Maverick Pro Stock/Match Racer

[Codi]

Today I used Caswell's plating system to chrome plate the bulkheads.  It's hit or miss when doing it and if I were to do more of it, I'd invest in a better system.  For those interested in the process, I covered it fairly well in my previous Bantam thread.   3 pics, brightly polished and clean pieces before & after the plating and with them in place on the car.  Next I'll draw up the radiator and get started on that.  cheers everyone!  tim

 

[Codi]

Hi everyone,  started the radiator the top portion is of 2 parts of which I still have to corner round the base of it...I wanted an aluminum similar to the one in the pics, Ford had them and were used by various Pro Stock teams but they were rare. Teams were required to use "stock" radiators at the time, they didn't say they couldn't be modified, which from the pics it's obvious that teams were altering them.  Lots more to do yet before this is finished....... cheers, tim

 

 

 

[blackbeard]

Looking fantastic love all the work you are doing 

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Just with a quick stop in your build and I'm already motivated to get back into service my friend!

It's good to see an artist working, everything I see pleases me and inspires me!! ??

[Codi]

Thanks Henry for the shared comment......making progress this week, which feels good all by itself.  cheers

Francis, thanks sir.......see my other post on your thread!  cheers too

A couple quick mock-ups, nothing is near done yet, I've got detailing to do, frame to make, radiator car and the radiator "core" itself. I just wanted to see what I've got so far and I'm happy with it so far.  I think it'll add to the build.   cheers to all that follow along! tim

these pics show the top and bottom just resting on a pc. of plastic...be kind

 

[BK9300]

So much skill (and patience) in your work - just amazing to watch!

[comp1839]

Bravo Tim!!!  Again your unique insight and talent has rendered an absolutely TOTALLY FREAKIN' COOL PIECE!!!  the radiator tanks just blow my mind.

[johnyrotten]

Beautiful work, you are craftsman. I too struggle with the symptoms of carpal tunnel, and degenerative disc disease in c-4/5 in my neck. I'm looking forward to watching more of your build here. Again absolutely awesome work.

[Codi]

Thanks Brian, I still have some patience left even though my daughter my say otherwise.  cheers sir, tim

Dave, SOOO nice to hear from you! As always your comments are most welcome and appreciated.  I've got to give you a call soon and get caught up.....been too long.  cheers, tim

John, as a wise woman at the pharmacist told me not long ago..."getting old ain't for sissies".  Seriously though, the ailments are something we all go through and I'm blessed that mine are not serious.  More annoying than anything I suppose.  Thank you for the compliment and glad to have  you following along.  cheers, tim

pics coming soon, radiator is taking shape and is almost done! 

[Randy D]

Well I see you have not lost your touch my friend,  great looking front end construction going on here!!!  The plating looks awesome.

Randy

[jasoncamaro]

So cool to see you back on this Tim !

[Codi]

Hi Randy & Jason......so glad to see both your checking it out still.  Progress has been steady even though yesterday I tested pos. for covid again...just livin' the dream!  After a couple days from the bench I had to drag myself back because I really want to finish the radiator.

Pic's today show it basically all fabbed and mocked-up.  Pic 1 shows some of the components before assembly. The others give an idea of what she'll look like.  I still have to add 2 horizontal braces, a pet-cock for the drain and a couple tiny weld lines and or braces along the sides top and bottom.   I did media blast it as the real rad's were stamped & welded alum. but none were shiny per se so I went with this finish to be closer to the actual and the radiator cap I machined out of nickel/silver just for a bit of contrast and because I like the color of the metal.  Cheers!!  tim

[Chris Smith]

Absolutely love this!! 

[BK9300]

Terrific rad - so realistic the way the mesh/core sits behind aluminum tanks/frame and not just inserted into an opening - great to watch!

[Straightliner59]

Excellent work, Tim! That's a real beauty! Feel better, my friend.

[Codi]

Chris, thank you sir.......can't wait to see your next MFH project btw.....cheers, tim

Brian, many little parts went into making it I'll admit.  I'm figuring I have about 25 to 30 hours total in machining and fabbing the entire thing.  It is done though!   yeah

Daniel, thank you for the sentiments.  My High School 50th ann. reunion is this weekend and I've never made one....this was to be my first but of course I'll miss it now........UGH!!  

The radiator is finished.  I'm going to clean up the shop and bench space and grab all of my notes /pics from the last 3 years in all of my research and begin drawing up the chassis so I can get that started.  That's a big task for me but if all goes well I'll have the chassis started / done by Christmas...IF.........3 finished pics, 1 is of the back of it.  That darn "petcock" was a bugger to fab but I finally came up with a way of making one.  All in all, I'm pleased with it.    Cheers everyone and enjoy your weekend!   tim

 

[iBorg]

Amazing work. Sorry can't even think of anything else to say.....amazing.

 

[rv1963]

Really awesome work on that rad, I have a Sherline lathe and mill this type of works takes a lot of time to get it rite.

[Straightliner59]

Tim, I would be interested in how you made the draincock. I've never got one to look that good.

[Moparman18064]

That radiator should be a museum piece! I’m simply floored.

 

[iBorg]

6 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Tim, I would be interested in how you made the draincock. I've never got one to look that good.

And the top of the radiator and the radiator cap.

[Codi]

I wanted to respond and also to answer the questions that were asked.

Robert, yes, it can be time consuming as you know especially when working worth small end mills etc. I don't mind the time involved to be honest....only when I have to do a part over.....

Rich, thanks for the sentiment and for also peeking in on the build.

Daniel.....the petcock....I found a thin piece of photo etch in my parts bin that was part of a leaf spring kit or something like that. It had a fold line down the middle of it....I drilled a hole in the center of the fold line....placed a piece of stainless steel tube in it and then folded it slightly to form a V.....put a small drop of loctite thin glue on either side and used my photo etch pliers to squeeze each end as tight as I could up to the the tubing in the center.  After I was certain the glue had dried i used my hand piece that spins up to 25k rpm with a jewelers .27mm cutoff disc to carefully shape it to the size desired and cut it off the steel tube. Was simple to do just took me some creativity to find something & method to make it.  That's one of  reasons I like to scratch-build  though. 

Mike....I wanted to make the top portion as one but after considering many options, the simplest and best was to make it into 2 parts and put them together.  Each started as part of an 8.0mm alum. rod that I setup in my rotary vice that was set at 90 degrees. I've included a pic of the set up to give a better idea of what I'm describing.  Then following my drawings I cut the pieces using the following end mill: 1/8" - 2.0MM -  .8MM & - .6MM and cut them off using a jewelers diamond cut-off wheel (.27mm thin).  My mill has the 10k. rpm pulley kit which has proven invaluable when using these tiny end mills and drill bits. I'll spin the teeny ones at 8K+ RPM......still have to go slow though.     ------   Radiator cap, took a piece of 1/8" nickel/silver rod and on the rotary I cut in the sides to the angle I drew up and then used a .27MM (.0100) end mill to cut the 2 circular grooves on the top.  Parted it off and glued it to the rod that was inserted in the radiator base.    That was actually simple & quick to make. 

Hope this helps.......I really have to get better with more pics along the way like Francis & Charlie to share "how" I make something.  I appreciate when others share their methods and I'm a bit lax in that regard.  

[mustang1989]

It's been a minute or two since I've been in on this thread and now that I finally made it back, I'm glad I dropped in to check it out. I aint EVER seen this level of detail on any auto build dude. Impressive doesn't even begin to cover what I'm seein' here. Frickin' leagues ahead of where I'm at Codi. 

[charlie libby]

Tim your work always makes me jealous. But i always learn from you.radiator is just awesome.

[absmiami]

You aren’t gonna paint this - are you ?