Oldmopars

So, after asking questions and looking at the rule books for the different years, I have decided to build a Gasser that would have been raced in 1962. I want it to be a car that looks like a family race car. No fancy paint or big sponsor, just what the family could build on the farm. So, here is the start of my 1940 Ford Gasser. Wheels are still undecided, but may go with steelies. Engine I think, will be a 409 from a 58 Chevy. Input is welcome

I have decided that 1962 is the way to go. The rules allow for the open headers I want to run, and no bumpers required other than a push bar. I will build it for B/G. I may use the 409 from the 58 Impala kit I have.

True, but the gas would cost more than the groceries.

OK, this all helps a lot. I guess I need to nail down the engine for sure. I have a few options, the 454 is just one. I do have a Flat head, and the one from the kit, but I don't have any decent speed stuff for it. So, looking to go with a 60's era V8. Something that would be available in the early 60's, say 60-64ish. I am not stuck on being extreme with the accuracy, but I do want it to be believable. At this point I am thinking a lower budget/weekend racer build. The kind of car you see the neighbor and his buddies building in the shop on the farm, then loading up on the farms L700 to take it to the race track. maybe something like the picture below. The kind of car I would have built if I was building it back in the early 60's, or a car my Dad and I would have built.

Great job, that turned out really nice.

So, I got a Dodge L700 truck kit, the one that comes with the 1940 Ford Coupe. It is an old Lindberg kit and, well it is needing a lot of love. So, I thought the best way to deal with this kit is to make it a Gasser. I have a bunch of Gasser parts from other kits that I built, or are building stock. (Revell 57 Ford Gasser, 58 Impala) So, as I look at old pictures of 1940 Ford Gassers, I see B/G, B/GS, D/G, etc. I looked at the rule books and it basically says that, from what I can tell, it is going to be ?/G because it is a Gas class. But then it says weight divided by Displacement. This is where I am getting a bit lost as I have no idea what this thing would weight. I plan to use a 454ci Chevy as of now. Also, what is it when it is a ?/GS, what is the S for? Anything else I should know before I stick a Class on this?

Thank you everyone. I had a lot of fun with this one and I think I finished it in about a week I was having so much fun. Thanks for the comments.

So, I got the body almost done. Here it still needs some trim, windows and lights. See the finished project over in Under Glass

Here is the build thread: Two rednecks looking out at the back yard full of neglected cars collected from years of doing stupid things. Bubba says to Jim Bob while drinking his beer, "Hey Jim Bob, I betcha we could stuff the V6 from that smashed Plymouth Prowler in the back of the Mini with the blown engine". And so began the project of taking a rather rough and slightly rust ex-race mini and re-powering it with a way too big 253HP Plymouth Prowler V6, mounted mid-ship. Because the Prowler engine was in the front and the trans was in the rear, I had to remove the adapter housings and mount the engine to the transaxle., thus making it just like a Chrysler LHS sedan engine. The Mini, being an Ex-Race car had seen better days, so I gave the body a bit of rust and weathering. Because it has sat in Bubba's yard for a few years, the poor car is showing some neglect, but overall not too bad of shape. Racing harness? Roll Bar? Nope, they have BEER. Who needs that safety stuff. Just gets in the way of the fun. The last pictures show it next to my Scania 143 that is also 1:24 scale to show just how small this thing is and how absurd putting a 3.5L V6 in it really is. Enjoy

Making progress. These Redneck boys aren't worried about paint or fancy racing seats. Just lots of beer and cubic inches shoved in the back of a small car. I wanted the old, slightly used, little rusty look. The roof as well as the hood will be black. I will be dulling the chrome, and may even add some dents to the bumpers and grill.

I think most of us would have thrown that pile into the trash bin long ago. You did a great job of making this into something you can be proud of.

That is how I did mine. I used wire, drilled holes and glued the mirrors on after.

Got a little more done on the conversion of Project Absurd. I added the exhaust, plumbing to and from the radiator. I have also added the fuel tank. I ran the hoses through the "copper" tubes. Also added a strut tower brace to help limit the flex in the rear as this thing launches.

More pictures

So, imagine if you will, 2 rednecks sitting in the back yard drinking beer, a lot of it. They look out at a Plymouth prowler that they wreaked last week and at a Morris Mini that they blew the engine up in. Bubba says to Jimbo, "Hey man, I betcha we can stuff the Prowler engine in the back of that Mini". So, that is what is happening. I have a Revell Mini I got while I was in Scotland, and a Plymouth Prowler I have had for years. The mini somehow lot its engine. The prowler is a project that I was working on 10+ years ago and never finished, then I lost some of its parts. I took the Prowler V6 and cut off the adapter that ran the shaft to the rear transmission, and attached the transmission to the engine. Basically how it would have been in the Dodge LHS sedans. This was a North-South setup. I cut the back out of the Mini and made a frame to support it. Dropping it in makes this a 3.5L Mid engine Mini Monster. The radiator needed a support, so I made one to mount the Prowler Radiator. I added the power booster from the Prowler also along with the oil cooler. It needed a firewall, so I made one behind the front seats. I was inspired to do this after meeting a guy that owns a 1984 Honda Civic with an Acura V6 stuffed in the back Renault R5 Turbo style. Then seeing the perfect donors, I got out the saw.

Yes, the panels are the kit decals. I found them after I painted it and thought they would finish it off.

Thanks, I figured it was just a left over from the kit being used as a 59 also. The cat eye tail lights are on the chrome tree as well as other parts.

Thank you, its a simple and fun kit to do.

So, I know others have built this, and mine is nothing special. However, I like it and I am pleased with the paint. I did use kit decals. It is basically an OBB build. Fun little car to do.

This is what I drive, a 1984 Chevrolet K30 Service truck, Ex-Fire Truck with 18K original miles. I don't do service work, but I like service trucks. I also have a 1965 C10 Chevy, and I ride a 1996 Honda Goldwing SE. The school bus in the picture has been sold, and that is not my barn.

So, I am building the 1960 Revell/Monogram 1960 Chevrolet Impala. I was about to attach the Power Steering pump and started to look at Google Images. I can find a few pictures of the PS pump attached to the back of the generator on 1959's, but for the 1960's I can't find a single picture. Was this a hold over from the kit being issued as a 1959? Was the PS pump in a different location on the 60 from the 59? While not a huge deal, as mine is going to be somewhat custom anyway, I was just wanting to make sure I was right here.

These seem to be a fairly popular kit. I too have one I am about to start. There is a lot of info here on fixing the Stink Bug rake that they have, and even some info on how to deal with the doors. The L700 is a cool kit and lends itself to lots of different options as far as builds go. I am still thinking on what I want to do with mine. Stock is nice, but I think I want something a little different.

From the looks of the fender mods, you must be planning on some HUGE tires and wheels. Should be cool

I love where you are going with this. I too wish it was true to the box art and was a F250-F350. I would like to have the heavier springs, wheels, tires etc. I had a 1972 F250 that I would like to replicate, but I'm with you on the cost, hard to justify. Anyway, I will sit back and enjoy the great work you are doing on this one.

Well I found more parts missing. No carburetors, no air cleaner and only left side exhaust. So, it is getting the carbs from a MPC corvette as well as the air cleaner and I think I will have to convert to single exhaust, or try to find a set of Lakes pipes. Its too bad so many parts are missing or ruined, it is a really nice kit.