Rusted '58 Edsel Pacer

[Monte's Motors]

Ok, here's my first try at rusted cars.

The boys have their work cut out on this one.

(crew left to rt) Dave, John(shop foreman), and Ken get ready to start the work.

After removing the engines front cover, a broken timing chain was found.

[HotRodAlex]

Nice rust detail it looks like actual rust very nice

[crazyjim]

Pretty cool how you're tearing the car down. Never saw that before.

[sobpinstriping]

awsome first try, i just did my first weatherd paint a few weeks ago, i like the opend up engine, thats a great idea

cheers

mat

[nails3825]

Wow... for an old rust bucket, this one really shines!

[The Modeling Hermit]

You were really close until the nice bright engine compartment. It's a great first try, so keep them coming.

[David G.]

You were really close until the nice bright engine compartment. It's a great first try, so keep them coming.

I have to agree here. The body looks great, but the engine and surrounding bay are waaaaay too clean. In a car this old and beat up, the engine would be little more than a black, greasy lump. Also some dirt on the floor under and around the car would add a bit more to the realism,

It's a very cool concept. For years, I've wanted to do a series something like this. The vaguely formed plan was to get 10 identical model kits and use them as 10 "snapshots" that would follow a complete restoration on a car. Much like what you've got going here.

What you've done with the body rust and paint is excellent!

David G.

[crazyjim]

Maybe the engine comparment was pressure washed before starting the teardown? How's that Monte? Now you have to build a scale pressure washer for your excellent display.

[Dr. Cranky]

I love it. Nice details throughout. For this being the first time, I'd say the RUST FORCE is with YOU!

[David G.]

Maybe the engine comparment was pressure washed before starting the teardown? How's that Monte? Now you have to build a scale pressure washer for your excellent display.

That would work, but there'd be dirt and water on the floor!

[crazyjim]

I've never pressure washed an engine bay in the same spot that I'll work on a car. Always in a different area so my work area stays dry.

[David G.]

I've never pressure washed an engine bay in the same spot that I'll work on a car. Always in a different area so my work area stays dry.

Same here, but I could never wait a week for the car to dry completely. In N.E. Ohio where I did most of my work, there was always water, mud, rust and/or ice falling dripping and/or pooling under anything I pulled into a garage or work bay- especially after a pressure wash. Trying to clean it sometimes just made matters worse.

But here in Phoenix, it's a very different story. Things stay clean and dry and don't tend to rust. I think back when I was working on cars in OH, I would have gladly put up with the 100+ degree temps here in Phx to not have to deal with the damp, dirty, gritty, rusted cars. Now I'm not so sure.

The point I think we're trying to make Jim, is that there are always options to explore when you're trying to tell a story. As long as everything works together to advance the plot, then it works!

Let's give Monte his thread back, now.

[The Modeling Hermit]

This whole scene tells a story. John looks all excited about the new project. Ken looks like he's thinking that maybe today would be a good time to start a vacation, and Dave is thinking, "John, why didn't you leave this thing where you found it?" Roger this one is fun.

[W-409]

It's Edsel, one of my favourite cars, rusted! No, that is very nice model, that rust looks like 1:1, very good looking body on it. Engine is a bit of simple, those cylinder heads aren't looking like real 1:1 parts... Plug wires are took of, to make that thing easier, or is that engine running? If it is running, then plug wires would be good ones, but if engine is shut down, then its good just like this exept cylinder heads... But good job you did all the way! Oh, and that timing chane thing is very good idea and after cover removed, it looks very 1:1, so very good job on it, bolt holes are just more plus points! Edited August 10, 2010 by W-409

[dimaxion]

I just have to reply to this . Well done . After Mustangs , the Edsel is my favorite car too . I also thought the engine compartment was freshley power washed . It is only lacking patches of missing portions of paint that came off with the grease and oil . That was caked on through the years . Do you think it will make it through the restoration ? Thanx ..

[Chuck Most]

Still haven't taken a bash at weathering an Edsel, but I doubt mine would look as cool anyway. Great job on this one!

[CUMMINSPWR]

great weathering i also like the idea of making the engine bay clean it makes it look like a restoration was started and then never finished. probably because the body was to rusty to fix.

[63special]

Roger,

I really like this! The body is excellent

I agree with what the others were saying about the engine bay details, and the lack of oil stains on the floor from both the engine and transmission!

I'd like to suggest letting some air out of the tires, just to make it a real pig to push around the shop while the engine is pulled apart.

The last shot with John pointing to the engine makes me think he's telling Dave he wants the engine running by the time he knocks off work this afternoon. I see Ken has already shot through!

You've done an excellent job, I wish it was mine.

Don't let this be your last rusted model, the board always needs more models like yours.

JAmes.

[Mike Kucaba]

It looks very well done,and the theory of the pressure washing is good.I'd scatter a few tools(hammer,chisel,you know all the stuff for precision work) around the fenders and floor.

[charlie8575]

I have seen a few cars with reasonably clean underhood areas and the rest is similar to the exterior. Possibly due to cleaning up, but I don't know.

Either way, well done. And yes, I'd probably clean the underhood area first too, to make things easy to find/take apart.

Charlie Larkin

[Monte's Motors]

Thanks for everyone's comments. I will always welcome comments and suggestions as that is how we all improve our work.

As a 21 year mechanic I've helped to restore a few real cars.

Seen lots of ideas for rusted kits. If you do research of real rusted cars, no rusting patterns are really standing out for one car to another. Rusting around chrome edges seems to be the most similar in rusted cars.

Being a mechanic by trade I can tell everyone that any resto project we did, we take the car to wash it first before any work was done. Our boss is a real collector and he will not have any big messes on his shop floors.

You guys here keep pointing out these details.

Just pointing out my real resto projects I've been involved with. Maybe this advice will help you guys on your next project.

Thanks again guys

[vaughn]

Thats nice. Maybe someone put a rebuilt motor in the old rusty thing after cleaning up the engine bay and brought it to the shop for some fine tuning, maybe. Its your story. I like it. Some story lines in movies dont even make sense. Just got to take some things as already happened. Good job.