1962 Pontiac 421 SD F/SA circa 2024 edition

[R. Thorne]

This will be a current style NHRA stock eliminator car and probably be black with the optional hood scoop.  Something in the vein of Carroll Warling’s car.  This will be an automatic car with a th200 as the current much more lenient rules allow.  Headers will probably have to come from a Revell 68 Firebird kit unless someone has a suggestion?  Comments, criticisms, and suggestions are always welcomed.

[Tony Coomer]

This is gonna be a great build. I built one of these kits years ago, everything about these kits are on point and super detailed…

[Iraceitall]

Love the Stock Eliminator cars. Where can you find a Metric 200 Trans though?

[Brutalform]

On 6/25/2024 at 3:51 PM, R. Thorne said:

This will be a current style NHRA stock eliminator car and probably be black with the optional hood scoop.  Something in the vein of Carroll Warling’s car.  This will be an automatic car with a th200 as the current much more lenient rules allow.  Headers will probably have to come from a Revell 68 Firebird kit unless someone has a suggestion?  Comments, criticisms, and suggestions are always welcomed.

Sounds like a cool build. Why not just use the factory aluminum headers that the 421 had. Sought after, very rare headers that preformed extremely well back then. 

[Straightliner59]

You have a bunch of cool projects in the works, Ron! Every one of them is interesting. Keep up the great work!

[R. Thorne]

On 6/28/2024 at 7:02 PM, Iraceitall said:

Love the Stock Eliminator cars. Where can you find a Metric 200 Trans though?

I modified a Compresins turbo 200-4r while working on the Winchester Corvette Stocker, then made a mold and cast a few for future builds like this one.  It’s not perfect, but it will have to do, for now.

[R. Thorne]

20 hours ago, Brutalform said:

Sounds like a cool build. Why not just use the factory aluminum headers that the 421 had. Sought after, very rare headers that preformed extremely well back then. 

This is a current type build, so headers would have been used for better performance, not to mention the sound of a present day stocker.

[R. Thorne]

On 6/27/2024 at 9:23 AM, Tony Coomer said:

This is gonna be a great build. I built one of these kits years ago, everything about these kits are on point and super detailed…

Thanks, Tony.  They are nice kits, for sure.  I don’t  think I will have to do much of anything to the body to prepare it for paint (except cast and install the scoop).

[R. Thorne]

20 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

You have a bunch of cool projects in the works, Ron! Every one of them is interesting. Keep up the great work!

Thanks, Daniel.  Believe it or not, I have two more drag cars I am currently working on and will post here in a couple of days.

[R. Thorne]

Tried to fix a hood scoop I had cast a while back.  After spending way too much time adding thick super glue, then sanding and priming with Mr surfacer 500 , I just wasn’t happy with it or the th200 trans.  I finally realized (duh!!), it was way easier to make more castings, which I did.  Old habits die hard.  I ended up casting a bunch of miscellaneous stuff, as I usually end up with lots left over in the mixing cup.

[Brutalform]

On 6/29/2024 at 11:13 PM, R. Thorne said:

This is a current type build, so headers would have been used for better performance, not to mention the sound of a present day stocker.

Ahhh, gotcha. 

[Brutalform]

On 6/27/2024 at 9:23 AM, Tony Coomer said:

This is gonna be a great build. I built one of these kits years ago, everything about these kits are on point and super detailed…

The only thing I dislike about this kit, is it’s lacking the vent window glass. Easy to make, but still annoying, for such a nice kit. 

[R. Thorne]

5 hours ago, Brutalform said:

The only thing I dislike about this kit, is it’s lacking the vent window glass. Easy to make, but still annoying, for such a nice kit. 

Thanks for the heads up.  Strange.    I will probably put side windows in anyway, as I do with most of my drag cars, so it won’t be a big deal, as you said.  Painted the block and trans.  Digging for headers.

[R. Thorne]

Cut hole for hood scoop, removed wiper blades (made hole for “stub”).  Still have to scribe the windshield base.

[R. Thorne]

Did some more sanding and finish work on the trans, then sprayed with ts30. Primed the hood scoop as it is resin.   Also, installed some afb’s and the hood scoop.  Finally, glued the trans on with some thick ca glue, like I used on the carbs.  Gives you a little more alignment time.  Hopefully, get some paint on the body tonight.

Edited July 4, 2024 by R. Thorne

[R. Thorne]

Windshield base scribed with Dspiae tool.  No primer on body, just ts14 black.  One light coat, waited 5 minutes, then 1 medium coat, then had to force myself to stop, because it looked flawless.  These pictures were taken 3 hours later.

[Brutalform]

Looking good Ron, that black laid down nice. 

[R. Thorne]

17 hours ago, Brutalform said:

Looking good Ron, that black laid down nice. 

Thanks, Tom.  It makes my hood scoop look bad.  I almost hate to put some TS13 clear on it tonight.

Edited July 6, 2024 by R. Thorne

[R. Thorne]

Cut out the fuel tank with the help of my drill and vari-bit, then my old faithful Xuron nippers.  Put some TS-13 Tamiya clear on.  Humidity was down to 48% today (inside the house, that is).   Same process as with black paint.  1 light tacky coat, then 1 medium heavy shiny coat, then stop and cover it up and leave it alone.  This is 3 hours later.

[TransAmMike]

17 hours ago, R. Thorne said:

Cut out the fuel tank with the help of my drill and vari-bit, then my old faithful Xuron nippers.  Put some TS-13 Tamiya clear on.  Humidity was down to 48% today (inside the house, that is).   Same process as with black paint.  1 light tacky coat, then 1 medium heavy shiny coat, then stop and cover it up and leave it alone.  This is 3 hours later.

 

I guess I missed it Ron...what black paint is this??

Edited July 7, 2024 by TransAmMike

[R. Thorne]

TS14 Tamiya black is what I painted the body with.  I then applied TS13 Tamiya clear over that.  I used the same procedure on both (1 light coat, then 1 medium coat).  Nothing to do with the chassis.  Hope that’s clear.

[R. Thorne]

Not much done today.  Just a bit of painting.

[R. Thorne]

Made some upper and lower control arm reinforcements.

[R. Thorne]

Painted some small stuff.

[JimmyRiggins]

Awesome build! Your painting skills really are going to do this kit the justice it deserves!  The hood scoop and transmission are quite nice too, how long have you been casting your own parts?!
On a side note, I enjoy your placement of tools and paint colour codes next to a job to be done! Nice touch!

Edited July 13, 2024 by JimmyRiggins