AmericanMuscleFan

I haven't believed Claude for a long time, I'm sure you just put a couple of handfuls of pieces in a box, shake it all up and the subject appears by itself! It's impossible to always hit the bull's eye! The master of the mashup hits another home run... I'm going to go sulk in my corner but before I leave I must say bravo again my friend! ?

Great work my friend! ? Despite the unavoidable visual impact of the paint, the modifications and the quality of assembly make it a candidate to come back to see again and again. I told you before, you have a lot of talent Steve but don't worry, there is no harm in moving on to a lighter subject... it's good for the soul! ?

Thanks Sean! Now, I am an informed man now, I will use better quality components in the future, it is not a good idea to spare especially in this department... ?

Sorry Ron... I just noticed that my unforgivable typo in your first name, I need to rest... ?

Good job Rob, glad to see you are still working on it, I love those shiny rails on the bed, it looks very clean and authentic. ?

Cool, I love snakes, Cobras and Vipers come to mind but yours look good to my friend! ?

Thanks Ian! This means a lot to me!!! ? Thanks Russell, but with the current price of gas here in Quebec, I think super will be the best I can afford, I'll save some money for spare tires..... ? Thanks Greg! I will not be able to fulfill your request because I have already installed the motor in the frame. I must confess that I'm still assembling without stopping to take pictures because I can't wait to finish it! It's been almost 4 years that this project is on my workspace and I don't have a space for photo shoots (my workspace is so cluttered). I will continue to take pictures of the parts I am making but the pictures of the assembly will be more limited because I have to strike while the iron is hot as they say... Thanks Sean! I don't understand, is there a problem with the Fram filters that I am not aware of? ? Thanks Andrew! I know this every time I try to incorporate more detail and end up almost always using my smaller end mills.? Thanks Ron, I'm glad to see you back my friend! I'm trying to put as much as I can in but I don't know if I'll get that far with my next project. I'd love to do more than another before my dexterity leaves me and I switch to doing puzzles.... ? Thanks to all, the assembly and the fabrication continue, I will try to take pictures for the next updates, I must have more than 600 pictures so far, the administrators of the site are going to kick my butt if it continues... ?

You deserve all this praise Steve, it's a pure beauty, another superb piece to add to your display cabinet! ?

Hello everyone, I didn't have much time on the bench this weekend because I was working nights last week and I'm still jet-lagged... and I'm back on the day shift tomorrow, it wears the man out... ? Anyway, I managed to spend some time on the engine before installing it for good between the frame rails, I will do as much assembly as possible outside the body as I know the engine compartment will be quite busy with all the details I plan to incorporate. First I machined the oil pressure sensor that is located behind the intake. Secondly, I decided to make a remote oil filter because I think the lower radiator hose will interfere with the oil filter in the OEM configuration, I realize my water pump design is not perfect but you know as well as I do that perfection is not of this world! This remote design looks more drag racing anyway and I really like it. Third I made a coolant sensor, put the spark plug wires in the correct firing order and finally I installed the alternator, it fits perfectly... I mean very well...? ! Come to think of it, that's a lot of progress in my slowness standards... ? Back next week with more update. Francis Oil pressure sensor made of brass, you can see the hole, I will insert a wire to lead it to the firewall. Remote oil filter in the rotary table. Plumbing done. Another view, I will add a FRAM decal on the filter. Coolant sensor made from aluminum, the wires will run under the tunnel ram intake to the firewall. Coolant sensor installed. The alternator and mounts are installed, the drive belt is a gasket from a wristwatch that I adjusted to the desired length.

Thanks Ray! To be cool, I think it will be but considering that it's not a logical choice for a drag racing vehicle, I think it will certainly add to the strangeness of the subject. I imagine it will surprise many at the next show... ? Don't worry Ian, the conventional material (real rubber) is what I have planned for the belt but as for the correct angle I'm afraid I'll disappoint you my friend, maybe the rubber will be soft enough to conform to the pulleys. ?

Thanks Dave! It's been a while since I had a visit from you my friend, I hope you are doing well! The assembly of the pickup is going well in my standards (very slow but constant... ?), I hope to be able to finish it soon and move on to a new project because it's been a while since I've been working on it as you know. Francis

WOW! Great job Misha, you've done a great job on this build so far, you're obviously a detail freak and it shows! ?

I've often read that this was a rather difficult kit to build but it seems that you have things under control so far. You're off to a great start Bob! ?

WOW! Nice work Glen, very nice and clean build, I really like this grey, it's different from the usual colors and it fits like a glove! ?

The chassis is fantastic Ian, it could easily be mistaken for the real thing with the staging you did. ?

Thanks Trevor! I'm pretty sure that the color won't please everyone but it's a color that goes very well with this body. The alternator is another one of those parts in the kits whose details always made me mad, I've been thinking about improving it for a long time and I think in all humility that it's quite successful... Just a little bit more patience my friend...? Thanks Ian, the final result should be good with the drive belt in place and some small wires... ? Thanks again to all for your comments, the motor with transmission and drive shaft should be installed for good in the frame soon and I will try to post some pictures early next week. Francis

Your expectations are very high my friend but I think that only a standard key can fit between the belt and the bracket. ?

Hi Tim! It's almost sad or embarrassing to mention this but I had the idea to try to make it hollow and add some kind of copper rotor, I think it's doable... but that's for another time, I've spent too much time on this project, it has to end sometime... As for the end mills, the few that I broke were ironically dropped on the ground or put back in their protective containers... very frustrating! Francis

Thanks my friend, can't wait to see it mounted on the front of the engine!

Thanks Claude! Did I mention that the belt tension will be adjustable... Unfortunately I don't have a small enough wrench and access will not be easy anyway...? Francis

Nothing short of SUPERB, I'm going to have to rename you Mr. Paint, you're already the king of the ground effect. You have talent my friend, I can't wait to see the final product, it promises!!! ?

Hello everyone, As promised in my last update, I'm currently making the last missing parts and small details for the engine bay while the paint cures completely. One of the main missing parts was the alternator and I needed it to complete the engine assembly. As I mentioned before, I had machined one for my '70 Plymouth GTX, so I used sort of the same technique and tried to add more detail. The part is quite small but requires a lot of attention for its size, I worked very slowly because I didn't want to have to start over due to a stupid mistake, measuring twice cutting once... I am very happy with the final result and I hope you will like it too. Your comments are welcome as usual, the time to put all this work together is around the corner... ? Francis Front view, I used a 0.020'' end mill for the "openings" on the casing. Back view. The shaft is a copper rivets. Another view. I made the brackets with 0.010'' brass sheet. I put my version beside the one I used as reference (Revell Pro-Modeler '69 Charger). Pulley in the chuck of the milling machine, I am to drill the hole to mount it on the shaft, the pulley will turn freely on it. I added some red color to simulate the armature. Maybe I'll do one on the next one...? I added more details on the back of the casing including some brass tubes to simulate the terminals.

Thanks Glen, I am very happy that you liked what you saw, I am now in the final details and as they say, the devil is in the details... The story continues! Francis

Thanks for the information Ian, I will check to see if this product is available locally.

It's a very sad news that you bring us Joe, we all know that we are going to lose our parents one day or another but it's sad that it's due to this d-a-m-n virus, it will have taken away many people much too early... Take care of yourself and your loved ones, the hobby can wait!