Exotics_Builder Posted May 27, 2021 Author Posted May 27, 2021 Before getting back to some painting, I kept at the details of the 69 Pace Car. For the grille, I have made some mods and did a test fit. It is close. Needs some tweaking and then on to paint. On the engine, I had to scrap the idea of using R&D spark plugs since the headers leave little wiggle room. So, I am going to the usual plug wire with boot approach. I also am fabricating the AIR tubing. For the accessories, I hogged out the harmonic balancer to let the Parts by Parks lower pulley fit in and glued them in. I took a power steering and smog pump from the parts box, along with a Revell Nova Alternator and attached Parts by Parks pulleys to them. I also used some Detail Master and Replica and Miniatures brackets to help the look. Work on this will go on the back burner for the next week plus so I can get painting and finishing done on the GeeTO and Focus WRC. 1
Mattilacken Posted May 27, 2021 Posted May 27, 2021 Great build and progress on it! Is that the PÉ grill or the original just modifyed by grinding the back out?
Exotics_Builder Posted May 27, 2021 Author Posted May 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Mattilacken said: Great build and progress on it! Is that the PÉ grill or the original just modifyed by grinding the back out? Yes. Sanded the back out on the grille section and built up the headlamp area to get a better match (the Revell stock is too deep). Then added the Model Car Garage PE.
espo Posted May 27, 2021 Posted May 27, 2021 Nice to see this build back front and center. Great job on the grill.
Exotics_Builder Posted June 19, 2021 Author Posted June 19, 2021 While waiting to redo the decals for the GeeTO and start the clearcoat on the WRC Escort, I got back to doing some details on the 69 Pace Car. I added the Smog (AIR system) and power steering pumps to the engine. Revell only provides the alternator, and a 396 CI 375 HP engine would have required these as well. Since solid lifter engines such as this 396 and Z/28 couldn't have air conditioning, I didn't add any. Still crafting the plumbing for the AIR. That orange wire you see in the photo eventually will be the dipstick. On the dashboard, Revell did provide air vents for the defroster or the radio speaker. Since this is a convertible and will be displayed with open top, it was kind of glaring. I had some PE for speaker grilles that I selected one to use. I also used two defroster vents from the MCG 53-55 Corvette PE set as well. They're slightly more curved than the real ones, but given the black of the dask, will not be that noticeable. I also started detailing the center console. The interior level in this car should have wood grain on the dash and console. Revell, again, did not provide. I used the MCG PE set console plate and then used some old Microscale wood decals to get the effect. The same decal will be used on the dash face. 2
Exotics_Builder Posted September 10, 2021 Author Posted September 10, 2021 Back at this project. To recap: Chassis: Added bracing for Convertible Body (kit chassis is for coupe body). Modified and added stock exhaust from a 68 Firebird (Kit has chambered exhausts, which are nice but very common). Painted and detailed. About 90% complete (needs engine to compete plus a couple of suspension pieces. Body: Cleaned up mold lines and removed some emblems (to be replaced by MCG parts from PE Fret). Removed molded in windshield wipers and cleaned up frame and panel (parts bin wipers will be used). Opened up grill and corrected depth of headlight covers then added MCG cover parts. Primed and painted base color. Ready for decaling/finishing. Wheels and tires: Using AMT Parts Pack White lettered tires. Found slightly better Rally wheels with open slots in parts bin. Will add valve stems and clean up detail. Interior: Just finished; using Hugger Orange covered with Semi-Gloss Clear. Applied kit Hounds Tooth decals for inserts. Upgraded interior with MCG photoetch for console. Added Microscale decals to reflect faux wood trip on dash and console. To better mimic color of 1:1, added Tamiya Clear Orange over decals. Opened up door grab handles. Added grab handle to passenger side dash to reflect trim level of 1:1. Drilled out and added door lock buttons. Just some tweaks remain. Engine: Basic assembly started. Added PE wire looms on valve covers. Added coupling for PCV on valve cover. Started adding pulleys and accessories to reflect a 396 375 HP engine. This includes power steering pump and AIR smog pump as well as different alternator (not included in kit). Started crafting the AIR piping. About 40% complete here. Next steps: Continue engine detail. Start decals on body. Assemble wheel/tires. Progress Pix below 2
kelson Posted September 11, 2021 Posted September 11, 2021 Great work!,glad to see you're back working on this.
seabiscut88 Posted September 11, 2021 Posted September 11, 2021 Amazing build and amazing history lesson for someone born in the late 80s I had no idea how the air pumps and other emissions items worked. Love this site for that level of personal information more than anything 1
deuces wild Posted September 11, 2021 Posted September 11, 2021 I found a pic of the complete woodgrain kit... One of my old '69 Camaros had this when I bought the car in the late '70s..
TDWilder Posted March 20, 2022 Posted March 20, 2022 Any updates on this? I stumbled on this searching for the value of this kit, I've had the box sitting on a shelf in my office for years in front of an ad from Life magazine featuring the '69 pace car.
deuces wild Posted March 21, 2022 Posted March 21, 2022 Revell needs to release this kit again with a way better decal sheet....
Oldcarfan27 Posted March 21, 2022 Posted March 21, 2022 On 9/11/2021 at 5:56 AM, deuces wild said: I found a pic of the complete woodgrain kit... One of my old '69 Camaros had this when I bought the car in the late '70s.. Wow, looks like they didn't do much to line up the woodgrain pattern, did they? 1
Exotics_Builder Posted March 21, 2022 Author Posted March 21, 2022 22 hours ago, TDWilder said: Any updates on this? I stumbled on this searching for the value of this kit, I've had the box sitting on a shelf in my office for years in front of an ad from Life magazine featuring the '69 pace car. I haven't worked on it for a few months because of another project. Just painted the body and started to do first clear coat prior to doing decals. The problem is that the Revell decals (and Fred Cady decals of which I have one copy) are too orange on the stripes. Keith Marks' decals are much closer (reddish orange akin to Hugger Orange). I now have those decals and plan on getting back at it.
Exotics_Builder Posted May 26, 2024 Author Posted May 26, 2024 (edited) Back on the bench. Got through the projects that put it on the shelf. Now is the time to get this back in gear and complete. The stock replicas would have A.I.R. smog systems on them. Even though Revell has an A.I.R. air pump in another kit, there is no exhaust tubing and muffler. It is a small part but, I cobbled one together with various pieces of Evergreen plastic. It is not perfect and still needs a little cleanup, but since it will be a bit deep in the engine bay, should pass muster. In the future, I will need to figure out how to do a more refined version and replicate it. I have about seven future projects that would benefit from this part. Need to carry on with the hoses and the connectors next. Also, back to painting and decaling the body. Edited May 26, 2024 by Exotics_Builder 4
espo Posted May 26, 2024 Posted May 26, 2024 Nice to see that you're back on this build. Having also owned a '69 Camaro years ago, not a big block car, I have been enjoying watching the extent you have been going to in the detailing and accuracy in your build. 1
Exotics_Builder Posted May 27, 2024 Author Posted May 27, 2024 1 hour ago, espo said: Nice to see that you're back on this build. Having also owned a '69 Camaro years ago, not a big block car, I have been enjoying watching the extent you have been going to in the detailing and accuracy in your build. I actually owned a 68 Z/28 that was stolen and totaled by the thief when chased by the police. Then I got a 70 Z/28. Still wish I had either but loved my 68 (except for gas mileage). Picture is about 2 weeks after I got the 68 and before the engine mods (headers, cold air, short ram, etc. were down by the dealer). 4 2
Tim W. SoCal Posted May 27, 2024 Posted May 27, 2024 On 3/24/2020 at 6:21 AM, Snake45 said: It was in many, and probably in all the "real" Indy-event cars, but many of the 3600-some replicas were built with 350s. You could order it either way. Many moons ago, a neighbor of mine had a '69 Camaro Indy Pace Car replica with an LT-1 350 and a Muncie 4 speed. That thing RIPPED!... 1
Tim W. SoCal Posted May 27, 2024 Posted May 27, 2024 Good to see you back on this project, Gerry. Please keep your progress posts coming!... 1 1
Exotics_Builder Posted June 27, 2024 Author Posted June 27, 2024 Got major components ready now for the body I've got the chassis as far as it will go until engine and interior merge. Interior is done as far as I can get it until body assembly. The wheels and tires are now ready. Got the engine ready to merge with the chassis. So, time to start the body details. Stripes are Hugger Orange not orange as the Revell or Fred Cady decals have them and Keith Marks set is a tad too red. I was readying to mask and spray when I found a set online and got them. So now the body detailing begins. Some details in the callouts in the images. 3
Moparman18064 Posted June 28, 2024 Posted June 28, 2024 (edited) Nice, good to see someone else doing the smog system. I am in the middle of doing this for the replica of my father’s 68 RS/SS L89. It is a shame no one has made these. After seeing yours, my manifold tubes are crude, now I will have to remake them. What did you use to make them? I used solder and stainless wire. This is looking really good. Edited June 28, 2024 by Moparman18064 1
Exotics_Builder Posted June 28, 2024 Author Posted June 28, 2024 (edited) 2 hours ago, Moparman18064 said: Nice, good to see someone else doing the smog system. I am in the middle of doing this for the replica of my father’s 68 RS/SS L89. It is a shame no one has made these. After seeing yours, my manifold tubes are crude, now I will have to remake them. What did you use to make them? I used solder and stainless wire. This is looking really good. Small diameter plastic rod I bent and drilled for the spool wire that goes into the header. Next time around I plan on making the connectors a bit shorter. I think they came out too long. I carved out the muffler from Evergreen rectangular rod, drilling the three vents. This was the first attempt, and I went back and redid it. Edited June 28, 2024 by Exotics_Builder 1
Exotics_Builder Posted July 8, 2024 Author Posted July 8, 2024 Well, the decals I purchased off eBay went on fine but two days later, the color was splotched in several places. Not sure why as I followed the directions. I tried a mist of clear coat to see if it would even out, but no luck. Stripped them and back to square one on the stripes. Will either try to create my own decal from the Revell sheet (I have the RGB code for Hugger Orange) or mask off and airbrush the color. 1
mrm Posted July 8, 2024 Posted July 8, 2024 Pretty cool build. In the late '90s/early 2000s I used to work for Kerbeck (FC Kerbeck car dealership empire). They were (and probably still are) the biggest Corvette Dealership in the world. That's where I worked - the Cadillac, Corvette, Lamborghini and Rolls Royce showroom in Atlantic City, NJ. At the Corvette showroom is where the three Kerbeck brothers had their main offices and also where they kept most of their personal car collection. This very same original Camaro pace car (not a clone or reproduction) was on the showroom floor not 15 feet from my desk. Next to it was the very very first Corvette ever made. I mean the the prototype with the very first serial number. George - the oldest brother, who basically ran the show was a diehard GM guy. With all his millions (if not billions) of dollars, you would never see him behind the wheel of anything other than a Cadillac, Corvette or a Harley. I honestly have no idea if their collection is still on display in AC or even if the dealership is still there, as even 25 years ago the casinos were offering them all sorts of stupid piles of money for their property. 1
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