2025 Cannonball Run - 50 years since the 1975 run.

[atomicholiday]

Just finished shooting the clear coat.  I went with Splash Paints 2k.  It’s my first time using 2k and I’m completely impressed with the stuff!

Only issue I had was cleaning the airbrush.  It cleans up fine, but takes a bit more effort than lacquer or enamel.

[Rescued customs]

2 hours ago, Keef said:

Managed to get some primer sprayed and a few blemishes fixed. Got a rollbar installed for safety. Is this the final color? Stay tuned to see….

Love the Chevelle on Gotti wheels that’s why I chose for my cannon ball Fury 

[Mattilacken]

 

2025 Cannonball Run Entry list:

1. '62 Chevrolet Bel Air  (W-409)

2.  Ford Escort MK2 ( stitchdup)

3. ‘74 Mercedes 300TD SLC (Mattilacken)

4. ‘69 Chevrolet Camaro (atomicholliday)

5. WV type 1 Van (Fat Brian)

6. ‘69 Dodge Dart (Tim08)

7. ‘67 Ford Mustang (JimmyRiggins)

8. '70 Plymouth Superbird (Keef)

9. ’71 Renault Alpine A110( White Rabbit)

10. ‘75 Chevrolet Monza 2+2 (MeatMan)

11. Dodge Super Bee (Slusher)

12. ’70 Dodge Super Bee (Sam I Am)

13. Lamborghini Espada (Tooltime-fan)

14. ‘70 Chevrolet Malibu (KWT)

15. ‘75 Volkswagen Golf (oldcarfan)

16. ’60 Ford Starliner (blue303) 

17. Shelby G.T. 350R (xbazzarex)

18. ‘73 Mercury Cougar (bill_67)

19. ‘64 Corvette Grand Sport (beans)

20. ’71 Porsche 911 T (Misha)

21. ’73 Dodge Charger (Pat Minarick)

22. ’71 Ford Maverick (bobthehobbyguy)

23. ’70 Ford Torino (kromolly)

24. ‘63 Renault Estafette (camaro69)

25. ‘73 Dodge d300 (53gmc)🏁

26. ‘71 Ford Interceptor (spencer1984)

27. ‘74 Ford Gran Torino wagon (iamsuperdan)

28. ‘58 Plymouth sports fury (Rescued Customs)

29. ‘66 Chevrolet  Malibu (Chasten)

30. ’66 Fairline GT/GTA (geras24)

Edited February 20 by Mattilacken

[Chasten]

Hello guys I would like to enter my 66 chevelle/malibu as the 28th entry for this yrs cannonball run build off thanks 

[Mattilacken]

16 hours ago, Chasten said:

 

Hello guys I would like to enter my 66 chevelle/malibu as the 28th entry for this yrs cannonball run build off thanks 

 

Welcome! You are number 29  

Really glad to have so many competitors this year! 

[Rescued customs]

3 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Welcome! You are number 29  

Really glad to have so many competitors this year! 

Wife ave a Opel gt coming and will also be joining …. Hers may be a diorama as that’s her thing but we will see 

[atomicholiday]

Just printed some wheels for the Camaro.  They’re very close to the original kit wheels, but these will make it easier to add disc brakes.

 

[Rescued customs]

6 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Welcome! You are number 29  

Really glad to have so many competitors this year! 

Is this our first junior…. They are the future of our hobby so hope we have a few.

[oldcarfan]

I tried something last night. Last year I bought a bundle of textured foil last year. It's basically little sheets of cigarette pack foil. Anyway it looks like the heat proofing stuff that my dad used when he was a helicopter mechanic back in the day. I do remember him bringing home scraps and using it in his Mustang project around 1976. He said it made the car quieter and cooler.

I'm not sure I like it so I'm looking for opinions on if it's too much. If I keep it I'll probably add a couple of floor mats in the front.

[Beans]

1 hour ago, oldcarfan said:

I tried something last night. Last year I bought a bundle of textured foil last year. It's basically little sheets of cigarette pack foil. Anyway it looks like the heat proofing stuff that my dad used when he was a helicopter mechanic back in the day. I do remember him bringing home scraps and using it in his Mustang project around 1976. He said it made the car quieter and cooler.

I'm not sure I like it so I'm looking for opinions on if it's too much. If I keep it I'll probably add a couple of floor mats in the front.

 

This is totally just my opinion and nothing more.  It does look in scale.  It looks a little too shiny at least for that application.  I could definitely see in under the hood, on either side of the firewall, or in the engine bay, or even as a headliner.  It seems a little much for the entire floor.  Just my thoughts.  Floor mats would definitely break it up some.

[oldcarfan]

16 minutes ago, Beans said:

This is totally just my opinion and nothing more.  It does look in scale.  It looks a little too shiny at least for that application.  I could definitely see in under the hood, on either side of the firewall, or in the engine bay, or even as a headliner.  It seems a little much for the entire floor.  Just my thoughts.  Floor mats would definitely break it up some.

My thoughts too, I may try some dull coat on it and see how that looks. I found a good photo of an original issue set of VW floor mats and may try to print those.

[Mattilacken]

So I have decided that the Cuda with the Elephant motor will have to bad of a fuel economy for this run! 😁 so I will be running a Mercedes Turbo Diesel. And since intercooler technology was around within the racing scene as well as the big riggs. Se my earlier post on the Porsche turbo of the day.

 

I was initially thinking of making a 1968 Mercedes 300 AMG Red pig but I won’t take the effort needed to make the 3d file printable so I will go with the kit I bought as a donor. The Italeri 500SLC, but I don’t like many parts of the body mainly the rear wheel arches so some changes inspired by the racing scene in the 70’s will be added. I will probably try to make the noce lower as well since I will try to make the aero better. 
Regarding engine, Mercedes had released their OM617 (Oil Motor) in the 300d in the smaller 4 door body style. So this would be a swap for the OM motor. There is no files around or kits with this engine so I have started fabricating an engine based out of a Nissan 6cyl that I cut down so it has the right dimensions of the 5cyl OM617. 
A diesel pump was modified in cad to become a 5cyl pump as well as some other parts. That I might use.

wheels are same as the red pig used.

[oldcarfan]

1 hour ago, Mattilacken said:

So I have decided that the Cuda with the Elephant motor will have to bad of a fuel economy for this run! 😁 so I will be running a Mercedes Turbo Diesel. And since intercooler technology was around within the racing scene as well as the big rigs. See my earlier post on the Porsche turbo of the day.

 

I love what you're going for! Those are such cool cars.

[Mattilacken]

49 minutes ago, oldcarfan said:

I love what you're going for! Those are such cool cars

I agree! Here is the latest mockup. I have this splitter made for an other car. I will narrow it and print a new to morrow. 

[atomicholiday]

13 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

I agree! Here is the latest mockup. I have this splitter made for an other car. I will narrow it and print a new to morrow. 

Wow, that looks mean already!   Very cool build. 

[Mattilacken]

Have been working that bodywork to sculpt the flares and spoilers and it’s looking better I believe. For beeing a cross country car I believe the ride height is okay.

[stitchdup]

I've swapped to one of the rally car bodies as c1 have released an rs2000 and parts to convert the italeri kits. Since i want to use an rs front on the zackspeed body i swapped to this one. I've opened the boot and removed the cowl area but i still need to open the grille area up. theres another mod but i'll show it later as only one side is done (its not the wide arches). I've also swapped the carbs for the stock zakspeed engine part but have removed the joke of an airbox in place of a scratch built one. this will connect to the box under the radiator. I added some fittings to connect to the fuel block on top of the engine as well. it looks very simple but thats what zakspeed did. since i modified the front belts to add an alternator, the exhaust no longer fitted and wasn't going to work with the engine set back anyway so i scratched up a new one with the missing water intake also added. next since i opened the boot, i had to build up the inside as it was just a wall of plastic originaly. I cut most of this away, at times using a hole in the wheelarch, and then built up a floor and arches. its not even close to stock but its better than what was there, and once i add the rest of the fuel system most will be hidden anyway. speaking off, i also made a fuel tank. which will mean cutting out most of the remaining boot floor so it can be sunk in. this will hopefully leave space for some spare parts

[Mattilacken]

Been doing some more work on the new generation racer. Engine have gotten an intake and exhaust as well as a turbo and waste gate. Also swapped a transmission that looks similar to what MB used, a 5speed ZF transmission.  Also made modifications to the block and valvecover to represent the OM617 engine. 
I also replaced the suspension crossmember with one from a bmw that gave me the possibility to move the engine further back. I also opened up the rear side windows since I think it looks better and less grandpas car. The Mampe also have the windows like that.  
I also removed the molded in rear end and prop shaft, and replaced with parts that look the same from a bmw 635 thanks to @stitchdup.

 

new transmission 

[Mattilacken]

Was looking at the turbo yesterday and thought that it’s a huge turbo for a  engine producing 80 hp out of the factory and the lag should be immense! So this team, Banks maybe 😉 decided to use the aeromotive technology used since the 50’s compound turbos, which makes the 2 turbos to work on top of each other which boost efficiency and HP as well as torque. 
 

To much rule bending or just creative thinking? 
 

What air filters would have been used for this kind of build back then? I was looking at the Porsches but they seem to have no filter. I have some small round filers that could work or the stock one might do it.

 

thoughts?

Edited February 14 by Mattilacken

[atomicholiday]

1 hour ago, Mattilacken said:

Was looking at the turbo yesterday and thought that it’s a huge turbo for a  engine producing 80 hp out of the factory and the lag should be immense! So this team, Banks maybe 😉 decided to use the aeromotive technology used since the 50’s compound turbos, which makes the turbos to work on top of each other which boost efficiency and HP as well as torque. 
 

To much rule bending or just creative thinking? 
 

What air filters would have been used for this kind of build back then? I was looking at the Porsches but they seem to have no filter. I have some small round filers that could work or the stock one might do it.

 

thoughts?

I think the new turbo looks better.   My first thought when I saw the original was "Wow,  that's a huge turbo!"😁

[Mattilacken]

1 hour ago, atomicholiday said:

I think the new turbo looks better.   My first thought when I saw the original was "Wow,  that's a huge turbo!"😁

Hehe right! 🙂 and there fore I used 2 in sequence 😉

Edited February 14 by Mattilacken

[Beans]

3 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

thoughts?

I liked the back window the way it was.  😂

As far as the turbos go, They look cool.  I go with creative.  My knowledge of turbo history is pretty limited.  Also pretty sure there are no inspectors for the cannonball.

[slusher]

On 2/8/2025 at 2:52 PM, atomicholiday said:

Just finished shooting the clear coat.  I went with Splash Paints 2k.  It’s my first time using 2k and I’m completely impressed with the stuff!

Only issue I had was cleaning the airbrush.  It cleans up fine, but takes a bit more effort than lacquer or enamel.

Beautiful paint Jeremy!

[Mattilacken]

I have been attacking the chassis with removing the remains of te molded in reare axle and prop shaft and I also went ahead and added some structure to the floor pans out of stretched spruce. And I also went ahead and closed of the gap between the front splitter and flare for a better flow in the body. 
also opened up and started mocking radiator and IC.

for some reason it reminds me of hoonicorn when the wheels are not attached.

Edited February 15 by Mattilacken

[Mattilacken]

Was looking for the right tire sizes and went to the Red Pig and looked up that they ran 285 front tires and probably countach size in the back at least in 71. Which would have been a 315 tire.

and when browsing my tires I found two that had good width and height an also right inner diameter! So it will definitely look like a 70’s custom build so metallic red would be cool on it! 
a pic of the underside as well.