The 21' Cannonball Ruse build thread

[disconovaman]

The 2021 Cannonball Roster 

#1. Sam I am - Indy car disguised as a 65 Mustang Fastback.

#2. Oldmopars - Thunderbird Nascar disguised as a 60 Impala.

#3. avidinha - Honda Accord.

#4. Jhedir6 - Ford Mustang GT disguised as a Shelby GT-350.

#5. Pete 75 - 81 Audi Quatro WRC.

#6.  Intmd8r - 67 L88 Corvette.

#7. Snake45 - 70 Superbird & 65 Chevelle.

#8. Jantrix - 1975 Matador.

#9. Erik Smith - Buick Regal Nascar.

#10. Danno - Nascar Truck Series Chevrolet 1500.

# 11. 89AKurt - Subaru Impreza WRC.

# 12. stitchdup - 1975 Ford Escort MK2.

# 13. stinkybritches - 34 Slammer Modified. 

# 14. Pat Minarick - Pontiac Grand Prix Nascar.

There's the line up,  just to keep everyone informed, I will be updating the Roster as we move through the thread and when Cannonballers announce their projects. 

The entries will be numbered in the order of when they were announced. I will try to ad the Roster each time we turn a page to make it easier to track everyone's progress. Thanks and as always have fun!

Edited December 30, 2020 by disconovaman

[Pete75]

7 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

I love your choice!  If I didn't have the Subie, would consider the Sport Quattro S1, but that needs to stay rally, and if I do a second that will be the '87 Pikes Peak hillclimb.  Look forward to seeing what that kit is about.

Thanks Kurt, safe to say I'm a fan of your choice: I saw the real thing in live action in '98, plus the kit was my first ever build! Will be great to see all those extra details added!? ?

[stitchdup]

I'm going to go for the esci mk2 escort track car. I've got a stock interior that might be used. I'll be using a bagged kit since it has no decals. It's probably going to be the lowest powered engine in the run but the payoff will be having to stop less than the other competitors. I've got a tamiya lotus 7 on the way to steal the wheels from

[89AKurt]

4 hours ago, Pete75 said:

Thanks Kurt, safe to say I'm a fan of your choice: I saw the real thing in live action in '98, plus the kit was my first ever build! Will be great to see all those extra details added!? ?

[...]

LOL  That's a beautiful job, your first huh?  I have worked several rallies in Arizona, they aren't as gung-ho as in Europe.

[Jantrix]

On 12/27/2020 at 1:26 AM, disconovaman said:

Oh man!  Let me just say this... Officially my favorite entry! ? and it's not even built yet!

Stop, I'm blushing. ?

But seriously folks, I do love the design phase of these racers. The deep dive into parts kits and the parts drawers, the aftermarket parts searches. I remove parts from sprues and bag by location, inspecting each part for the need of replacement or repair. The masking tape mock up to check out ride height and planning for the alterations. The paint planning for every single part. It's a wonder I even get to sleep some nights. 

In 13 years of this CBP, I've only finished four racers. Granted, I haven't entered every year. All the rest never got past the pile of parts stage. I really hope to make it five, this year. I hope to take advantage of the lousy winter weather and get it at least 80% done before spring. See you in the pits.

[stinkybritches]

I'm in with this. I'm not 100% sure where I'm going with it, but I have three ideas. All of which are way above my skill level/comfort zone.

 

[Snake45]

38 minutes ago, stinkybritches said:

I'm in with this. I'm not 100% sure where I'm going with it, but I have three ideas. All of which are way above my skill level/comfort zone.

 

I can't wait to see what you do with this. I want to get this kit and "put it back on the street"--not necessarily Cannonball-worthy, but just barely street "legal" for some Saturday Night Fun. Hoping to steal some ideas from you. 

[Pete75]

4 hours ago, stitchdup said:

It's probably going to be the lowest powered engine in the run but the payoff will be having to stop less than the other competitors.

Escorts may not win drag races but they usually come top in the cool stakes!!?

2 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

LOL  That's a beautiful job, your first huh? 

Yep, and very nearly my last! I ended up buying three kits, mostly because of decal trouble. But in the end it seemed silly to let all the hard lessons go to waste by quitting!?

[Pat Minarick]

 

On 12/26/2020 at 12:35 PM, disconovaman said:

Judging from the field thus far we're gonna have a pretty diverse cast of Cannonballers this year... I'm excited to see those rusty mismatched bodypanels (Non) Racecar Racecars lined up this year hint, hint, Pat Minarick ? #Cannonball Callout! ? 

Well I'm trying to narrow down my choices,  it will be one of these or a combination of them. Might even chop the front off the 'Cuda and put it back on the Duster.

Edited December 28, 2020 by Pat Minarick

[Snake45]

39 minutes ago, Pat Minarick said:

 

Well I'm trying to narrow down my choices,  it will be one of these or a combination of them. Might even chop the front off the 'Cuda and put it back on the Duster.

Not remotely close to "stock," but you know what? With a suitably low-key paint job, I don't think it would attract undue attention. I've seen lots of weirder shapes on today's roads. I say go for it! 

[stinkybritches]

3 hours ago, Snake45 said:

I can't wait to see what you do with this. I want to get this kit and "put it back on the street"--not necessarily Cannonball-worthy, but just barely street "legal" for some Saturday Night Fun. Hoping to steal some ideas from you. 

I seriously doubt you will be able to steal any ideas from me, unless it's how to completely FUBAR your build. ?I'm doing good if I can make it 15 minutes without gluing a part to my forehead. 

All joking aside, my plan is be racecar on the inside and kinda dull on the outside. I'm not sure how I'm going to accomplish that yet. 

[Lunajammer]

5 hours ago, stinkybritches said:

I'm in with this. I'm not 100% sure where I'm going with it, but I have three ideas. All of which are way above my skill level/comfort zone.

 

I used that series chassis for my very first Cannonball, mine was from the Pinto modified. I shortened the frame in front of the wheels. It works out pretty well but I wouldn't call it stealthy. The kit gives you treaded tires though ?. I widened the racer's floor to fit the Bug and built a rear bulk head, but the body is about all I used from the VW. The basic engineering is pretty straight forward, I just flourished it with a bunch of fancy pants stuff.

[stinkybritches]

That is really sharp. This is probably close to what Snake is talking about. 

[Jantrix]

18 hours ago, Lunajammer said:

I see the bug survived the trip through the Mohave National Preserve. ???

[Lunajammer]

44 minutes ago, Jantrix said:

I see the bug survived the trip through the Mohave National Preserve. ???

Eventually just stopped to ask for friggin' directions. ?

[disconovaman]

19 hours ago, Lunajammer said:

 

 

This is one of my favorite builds of the Cannonball Runs! Very inventive! 

21 hours ago, stinkybritches said:

I'm not sure how I'm going to accomplish that yet. 

I'd consider closing off those wheels first off,  just because open wheelwells tend to drawl attention? I was thinking maybe you could try widening the body and working off /adding to the crash bars. I think it's retro and it has potential ? maybe a VW or Pinto body is the answer?

[Jantrix]

54 minutes ago, Lunajammer said:

Eventually just stopped to ask for friggin' directions. ?

I wish I'd copied that story before SA shut down.

[Oldmopars]

I hope it is not an issue, but I was looking at my options and I have decided to switch from the Pontiac NASCAR as a donor to a Ford T-Bird NASCAR as a donor. The chassis is just better for my needs. Everything else remains the same. 

[disconovaman]

1 hour ago, Oldmopars said:

I hope it is not an issue,

No problem at all...??

[stinkybritches]

6 hours ago, disconovaman said:

I'd consider closing off those wheels first off,  just because open wheelwells tend to drawl attention? I was thinking maybe you could try widening the body and working off /adding to the crash bars. I think it's retro and it has potential ? maybe a VW or Pinto body is the answer?

My main goal is to cover the wheels. How I'm going to do that is my biggest question. As I mentioned in my entry post, I have 3 ideas. I just need to figure out which one best fits my skillset. 

[disconovaman]

13 minutes ago, stinkybritches said:

cover the wheels

 The suspence... This will be fun to watch! ?

[Pat Minarick]

Going with the Grand Prix, going to make look like my old one.

[Snake45]

Hey, I had another idea for a CB build (after I finish the Superbird). About 50 years ago, I started a Corvair with a mid-engine small block Chevy in it. I didn't get much farther than cutting out the hole in the floorpan for the engine, and rounding up an engine. The whole project is still in the box, which I think was the first reissue after the '69 annual. 

Thing is, the box art is a Yenko in full race trim on a race track of some sort. If I'm reading the rules correctly, the dedicated race art makes it legal for this build, right? Just want to get a get an up-or-down ruling on it before I even think of proceeding.   Yes, I actually have this box. 

[Jantrix]

14 hours ago, stinkybritches said:

My main goal is to cover the wheels. How I'm going to do that is my biggest question. As I mentioned in my entry post, I have 3 ideas. I just need to figure out which one best fits my skillset. 

Considering the wheelbase, I'm imagining something from the 30's.

[disconovaman]

3 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

The whole project is still in the box, which I think was the first reissue after the '69 annual.

You know what I've come to learn about you, Snake? You don't get rid of nothing brother! ??? 

Well I'm having buyers remorse this morning guys... I got desperate last night and bought some models from a website I've never used before... Jocorzol.com  has anyone ever heard about it?

When I got the invoice I noticed it was in Chinese so I'm nervous that I've lost my money and I'll have to find another solution for my entry... I guess we'll see...?

Anyway if it all works out I'll announce my submission if not then I'm back to the drawing board. ???