AMT "Miller" GMC Astro 95

[Goodwrench3]

Slowly getting all the frame stuff on the right side mocked up before I start lowering the cab -- to make sure there aren't clearance issues with anything.

 

[Gary Chastain]

The mock-up is so important, allowing you to correct things. Well done. 

[Goodwrench3]

I got the cab supports lowered.  Here are before and after photos.  It seems about right now based on 1:1 photos.

 

[Goodwrench3]

After the cab was lowered, I wanted to check to see that there were no clearance issues with the interior tub in.

 

 

 

OK --   it clears.  Just !   Man that's close !

 

[cifenet]

Looking good and things are in the right spot!  All your engine pipes are connecting well also!

I remember building this kit as my first truck and it was difficult for me.

When it comes to attaching things onto the frame, the instructions weren't explicit and I had to do many "trial and error" approach to connect all the dots.

Interestingly, even with all the problems I faced, I had so much fun building one; I ended up buying another kit so I can build another one in near future!

[Goodwrench3]

Worked a bit more on the fit of the crossover pipe today and test fit radiator with engine in.  Finally attached the fan support bracket to the block!   Was sweating that one as it needed to land the fan in the center of the fan shroud.

 

[Rockford]

Looks tidy to me! 

[Goodwrench3]

A little more work this weekend.  Got the front hinges cut down.

[Gary Chastain]

Top notch building, well done. This is gonna be a good build. 

[Goodwrench3]

This weekend I finally got the rear suspension and axles "tacked" in.  The molding of the Hendrickson beams and the axles is not great -- loads of "slop" all over the place with these.  To try to tighten things up, I had a buddy help me and we drilled the beams and then installed pins through the axle brackets and beams (like the real 1:1 suspension had).  Still some "tweaks" to do, but it's progress.

It also looks like the front torque rod is a bit long.  The forward axle is too "flat" and that makes the inner drive shaft between the axles not long enough.  So some correction to do there too I think.

[Rockford]

You're right about the torque arms, you can see the rear axles are splayed outwards at the top so that the pinion angle is pointing downwards. Not right.

[Goodwrench3]

5 hours ago, Rockford said:

You're right about the torque arms, you can see the rear axles are splayed outwards at the top so that the pinion angle is pointing downwards. Not right.

I think the rear torque arm is probably OK ?   I would expect the rear axle to be "canted" back a bit like it is to make the drive line between the front and rear axle more of a straight line.

[Rockford]

1 hour ago, Goodwrench3 said:

I think the rear torque arm is probably OK ?   I would expect the rear axle to be "canted" back a bit like it is to make the drive line between the front and rear axle more of a straight line.

Yes, it's mainly the front pinion angling down that hurts the trained eye, like looking at a left hand thread, just not comfortable with it. 

[Goodwrench3]

Just now, Rockford said:

Yes, it's mainly the front pinion angling down that hurts the trained eye, like looking at a left hand thread, just not comfortable with it. 

Agreed.  It didn't "smell right" to me. 

I've been trying to find a 1:1 photo of an Astro 95 with a Hendrickson suspension to try to see angle of the axles and the torque rods, but I haven't been able to find any yet.

[Goodwrench3]

This weekend I was able to finally "tack" the hinges in place and make sure the cab tilted with the bumper on and did not have any binding/clearance issues after lowering the cab.  Big win !  I will probably need to move the bumper up a bit when it's finally assembled.

I also got the front torque rod adjusted so the rear axles are better oriented and the center drive shaft fits right.

 

 

 

 

[Gary Chastain]

Noticed that you use V- blocks for your mockups, I do exactly the same and just purchased a new set of 1-2-3 blocks and a set a precision parallels. They really help set up a mock-up. 

[Goodwrench3]

8 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

Noticed that you use V- blocks for your mockups, I do exactly the same and just purchased a new set of 1-2-3 blocks and a set a precision parallels. They really help set up a mock-up. 

 

Hi --  what are these ?   " 1-2-3 blocks and a set a precision parallels. "  ??

Can you send me a link for these ?

Thanks !

 

[Gary Chastain]

I have two sets of 1-2-3 blocks, here I am using them to square the backing plates on a rear axle, the parallels are used to fixture a mockup. You can get these on eBay or Harbor Freight. 

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey Jeff

 Any more progress on this build?

Ron G 

[Goodwrench3]

3 hours ago, ShakyCraftsman said:

Hey Jeff

 Any more progress on this build?

Ron G 

Hi -- 

Well, not much -- I guess you could say "life happened".  LOL.  I got real busy at the end of last year and then I retired.  

BUT -- This build is the "poster child" for a steel build/alignment board that our club is producing.  We've been selling them at our annual show (Midwest Scale Madness in Ft. Atkinson, WI) and at the Detroit spring shows (and a few others).  But we needed a "demo" for the build/alignment board so that people could see how it is used to "square" and align everything while building these kits.  And this build became the "demo" for it.  I'll post a photo of it here tomorrow so you can get an idea of what it looks like.  It will be finished this summer (hopefully), but it was "called into service" for this purpose in the mean time !  Thanks !  

 

[ShakyCraftsman]

45 minutes ago, Goodwrench3 said:

Hi -- 

Well, not much -- I guess you could say "life happened".  LOL.  I got real busy at the end of last year and then I retired.  

BUT -- This build is the "poster child" for a steel build/alignment board that our club is producing.  We've been selling them at our annual show (Midwest Scale Madness in Ft. Atkinson, WI) and at the Detroit spring shows (and a few others).  But we needed a "demo" for the build/alignment board so that people could see how it is used to "square" and align everything while building these kits.  And this build became the "demo" for it.  I'll post a photo of it here tomorrow so you can get an idea of what it looks like.  It will be finished this summer (hopefully), but it was "called into service" for this purpose in the mean time !  Thanks !  

 

He Jeff 

 That sounds great. Do you know when the next show is in the Detroit or Flint area?

Ron G 

[Jürgen M.]

Looking nice! I like this kit and I also tried to get rid of the issue with the larger clearance between cab and wheels since the tires are very small for such a huge cab.

I used larger tires being too lazy to change the cab hinges!

Hope it's OK to show this pic?

They're the Revell soft rubber tires used in the level 5 kits!

Unfortunately no longer available in Europe since they're taking their American trucks off the market Here!