Ace-Garageguy

Like the title says...I need a kit (or resin) source for a Mopar LA engine. I have a client who's seriously considering a 1970 340 swap into a PT Cruiser, and I want to do a scale mockup prior to getting into quoting any numbers. Thanks in advance. EDIT: I just read in another thread here that the AMT '71 Duster kit has the best 340. True, or not?

Polyester takes a MEASURED amount of catalyst, in the .5%-2% range IF YOU WANT IT TO WORK RIGHT. Polyester resin cures by an exothermic (heat) reaction created by promoters (cobalt & amine) and activator Methyl Ethel Ketone Peroxide (MEKP). The reaction of polyester will occur at the thickest cross section sending out a wave of heat, which cures resin to a solid glass-like hardness. Temperature and moisture content can affect the rate of cure and the drying of part’s surface. The resin’s reaction starts with the addition of MEKP at 0.5% to 1.5 % (2 % for thin laminates). The ratio is dependant on air temperature, resin thickness, temperature of resin and mold. Fillers are added to help control peak exotherm, shrinkage, and cure rate. Unfilled resin can heat up to 300F resulting in cracking. Resins that create uncontrolled peak exotherm can exhibit wrinkles or alligator skin. Using lower levels of MEKP, preheating the mold surface, or both, can change this. In wet weather conditions, tacky surfaces may be exhibited by resin due to high humidity. Working in a controlled, dry-heated area should help resin to cure properly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EPOXY IS NOT ALWAYS 1:1. DO NOT ASSUME ALL EPOXIES MIX 1:1. THEY DO NOT.

YUP, the AMT '53 Ford pickup has TWO just like the Helling & Stelling shown above.

I've definitely seen ribbed air filters for three carbs. Look in the AMT '53 Ford pickup kit (should be a pair in there...but I have to check). Some early '60s Fords used something like this, too, and there was other aftermarket stuff out there. The Lindberg '34 Ford pickup suggested by Nick has a similar air cleaner for the optional engine.

Yes. For example, Helling & Stelling made a series of finned, cast alloy air filter covers in the late '50s-early 60's. The real ones came in 14.5" and 16" lengths, and were universal fits for 2-4bbl carbs, or 3-2bbl carbs. This is a repop styled from the original design, made in a 16" length (narrower than the original universal fit version) for most 3X2 equipped V8 engines, and a longer one for Pontiac and 348 Cbebby engines that have wider carb spacing. They use three round filters, and breathe through slots in the bottom.

What's "EVIL" about it? All I see is creeping greed and incompetence.

I'm not getting your point. The fab work looks good, and the frame appears to be relatively intelligently designed. Unlike a rat, there's no inherent reason this thing can't go as fast as its engine will push it. On the other hand, if it's not ever going to go faster than 25MPH, why bother with all the additional engineering complication of IRS, a custom-length torque-tube and shaft, and shift linkage to the rear? A no-go showboat doesn't need to handle well, so the Corvette IRS would be complete overkill...like the three blowers on the monstrosity shown elsewhere. Ah well. Never mind.

Yeah, I'm drooling on my keyboard.

I agree, but it's hard to beat a solid rear axle if one of the vehicle's intended missions is repeated tire-smoking burnouts with things staying together. IRS won't last as long with that kind of constant abuse.

Interesting. I interact with all of those sites, and have zero problems. Perhaps your browser and/or anti-virus may be identifying a potential threat where there actually isn't any. All browsers and AVs are not created equal.

Click here: https://hotrodfactory.net/projectscurrent-builds-and-restorations/2017/8/30/61-corvair

Yes, that's one of the ones I was remembering. Very realistic...and sorry I forgot whose it was. I've done some experimenting with techniques similar to Chris' suggestions for the "stitched-together" appearance, and they're definitely on track. The only complete body I've done is a newly-minted version of MT's Challenger I, mimicking a fresh-from-the-body-builder finish on aluminum.

The green light around here seems to be interpreted as meaning it's OK to check your phone and catch up with texts (as long as you're not moving). The arrows are apparently interpreted as "look! over there! an interesting distraction!" and not having anything to do with actual driving.

My first thought, exactly.

Might be cooler without the ridiculous three blowers.

Well, sorta...but the big-block and small-block entries from most manufacturers are entirely different designs, ala Ford and Chebby. More exact terminology would be to call the later-model small-displacement Pontiacs "low deck" engines...but they're two engines I was never able to take seriously anyway. 135 HP from the normally-aspirated 2bbl 301, 150 from the 4bbl, and only 120 from the 1980 265? Wow. Impressive numbers. While the turbo 301 did have some nice internal parts like forged pistons, its output was staggeringly un-awesome too, at only 210 HP. A look under the hood at the induction system explains why...and it's just not making the grade when 1 HP per cubic inch had been surpassed by normally-aspirated production engines much earlier. Yeah, emissions and fuel economy, I know, but still, it was a dog in a heavy car. The racing 303, on the other hand, was a different thing entirely, and also a "low deck" version of the basic Poncho design.

While the Revell '37 is in fact listed as 1/24, many of the dimensions are fractionally off, as is typical in "scale" models where the measuring-and-dividing-challenged have been at work. The "1/24" Chebby engine that comes in these kits is identical dimensionally to several so-called 1/25 versions of the same engine. The overall scale discrepancy overall is very small in reality, and 1/25 parts mingle quite happily with 1/24 parts in this instance. Visual proof here:

Several people on the board have done quite convincing bare-metal effects, including Bernard Kron and me. It's not too terribly hard.

I only wish I'd found her double 40 odd years ago...

The Pontiac V8 engines all share the same external dimensions (unlike several other manufacturers, there were no "small block" and "big block" different designs), so the Revell parts pack kit showed above would also make an excellent starting point for a highly detailed 455. The 455 is just a bored and stroked 421 in reality anyway, and all the real differences are internal. In production cars, there are, of course, minor variations in the specific carbs, air filters, and accessory drives (belts and style of AC compressors, etc.), but a hot-rod Firebird would very likely use custom parts for these anyway.

Thank you. I didn't even notice the blue highlighted "listing". The constant tinkering over there trying to "enhance the experience" (which is eBay speak for get-you-to-buy-more-stuff) just gets so damnably maddening sometimes, I wasn't paying attention. Since they and PayPal canceled the "pay after delivery" option, I've been cutting back on my purchases anyway. Having a two-week window (which they cut back to 10 days before they canceled the whole thing) was really a great way to avoid getting shafted by sellers who either intentionally or just stupidly misrepresented their items.

I just had another bowl of cold fruit: seedless grapes, strawberries, watermelon, and pineapple and melon chunks. Think I'll have another nectarine for dessert.

Yeah...I noticed, and I sent them a nasty note about it too. There is a little fine-print blurb in the upper right hand corner of your main page that says "tell us what you think". I suggest you do. If ENOUGH people complain, they might return things to the way they were. Obviously their algorithms are too stupid to "suggest" anything actually relevant, and their legions of dweebtard developers are too stupid to realize it. A swift kick from the USERS might get the attention of someone with a functioning brain.

Build thread here:

All I had was a nectarine and half a box of strawberries.