My Metal Mistress: Finished !

[bryan_m]

nice work so far john!

keep it goin

cheers

bryan

[FASTBACK340]

Amy just made some incredible home made potato soup. Wow…. with a grilled cheddar sandwich. Simple but tasty!

The MSD distributor is done. Here you can see why I notched the upper portion of the tube. Once the wires are laid down they have room.

Now we're starting to modify a set of Hemi headers into the small block pattern. Not turning into the nightmare I was expecting.

Here's the engine, scatter shield, and trans. assembled. Once I get the spacing set on the headers, I'll install the cylinder heads and final-fit the pipes.

And this is my new best friend!

I'll go back and finish the headers. Then we install the wheels and set ride height. We're rolling along…...

[Mopar - D]

Nice work on your distributor John!! Your chair looks like a good investment too.

[FASTBACK340]

Nice work on your distributor John!! Your chair looks like a good investment too.

Yeah, I like the way the distributor turned out too! As for the chair, $84 @ Staples w/ the Square Deal plan. THREE YEAR free replacement deal…. no matter if I rip, tear, wear, bent, break, or mutilate it. And it has great lower back support. Good investment indeed. And to my butt-calibration, it was more comfortable than chairs cost over $200.

Back to the Barracuda. We got the engine compartment trimmed and ready for paint, then assembly.

The chassis fits nice. I just have to install the front & rear valences to see what's going to change….

[om617]

Looks great. It`s nice with these step by step photos on how you scratch details. You`re 1:1 is coming along great too.

Btw,check the last episode of Petrolicious on youtube,i think that Formula S should be you`re cup of tea.

[FASTBACK340]

Ooooooh! Neat piece on the `67! The Tremec 5 spd. conversion is high on my wish-list too. Just can't justify the $3,500 for a transmission in my hobby car.

The pictures I had posted above of the frame connectors and fuel pump were during the cars restoration years ago. I got it together now….

[FASTBACK340]

Thank you for appreciating the step-by-step updates. I see the thread is getting views so I'm hoping people are enjoying what I'm sharing.

[freakshow12]

I know I hove it! You are making me hate that I sold my 68 383 4 speed notchback though : (

[FASTBACK340]

Wow…. I've been at the bench for a little while and it's been tough. My neck is hurting pretty bad, but it hasn't stopped me from creating more work for myself.

I've decided to change all the rims and front tires as I didn't like the originals…..

I added the exhaust cut-out's missing from the rear valance.

I (finally….) finished grinding and hacking the interior tub so it all fits. What a mess…..

And I'm in the process of molding in the front & rear valances.

At this point in time, all I have to do is fabricate the engine mounts, finish the headers, and do all the body lines and holes for handles/trim. Then I can assemble it like a (almost….) normal kit. I'll put up some pictures tonight as right now all I have to photograph is pieces of scrap & plastic dust.

[wrecker388]

Yeah, I like the way the distributor turned out too! As for the chair, $84 @ Staples w/ the Square Deal plan. THREE YEAR free replacement deal…. no matter if I rip, tear, wear, bent, break, or mutilate it. And it has great lower back support. Good investment indeed. And to my butt-calibration, it was more comfortable than chairs cost over $200.

Back to the Barracuda. We got the engine compartment trimmed and ready for paint, then assembly.

The chassis fits nice. I just have to install the front & rear valences to see what's going to change….

That's the way to go on the chair, if something happens you also get to keep the old one. The 'Cuda is looking good too

[FASTBACK340]

I have a few minor update pictures.

I addressed the rear apron. I added the dual exhaust cut-out's in it and shimmed the edges so I could melt it all together with some ProWeld.

I did the same thing with the front apron. I shimmed the edges and fused it on. I also had to repair the edge of the lower grill opening. Every one I've seen has been cracked on at least on side. I'll be re-enforcing this with some fiberglass as I did with the chassis splice.

And finally, I trashed the original resin wheels and am using the more accurate ones from Scale Equip. LTD. I also changed out the front tires to a smaller size, but will re-use the dog dish hub caps and MT Drag Radials from Chief Joseph.

More later…. time to start dinner soon.

[Skypower]

Looking great as always with your work and I for one am still following and learning with the step by step directions. Thanks again.

Bob

[FASTBACK340]

Thanks Bob. I've got some down-time so I'm sure we'll see some progress. The body is almost prepped for primer. It's going fast.

[freakshow12]

I wish I had the build time some of you have. I have a 14 yr old and 11 yr old that play hockey. Add that to my work schedule and I get no build time. I can't wait to see this in color

[FASTBACK340]

I wish I had the build time some of you have. I have a 14 yr old and 11 yr old that play hockey. Add that to my work schedule and I get no build time. I can't wait to see this in color

I usually try to get at least 2-3 nights a week where I can sit for at least 2 hours. I'm fortunate that's it's just myself & my Wife at home. Unfortunately, I hurt my neck this week and I'm off until I get straightened out as I can't turn my head. Never mind being able to do heavy lifting or crawl up under a dashboard, I'm home. Now I can go sit in the hobby room until I'm uncomfortable, then hit the recliner and post about it. Repeat if capable….. plenty of time all of a sudden. Be careful what you wish for.

As for the `Cuda, today we're going to make the final engine mounts and positively locate it so I can finish the headers. Once the headers are done I can start assembling things. Now the Dart chassis get's assembled, and the body get's detailed. Sounds simple, huh?

[Mopar - D]

John you make it look so easy. Looking forward to see it painted.

[FASTBACK340]

Today was much like yesterday. I spent hours sanding & trimming & aligning & test-fitting & sanding & trimming…….. If you had before & after shots all you would notice is plastic dust and shavings everywhere with no real visible difference in where I'm at. I've posted several updates with more description that example only because it's hard to show. When I spent 2 hours fitting, shimming, and securing the rear valance, it's hard to SEE what's involved as opposed to HOW involved "the little things" are in the finished product. This is where how-to's are useless…. patience and desire are impossible to impart. You have to find it in your ability. If it don't look right, it's not right. I was afraid this would happen when I tackled this project. When I restored the 1:1 car, all friends whom know me as a model builder all said "I can't wait to see what you do with the full size car after seeing your models". Now I'm trying to replicate a full size car I detailed like a model. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! But I'm a little determined and a little crazy, so…..

This morning I made a test fit of all the brake and fuel lines. The idea here is to plan ahead. When attaching any plumbing to a chassis, the anchoring is almost as important as the shaping & routing. Doesn't matter how many high-end machined fittings & braided line or PE brackets and mounts you have. If its sloppy or poorly laid out it's just a huge detraction. Here I have the wrong material, but I can share some of what I'm talking about. Those brass tabs I mounted in the frame are going to be used for this, the E-brake cable. On my car the cable has sheathing that looks like guitar string, and exposed steel cable going to the bracket that pulls both rear cables at once. This is a .085 Bass string that is just a touch too big… I need a set of guitar strings for these cables.

Pre-drilling all the anchor points now makes for a very clean assembly later.

Back here the single cable coming back will connect to a bar that will have the two cables from each rear drum connecting here at the back bracket with the two holes.

And here's the new wheels from Scale Equipment LTD. VERY nicely cast and detailed. I had to add a band around the perimeter to increase the diameter on the rears though.

[Ramfins59]

John, try either an "A" or a "D" round wound guitar string for that E-brake cable...... should be about the right size.

[FASTBACK340]

John, try either an "A" or a "D" round wound guitar string for that E-brake cable...... should be about the right size.

Gotcha Rich! I'll stop by Sam Ash tomorrow and go to the guitar tech station and dig through the garbage…..

I'm taking a break as I'm getting some bad pain in my neck. I'm watching cross country skiing, which bores me to tear's. I think the Mrs. is getting ready to make the dough for some home-made spaghetti. I should be fortified good for tonights session. I made the fuel tank sump and am making the driveshaft safety loop now. Just trying to find my soldering iron…..after I rest.

I'll be back.

[FASTBACK340]

Home made spaghetti was awesome…..

I installed the sump in the fuel tank finally.

I also have the modified headers about 90% done… just need some spot-putty work.

The engine & transmission mounts are done.

The heads are on and we might route some wires soon.

And I remembered I needed a driveshaft safety loop. A piece of round brass tube was cut to size, then I held it with 2 pairs of pliers and gently squeezed them until I got the shape I wanted. Then I soldered on the mounts.

I'm ready to start painting chassis pieces, I still have to get a set of guitar strings for the e-brake cables, but we're rolling along. Now I get to detail the engine and soon we get to paint.

Edited February 16, 2014 by FASTBACK340

[FASTBACK340]

OK, I'm shot. Here's the last shot for tonight, I threaded the wires into the looms. Ta-Da!

G`night…… *

[Mopar - D]

John you had a good night working on your engine it keeps getting better each time you update us. Looking forward to seeing today's progress.

[FASTBACK340]

We stopped at Guitar Center (Amy stayed in the running car. I had 15 minutes or I was walking to the supermarket….smart girl) and bought me enough scale e-brake cable to last OUR lifetimes. D`Addario EJ15,16, & 22, respectively, are what I guess-timated I'd need. Good choices. Prices $4.38, 6.99, & 7.29. Not exactly a huge investment, but even if you get a buddy to split the cost…. and the look spot-on!

You'll see….

[1 bad55 stan]

Nice work John,I'll be watching the progress on this 1..

[FASTBACK340]

Wow…. I spent like 3 hours routing fuel & brake fluid lines and cutting the emergency brake cables. On the hydraulic lines everywhere there's a bend there's a small hole drilled through the floor pan. Right now everything is a snug fit and is laying in place temporarily. Once painted and assembled, I'll use surgical metal suture thread( Basically metal thread used in serious reconstructive surgery. I have some interesting sources of my fabricating materials….) to hold the lines against the chassis.

Here's the E-Brake cables temporarily laid in place. Mr. Manson was correct in suggesting a D string….

Here's the rear cables meeting the front apply cable in the frame brackets. There will be a attaching bar holding all three together.

Here's is the guitar string substituted for the Bass string from yesterdays mock-up. This wraps around and goes through the firewall next to the steering column and would attach to the E-Brake pull handle under the dash.

Here is the brake hydraulic line routed against the frame.

And here is the attaching point for the rear brake hose junction.

I just realized I wrapped this around in the wrong location. It was supposed to go up further and then wrap, not on the bottom of the frame rail like I messed up. My bad-I fix.

And finally a test fit of all three sub-systems; e-brake, brake, and fuel lines.

I left excess material at the engine compartment end so I can attach everything. All these pieces slip out and will be re-installed and mounted after the chassis is painted. The only details I'm saving for last is the sump & fuel pump fitment/plumbing. Everything went together very smoothly, but it's tedious as hell to do…… but I had some nice Techno/Trance grooves pumping in the background and the time eased on by….. and now I"m headed back up for some more.

Edited February 17, 2014 by FASTBACK340