Mad Max Gigahorse

[Ridge Rider]

Isn't the engine in the 79 Camaro a 350 Small Block, the Gigahorse have two blown turbocharged 502 Big Block engines so I think two small blocks would look kind of small.
I'm so impressed with your work so far as you are getting it as close to the real thing as possible so I think it deserves the right engines too.

In a perfect world yes they would be 502's but I was unable to find something suitable so these will have to do.  With all the test fitting I don't think I could get a bigger block than this to work.  I think I am going to modify and use the cadddys heads and valve covers which are a little wider in look without having wider blocks.Also the exhaust ports face more towards the ground which is needed for the headers between the engines.   If this doesn't end up looking right to my satisfaction I guess it won't be the first or last thing I do more than once.   Thanks everyone for the interest  It's a good thing it's only plastic, easier to fix.  Steve

[mrm]

This is another one of those projects that I keep looking at from the beginning and just don't know what to say….. Just amazing work.

[Force]

In a perfect world yes they would be 502's but I was unable to find something suitable so these will have to do.  With all the test fitting I don't think I could get a bigger block than this to work.  I think I am going to modify and use the cadddys heads and valve covers which are a little wider in look without having wider blocks.Also the exhaust ports face more towards the ground which is needed for the headers between the engines.   If this doesn't end up looking right to my satisfaction I guess it won't be the first or last thing I do more than once.   Thanks everyone for the interest  It's a good thing it's only plastic, easier to fix.  Steve

Yeah...and cheaper. 
The Camaro engines are 1:24th scale so it will help some size wise, they are a bit larger than 1:25th scale engines.

Edited March 25, 2016 by Force

[crazyrichard]

just stunning !!!

[Dave Van]

I still want to build a Giga.....but mine will look curbside to this build!

[Ridge Rider]

Thanks guys. While doing some more research I found out the gearbox was originally built for a turbo 400 tranny.  I was having a hard time getting the Allison to work.  Now I can tweak the gearbox  and use the caddy blocks. A mockup of the Camaro blocks.  It was tighter than this quick picture and camera angle is showing but I didn't like it.

The caddy blocks on the bottom-they do have a better look.

I will use the blower but unfortunately it means more fab work in the engines than I was hoping for. Stock heads on the left- altered heads and manifold on the right.

Another mockup

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I hope I can pull off this conversion.  I'm not hating it yet.  Thanks for looking. Steve

 

 

Edited July 9, 2017 by Ridge Rider

[crazyrichard]

sure ! hang in there .. you can pull this off , just needs time and effort and well the engine(s) are a very important part of the build loving every step of this build !!

[Davewilly]

getting interesting!   Keep pluggin away  its going to be a killer build once you get to the end of this beast!

[MeatMan]

Based on what I've seen, I have faith that you can pull it off.  Keep 'er comin'!

[spencer1984]

Really incredible work on this, thanks for so many great in-progress shots!

[mustang1989]

It's really great to see you still pluggin' away at this one Steve. Hang in there man! We're all rootin' for you!!!!

[Ridge Rider]

Thanks for the kind words guys.  I feel like I am playing that whack a mole game with this engine conversion.  I address one problem to only have two more pop up. I am lengthening and heightening the block .  The length gives me a little more room for the thermostat housing in the front and distributor in the back.  I am heighting to fabricate  a bigger and more realistic head, more realistic fit for the gearbox, and  to accommodate the water pump/blower belt and pulleys.

The mess before the staged pictures.  I'm sure many can relate.

 

 In progress.  Stock water pump, head and block on top row.  In progress is underneath. The water pumps are from the  parts box  and may be Mopar origin.  The heads are being widened and heightened as well as four even exhaust ports added.  The blocks and an intake manifold.

It is definitely more work in the engines than I was hoping or even planning for but it is just asking and needing these modifications.  I still don't know if I will be happy with them but I will keep trying to move forward for better or worse.    Thanks for looking.  Steve 

Edited July 9, 2017 by Ridge Rider

[crazyrichard]

i'm confident ~~!

 

[Belugawrx]

Hang in there Steve,..it's not a race

Everything is looking good, Cheers

[GTJUNIOR]

Good luck with the engine mods. Loving this build. 

[Ridge Rider]

Thank you guys-still having fun but I am probably putting more work/details than necessary in these engines.  I am testing and expanding my abilities which I am enjoying but it is time consuming.  The block was lengthened .030" in front and .120" on the back and heightened .060" in the middle and .030" over the cylinders.   I would not suggest doing this the way I have but this is how I ended up with this.

The heads are done but need cleaned up.  They were made .030" bigger on the sides and back and look great if I say so myself.  The valve cover is 3 pieces but the mockup is still 2 and looks a little off but you get the idea.

  

I think these engines will work, I'm liking them more and more as they come together.  I did drill the heads for plug wires, which will be another first for me, but I think this one should have them.  Thanks for the support.  Steve 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2017 by Ridge Rider

[RancheroSteve]

I did drill the heads for plug wires, which will be another first for me, but I think this one should have them.

After all the amazing work you've done on this, I think you can handle plug wires.

[Slomoslam]

After all the amazing work you've done on this, I think you can handle plug wires.

 

No doubt!!

Actually I was thinking to myself "this guy has never done plug wires? Pfft, what a noob".

You're killing it man, I really look forward to seeing these updates, keep it up!  

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nice work. This is a killer project. Nice work on the engines.

[mustang1989]

This thread is among my top favorites in this forum. I am just speechless at times in regards to the level of ingenuity and brilliance that I see here. As far as the detail on the engine goes.....keep adding it. That whole area is the showcase of the entire build so please.....have at it. Will be looking forward to more updates Steve.

[misterNNL]

Building  this or watching you build it will surelly give all of us a better appeciation for the tremendous effort that ent into the creation of the original 1:1 car for the movie.It had to be a monumental task.Does the real movie car stil exist anywhere?

[crazyrichard]

superb !!

[Ridge Rider]

Thanks again for all the support.  To answer your question Tom, in all the research I have done there were 2 built.  The clean and polished one (shiny and chrome) was last seen last May at the movie premiere in Sydney.  I was not able to find any newer info or photos of either one since the premiere. I worked on the valve covers tonight and while not quite perfect they are going to work.  I drilled holes in these to stick .020" rod through to simulate bolt heads.  When they set up the back will be trimmed.

Next up is finish the rear of the intake manifold and fit a distributor.  Then i can work on the motor mounts and gearbox / tranny fitment.  Thanks for looking.  Steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2017 by Ridge Rider

[Ridge Rider]

I have been working on the gearbox-it took a few(cough) times to get what I think will work.

I cut the plates out of .030" sheet  and used .125" strips for the internal structure.  Also drilled plates and blocks for quick location/gluing pins.

 

Some quick mockup shots-the gearbox kind of looks happy.

 

It's a little different from the 1:1 but it's whats going to work with this tranny.  Thanks for looking. Steve 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2017 by Ridge Rider

[Ridge Rider]

I have managed to get the gearbox done and set up some spatial comparison pics. I think/hope it's going to work.

Thanks for looking. Steve

 

Edited July 8, 2017 by Ridge Rider