Mack DM800

[Jim B]

They chromed the steering wheel? 

[Ken Gilkeson]

yes the steering wheel Jim. got the front and rear suspensions mounted.

[Oldmopars]

I really hate it when a truck kit comes with this much chrome. I end up cutting off the very few parts I want chrome and sending the rest into the purple pond for a few days. I prefer this as the chrome hides the details and then adding primer and paint hides even more. At least stripping the chrome off allows you to get back some of the details.

[Ken Gilkeson]

chassis about ready for paint,  Scott I hear you on that.

[PettyKW43]

Ken , a quick bath in Castrol Super Clean will make the chrome disappear and it doesn’t harm plastic at all , you can leave parts in it for days with out any ill effects! As an adult I shake my head at all the bling but when I built this kit as kid I was thrilled with all the bling.

[Ken Gilkeson]

Richard thanx for the input,the only chrome on the finished build will be the emblems, so that leaves alot to be stripped. the build is now at that point.the chassis will be black so I can work on that. still looking at tires for this build, need something taller front and rear. shooting for a plain new truck not weathered. I have a lowboy built to put behind it for pictures.

[Ken Gilkeson]

found some dark gray paint that I have used previously, and decided to use it on the chassis. the wheels should look better gray instead of black also. leaning towards white for the body.

[Ken Gilkeson]

got the only chrome the chassis and engine will have mounted.

[gotnitro?]

Good looking chassis 

[gotnitro?]

You mentioned still looking at tires for this, I just ordered a set from Aitm from his newer offering you may like for your Mack. These are going on a GMC mixer this winter 

 

 

[Ken Gilkeson]

thanks Jeff, those wheels and tires look the part. I'll check them out.

Edited November 12, 2018 by Ken Gilkeson

[Ken Gilkeson]

[olsbooks]

Really looking good, ken.  Would like a shop tour sometime too.

Keep up the great work.

Peace.

[Ken Gilkeson]

a quick mock up shows the track is too wide, I'll have to correct that in wheel offset. might use the rear tires but not the fronts for sure. not sure I can use the kit front wheels yet, depends on getting them located properly. something for another day.

[Ken Gilkeson]

came up with a cure for the pontiac wide track front. it at least puts the wheels in the same county as the rest of the truck.

[Ken Gilkeson]

this is on hold until tire choices are made. it doesn't look bad with the kit tires since the front offset was changed. don't know how they usually get the track wrong in all the old kits, I guess it keeps them from tipping over.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Looks Great Ken!

[clayton]

Is this kit in the store's now or lucky find?

[Ken Gilkeson]

Clayton the kit is a new reissue,  Thanks Brian.

[clayton]

6 hours ago, Ken Gilkeson said:

Clayton the kit is a new reissue,  Thanks Brian.

Thanks! Hope to run by the hobby shop on the AM,will look around.

[Ken Gilkeson]

[gotnitro?]

Your truck looks great w the altered track, always thought the Pontiac style looked ridiculous.  I was also told to sand the rear spring leaves a small amount too. This allows the square block that fits over springs to slide the wheels closer together narrowing the spread 

[olsbooks]

The truck is taking shape nicely.  I'm just as envious of the shop.  Just enough details and yet not intmidating to the point of thinking a hacker like myself can't pull off something respectable.

Peace.

[Ken Gilkeson]

I have found out that AITM makes a narrower front axle for this kit. it is too late for me to swap mine out, so I will be using the kit wheels and tires. If I went with bigger tires they would foul with the tie rod ends, I got the cart before the horse. Anybody building this kit I would recommend ordering an axle and save yourself the headache. that way you have the option of bigger tires.

[Ken Gilkeson]

by glueing the fender extension to the cab, it throws off the hood alignment. the fender doesn't swing all the way down to where it is parallel with the chassis. to fix that with some filing, the fender and extension don't line up right. I would rather have the fender off than the hood.