Phildaupho

I think you have done a great job on the louvers. Check out this YouTube video - The McGee Roadster: Hot Rod Legend | Historic Vehicle Association Documentary - YouTube I see Speedshift beat me off the line

Thanks Rodney - I probably find the research and problem solving my favourite part of model car building.

Thanks Bill - I have had your 2 part series bookmarked since you posted them and found them very helpful. I just came from my bench after disassembling my first attempt and gathering parts for the second attempt which will be final no matter how it turns out.

When I started this project, my objective was to build a decent looking model car that was recognizable as the Ala Kart to display with a poster I have of the restored car. My plan was to totally base the model on the most recent AMT kit but install the more accurately scaled engine from the original issue that can be found in the AMT Roadster kit. I learned a few things a long the way that I thought would be interesting to others who might be considering doing the same even though there has been a lot previously written on this forum about the relative merits of the two generations of AMT Ala Kart kits and how to possibly build a better replica. Without close scrutiny the most glaring deficiency of the second-generation Ala Kart kit is the too small engine. I have replaced that with the Dodge Red Ram Hemi from the AMT ’29 Ford Roadster supplemented with parts from the later AMT Ala Kart. I used two sets of injectors from the newer kit to lengthen them to fit the more accurately scaled engine and replaced the tubes with ones made of aluminum. Bare Metal Foil was used to chrome the valve covers and oil sump. The headers come from the Revell ‘32 Ford 5-Window Coupe with connecting pipes from the AMT Ala kart headers. The front cover has to mounted higher on the larger engine so it sits level. Regarding the chassis I did have to slightly modify the front and rear engine mounts to fit the larger Hemi. With the engine and rolling chassis completed, I was delighted that with the larger engine mated to the driveshaft and there was just enough clearance between the fan and the radiator. Not only do the fenders mount with the engine installed but the hood also fits over the wider engine, albeit tight. I must say I really like the chassis and the suspension is very advanced for 1957 with air bags. I did the coil springs with wire after smoothing the bags. It was at this point that I hit a snag – the firewall would not fit. It took a fair amount of work to recess the firewall including modifications to both the firewall and the interior tub. Additional flanges were required for the eventual mounting of the firewall. The question then became – why does the longer engine not fit between the radiator and the firewall when I thought I had made up the difference in the length of the blocks with moving the front engine mount location forward. There are actually two reasons. The bellhousing and transmission on the engine in the newer kit is longer than the original engine and actually better represents that in the real Ala Kart. Secondly the engine compartment in the older kit was longer than the newer kit. ALTERNATIVE PLAN – I have a number of Ala Kart and ’29 Roadster kits so in the interest of “Model Car Science” I was able to investigate an alternative plan. Mounting the bellhousing and transmission from the newer kit to the old engine allows the firewall to be mounted in its proper position as the engine shifts about 3mm forward. There is enough length on the forward engine mounts to have the front of the engine further forward but the radiator may need to be mounted inside the nose and the front suspension cross bar may need to trimming to provide clearance for the lower pulley. That being said, in looking at photos of both the original and restored Ala Kart; I cannot see a fan or a generator for that matter. The hood is tight but still fits although there is plenty of meat on the hood sides to thin them down. Now that I know what I know; it looks like I am going to have to make things right and start over.

The gang at the Overhaulin’ TV show decided that it was high time Chip Foose himself was Overhauled or at least severely pranked. They came up with an elaborate scheme that actually turned into a multiple prank. Through their wide-ranging contacts, they convinced the Petersen Automotive Museum that a special display of Ford F-100 Pick Ups would make an excellent exhibit. Two of the F-100s that would be included would be Chip’s own truck and the Roth Truck owned and restored by Chip’s buddy Beau Boeckmann of Galpin Auto Sports. After Beau and Chip delivered their trucks to the Petersen Museum, the Overhaulin’ crew had the Roth truck digitally scanned to create a wrap which was applied to Chip’s F-100. The only other modification was a set of large diameter wheels with low profile tires but with spinner hubcaps like the Roth truck has. After Beau and Chip delivered their trucks to the Petersen Museum, the Overhaulin’ crew had the Roth truck digitally scanned to create a wrap which was applied to Chip’s F-100. The only other modification was a set of large diameter wheels with low profile tires but with spinner hubcaps like the Roth truck has. The reveal took place when Chip and Beau were asked to come and check out the display on April 1.

Very handsome beach racer. If it was real and I was racing it, I would remove the windshield for better aerodynamics and wear googles to keep the sand out of my eyes!!

This ride would make an surfer stoked. Well built.

Fantastic build. Great concept and execution.

Very cool indeed. I like it a lot.

Fantastic build that looks son convincingly real sitting in your "shop". I actually had the privilege of helping to push this car in place for a photo shoot of Dan Gurney driven cars at the Monterey Historics.

Thanks Kerry. The natural lighting of sunshine can do wonders to enhance a paint job.

I would have loved to attend the Mercury display at the 2009 Sacramento Autorama that featured a huge number of chopped 49-51 Mercs. It is amazing how many of those vintage customs survived and have been. This is from Rod & Custom magazine.

Thanks John - You are obviously a custom Merc historian. Your post made me have another look at Pat Ganahl's book The American Custom Car and a couple past issues of the Rodder's Journal featuring custom Mercs. The Ayala Merc is similar in many ways but with additional features like slanted b-pillars, rounded hood, spinners on the front hubcaps and a flipped front bumper over-rider. Pat wrote that Barrises actually finished the car off with frenched taillights, custom grill and a burgundy paint job.

Great story Tom inspired by a really nice model built from a crappy kit. I remember that discussion at GSL

Fabulously gorgeous Syder. Very well built

Thanks Hector. Now its time to move on to a new project.

Great project in the making. It will be stunner when done.

Thanks Chris - it was a fun project

Thanks Carl Thanks David Thanks Tom

This is the first build up of the Revell kit I have seen and it looks good to me judging by how handsome your model turned out. Did you get your kit from a local hobby shop? They have not arrived yet on Vancouver Island. I don't think the windshield height will discourage me from buying one of these kits.

Watertown's photos of Sam's Merc at Pebble Beach made me want to try to get a photo of the models interior and I have also included a photo of the engine compartment albeit a little dusty.

Great photos Mike. I really like the view of the interior. The car currently has 1949 California license plates which I initially wanted for the model. Interestingly in the photos of the car with Sam and on the Motor Trend cover the car has 1951 plates. The Revell kit has a 51 California plate on the decal sheet so although not the same number, I used a couple of those on the model.

Thanks Steve - I really found the history of this car from new to the present very interesting Thanks Dan. Not that I have any plans to do so myself but someone could certainly build a very fine custom Mercury custom by combining the best of both the Revell and AMT kits.

Thanks Craig. I completely agree with your assessment of the Revell Merc kit. There is definitely a lot to like about it.

Thanks Steve. I really enjoy the research and figuring out and executing the replication but always seem to struggle with the final assembly and especially the painting.