Superpeterbilt Posted September 24, 2014 Posted September 24, 2014 Heres one of my new projects. The plan is to keep it box stock with some better detail. Ive built a bunch of modified Autocars, and resin Autocars, so I wanted to build one off the box. For starters, I modified a grill to a shutter style and moulded and resin cast it.Next, I started on the rear suspension. I extended the leafs, remade some of the mounts, and added blocks and U bolts.
Superpeterbilt Posted September 24, 2014 Author Posted September 24, 2014 Next, I added two more leafs to the bottom of the front springs. I want the truck to sit level. Ive never liked the stance of the kit. Blocks were also added to the front axle to help level it out. The front axle was drilled, and U bolts added. I knotched out the rear cab mount to add a support for the rear of the interior tub. This helps with cab alignment.
Superpeterbilt Posted September 24, 2014 Author Posted September 24, 2014 The grill that I built is a little narrower at the base than the kit. The kit grill is tapered down, mine is straight. This brings the fenders in a little, which affects the bumper. I removed 1/8" from the center of the bumper and mocked it all up. Its coming together great so far. The only other mods will be a set of my resin tires on the kit spokes, move the rear axles back slightley, and raise up the cab guard on the body.
guitarsam326 Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 Glad to see an autocar, can't wait to see her done!
Old Buckaroo Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 Wow, another great project to follow and learn from. I can never get tired of seeing these older trucks !
Superpeterbilt Posted September 25, 2014 Author Posted September 25, 2014 Thanks guys. After that Brockway, I need to build something straight from the box. Wow, another great project to follow and learn from. I can never get tired of seeing these older trucks ! Thanks Sean. Old trucks are all I build. The newest thing you will ever see from me will be a Pete 379. The old trucks are a throw back to a better time in a America. When things were over built out of heavy iron and steel, not fiberglass and plastic. Nothing represents that better than an Autocar.
Petetrucker07 Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 I am really thinkin of trying to get an autocar. Guess theres gotta be something with them why a lot of people like em. Theres only 1 way to find out
Superpeterbilt Posted September 25, 2014 Author Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) I am really thinkin of trying to get an autocar. Guess theres gotta be something with them why a lot of people like em. Theres only 1 way to find out The thing about Autocar is that is was a specialty truck company. There wasnt a lot full of trucks to choose from. The truck was built to the owners specs, and there was a metal plate in the door that had the owners name with the build date etc. In one of my books it says the only two Autocars that were alike were two owned by the same guy. This is why there are a ton of model numbers and a ton of factory photos. Every truck was different.Osh Kosh was a similar company. Edited September 25, 2014 by Superpeterbilt
Superpeterbilt Posted September 25, 2014 Author Posted September 25, 2014 Heres a few more shots of the suspension. Heres where the rear suspension is positioned in the kit. Heres where Im moving it to.It looks better centered with the crossmember, and the "T" of rivets on the frame. Also the dump body wont hang over as much.
Old Buckaroo Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) That is such a well detailed suspension. Is it going to be Ace Red ? Good call on the positioning ! Edited September 25, 2014 by Old Buckaroo
Tesla Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 I really enjoy following your builds Terry and this one is no exception! Nice mods to the stock kit
Petetrucker07 Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 Im thinkin the box position was a slip, still wrong. Where you put it is the proper place. All the extended leaf hedrickson ive ever seen are centered on a cross member. Unless the frame was shortened and the converted to a dump truck.
Jim B Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 Great looking Autocar build. I'll be watching this one, too. Question though, why is the plastic orange?
Superpeterbilt Posted September 25, 2014 Author Posted September 25, 2014 Great looking Autocar build. I'll be watching this one, too. Question though, why is the plastic orange? Jim, Im pretty sure all of the Autocar dump truck kits I have are this color. This particular one is the Matchbox issue. I always assumed it was the age of the plastic that caused it to yellow.
Superpeterbilt Posted September 25, 2014 Author Posted September 25, 2014 That is such a well detailed suspension. Is it going to be Ace Red ? Good call on the positioning ! Sean, this is the truck that inspired me to do a box stock build. Im leaning towards this paint scheme(with Ace red). Im also thinking about doing it in the Cali Hauler box art. Red with white arrows, white roof, white dump box, everything else red with the GS Carter door decals. Now that Im saying this, more than likely this will be the one I go with.
Jim B Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 The red & black looks nice. I might use that scheme for my Autocar.
kilrathy10 Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 Very nice setup.....Great suspension detail....
Mackvision Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 I agree,great start to the A-Car,i only build "real" looking older trucks,better time in my life as well,plus,I started driving some of the 1:1 model subjects when I was a young man! Autocars were extremely popular out here on the east coast,good many of them still running/working in Jersey!...............................................Mark
Petetrucker07 Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 Its kind of amazing the difference between east coast work trucks and west coast work trucks. Auto cars werent out hardly at all. In fact for the longest time i thought the only a-car out here was in Over the Top. I build the trucks i see everyday working out here or what could be, or id like d to be driving.
Superpeterbilt Posted September 26, 2014 Author Posted September 26, 2014 There were plenty of west coast Autocars, at least in the 50's,60's,& 70's. They would have been configured the same as the over the top truck. Axle forward, long frame with 5 hole Alcoas instead of spokes. They also introduced the lightweight models with aluminum frame rails. They were a big competitor with Peterbilt and Kenworth on the west coast.I have a huge collection of Autocar factory photos, inluding a bunch of the west coast configurations.
Petetrucker07 Posted September 26, 2014 Posted September 26, 2014 That was a little before my time. The 1st a-car i ever saw was Hawks Hauling. But thats cool they were big, guess they didnt quite have the cool factor or something that translate from the hot rod world like pete and Kw did. If i could find an W-car for a decent i would build 1, but they are definitely bringing collector prices.
Superpeterbilt Posted September 27, 2014 Author Posted September 27, 2014 I got the front spokes mounted. I have to say, I think the 6 spokes are my favorite of AMT front wheels.I mocked up with the resin wheels. Its a good thing I raised the front suspension, because the tires would be rubbing the fenders.
Petetrucker07 Posted September 27, 2014 Posted September 27, 2014 Lookin good Terry. Looking like a east coast work horse
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