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I wish I still had some pictures of my '86 C1500 X Cab 2wd. Like you I had gone to a stroker 383 from Blueprint Motors from Neb. I used a kit and new base plate from Turbo City and the "soup bowl" between the throttle body and the air cleaner and a spacer under the throttle body also. The exhaust was a full Edelbrock system with only the OEM converter remaining. This made an almost 5000 lb. truck with 3:73 rear gear light up the 285/55x18s almost anytime you so desired. Now back to the model.

Great looking build of an iconic race car. You can almost envision Ronny Sox going thru the gears. He was one of the best of his time.

Very cleanly built with good paint work. I think it's like riding a bicycle, it all comes back to you. I foresee some great models in your future.

I like the build style of these, and they are all finished perfectly. Always nice to see a properly done Flat Head. The small block looks good,. 265 Exhaust Manifolds ?

As mentioned before, this El Camino is outstanding. I like the Thunderbolt, I was at the Winter Nationals in Pamona Ca. and watched these cars when they were first released. They were super fast and fun to watch weather going thru the gears or using the automatic transmissions.

Great looking paint work. I also like the finish on the vinyl roof.

He's going to need to buy a 55 Gallon Drum of Carpet Cleaner when he gits home.

Flat32 mentioned commercial packaging on store shelves. I agree with him on the plastic with one small exception, I have often used the flat pieces to make window glass in my models. I know that isn't going to save the world but it does suggest maybe we should see if there isn't a more practical way to deal with what's left when you unwrap what ever it is you just purchased.

This is a great picture to use as a guide. I'm sure you realize the orientation of the engine in the picture has you looking at it from the firewall side. In the center that you have circled what looks like a vacuum canaster that is attached to the end of the throttle cable. You had mentioned earlier about the Air Cleaner standing to tall. I'm not sure just how accurate the kits Air Cleaner is but you can see from the picture one of the reasons it does in fact sit higher than you would think necessary. GM used the spacer to raise the base of the Air Filter to clear the electronic fuel, see the white plastic tops?, and the air control towards the rear above the Throttle Body its self. Confusing stuff but as I mentioned some time ago I played with mine on my '86 C-10 years ago. While this system has all but been replaced with much better systems, Holly's new plug and drive system uses the same basic concept but much improved for the 1:1 engines.

Nice job on the spark plug wires. This is an area that not everyone gets correct. Your throttle linkage should be fairly easy since GM used a cable incased in a hard black colored casing. You could use some black wire just a ltlle larger in diameter than your plug wires and a small return spring. Drill a matching diameter hole in the firewall just to the driver's side of the relief curve in the firewall at the level of the Throttle Body base. Run what ever wire you use with a slight curve from the firewall too the base of the Throttle Body. Find something for the spring, maybe even a very slender piece of spruce and wrap some very fine wire around it.

Fantastic, that's a big problem on the 1:1's also. Yours does look perfect.

Turned out very good. The colors really make it standout. I always like the Day 2 look.

I especially like the subject and how you restored the kit. I wish this could or would be reissued.

Beautiful collection. I'm not a fan of the vinyl roofs but you made them realistic looking. I think Steve McQueen and Frank Bullet would like your Mustang.

Another great looking build.

Very nice clean looking build. I like the colors on the body and interior.

Your engine looks outstanding. Are your Headers going to clear the Steering Box ??

Check out Hobby Lobby and Michaels type stores. They often have these small mirrors both round and oblong.

And the Sea Life are feeding on these particles. These is killing much of the Sea Life in many areas and it inters the Food Chain thru the fish we consume.

You are correct about your impression of the Cadillac as a whole, but what happens is that they would get traded often for the newest model. This would put a lot of used upscale models, even those other than a Cadillac, on the used car market at a price that might be comparable or close to the price of a new more pedestrian model. This put a lot of people in second hand late model Caddys. Soon the second owner wants to keep up appearances, much like one of my favorite English TV shows, and trades for a newer model and usually by the time the Caddy gets more than 5 or 6 years old they aren't worth as much as a same year model from one of the base manufactures. There comes a point where the Caddy and most all prestigious brands sell for less and people who buy them are sometimes financially challenged to maintain them and they end up like the Coupe De Ville in the picture. A sad ending for sure for any vehicle.

National Geographic Magazine has done several articles on the subject. I suggest going to their web site for additional information and pictures. The pictures alone will open your eyes to just how big a problem this really is. I'm not a tree hugger, but this is something that is just out of hand and since it isn't sitting on our door step we tend to think it isn't a big deal, but we would be very wrong to think that way.

The series III Land Rover could be an interesting model.

Woke up without a hangover. Wife and I enjoyed a nice dinner and a bottle of Napa Valley Cab. We talked about life and what we want for the future for us and then went to bed about 11 PM. Just waiting for the Rose Bowl Parade in a few minutes and we'll just enjoy each others company for the rest of the day. We wish all a happy new year.

Some subjects I would like to see a kit manufacture offer would be a correct redo of the '49 to '52 Chevrolet, mid to late '50's GMs Buick, Olds, and Pontiacs. I think some Chrysler products from that era would also sell well. For the Fords maybe a '55 or a'58 body. Expand the model offerings off the '57 tool. I think the '62 thru '64 Fords have been overlooked and that would include the Fairlane and Falcons both.

They are all special and I remember following your builds on these.