Astro Engine

[Jim B]

I'm curently working on a GMC Astro and I have some questions on the engine. First: what model Detroit Diesel is this engine? Second: how in the heck do you get the engine in the frame? There is so much torque on the rear mounts when I try to make the front sit down I'm affraid that I'm going to break something. Any ideas? Third, I'm pretty sure that the engine should be Alpine Green, but what color should the transmission be?

Thanks,

[ABC Auto Industry]

The engine is an 8V71 Detroit Diesel (not sure if it's an N or T). As for fitting the engine in, it's been almost a year since I built my Chevy Titan, so I'm not sure how I did it. According to the instructions, you're supposed to locate the engine to the bottom of the tabs on the frame inside & attach the front of the engine to the front crossmember. You probably goofed up somewhere & got the chassis crooked. After all, these AMT truck kits have some difficulties with fitting certain parts.

As for the engine, I recommend painting the transmission the same color as the engine. That's all I know.

[Jim B]

The frame is straight (well, as straight as an AMT kit can get). It's like the exhaust is too low and is hitting the frame or something. Maybe I'll try moving them up.

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

Jim

(I answered this in the MTDG forum but ya might see this first)

transmissions are black,semi gloss black,gun metal,red oxide.

Here's the color I prefer

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=74695245

[Jim B]

Thanks, Scott. What do you use for the Red Oxide? You mentioned that these were colors of remanufactured transmissions. If it was a new truck with a new engine & transmission, would the transmission be black? Guess it depends on the manufacturer, right?

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

What's goin' on...

I've used dept. store red oxcide primer in the past. Most of the time I'll use "rust" color paint Testors, Model Master, ect... As for new most of the time they're black. Unless the companies' color for their trucks chassis' are different then black. The tranny might end up getting painted that same color as well. Go to Tim's site and look at some of the pictures he's taken at the Pete factory. That might answer your question. I'm sure there are some pictures of chassis' on the line where the trans is in view.

Good Luck!

[Old Albion]

I checked the Eaton Web site and found all kinds of really interesting information. There are videos of how to correctly operate the 13 and 18 speed manual transmissions. The transmission shown in the video is black. But they show a sectional view if the transmission in a blue colour. This may be just to help define the components.

http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Markets/Truc...ssion/index.htm

http://www.roadranger.com/Roadranger/produ...per13/index.htm

Hope this is of interest and helps.

Best Wishes

[Jairus]

Engine and tranny colors depend on the year you are depicting. Transmissions could have been replaced with an OEM version or a rebuild somewhere down the road. In either case the color will be different. Rebuilds are usually semi-gloss black for instance or natural steel and aluminum.

When modeling a truck, which is 99.9% commercial, you need to figure a back story to explain your painting and detailing. Long haul messy drivers will have dirty trucks with lots of magazines spread all about the sleeper and passenger seat. McDonalds bags and truck stop trash would be cool details to place carefully in the cab. However, if the driver is more anal then a more clean cab is the result but log books and bills of ladening would still be present.

The same is true about the engine and transmission. If you are doing the Astro... an older vehicle to be sure, weathering and use along with replacement parts, would be normal unless you are building a purely showroom stock vehicle.

[ABC Auto Industry]

The frame is straight (well, as straight as an AMT kit can get). It's like the exhaust is too low and is hitting the frame or something. Maybe I'll try moving them up.

OK. Did you install the engine or exhaust first? If you installed the exhaust first, that's probably the source of your problem.

[Jim B]

It actually turned out to be the exhaust manafold on the engine. It's like it was too low or something, so I'm going to dry-fit the engine into the frame then mount the manafolds. I haven't gotten much further than assembling the frame & engine.

Edited November 4, 2007 by Jim B

[Jim B]

I know you're all dieing to know how I solved this problem,. Well, after further review it turned out I had the exhaust manafolds mounted on the opposite site of the engine. Duh!!! All better now.

[ABC Auto Industry]

I also have another question: Are you planning on having a GMC Astro from the 70's or 80's? If you want an 80's Astro, use a grille from a GMC General kit (or from a Bison if you're working on a Chevy Titan).

[Ayatollah]

Combine mud, grease and a bit of rust Add a nice seal leak.

[Jim B]

It's going to be a 1976(ish). Small grill. Probably no weathering, want to build a few more before I try & tackle that.