Eshaver

Jeff, when I used to go to Charlotte North Carolinia there were alwat folks who were selling som variation of Hemi valve covers. My Favorite shows were the two that were held at the Fairgrounds, Metrolinia to be exact the weather there in the winter can really bother ya as I suffer from arthritis real bad. It's a great show and I would always see models for sale thjere too. It was also where I could see Dennis Carpenter of Dennis Carpenter Ford Reproductions. his stuff might be expensive, but it always fits. I wish his shipping people would tighten up sometimes though . Ed Shaver

Wait a minute folks you're showing a photograph of what looks to be an earlier 59 A B in a 32 Ford, youre also talking about the engine in the 1950 Ford F-1 which is an 8-BA they are really two distinct blocks . However there are some parts tha can be swaped. Still the heads will interchange even though the water outlets wont be in the same place. Remember to, that the late 8BA also uses adifferent timing cover along with a modern distributor. Ed Shaver

Being as I deliver to wall- world I'll be sitting in trafic between Wiliamsburg,Jamestown or god forbid The Hampton Rhoads tunnel I hate tourests! they get thier drivers licences in thieir box of Apple Jacks! Ed Shaver

Heck , don't care what tha neighbors say, I'm impressed with it and my mama told me Ed , dont never buy any thing built after Elvis Presley died. Ed Shaver

Len, I just finished looking at both the comments and the pictures of the Thickston heads. Since Idon't have the model parts you are referring to it's hard to determine if they are "Correct" for your 59 A B block. As far as the stories and pictures go , everyone is right as to why and how the heads came into play. I saw a pair at the Pate swap meet back in 1984 The fellow said they were original. and he wanted 800.00 for them .I thanked him for his time as I needed two water pumps for a late model 8 B A truck motor I still have. Hey put a picture up lets see what you do have. Meanwhile I'll help you in any way that I can being as I still work and rebuild the real ones from time to time. Ed Shaver

Do any of you folks know anyone who may have modeled a 3808 Cat motor for either the Louisvile or the Ford F-700? Ed Shaver

Cal Thanks for your comment on how the folks in Europe inspire their young to pursue a trade . I guess in my childhood at least, my father who learned from his dad that doing a job once and right was everything. In fact, I have a bumper sticker from Kanter Auto Supply in New Jersey that says "Do it once and do it right" . As to what drove me to modeling, well, I guess it would be I can sculpt better than I draw. See , I scratch build 90% of what I build. Kits are fun sometimes, but theres a real thrill to be had when I can show off something that no one else has or no one has thought of. Wandering a hobby shop gives me an opportunity to visualize a future project The few shows I do attend have gotten so political, well, I find them political. just don't have that sense of excitement . Ed Shaver

To Harry and Fernando, as I said in a previous post the L'Universale van was really something else. George Wagner C E O of General Motors was a friend of mine growing up . while we wern't always on the same page concerning automobile styling he graciously helped me both on building the model as well as trying many years ago at a half hearted attempt to build a running version I wish I had permission to reprint all the technical information on this unique van . You may never have realized this but a side mounted motor was experimented with as G M Coach division was producing intercity buses at the time with Buick eight cylinder engines in them. I've worked on a couple of these dinosaurs and even they were difficult, they were in reality over engineered just like the first Toronados were. I can tell ya'all I woulda bought one even they would have been a real pain to put a set of ignition points in or replace a water pump on. Ed Shaver

Hey Kustoms , uh where you be from you in to "Period pieces" late model , Coach builder-Starbird /Roth what ......tellthe inquireing minds road weary from the "Mother road right up from the Cadillac Ranch next to the Tee Pee Motel what you may up to ? Ed Shaver

Damm Bill how come you didn' say smthin I'da least sent ya somthin ta celbrate with you know nudy magazine , pack a cigarettes somthin.....Ed Shaver

Hey why does this creation resemble the 1956 G M C L'Universalle van that Gm rolled out for their moterrama shows, In fact a friend and I tried to build a 1-1 van we got bogged down as to what we could use for a trans axle at the time See the real one used a prototype Pontiac Tempest axle we wern't told that Still, I did build a model though I liked the "Buck Rogers" look. Ed Shaver

Harry, I have lots of experense with illistration but Since you won't bend for a mailed entry, well I"m S O L Ed Shaver

YES GAS MAN COME TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only the Chevelles and their kin were in the dual wheelbase modes then except for the fullsize station wagons and they really don't count here do they

Well I did an 86 Mustang with a modern Wayne Multi Product despenser It had a gal sitting in the drivers seat eith her boyfriend pushing it The name of the Diorama was "Good to the Last Drop" , I also wired the tail and headlights with a blinker to look like four way hazard flashers. Any way a friend of mine in the I P M S club mounted a v- motor I gave him to a model of a horse. Yeah, he won and he was the only one to make any kind of a comment on my entry Ed Shaver

I'm assuming tha the show you're talking about is the August 16 th show in Winston Salem? Ed Shaver

Wow is this where the Alexander Brothers with their 1966 Ford Majic Cruiser and I S M A met one day at a car show?

Hey man it's got tha right mota aint nothin like a good runnin "Flathead" I should know . Ive owned a 53 Ford panel delivery since 1981. I've been back and forth between Dallas Texas and Richmond Virginia FIVE times, same engine several transmissions though . I do have one comment though, do you or any other people see where A M T may have intentionaly sectioned the body on this kit back when it first appeared in 1960? seems to me that they may have but, maybe we will never know, Still the model is very nice! Ed Shaver

In reference to you're question cocerning a paint that looks like stainless, look no further than Testors Aluminum Plate Metalizer spray cans. TRUST ME ON THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have built several 1-25th gasoline pumps where I have had to replicate a brushed finish. I first used this paint on a model of a "Flatbed " wrecker years ago The truck placed First and a couple of years later , placed Best in Show at Harrison burg Virginia. Thank you Shanandoh Valley moddelers. The trick is to sand the plastic especially if you do any body work down to a shine with at least 1200 grit paper!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT PRIME OR IF YOU DO , SAND THE PRIMER to 1200, the smother the finish, the better and more realistic the metal shine. I also did an oil delivery truck using the A M T Ford F-600 tilt cab as a base,. The tank was made with Evergreen styreene plastic and a lot of plastic body filler It was built to replicate a Heil Tank. If anyone needs a picture let me knoe as it won First two times running at an I P M S show. Ed Shaver

Mike , uh where did you find th palm trees and the figure? That seems to be the hardest part of my projects as fining people, well the figures bring a diorama to life Ed Shaver

Bill Geary suggestion on using small wire is a good one . I have used the springs found in H O trains that comprise the couplers I have bought them in hobby shops that carry Atlas brand train parts as for wire, The brand I personally prefer is Radio Shacks Gold Motor winding wire usually you will find a package of three thickness Green , the lightest, Red, a medium and fine for spark plugs I might add, and Gold. This size is superb in making brake lines kids I hope this helps. Ed Shaver

I have to agree Bill, I'm notvery good with any kind of computers In fact , I loathe them. however given the fact that I can't buy ribbons for my cast iron Remington any more Iguess I will do my best to pretend it's the 21st century, BUT I STILL THINK I'TS 1968! Ed Shaver

I don't know if I am allowed to Plug a local store here but Chesterfield Hobbies here in Richmond Virginia was opened by two individual who were wholesalers in the toy business at one time. Adrian and Tom will order parts and supplies that they can order from .Now even though they are both Lionell guys please don't count them out They carry ALL the Evergreen styrene sizes, Plastruct Badger airbrush rebuild kits Tamya Revell A M T Johnny Lighting Tamya Paint Badger paint four or five glue lines. They're at 13154 Midlothian Turnpike uh U S 60 Richmond Virginia 23229 . theyre phone is 804 379-9091 . They consistently sponger the local I P M S 'Old Dominion model contest and they were advertising on the cable tv channel , The History Chanel. I've never gone in there without some one saying Hi oor "Good Afternoon and they always tell the customer the one most important thing, "THANK -YOU! "!!!!!!!!! By the way, this is where you can get your latest issue of Model Cars Magazine too Greg. Ed Shaver

Collectable Automobile Magazine, volume 22-number 4 did an article on the Imperials 1931-1933 you can gain some information there.

You know I just finished replying to a another coll um within this forum I got to thinking (there you go again Ed ) Service is what helped me in business when I was in the wholesale custom van accessory business back in the 1970's. I look out over the remaining stores here in Richmond Virginia . We have a Franchise, a hobby shop a former hobby shop with a don't care attitude who carers to the R C crowd and a toy store or should I say museum ? Hey when you go in there those women look at you with disdain. Now given the fact that it's located in the "Preppieest" part of town I'll forgive them Mean while I have seen three stores close here in five years. The first was because the majority owner had brain cancer. It took him within a year. The family was as greedy and stand offish as one could be They wouln't acknowledge you comming through the door if hell froze over. Now in defense of them, for the most part they would order in stuff for me . Being a project builder for museums I was an exception they also had a very decent selection of products. I P M S didn't like them because they wouldn't give a ten percent member discount Well I was a member and per sonly , I could have cared less about ten percent. Meanwhile over at the Franchise, They hardly if ever greet you as you enter the door. Oh by the way , they never thank you for your business! When I was in the wrecker business, I NEVER FAILED TO THANK A CUSTOMER ! Remember store owners you get one chance to catch a customers attention , since making a profit is part of your over all game plan make the customer your first order of business. Ed Shaver

Well I noticed a lot of suff I've always hated working on, I'll add my rides I moved back to Richmond Virginia in 92 in a 1953 Ford Panel Delivery It had a partially rebuilt motor in it as the valves are the same size in the 48-53 -V-8s. Whoever did the work put the exaust valves onthe in take sides of the block. This made the clearance too tight as you need a 16000th for those valves as they expand when they get hot. Hence two valves were burned to a crisp. Any way I replaced the valves and drove the truck sometimes to work and of course to the shows in Black primer. When I came back to Virginia I bought a VERY RUSTY short wheelbase slide side Ford E- 100 van . This van had no right to go back to the streets but lotsa fiberglass did the job along witha rebuilt engine, These two trucks served my wife and I well untill four years ago my father finiall passed and we got his 97 Chrysler mini van Now in addition to my wifes Plymouth mini van the drive trains were identical how ever , we sold the Plymouth when we discovered that when you closed the doors, the doors automatically locked Even if you put a key in a lock cylinder , the minute you let go of the key`, it locked, Also the guages quit working The dealer said it was an expensive fix. I've had the same exact same problem with the Chrysler too Would we buy another Chrysler? doubt it Even with gasoline averaging 4.10 here, I'm going to put a wind shield in the 78 Ford van and drive it again