3rd gen Camaro

[MarkJ]

Having trouble getting the springs with just the right amount of collapse when the car is sitting on the tires. Also to get them to sit straight up and down. I drilled holes in that long box I added, to install the spring jack nuts in.

[MarkJ]

Finally got the springs where I want them. Not exactly right but close. I can still paint it as an assembly before I install it to the chassis. I still need to do a track bar and two shocks and their mounting points. I have no ref picture how the track bar actually hooks up to the truck arm so I will have to wing it on that. Of course, I have been doing a lot of winging on this build just because of the lack of good ref pictures and the kit I started out with. It's been  over a year since I started on this thing and there is no end in sight, but I will finish it before I start on anything else. That is my personal rule about model building and so far, I have stuck to it except for the time I had to wait a couple of months on a Hudson Hornet I built and started out with the wrong kit and had to wait for a model show in Stafford Texas to get the correct kit to finish that build.

[MarkJ]

Once I get the rubber bushings on the front of the truck arms, they won't actually be rubber, I can locate the axle in the right spot and remove the tire saddles. I'm going to try to install them with rods so the axle will be operational on the springs. Plus, it allows me to be able to paint the whole assembly before installing it. The shocks will even be operational. If I decide not to, I can always put a little glue on the bushing rods and shock rods that will hold the assembly in one spot. I bought some jewelry chain to put between the truck arm and the roof of the axle compartment like the picture below shows. The chains limited travel of the axel when the car is jacked off the floor.

[MarkJ]

Got the bushings installed on the truck arms. I just need to drill the holes where the rods go through the bushings to hold the truck arms to the frame so I can remove the tire saddles. Then I just need to add shocks and a track rod and the frame should be basically finished. I will have to pair up the shocks on each side behind the axel on the truck arm because there is no room for a shock in front of the axel. The trouble one runs into when trying to change a stock Camaro unibody construction chassis into a Banjo racing chassis. If I hadn't posted the ref picture of the real chassis, nobody but Ray Evernham would have picked up on it, if he ever even sees this model, which I highly doubt will happen. He actually worked on building the 3rd gen IROC Camaro race cars back in the eighty's as one of his first jobs in big time racing as a mechanic. Did a lot of welding on these babies. Who knew his career would skyrocket after that?

[MarkJ]

Started on the shocks. I was able to figure out a way to put 2 shocks in front of the axle housing instead of 4 behind the axle housing.  The real car had them split, 2 to the front and 2 to the rear. Tight fit but it will work.

[Pierre Rivard]

Superb work Mark. Might need a mirror base to display this one.

[MarkJ]

5 minutes ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Superb work Mark. Might need a mirror base to display this one.

Thanks, Pierre. I kinda surprised myself on this one. Coming out better than I thought it would on the rear end. finding those tiny ref pictures that I blew up really helped. There is really not a lot of info, especially pictures of IROC cars from under the hood or underneath. I had the same problem when I did this Gen2 Camaro a few years ago.

[MarkJ]

Got the 2 rear shocks installed and removed the tire locating saddles. I just need to add a track bar, and the rear suspension will be finished, and I can get into the priming process for the chassis and all the parts that go on it. Then I can paint the individual parts and assemble them to the chassis. This model will be poseable with body on or off for the final photos just like a lot of Nascar kits are set up to do, which this is not. I still need to repaint the body because I messed it up from all the handling of it during mockups with the chassis. I guess I should have worn plastic gloves. It's surprising how much damage can be done with uncovered hands. Thats okay because I wasn't really happy with it in certain areas like the roof. Too much grit and some brush marks that I knew I would burn through if I tried to sand them too much.

[MarkJ]

Got the track bar installed without glue so far, as well as the axel assembly itself just to make sure it will install properly. I will glue it in as an assembly after I get it painted and hopefully plumbed. Also want to install some chains on each truck arm that they used to limit travel of the axle.
 

[1959scudetto]

Exceptional detailing here, Mark - will look awesome when finished !

[MarkJ]

Thank you, Helmut. I really appreciate your input.

[Mattilacken]

Looks great Mark! your scratch building skills are top notch!

[Pierre Rivard]

Beautiful beautiful fabrication. 

[MarkJ]

Thanks, Anton and Pierre. This part of the build has been more fun than other parts of it. 

Edited November 12, 2024 by MarkJ

[MarkJ]

When I get semi close to the end of a build, I make check lists, so I don't forget anything. First one is for things that still need to be made. Second one is for priming and painting everything and the third is to assemble everything hopefully in the right order. Plus, with every check of the list you get some reassurance that your almost there. I started this build in September of 2023 and really looking forward to finally finishing it. Please pardon the poor penmanship.

[MarkJ]

Added two bars to the chassis from the truck arm support rail to the outside frame rails. No good ref photos so I had to guess again.

[MarkJ]

Had to make a cooling fan powered by the engine. I had made an electric fan to use but the ref picture I used was from Dodge Avenger that was used in IROC in 1994. The Camaro in 1989 still used the engine 4 blade fan like was used in the cup series that year. I recently found a ref picture showing that. The rest of the cars are basically the same except for the body and engine. It was the same banjo chassis for both makes.

[MarkJ]

Had to paint some jewelry twine for hoses on the engine and to plumb from the fuel filter in the trunk to the engine and some jewelry bead cord for spark plug wires. I used Revell chrome to paint the twine and roughed up the bead cord with some 3200 polishing pad and then primed and painted it with a mix of Vallejo acrylic paint. I need light blue wires. Also finished and installed the fan to the engine.

[MarkJ]

I made the spark plug wire too thick, so I had to find one half as thick which luckily, I had. I'm working on a battery box and then a differential cooler. there are no good ref pictures of either one because the seat is in the way.

Edited November 16, 2024 by MarkJ
wrong picture

[MarkJ]

Here is the correct ref photo.

[MarkJ]

I made the spark plug wire too thick and had to redo them at .5 mm. I made a battery box and need to make a differential cooler but have no good ref photos.  At least I will have one and nobody knows what it actually looks like but Ray Evernham. The seat is in the way of seeing the battery box so I will just have to guess.

[BK9300]

Been a frequent visitor but haven’t commented because I have little knowledge about your type of car.  But I can certainly appreciate all the time, effort and research you’ve put in - adding details that only you will know are in the car when it is all buttoned up, or hidden underneath something else (and I also think checklists are essential!).  Not to be corny, but it’s truly a labour of love - look forward to the finished car!

[MarkJ]

6 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Been a frequent visitor but haven’t commented because I have little knowledge about your type of car.  But I can certainly appreciate all the time, effort and research you’ve put in - adding details that only you will know are in the car when it is all buttoned up, or hidden underneath something else (and I also think checklists are essential!).  Not to be corny, but it’s truly a labour of love - look forward to the finished car!

Thank you so much, Brian. I really appreciate the kind words about the build.  That's what's good about building something that is unusual. Nobody hardly can tell you that you messed up.

[MarkJ]

 Had to fix the floor on the model underneath so there would be a place to put the exhaust screen for the differential cooler. I also started on the cooler.

[MarkJ]

Got the rear axle cooler done and the screen under the car where the heat leaves from the electric cooler.