mrmike Posted August 29, 2022 Posted August 29, 2022 (edited) A new project started out of a need to add another coat of paint to my 1997 Dodge Caravan. I envisioned the '69 GTX painted with the same color of MCW Seafoam Turquoise Metallic with the Performance Hood Package. The engine will be the standard 440 CID engine with 6 Pack carburation. If that doesn't fit under the hood, I will use the stock 4-bbl. carb. The transmission is the Mopar A-833 4-speed transmission. I started by trimming all of the little bits and pieces of flash and realized that I would have to assemble the firewall, side panels and core support if I am to wash the body and chassis before adding primer and paint. The wheels are Cragar SS mags, my favorite! More GTX to come... Edited August 29, 2022 by mrmike 1
mrmike Posted August 30, 2022 Author Posted August 30, 2022 Thanks Curtis! I needed to mix more paint for a second coat of paint on my '97 Dodge Caravan and I have been imagining this color on the GTX, which would look sharp, especially with the Performance Hood Treatment and gloss black rocker panels.
espo Posted August 30, 2022 Posted August 30, 2022 This should be nice. I have seen a few of your past MoPars. 1
mrmike Posted August 31, 2022 Author Posted August 31, 2022 Thanks Carl and David! In my mind's eye, this color is excellent! 1
mrmike Posted September 1, 2022 Author Posted September 1, 2022 Last night, before turning for the night, I added some strip styrene and glue to the score line under the '69 GTX hood. I wanted to fill the score line and to strengthen the hood since I have been "tweaking" it to fit level on the body without moving. You can barely see the scoreline from the topside of the hood. More GTX to come... 3
espo Posted September 1, 2022 Posted September 1, 2022 Good idea to fill this under hood score line. I have had a few where I didn't do that and even with extensive paint prep it will sometime ghost through the final paint finish. 3 1
mrmike Posted September 2, 2022 Author Posted September 2, 2022 Even though it is on the underside of the hood, it is there and it stands out like a sore thumb. I had to do something about it and this seemed like a good way to take care of it. It is not perfect, but I did try to do something about it. 2
slusher Posted September 2, 2022 Posted September 2, 2022 (edited) Some builders would fill the cut outs with super glue. I was reading it here a few years ago.. Edited September 10, 2022 by slusher 1
mrmike Posted September 2, 2022 Author Posted September 2, 2022 I never thought about using just super glue.I will have to try it on a pro street Road Runner I am planning on for later. I figured the best way was to fill the voids with plastic and glue and sand it a little bit.
bisc63 Posted September 3, 2022 Posted September 3, 2022 8 hours ago, mrmike said: I figured the best way was to fill the voids with plastic and glue and sand it a little bit. +1 on the super glue and baking soda to fill the lines. Using plastic and solvent type glue can cause the line to reappear because of the solvent softening the thin plastic, letting them "ghost" in as the solvent eventually completely dries out. I'd use a gel super glue, sprinkle full of baking soda, and have a good small file ready to rough down the filled area. Important to level the soda/glue filler as soon as possible, because it will become so hard that it's difficult to file or sand without removing too much surrounding plastic. You'll be filing down in about a minute or less. 3
dsummone Posted September 3, 2022 Posted September 3, 2022 I had the same problem with this hood, I didn’t do a good test fit before paint and on final assembly it rocked corner to corner badly. I twisted it so much I was afraid I was going to crack the paint. 1
mrmike Posted September 3, 2022 Author Posted September 3, 2022 After years and years of building many, many models, I usually test fit body and chassis parts to get a proper fit. Not doing this sometimes gives me more trouble in the long run. 3
mrmike Posted September 9, 2022 Author Posted September 9, 2022 Spent a little time on the GTX this afternoon. I assembled the engine and lettered the tires. The engine had no valley pan of cover and the intake manifold just sat on top of a wide open area. I made a cover from a piece styrene and glued it in. More GTX to come... 1
mrmike Posted September 10, 2022 Author Posted September 10, 2022 The more I looked at them, the more I didn't like the valve covers I had put on. I found a set that I liked better and while they are not 100% correct, they do look a lot better! More GTX to come... 2
slusher Posted September 10, 2022 Posted September 10, 2022 Looks better Milke, I have been stripping the chrome off stock engines now…
mrmike Posted September 10, 2022 Author Posted September 10, 2022 (edited) Thanks Carl! I think I got lost as I was going to use a six pack intake and carbs on this. I realized this when I had found a 4-bbl air cleaner with a 440 CID decal already attached. I think the 6-barrel carbs require the Coyote Air Intake hood, but I'm not sure. More research is required... Edited September 13, 2022 by mrmike
mrmike Posted September 13, 2022 Author Posted September 13, 2022 Tonight I painted the engine, the distributor and cap and I made an ignition coil, painted it and wired it and the 6-barrel carburation. Now, you are asking why did I paint the 4-barrel and the 6-barrel intakes? I haven't decided which one I will use yet. Why they don't add ignition coils to these kits is beyond me. More Plymouth to come... 2
mrmike Posted September 19, 2022 Author Posted September 19, 2022 I started detailing the engine. I added my plug wires, fan belt with power steering pump and alternator and the fan. I had to make an ignition coil from a piece of round styrene stock and added a wire to it. The tires proved to be problematic, so I replaced them with a set from Revell and I will add some white letters to the tires. More GTX to come... 2
slusher Posted September 19, 2022 Posted September 19, 2022 is the 440 in Hemi orange a correct color or is it turquoise? I can’t tell without my sheet.".
mrmike Posted September 19, 2022 Author Posted September 19, 2022 A standard 440 came in turquoise. A high performance 440 came in Street Hemi Orange. 1
deuces wild Posted September 19, 2022 Posted September 19, 2022 It's already got mag wheels so why not paint the engine orange?????.....?
mrmike Posted September 19, 2022 Author Posted September 19, 2022 3 hours ago, deuces wild said: It's already got mag wheels so why not paint the engine orange?????.....? Just because it has mag wheels on it doesn't mean to paint the engine a different color. Street Hemi Orange is the standard color of a high performance 440 CID engine. 2
mrmike Posted September 26, 2022 Author Posted September 26, 2022 The 440 CID engine is complete and ready to be installed in the chassis. I added the air cleaner and decal and then I installed a STP Racing decal on the oil filter. The alternator has some clear red paint on the fins to represent the wire turnings on the armature. The wheels and tires have been further detailed and I still need to find tire decals in my stash that I know I have. More GTX to come... 3
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