IH Transtar 4300 converted to a 4200

[k100]

I recently bought a cheap 4300 kit at the local flea market it was a complete kit , the frame had been started but was broken and badly bent  I fixed the frame by making it shorter , the 4300 hood and cab on the shorter frame just didn't look right , so I decided to cut the hood down to make it a 4200. I got the engine built ,painted and plumed .

I know the front axle is too wide ,so I used the axle from the C0-4070A as a reference to cut the axle down ,also replaced the kits plastic tie rod with brass tubing .

Added some detail to the air tanks and battery box , I'm going to use 2 hole Bud wheels and tires from Sense Unlimited.

Thanks for looking .

 

[Rockford]

Looks like a good chunky monkey that. Cutting the hood down was a clever move. Wheels and tyres look excellent. 

Edited January 8, 2024 by Rockford
Text corrected

[Gary Chastain]

Like the looks of the cut down hood. What did you do to refit the hood to the cowling?

[cifenet]

That is a good looking truck already!   Great prep work and good start of the build!

[k100]

Thank you for all the comments .

Steve: thank you, I might put spoke wheels on the rear ,undecided yet .

Gary: actually the hood lines up fine off the frame , with the frame twisted Ill have to shim the cab to make it fit correctly.

Steve: thank you 

Started some under hood detail, I added 2 stiffening ribs and trying to make some generic inner fender wells . Also reworked the hood hinges I added some styrene to the original hood hinge so I could drill holes to use brass rod, the hinge mounts on the frame were drill all the way through. 

Thanks for for looking .

 

[Gary Chastain]

I will be following this build and thanks for posting the details. I have a couple of these kits and really like what you are doing. Always wanted to build one of the short hood trucks. 

[Gary Chastain]

You will need to move the cab forward, I assume and will you need to modify the firewall. Interesting to see what you do 

[Scott Eriksen]

Looks great!!!  I aways liked the snub nose look . All the years of working on trucks ,and a lot of corn binders,,I never saw a 4300 with the IH V-8 ,,usually a Detroit or Cummins .. they make for a sweet looking wrecker 

[k100]

Thanks for the comments .

Gary: yes I moved the cab forward about 3/8 of inch from the original mounting Location, as for the firewall just had to sand a little off bottom cab corners , it fits good off the frame I’ll need to do some shimming to get it fit good on the frame .

Scott: I’m just using the kit motor in this one , I thought about swapping the motor out maybe on the next one I’ll do that.

I got front axle mounted added U bolts & nuts , made new shocks , and mocked up the steering box and shaft , all the pictures I’ve seen online has this type of steering box not like the one in the kit, I have an old S- series in the parts bin I took steering box off that just to see if it would fit , I think it will work . The U joint is from a Moebius Ford pickup kit .

The under side of the hood is finished it didn’t turn out too bad.

The last picture reminds me of seeing Glider trucks setting in the lots when Intentional Harvester was still in Ft. Wayne . 
Thanks 

 

[k100]

Quick update I got the steering all connected it fell right into place with no modifications.

[cifenet]

You are doing an excellent work at this making systematic improvements!

Nice progress!

[k100]

Thank you for the comments.

I decided to swap out the IH Engine for Cummins it’s a tight fit but with some modifying of the fire wall it fits in well . Also got the rear suspension mounted and some air lines plumed in .

Thanks 

[Scott Eriksen]

Nice detail on the engine,PT pump,air compressor and A/C compressor bracket look good! ....where did you get the brake chambers,,they look a lot better than the Auslowe ones I use

[k100]

Hello

It’s been a while sense I’ve been able to work the Transtar , I decided that frame was a little too short and I didn’t like the look of the cobbled mess of the old spliced area , so carefully cut the frame and added about 3/4 of an inch of frame , also reworked the fire wall area around the motor to make room for the Cummins , and reworked the air intake and filter box .

Steve : thanks for the comment the brake Chambers are from a Revell Peterbilt 359 .

[Chariots of Fire]

Did that cut and paste splice of the frame straighten it out any?  Nice work that you're doing.  Lots of little detail things beginning to show.

 

[k100]

Thank you for comments 

Charles yes it help quite a bit, but still need to shim the front of the cab just a little .

[DRIPTROIT 71]

I like it! Nice work!

[Force]

On 2/12/2024 at 1:05 AM, k100 said:

Thank you for the comments.

I decided to swap out the IH Engine for Cummins it’s a tight fit but with some modifying of the fire wall it fits in well . Also got the rear suspension mounted and some air lines plumed in .

Thanks 

The IH V-800 is a boat anchor anyway so you might as well.?
But that engine is in the 4300 kit so International must have had it on the option list as I don't think ERTL who originally developed this kit would have put in that engine otherwise, the V-800 are also in the other ERTL international truck kits except for the F 4270 wich had a Cummins V903 and the CO4070A and CO4070B wich had 8V-71.

Good work on this one.

Edited March 24, 2024 by Force

[cifenet]

Excellent work, I like the look of the truck so far!

[k100]

Thank you for all comments .

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to get some bench time . Did some little things added radiator supports , made oil reservoir , and finished the air intake pipe , rubber connectors to the air filter box .

thanks for looking .

[cifenet]

The details you are adding under the hood is outstanding!

[k100]

Thanks for all the comments , It’s been a while sense I’ve posted anything . I painted the frame , rear wheels and the fuel tank a couple weeks ago , today I painted the cab and hood ,had to do a quick mock up . Hoping to get the engine and transmission set in place tonight .
 

[Scott Eriksen]

Nice job! I gotta build mine one of these days ,,,,she be getting a Detroit though

[BK9300]

Love all the metal - u-bolts, rad supports, shocks - great detail!

[TopherMcGinnis]

Awesome build! You are very talented and patient!