54 Chevy Sedan Delivery-COMPLETED-09/16

Hay Joe, happly Easter to you and Mrs.'stang 

Grand progress on the engine, you make it look simple and  do-able, for the ham (Easter get it?) fisted of us.

Thanks Joe and Steve!

Of all the areas in automotive model building I find that by far the throttle linkage set up and build-up to be one of the most time consuming parts of it. If one thing is off, the whole thing seems to look wrong.

This morning I managed to build the throttle linkage bracket up on the front carburetor and get the common rod pivot point "L" bracket installed on it. I stretched a piece of sprue for the common pivot rod between the two carbs and inserted it in both pivot point "L" brackets. A little clean up on both ends and then I'm ready for installing both throttle levers onto the common rod. Then it's off to painting the rod itself.

This morning's progress:

LOL!!! Thanks Lee!

Looking great, and wonderful detail!

Let me tell ya Joe, those "time consuming " efforts are more than well worth it. They certainly turn into something that is more than admirable. Stunning effort to say the least.

Thanks Hunter and Joe!! Hopefully I'll get enough done on this thing to be worthy of pictures this weekend. lol

It's update time again fellas! I've put it off for a few days in order to get most of the way through the throttle linkage process. Here is everything but the return spring and throwing a little Tamiya Smoke on the PE linkage parts to give 'em that true metal look.

The big picture:



and a little closer at a couple of different angles:






What to use for the return spring? I was sittin' around thinkin' of what was best to use for one of those on my last build. I've seen folks wind their own and I just don't like the look. One the coils are not uniform most of the time and it looks like what it is.....a home made wound wire that's supposed to resemble a spring. I came up with the perfect solution. Most of you have quick access to one of these:

A 1:1 scale turn signal bulb. Just break the bulb glass:



pull the element out:



and you've got yourself a return spring............

Brilliant idea! Now I am embarrassed by the spring on my Nomad!

That is such a great idea, thank you for sharing that with all of us. The engine is....awesome, well detailed and perfect!! Great job sir.

That's some fine work, Joe. Good thinking on the spring.

Thanks Lee , Hunter and Greg! I'm working on the headers, extension tubes right now and that's proving to be a nightmare.

The spring is a stroke of brilliance ny friend. You know, your wife may not find you handsome but, she dang sure must find you handy.

Thanks Joe!! LOL on the handsome & handy part.

Got the anodized fittings and braided fuel delivery lines installed this morning.  I think it's starting to look like an engine....

Well after about two months of working with the engine......I think I've got the base assy completed. I still have to add the radiator hoses and clamps, the throttle linkage from the firewall to the engine and an engine oil dipstick but I'm going to call this part done.


The 427c.i.d. Dual Quad Chevrolet Rat Motor:

man that engine looks real 

Now that, my friend, is one outstanding piece of craftsmanship. That really is marvelous Joe. I really appreciate the patience and perseverance you put into that engine because it absolutely pays off.

Beautiful rat!

Thanks crown, Joe and Lee!

Now that the engine's almost completed except for a few peripheral nick nacks I test fitted it once more on the rolling chassis:



and then test fitted the body with the interior tub just to make sure we don't have any interference issues.....

Fits perfectly:



Overall look so far is right in line with what I envisioned:

Nice work.

Joe - 

OMG!! That engine is flippin' insane! This is one heck of a build...so well thoughtout and detailed. I have really enjoyed watching you build this master piece. 

It's..........I can't........I don't..........Oh Hell       .

Jim  

Magnifico!!! Just your usual spectacular stuff eh, Joe.

Thanks fellas! I'm really lookin' forward to this interior part.

Hi Mustang,

Nice progress you're making there. Here's a little tip for your fuel lines, I do it on all of mine. if you don't want them to look all squashed and flat, just get some of the wire that you use for your plug leads and slowly and carefully slide it through the inside of the braided line. It fills it out and makes it easier and neater to route. Keep up the great work. 

Cheers

mick

Looking good Joe.

Mick: I may take these lines loose where I have them secured to the transmission and do just that trick to it. Thanks man!

Oscar: Thanks buddy! Good to see you around again!!!

Movin' on with the interior. I black based both of the seats and the console and will be painting the seats what will end up being a dark red color and the console will be gloss black.




The shifter in the console was for an automatic so I sanded the PRNDL and the raised portion down from that area and will be installing a shifter boot from another kit and will be using a bobby pin as a shifter lever/ stick that has a black head/ ball on it. I formed it back towards the drivers seat in an "S" curve. I just didn't like the straight stick. After smoothing out the ball I've already got the white dot on it and have a small syringe standing by so I can put the "8" in the center of it. I couldn't NOT put an "8 ball" atop the stick you know.

I think I managed to pull the 8 ball on top of the shifter off................

I got the shifter boot finished this morning and married it up with the shifter lever.