WIP - Gmc crackerbox mixer

[gotnitro?]

Well..my buddy sent me a package the other day, and to my surprise a bunch of hungry squirrels jumped out eager for another build..if ya know me I'm easily distracted hence the squirrels. 

Honestly I've been stashing acorns for a few months waiting for the right time to get cracking on another project while several others wait patiently to be finished...

I had placed an order at AITM, and like always the box arrived full of resin goodies !  The real treat was a brand new REX 770 mixer just made available my buddy Chris mastered. 

The day cab and tires I chose , 6 spoke rims w newer tread pattern.

The new Rex 770 ..

That box is full of awesome resin parts..and include fenders and hangers appropriate for the rex !  

Edited December 5, 2018 by gotnitro?
Added photo of mixer

[gotnitro?]

I ended up using a freight shaker chassis I never was satisfied with,  mainly for the simple fact it was already set up for the COE parts. Now I hear ya..no way would that ever be strong enough for a mixer..hes nuts..we'll fix that later ..lol

I recently adopted another mixer from said buddy who mastered the 770..so I had one mocked up I borrowed for this. I'll use the new one once everything looks correct .I literally popped the old cab , and 5th wheel plate off and set these parts in their place..

The engine peeking out is getting swapped out for a proper Detroit 8v71 once I locate a donor...( if anyone has one stashed I'm looking) cause its gotta sound like its gonna look !

First order is stretching the frame , and relocating the suspension..I carefully ( read cut off w dremel) removed the angled rear portion of the frame , eye balled the stretch, then added sections of  C channel into the kit rails. The extension is a leftover piece of cnc rail I bought from gw trucks..a perfect fit.

now to fish plate the entire rail ..

Any comments truck chat  or feedback highly encouraged 

Jeff

[blackbeard]

that's going look great once your done with it

[Mopar - D]

Wow this is going to be awesome!

[leafsprings]

Looks great. This ones going to stand out, an East Coast city mixer!

[gotnitro?]

Thanks everyone I appreciate your comments! Yeah I'm going East Coast style , huge rubber and a square water tank I just ordered from Dave.

I wasnt sure whether I wanted the GMC or Dodge,  finally settling for the crackerbox. 

Anyone who's built this cab have any advice or boogie traps I gotta watch for 

[Warren D]

Looks like an interesting project, glad you chose the Crackerbox.

 

[Chariots of Fire]

I got a set of those AITM wheels and tires.  My only complaint is that the wheels are a bit sloppy and are not well rounded for the opening in the tire.

[CRUSADER2]

Its looking the part already,  its going to be a good one i'm sure.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Now everything about this is Cool!! You can't go wrong with a Detroit powered Crackerbox!! I have part of an 8v-71, but it's missing several parts that I used on my 4-71. I'll look, but I don't think that I have another. Looking forward to this one!!

[gotnitro?]

9 hours ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

Now everything about this is Cool!! You can't go wrong with a Detroit powered Crackerbox!! I have part of an 8v-71, but it's missing several parts that I used on my 4-71. I'll look, but I don't think that I have another. Looking forward to this one!!

I knew you'd appreciate my engine choice !! No problem on the donor engine , I just ordered a California hauler I'll rob it from..that's gonna get a 12v down the road.

12 hours ago, CRUSADER2 said:

Its looking the part already,  its going to be a good one i'm sure.

Thanks ! It's really falling together , now if I can keep the acorns from piling up

16 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said:

I got a set of those AITM wheels and tires.  My only complaint is that the wheels are a bit sloppy and are not well rounded for the opening in the tire.

I agree the wheels fit loose but I usually wrap a thin strip of plastic around them to tighten them up. The heavy duty tires w 6 spokes really appealed to me for this classic truck

[drinkone2]

Love the Crackerboxes and paired with a mixer this will be cool!

[gotnitro?]

The new water tank arrived, I didn't waste any time getting it mocked up.

Sorry for the messy background,  been bashing away on this clutter seems to accumulate like half done builds

[blackbeard]

looking great coming along nice

[gotnitro?]

It's been a long time but I finally got the crackerbox in paint ! 

Color is my absolute favorite Tamiya Mica red..appropriate for time period heck no but I love the shimmer it has..and it's my build lol.The frame is tamiya pure white , a color I wont use again..it ran away from detail like my neighbor from work...

Oh the over spray on the wheels will be cleaned up my circle template must be egg shaped 

Thanks for looking! 

[blackbeard]

great color on the cab

[CRUSADER2]

Its still looking good!!!

[gotnitro?]

Thanks I appreciate the comments 

I had a small setback after mocking up the engine , it didnt fit !!  I had checked several times throughout the build , unsure what changed but the 8V wasnt gonna work

Digging thru the project drawer I stumbled onto a 6 - 71 I had actually bought for this build from gw trucks ..so a quick assembly I had it nestled into the frame!! 

the best part when I dropped the cab back in the frame 

now to spray it with a few coats of Alpine green..and get it plumbed 

[leafsprings]

Nice work! The engine looks right at home in a Jimmy.

[Mopar - D]

Nice progress you have this build coming along great. 

[DRIPTROIT 71]

This is one awesome build! I'm taking notes too. I have a 6-71 from Gary for my Crackerbox too. I like how you put both the intake and exhaust on the passenger side. Although there were plenty of variations most of the road tractors I've personally seen, as well as the photo in my service manual labeled "typical vehicle engine" are set up this way. That's the great thing about Gary's engine, it can be built several ways.

Looks Great!!!

[TECHMAN]

Beautiful old Crackerbox!!!  And the 6-71 is just icing on the cake!!!!

DJ

[gotnitro?]

Thanks for the comments  !  I hit major snag getting cab interior to clear radiator. The engine sits as low as I can fit it, making radiator fit good w fan, but closing cab causes interior to contact doghouse...short of cutting a huge amount of it away I'm totally stumped..

Any advice greatly welcomed 

[gotnitro?]

This is where radiator would need to be mounted to clear floor..ridiculous...

Any tips ?

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Jeff, I think that some of the problem may be that on the 1:1 the frame drops, but even at that it looks like the radiator tank is the only thing taller than the engine. Would it be possible to lower the fan and decrease the diameter of the blade slightly to make it work?

Here's an under cab picture:

I don't think that you can modify the floor pan much: