Dennis Lacy

UPDATE! So I haven't worked on this project for over 3 years, so what?! LOL!!! Pretty recently there's been some 1927 T Touring hot rods pop up on this forum by the likes of @alan barton and @tim boyd Their models got me to remembering that I had a pretty cool start on a '27 T Touring languishing in the wasteland of ignored projects under my bench so I dug it out and had a look. As I started to check out the work I had already done and start mocking things up it got the creative juices flowing again and as it usually happens with a long ignored project, I decided to make some changes. I had actually stolen all of the hot rod parts for the Model A engine that I was previously going with leaving just an engine block and trans. I really wasn't feeling the 'Banger anymore so I decided to see what else might be a good fit. As it turned out the Flathead/C4 auto trans combo from Revell's '32 Sedan fell on the existing frame mounts like it was meant to be! All I needed to do was add some spacer columns on top of the existing frame mounts to set the engine height. With the Flathead fit in place it was time to select it's parts. I kept the finned Edelbrock heads and 2x3 intake from the '32 Sedan but went with a trio of the Stromberg carbs with curved scoops from Ed Roth's Tweedy Pie T. I substituted a stock top mount generator belt/pulleys from Revell's stock 1940 Ford's and squeezed in a mini alternator from the 5.0 Ford engines in all the Revell '32 kits. The headers are a pair of passenger side from Revell's '48 Ford's so that they are symmetrical as the drivers side headers all have a hitch in them to fit around the steering gear box. I also decided to ditch the original radiator/shell and substituted the much nicer shaped/detailed shell and radiator from the Tweedy Pie which dropped right into place like it was meant to be. With the engine fit and its parts collected it was time to make a new dual exhaust. After digging through my Ziploc bag 'o pipes and offering up many different pieces I finally found that with a little tweaking I could make the front sections from AMT's '41 Ford Woody work. At the front where the pipes offset I had to remove some material to make the offset less and at the rear I made some slightly larger tips from 3/32" tube. I was able to take advantage of the existing round tube member that was used to hang the original single exhaust from by making new hangers and installing new studs in it. The tips were cut off at the center of the rear spring. I also reworked the trans mount area of the frame K-member by trimming off the little hump with bolt detail and sliding it forward under the actual trans mounting pad then removed the rest of the unneeded rear hanging mass for a cleaner look. A loose K-member is shown for comparison. A few more details. I added a Revell '48 Ford master cylinder and '40 Ford voltage regulator to the firewall. On the inside I added a basic support and swing pedal from AMT's '29 Roadster with the clutch pedal cut off. With the dashboard in place the ugly support can't be seen. At this point I'm really close to having all of the necessary fab work done which means it's really close to being able to paint. Looks like this will be the next model I get finished!

I’ve been back 5 times now to check this thing out. I think you absolutely nailed the look, feel and authenticity! Now, where’s that application for TROG...?

I love it, Tim. Great combination and well thought out use of old Monogram parts. The Red Chariot influence is noticeable but I honestly think your version is way cooler. It looks way tougher!

@alan barton Alan - I love everything about your project so far! Especially the extended cab. I can recall seeing several built this way on the pages of Street Rodder Magazine back in the day. Are you going to stretch the fender assembly? Seeing as the modern Revell Model A kit frame is a stretched wheelbase you could use that to advantage here. The Buttera kit sourced Jag IRS is a great choice and one that has yet to be put in use in this thread so far as Rodney and I used AMT '34 Coupe 'Vette IRS' and Kit is using a solid 9". The dropped tube up front during the era was probably the axle of choice 49/50 times. I also love that you're going for a V6 because they were a fairly common choice in the 80's as GM and Ford were finally putting some out that had respectable performance. Some of the billet parts manufacturers got on board with dress up parts for them like valve covers and such. Keep at it, looking forward to following along!

Tim - I've gotta say, I love traditional and traditionally styled retro hot rods (as the models I built no doubt prove) but I am having an absolute blast building this 80's throwback billet rod. Partly because it's been refreshing to jump out of my well worn groove and also because deep down I still have a fondness for the style because it's what I was around as a kid. I've already got plans for several more billet-era rods and I haven't forgotten that I also started down the path of building a matching sister '29 RPU. I just didn't want the original closed-cab progress to get impeded because of a second model so I decided to focus on it and get it done. Those names you mentioned built some of the finest examples of the 80's and early 90's style back in real-time. Jack was masterful at creating bodies that were never offered in kits and Dave's transporter full of phantom roadster pickups was just EPIC! I also remember Pryor Passarino, Bud Lefevre and Fred Grumke to name a few more. I loved seeing their scale street rods in NNL and GSL coverage in Moderler's Corner.

@Kit Karson The cross members in the first roadster issue have a different length tab because of the Nailhead engine. The cross members in the 30 Coupe and new roadster issue are the same because they both have the Chevy engine.

Absolutely, jump on in!

That’s huge! We may only be getting a handful of active commenters but that proves we’ve got a lot of watchers! Who knows. By the time you and I finish our trucks maybe it’ll hit 15k or 20k!

So glad you joined in the fun. I think the truck turned out awesome! Definitely doesn’t look like a quickie build. The color is perfect and as the owner of an old 5.0 Mustang I love the engine. But, I think my favorite area of the truck is the interior. I don’t know that I’d ever think to use those colors together but it works! My surf shop truck will be joining you on the shelf shortly. Almost there!

Thanks, Tim! I was smiling just as much last night once I saw it propped up. The radiator shell is purple, black headlights and taillight. I can't wait to show you guys the interior once I finished the detail painting!

@Bullybeef @tim boyd @Plowboy @Rocking Rodney Rat @Kit Karson @CabDriver @alan barton @Bernard Kron Wait no further, here's a huge update! I know my own progress has been lagging a bit but for good reason. I've been focused on getting this thing painted over the last 5 days. The week prior the weather was a bit cooler and wetter than I felt comfortable with so I had to wait for some Sun and 70's this week. Everyone knows what primer looks like so I won't bore you with that. I will say that before primer I prepped the body parts by wet-sanding with 600g, sprayed Tamiya fine gray primer, wet-sanded that with 1500g, and another thin coat of fine gray just to make sure there was no bare plastic showing anywhere. No sanding, paint, decals, clear. On day 1 the first order of business was extensive masking of the fenders and inside of the cab to keep the Tamiya Purple (mostly) where it belonged. Not shown are the doors and front shell. On Day 2 more extensive masking up the now purple bed support structure and spraying the rest of the fender unit Tamiya Black. Pulling the masking tape off of the bed support structure resulted in this: On Day 3 it was decals which I allowed to set up over night and on Day 4 it was time to seal everything in with Tamiya Clear. Finally all of the tape was pulled out of the cab protecting the gray interior finish. I couldn't wait to bring everything home for a mock up on the bench. This should give you all a very clear vision of where this thing is headed! Won't be much more to post as I wait a few weeks for the paint to fully gas-out so that it's safe to polish and wax. Then final assembly will commence. In the meantime I do still need to mask the top sides of the fenders, cab and bed so that I can spray the undersides flat black. I also have a touch more to do on interior detail painting then I'll show that group of parts. Let me know what you all think!

@tim boyd That's so bitchin! You gotta finish it!!

So RAD! Definitely one of the coolest models I’ve seen built out of that old ‘41 Plymouth kit. Makes me miss the pro-street craze of the 80’s and early 90’s!

@Rocking Rodney Rat Motor looks great! @Kit Karson Nice work!

@Kit Karson Just post the step by step! I made you guys equal partners in this thread. Plus, it’s gonna be a minute before I have more to share so breathe some life into this thing!

@Plowboy How about a rolled pan to hide the rear section of the frame?

Nice update. That’s gonna look super tough with the headers dumping through the fenders!

I’m with @alan barton With the decidedly modern direction of the car the smooth sided frame works. And, as he said, there’s several manufacturers of aftermarket ‘32 frames that don’t add the reveal. So keep it and go with the Corvette LS1 motor under a full, smooth hood.

Very nice! The damaged chrome on the radiator shell was a happy accident because this model looks so much better with the shell painted. The paint detailed blower scoop is a nice touch, too.

This is one of the best models I've seen built out of that old Monogram kit. Has a really nice stance and proportions, nice simple small block and I like the color scheme a lot. Then there's the fact that the frame and fenders are molded as one big heap so bonus points for so cleanly cutting the fenders away!

Looks awesome! Stance and rolling stock are perfect and really like the color scheme.

Chop looks good and aggressive as does the mock up! Nice dumb luck on the windshield frame. Is it me or is it a better looking frame?

@Kit Karson Excellent update! The installation of that firewall is as clean as can be. @Rocking Rodney Rat Moving right along. That light blue is totally 80’s and I really dig the interior colors. Don’t often see brown and gray but it works!

UPDATE! Today I finished the last bit of fabrication work needed which was to install the hinge halves on the cab and then drill the hinges to take proper metal pins. With that final task complete the cab, bed and fenders are ready to go into primer in the coming week.

UPDATE! Today I finished the last bit of fabrication work needed which was to install the hinge halves on the cab and then drill the hinges to take proper metal pins. With that final task complete the cab, bed and fenders are ready to go into primer in the coming week.