It's a '30-sumthin' truck thingy...

[mrm]

I haven't done any truck in ages and the last time I've done a Street Rod truck was maybe in 2003. So this year I ave finally decided to check out the Southern NNL in Georgia in October. I just found out that this year's theme is going to be Mustangs and trucks. I figured I have to come up with something. Well, I have never build a Mustang in my life and the chances for that to change are pretty slim. So truck it is... I looked to see what do I already have in my stash to start with. I discovered all sorts of things I had no idea I had. 

  Here's a teaser:

 

[Flatout]

Looks Cool…Bobber maybe???    Following this one?

[Zippi]

That's going to be a kewl looking '30-sumthin' truck thingy.  

[NOBLNG]

Looks like a nice casting…I’ll follow along to see what you do with it.?

[FoMoCo66]

Oh yes, I am very excited for '30-sumthin' truck thingy! Those wheels you got look really cool. What's gonna be the power plant?

[bill-e-boy]

Trying to figure out what the pickup is. I know what it isn't - 32/34 Ford. Maybe a cut down 32 Chebby

A nice looking casting to start a cool project - I will be following

[mrm]

Thank y'all.

14 minutes ago, bill-e-boy said:

Trying to figure out what the pickup is. I know what it isn't - 32/34 Ford. Maybe a cut down 32 Chebby

A nice looking casting to start a cool project - I will be following

The cab is a chopped (maybe phantom) '30/'31. I believe it is supposed to represent the "Emerald Tide" truck, which in turn is just a drawing and not a real vehicle. I have no clue who makes it and I don't remember where I got it from. The bed I believe came with a phantom chopped '27 or '28 pick up cab. Again, long time ago with just a vague memory what it was originally, as the original box is long gone. The cab has received the New Revell '30 firewall, which I must have done when I first got the body, but I don't recall when I've done it. I did modify the bed slightly, so it's contoured to the back of the cab. That I did right before the photo. 

 

4 hours ago, FoMoCo66 said:

Oh yes, I am very excited for '30-sumthin' truck thingy! Those wheels you got look really cool. What's gonna be the power plant?

The wheels are 3D prints from Shapeways. I believe they are called Evod wheels or something like that. Whenever I had purchased them, Apparently I did not get corresponding tires. I guess that would have been too easy and where is the fun in that?! ?

The power is going to come from Texas 3D in the shape of his absolutely stunning Ardun head equipped and supercharged flathead motor, which I also had no idea I had purchased at some point. I just have not decided if it will be fed by the fuel injection with the scoop or the three Strombergs with the finned hats. Both apparently come with the engine, which is actually better than in the pictures. There is just one serious flaw in its design. There are no cooling ports on top of the heads, which would make connecting radiator hoses a challenge. 

 

[bill-e-boy]

Is the motor one piece - be a devil to detail if it is

 

[mrm]

10 minutes ago, bill-e-boy said:

Is the motor one piece - be a devil to detail if it is

 

Darn  right it would be. But fortunately it is not. I just have it mocked up. You can check his stuff online. Block, heads, transmission, blower, each set of belts, induction, exhaust... all separate pieces. My camera is catching all these little lines and imperfections, but in person it looks way better. On the picture I have not done any cleaning up. What you see is how it comes. 

[espo]

The Arden Head conversion was originally designed to give larger Ford trucks with the Flathead engine a little more pulling power years ago. Then engine builders of the day discovered they could enhance Flathead engines used in more performance uses. A '40 with a blown Arden engine makes perfect sense here. 

[JollySipper]

This looks to be a cool project! I like both injection options for the engine....... The blower hat if it's gonna be more of a street bruiser, or the three carbs if you're going for more of a show/custom truck.....

Edited May 26, 2024 by JollySipper

[Tim W. SoCal]

On 5/25/2024 at 2:06 PM, mrm said:

Thank y'all.

The cab is a chopped (maybe phantom) '30/'31. I believe it is supposed to represent the "Emerald Tide" truck, which in turn is just a drawing and not a real vehicle. I have no clue who makes it and I don't remember where I got it from. The bed I believe came with a phantom chopped '27 or '28 pick up cab. Again, long time ago with just a vague memory what it was originally, as the original box is long gone. The cab has received the New Revell '30 firewall, which I must have done when I first got the body, but I don't recall when I've done it. I did modify the bed slightly, so it's contoured to the back of the cab. That I did right before the photo. 

 

The wheels are 3D prints from Shapeways. I believe they are called Evod wheels or something like that. Whenever I had purchased them, Apparently I did not get corresponding tires. I guess that would have been too easy and where is the fun in that?! ?

The power is going to come from Texas 3D in the shape of his absolutely stunning Ardun head equipped and supercharged flathead motor, which I also had no idea I had purchased at some point. I just have not decided if it will be fed by the fuel injection with the scoop or the three Strombergs with the finned hats. Both apparently come with the engine, which is actually better than in the pictures. There is just one serious flaw in its design. There are no cooling ports on top of the heads, which would make connecting radiator hoses a challenge. 

 

Mozzi, Your pickup project looks like it will turn out BITCHEN! Please keep posting your progress...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             This picture inspired me and got my creative juices flowing! How 'bout this blown Ardun Flathead in Revell's '32 Sedan kit with a Jimmy Flinstone chopped Tudor sedan body, built as a Highboy with the Halibrand wheels from the Revell '29 Ford Model A Roadster? I just ordered this engine, plus additional goodies, from Texas 3D Customs and already have the Jimmy Flinstone body. Now to decide on colors and get to the workbench...

[slusher]

Killer engine, for your truck!

[mrm]

On 5/26/2024 at 11:11 AM, espo said:

The Arden Head conversion was originally designed to give larger Ford trucks with the Flathead engine a little more pulling power years ago. Then engine builders of the day discovered they could enhance Flathead engines used in more performance uses. A '40 with a blown Arden engine makes perfect sense here. 

 

On 5/26/2024 at 1:23 PM, JollySipper said:

This looks to be a cool project! I like both injection options for the engine....... The blower hat if it's gonna be more of a street bruiser, or the three carbs if you're going for more of a show/custom truck.....

 

On 5/26/2024 at 7:47 PM, Tim W. SoCal said:

Mozzi, Your pickup project looks like it will turn out BITCHEN! Please keep posting your progress...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             This picture inspired me and got my creative juices flowing! How 'bout this blown Ardun Flathead in Revell's '32 Sedan kit with a Jimmy Flinstone chopped Tudor sedan body, built as a Highboy with the Halibrand wheels from the Revell '29 Ford Model A Roadster? I just ordered this engine, plus additional goodies, from Texas 3D Customs and already have the Jimmy Flinstone body. Now to decide on colors and get to the workbench...

 

On 5/27/2024 at 2:08 AM, slusher said:

Killer engine, for your truck!

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. 

[mrm]

Here is some progress.

I started setting up the frame. Basically it is scratch built, as the only thing left from any kit are portions of the frame rails. As of right now the front crossmember remains, but that's not going to last either. 

 

 

The rear axle and quickchange is a 3D printed item from Maple leaf Modelworks.

 

 

First mock ups. It's crazy when I look at these pictures. The grille shell and the tires are the only kit sourced items. Everything else is 3D printed, resin or scratch built. I don't think that will change at all. 

 

 

After teh guiding coat of primer I even managed to start making some custom engine mounts. Yeyyy!

 

Stay tuned...

 

[slusher]

Great mock-up!

[mrm]

1 hour ago, slusher said:

Great mock-up!

Thank you.

it’s one of these rare occasions when everything just fell together just right. 
  My favorite detail is how the rear tires (from the Revell ‘30) are the perfect size for the radius of the bead on the side of the bed. And how things kinda sorted themselves out. So, if the rear axle, any axle, is rested on the notches of the original frame (which will be removed later on) that determines the ride height in the rear. Having put a crossmember to accommodate the rear leaf spring created a hump above the frame. I did not want to cut the bottom of the bed, but it was thick enough that I could carve an indentation, mostly for location purposes when mocking up. Well, low and behold, that sat the bed exactly at a height that now lines up the top bed edge with the belt line of the cab and the bead on the side of the bed frames the rear tire. These are often overlooked details that make a huge difference in overall appearance. They remain unnoticed by most, but subconsciously in everyone’s minds a light goes on and registers that this just looks right. 

[mrm]

Today was "let's see how much sanding I can handle in a day". 

This resin cab is nowhere near as good as it initially looked. Before I started sanding away, I filled the hole for the steering in the firewall and installed the shaft for what would be my top steering arm on the left side of the cab. The firewall itself was filed off quite a bit in the middle to clear the transmission so it can sit where I want it. More fresh putty was added.

 

Thanks for looking and stay tuned...

Edited May 31, 2024 by mrm

[milo1303s]

[mrm]

8 hours ago, milo1303s said:

"Inspiration for the truck came directly from a painting called "Emerald Tide" by lowbrow fine artist Keith Weesner. Weesner's stylistic automotive-themed creations (often accompanied by a voluptuous female) are about as close to what hard-core hot rodders dream about, and Jimmy's interpretation of Weesner's artwork could only be termed "spot-on." "

 

With my build I am going for a completely different vibe. I want it "modern", in terms as that's what a top shop would build our days in a very traditional style. 

[Zippi]

I'm really diggin this project Mozzi.  Looking really good so far.  I have that egine from Texas 3D Customs but it's a little on the big side for my 36 Ford Coupe project.  

[stavanzer]

I like it all, but I'm a fan of the Triple Carbs, rather than the scoop.

Other than that, though, Model On!

[TNT]

Looks cool.  

[horsepower]

On 5/25/2024 at 1:33 PM, bill-e-boy said:

Trying to figure out what the pickup is. I know what it isn't - 32/34 Ford. Maybe a cut down 32 Chebby

A nice looking casting to start a cool project - I will be following

Looks like a '31 Ford Model A to me.

[horsepower]

On 6/20/2024 at 5:00 AM, Zippi said:

I'm really diggin this project Mozzi.  Looking really good so far.  I have that egine from Texas 3D Customs but it's a little on the big side for my 36 Ford Coupe project.  

I've been contemplating using that blown Ardun Truck engine in the '50 Ford F-1 p'cup, should be a good fit since they actually included a mild L'il one in the kit but with the blower and a couple or three carbs piled up on top of it it's gotta be right.?