means the I.d. of the tires i have in my parts box have to be opened up about .060”. Well, after scrounging around, I came up with a 5/8” (.625”) drum sander. By “drilling” it out, holding the tire with one hand and drilling with the other, a shaky proposition, and not one I recommend. Then, working the drum around the inner circumference of the tire (a tedious procedure with lots of measuring thrown in) we arrive at an I.d. of .660”. I am not thrilled with this procedure, as I would like to “make” about 15 of these for future Stocker projects. I am considering using 15 and 16mm sanding flaps. If anyone has any better, simpler, safer, etc., ideas , I am all ears. I also did some sanding on the sidewall of one tire to more closely approximate the racing front tires used on Stock and Super Stocks. They are smooth and have no side tread ribs. Oh, yeah, I did find in my cheapie Harbor Freight grinder a 3/8” drum sander that you walk around the circumference of the tire a little easier but, kinda slow going.

I like it a lot. This local Corvette competitor that I used to watch run is on my list to build.

Steve Magnante’s video of his build of this car might be of some assistance to you in your endeavors.

Thanks, I am considering something of that sort for the future, or perhaps this: might be a little easier?