Raul_Perez Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 (edited) This project is a blend of the very nicely tooled Revell '40 Ford Coupe and the equally nice Revell '41 Willys Street Rod kit. In this case, it's a slightly modified 40 Ford body on the slightly altered Willys street rod chassis with that very well done 392 HEMI. Grafting the rear tub section from the Willys kit onto the floor pan from the Ford was about as easy as custom modeling can get; separate the floor from the tub section in the Willys kit and glue it to the floor section from the Ford. I always use a piece of plate glass to make sure that everything goes together flat, square and true. The next step was to graft the center console from the Willys kit onto the floor section. Again, this was very simply done with minimal trimming and fitting. Here's the finished piece after a bit of primer and minimal putty to clean up the joints. A small piece of plastic tubing was used to fill in the bottom of the floor pan below where the new console section was grafted on. Since the Ford is a bit longer than the Willys, I had to add about 1/2 inch to the frame. I added and pinned the extensions to the frame just behind the front suspension. To keep from getting into the firewall, I also had to move the engine and radiator mounts forward about 1/4 inch. Here's how the finished frame looks loosely positioned in place. Between stretching the frame and moving the engine mounts forward, I also needed to make a new tranny mount. You can see it positioned about 1 inch in front of the original tranny mount that I decided to leave in place because of the frame supports that are connected to it. I still need to take about 1/32" to 1/16" off the back of each wheel stem to narrow the front tire spacing just a bit. The body mods will be very minimal on this build. So far I've filled in the seams for the rear fenders, filled in the rear bumper bracket holes and created a roll pan for the back. Here you can see how the new roll pan also arches around between the sides. I never really liked the way I positioned the taillights with respect to the exhaust ports on this custom 40 Ford that I built several years ago, creating a "V" shaped appearance between them, but I will probably use the same type of recessed taillights on this build. I'm not sure yet, but the exhaust may go out the side(s) on this one. I somewhat favor the quad taillight setup that I used on this 39 Chevy. While this one is still really early in the initial design phase, (and is likely to change a bit here and there as I progress), overall it'll look a lot like the two-tone green 40 Ford pictured above, but with MUCH bigger tires in the rear, a MUCH bigger engine. It'll be painted Testors Dark Bronze Metallic lacquer on the top with Testors Black lacquer on the bottom. Thanks for following along... Edited August 15, 2009 by Raul_Perez
MikeMc Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 I am watching and enjoying the start of this one!!and I'm staying tuned
Dr. Cranky Posted March 24, 2009 Posted March 24, 2009 Oh, man, what a great idea. Run with it. Soar! Can't wait to see more!!! Who says I am not a poet?
CB Posted March 24, 2009 Posted March 24, 2009 Lookin' really good already Raul . I like how you gotta build it up 'right'. I'd just use the 40 Ford frame, but dats me. Gonna be cool to see you makin' it all work.
Raul_Perez Posted March 24, 2009 Author Posted March 24, 2009 I'd just use the 40 Ford frame, but dats me... Thanks, guys!! I went with the Willys frame because it's already setup for the BIG wheels/tires and tubs in the rear, it has modern front suspension and it's already setup for the HEMI (minus the engine and radiator mount relocation work that I had to do). I really want to use the normally aspirated 2x 4bbl setup for the 392 HEMI that's pictured on the new Revell '32 Ford 5w kit for this build, so I hope that they hit the street pretty soon...I can build everything else until I get my hands on one. Later,
59 Impala Posted March 24, 2009 Posted March 24, 2009 Looks really good so far Raul. I also like the other ones you posted, especially the two tone 40. One thing I didn't know, when did Revell make the 40 Ford coupe? I've only seen the convertible. Just curious. Dan
Raul_Perez Posted March 24, 2009 Author Posted March 24, 2009 Looks really good so far Raul. I also like the other ones you posted, especially the two tone 40. One thing I didn't know, when did Revell make the 40 Ford coupe? I've only seen the convertible. Just curious. Dan Dan, The original issue of the standard coupe came out in '03. The more recent issue of the coupe (with the hotrod parts found in the convertible kit) was out about a year ago. Both can be found on eBay for $10 to $12. Later,
Raul_Perez Posted April 7, 2009 Author Posted April 7, 2009 Waiting on an update Raul!!! It'll probably be a week or so before I have anything to update on this one. A touch of Carpal Tunnel in the right hand has slowed me down a bit... Later,
samm1970 Posted April 7, 2009 Posted April 7, 2009 Looking good so far.I have a nearly identical project on the backburner.I really didn't care for the blower set up,kinda got stalled trying to find a new induction set up.Thanks for the heads up about the new 2 X 4 set up coming out.What color are you planning on painting?Looking forward to seeing this build progress.
Tonioseven Posted April 7, 2009 Posted April 7, 2009 I really like the plans for this one and also like the way it's turned out so far!! I'll be watching this impressive thread!
randx0 Posted April 7, 2009 Posted April 7, 2009 looks great so far . also a rock solid how to for those who are new to the hobby or are ready to start a similar project .keep us posted
Raul_Perez Posted April 12, 2009 Author Posted April 12, 2009 Thanks, guys!! Well, my hands are feeling much better after several days of rest, so I took some time this afternoon to chop the top. I took about 3 scale inches out of it, but I did this one a bit different than usual. For this one, I didn't want to widen or lengthen the roof section, instead I wanted the back window to lay down at a steeper than stock angle, giving it a slightly sleeker look that would align with the slanted "B" pillars. Here's how it looked after the "A" and "C" pillars cut down, the "B" pillar temporarily removed and the "C" pillars slit. To achieve the look I wanted, I had to slit the roof between the "C" pillars and the rear window to allow the rear window to lay down without too much tension on the plastic. This photo shows how the roof panels were slit to allow the rear window section to lay down and reconnect with the panel between the trunk and the roof. You can also see one of the small relief holes that were drilled near the top of the roof to ensure that the window layed down even on both sides once it was reconnected and glued in place. And here's a couple of pics of how it looks after the "B" pillars were reversed, slanted and put back in place. Well, that's all for today. If all goes well, I'll have time tomorrow to round out the corners of the windows and maybe get a bit of primer on it. Then it looks like the hood may need a slight pie cut to get the nose down just a bit. Later,
randx0 Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 I like that profile shot ,nice to see a different way to chop the top . Will the front suspension be any lower or is that how it will ride?Love your work!
ajulia Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 Hello Mr. P the color choice will have this line up buzzing amigo... keep it moving forward!!! Awesome body work as always given and illustrated "Gotta love your WIP updates".... peace tito
Clay Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 Love it Raul, cant wait for it to come and sit by the Salt Flat Avanti.
Raul_Perez Posted April 12, 2009 Author Posted April 12, 2009 I like that profile shot ,nice to see a different way to chop the top . Will the front suspension be any lower or is that how it will ride?Love your work! Thanks!! No, the front will be lower than the rear when it's done. The suspension hasn't been glued in place yet. Hello Mr. P the color choice will have this line up buzzing amigo... keep it moving forward!!! Awesome body work as always given and illustrated "Gotta love your WIP updates".... peace tito Thanks, Tito!!
Raul_Perez Posted April 12, 2009 Author Posted April 12, 2009 Love it Raul, cant wait for it to come and sit by the Salt Flat Avanti. You are a funny guy!!
MikeMc Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 And here's a couple of pics of how it looks after the "B" pillars were reversed, slanted and put back in place. Well, that's all for today. If all goes well, I'll have time tomorrow to round out the corners of the windows and maybe get a bit of primer on it. Then it looks like the hood may need a slight pie cut to get the nose down just a bit. Later, Way to go Raul!!!! And if you do pie cut that hood take some pix...Are the dual quads still gonna fit????
Raul_Perez Posted April 12, 2009 Author Posted April 12, 2009 Way to go Raul!!!! And if you do pie cut that hood take some pix...Are the dual quads still gonna fit???? Thanks, Mike!! Yes, the dual quads should fit with no problem. Below are a couple of computer generated looks at what I might do. The first one is a simple pie cut. The only downfall with pie cutting the hood is that I'll loose the stock molding that I was planning on keeping for the color separation. Here's the stock hood with the chopped top. Here's a look at the pie-cut hood (with a little help from the computer); I like the way the slant follows the roof line and tails off like the trunk. Lastly, after the pie-cut is done, I may slant the top of the nose of the hood back just a bit. I can't slant it back too much or the profile of the hood will look odd with the grille in place. Later,
Randy Kern Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Looking good, Raul! You know, you could have taken the easy route, using Rep.& Min. Co. of Md.'s 2" chopped '40 Ford Coupe (as I did ) You are a scratch building master, though
evilone Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Wow bro looks like a show stopper already.The only part i have a bad taste in my mouth about is a mopar powered ford.If it was me i would put the 427sohc from the cobra kit in it.But hay its yours bro.I like the subtil body mods your doing makes people look twice.Heres a idea for paint bust out a deep metallic red on it that would look clean as heck with the bmf.
cruz Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I prefer the pie-cut hood also, interesting little project my friend!!!
Raul_Perez Posted April 13, 2009 Author Posted April 13, 2009 Looking good, Raul! You know, you could have taken the easy route, using Rep.& Min. Co. of Md.'s 2" chopped '40 Ford Coupe (as I did ) You are a scratch building master, though Yeah...but I went with a 3" slanted chop!! Wow bro looks like a show stopper already.The only part i have a bad taste in my mouth about is a mopar powered ford.If it was me i would put the 427sohc from the cobra kit in it.But hay its yours bro.I like the subtil body mods your doing makes people look twice.Heres a idea for paint bust out a deep metallic red on it that would look clean as heck with the bmf. Yeah, Kevin, normally I'd agree with you and go with a BB Ford engine. I'm using the old HEMI in this one because it's a cool engine and it's what came in the '41 Willys kit that I'm using for the chassis, tires, wheels... Later,
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now