57 T-Bird "BattleBird" "update 12-25-injectors"

[Vince Nemanic]

Looks good, my friend!

[Ralph Henderson]

Thanks Vince!!

[James2]

Shaping up nicely, I do enjoy watching the attention to detail...

[TarheelRick]

I have also been a fan of this particular T-Bird, it is in my file of "Want to Builds".  You are doing some excellent fabrication work.  Looking forward to more updates.

[Dave Darby]

19 hours ago, Ralph Henderson said:

since I cut down the underhood sheet metal, the radiator had to be move a bit. when it's sitting in the car, it leans at the top slightly to the front, since the motor is set back about 4 inches, they use an electric fan, so a bit more scratchin' and fiddlin'.  needs some cleanup and paint.  now on to the injectors..

Thanks for checkin' in!

You're nailing it Ralph! Love the headers.

[Gramps46]

Glad to see the update and the progress is looking good.

[89AKurt]

I'm assuming this is a 1/24 scale kit, no idea of manufacturer.  I built this 1/16 AMT for a friend in the car club, who owned one, took some work to make it look right.

Very cool project, look forward to seeing it completed!

[Ralph Henderson]

7 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

I'm assuming this is a 1/24 scale kit, no idea of manufacturer.  I built this 1/16 AMT for a friend in the car club, who owned one, took some work to make it look right.

Very cool project, look forward to seeing it completed!

Kurt, the one I'm building is the 1/25 AMT 57 with the AMT 56 grille bedded in.  The 1/16 you did looks great.  Nice build of a tough kit!

Edited December 2, 2018 by Ralph Henderson

[Breezy]

This looks great. Fun to follow.

[Ralph Henderson]

so, a little update on the injectors.  I think the engine is as done as it's going to be.  I think it gets the point across, even though it ain't perfect.

a little paint touch-up, flare the injectors a bit and finish out the headers, and on to the rest of the bodywork.

thanks for tagging along, and Happy Holidays!!

[Dave Darby]

22 hours ago, Ralph Henderson said:

so, a little update on the injectors.  I think the engine is as done as it's going to be.  I think it gets the point across, even though it ain't perfect.

a little paint touch-up, flare the injectors a bit and finish out the headers, and on to the rest of the bodywork.

thanks for tagging along, and Happy Holidays!!

Looking good, Ralph! First time I think I've ever seen properly configured Y block fuel injectors. The headers are way cool too.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yup, nice job on the uber-rare Y-block Hilborn setup.

[Ralph Henderson]

Thanks for the kind words!  I wasn't sure I liked 'em until I got em on the motor and set in the chassis.  Like I said, they ain't perfect, but they'll do.

be cool if someone would tool em up for 3d printing.  I think I'd use the revell motor though, it has a bit more detail..

[MeatMan]

Great project, and fantastic fab work!

[Mr. Metallic]

On 12/26/2018 at 10:44 PM, Ralph Henderson said:

be cool if someone would tool em up for 3d printing. 

You may have missed it over on TRaK, but Chris Drysdale has come up with a set in his Shapeways store, Maple Leaf Modelworks. He pulled them offline because he wanted to refine them a little bit after receiving his first samples, but plans on putting them back up soon. I can't wait because this setup is so cool. Your scratchbuilt version came out great

[Ralph Henderson]

9 hours ago, Mr. Metallic said:

You may have missed it over on TRaK, but Chris Drysdale has come up with a set in his Shapeways store, Maple Leaf Modelworks. He pulled them offline because he wanted to refine them a little bit after receiving his first samples, but plans on putting them back up soon. I can't wait because this setup is so cool. Your scratchbuilt version came out great

I found the post on Trak.  very interesting...

 

Edited January 19, 2019 by Ralph Henderson

[cobraman]

Coming along nicely !

[Ralph Henderson]

I know it's been awhile since I posted.  Had some family medical issues, but I have always had a couple parts on my desk being worked on

1st being the tonneau cover and headrest/fairing

I still have to get the windscreen angle correct, and work a bit more on the fairing. and I did come up with some decals.  seems as though Mini Exotics made a trans kit some time back.  I was lucky enough to get a copy of the decal sheet... see if I can turn it into real decals...

Thanks for looking!

[Ralph Henderson]

The next project will be finishing the dash.

and the side exhaust.  There just isn't enough room between the bottom of the chassis plate, and the bottom of the body to put a 3/32" piece of tube.  I will probably have to fudge it a bit..

[afx]

Nice update Ralph.

[RAT-T]

LOOKS GOOD RALPH

[alan barton]

I have really enjoyed watching your progress so far Ralph, especially your fabrication skills.  That injected Y block really ticks all the boxes.

Was there a similarly styled black one as well? The little voices in my head are saying Doane Spencer of chopped 3W fame but I could be mistaken.

Cheers

Alan

[Ralph Henderson]

10 hours ago, alan barton said:

I have really enjoyed watching your progress so far Ralph, especially your fabrication skills.  That injected Y block really ticks all the boxes.

Was there a similarly styled black one as well? The little voices in my head are saying Doane Spencer of chopped 3W fame but I could be mistaken.

Cheers

Alan

Doane built a couple 56's. One in the 50's, and one in the 80's I believe with later running gear for a friend.

Plus Ford built some black 56's; https://www.quartoknows.com/blog/quartodrives/ford-total-performance-the-start-of-something-big

would've been more, except the manufacturers got out of direct involvement with motorsports in 1957

(Edit: Spencer's original T-Brd was a 55, according to Hemmings.

 

Edited October 4, 2020 by Ralph Henderson

[Ralph Henderson]

another article re Spencer's T Birds.  https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2013/08/09/a-bird-in-the-hand-both-doane-spencer-thunderbirds-head-to-auction?refer=news&utm_source=edaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-10-04

[gbtr6]

Ran across this T-Bird in a book by Kirk F. White. It's online, and I'd recommend it. It's "Don't Wash Mine". It's full of great stories. This is White's Doane Spencer T-Bird. It was very fast and I like the style of it. It's a street car, but very much like the Battlebirds. My wife wants a 55-57 T-Bird and if I get a chance, I'd like to do a little hot rodding on it. I just think this is cool as hell.

Perry