1/16 1930 Dirt Modified......FINISHED!

[garydavis]

I've been wanting to do this build for sometime. I've had the Resin body for a few yrs and I think it's time to tackle this puppy. I've done some body work and built a chassis jig for the build. I was pondering on building the whole chassis from front to rear but...I had a 34 rod chassis and it pretty much fit in the right places...so...all I needed to do was Z the rear portion to get a little height for the fuel cell and suspension(coil over shocks) mounting points. Here's a look at what I've got to this point....Thanks for looking in...

Pic of the 1/1 car that inspired me....



The chassis......




The start of the fuel cell....







The body mocked up....

[Tobi]

Serious $h1t going on here! Count me in.

[buddho]

Oohhh, this is going to be fun to watch! Saving a seat for myself. 🤠

[Joe Rix]

Whoa! That is so cool. Outstanding work so far. I am quite excited to follow this endeavor.

[mustang1989]

Yup.....I'm in. Can't wait to watch the magic unfold.

[garydavis]

Thanks for looking in, folks. This build was done about 8 yrs ago. I could've just posted the finished build, but all the detail and fab work would've been missed. Hope you folks don't mind...if the length of this bothers anyone...I'll just post finished pics.
Gary

[buddho]

Oh nooooo...please give us the step by step!

[mustang1989]

Mar 5, 2023 16:10:02 GMT -5 buddho said:

Oh nooooo...please give us the step by step!

And I'll second that motion. 

[garydavis]

OK guys...will post the WIP. Thanks for look'in.

[mustang1989]

Mar 5, 2023 18:03:53 GMT -5 garydavis said:

OK guys...will post the WIP. Thanks for look'in.

That'll work right there Gary!!! 

[garydavis]

Here are a few update pics to show the fender wells and the windows opened up. The Wheels and tires and the motor are in mock for measurements.



The wheels and Tires are made here in the shop...I turned the tires out of plastic rod and molded them. Then I cut the grooves in the resin master to make the dirt tires...and then molded them..


I also made the wide 5 wheels masters and then made a mold and poured the wide 5's...








Thanks for look'in in...

[Tobi]

I'm a big fan of your approach Gary. I prefer to do it that way myself, to start a blog only after the model is already finished, because there are so many unfinished out there (including my own).

Fabulous work on the tires!

[garydavis]

Mar 6, 2023 0:12:07 GMT -5 Tobi said:

I'm a big fan of your approach Gary. I prefer to do it that way myself, to start a blog only after the model is already finished, because there are so many unfinished out there (including my own).

Fabulous work on the tires!

Thank you for the compliment Tobi. I usually don't do a wip this way but, to get some activity going in the automotive section, I thought I'd post a previously finished WIP.

I'm working on Marty Robbins' first racecar. A 1934 ford Modified, that he drove in 1962. The car is on the 1962 ALBUM COVER, DEVIL WOMAN. I have to do a lot of fab work on this one . I don't know If I want to do a WIP on that one or not. Here's a pic of the Album and the car at the track.

[mustang1989]

Sheesh!!! I never knew that you molded your own wheels and tires Gary!! That's definitely a plus when dealing with some of the subject matter that you build.

I've been guilty of starting a WIP and not finishing as well. It's only happened a few times but it bugs me every time I've done it. I do get why you're doing it here to get the activity levels up in the auto section and it's appreciated.

I knew Marty Robbins raced a Belvedere but never knew that he raced these cars. Interesting bit of history.

[garydavis]

Hey Joe...I made tires and wheels in three scales. That's before PPP came out with their dirt tires. 1/25-24th & 1/16th. Making your own parts and molding them, can really be an advantage in scratch building.

Yes..Marty did drive a 60 Plymouth at the Nashville speedway for at least a few yrs. I think this was his second car.


Then he went to a 64 Belvedere..




Here's a small update...The fuel cell is finished. The shocks are in mock up for measurements. I'll probably build all four shocks as it's easier to attach them if they are able to move in and out. here's a look at what's done...

[garydavis]

Here I added fender flare material to the rear fender wells. They will be
about 3" wide when finished.






Also got the U-Joints fixed and the torque tube removed....



I won't be using the whole length of that drive line. Actually I'll only be using the U-Joints...I will make the drive line as it will be a whole lot shorter. Just posted pics of the progress on hogg'in out the joints.

[Leon]

That is some serious work Gary!

I'll be following along.

[chromdome35]

WOW!!! A+++ Will look again.

[mrt51]

Looking real good!!

[garydavis]

OK...here's another Chassis update. The front "A" arms on. Also the back bar and drive line hoop were built and installed. Then the cross bars were then fabbed and added. Now with that finished...I can set the Q.C. in place and build the 4 link suspension. The Back coil over shocks will be added(built) after that is complete. Here's a few pics of the progress.....

The permanent "A" arms..


Back bar and drive line hoop...




The X bars built and added...




Got a little more done on the 4 bar rear suspension. The Axle and chassis brackets were drawn out on paper and then transferred to plastic and cut out. The chassis brackets aren't cut out yet. These are just in mock up to see how tight the bracket fit was on the axle. So far they look like they're going to work..

[mustang1989]

So much to learn in this thread. Just marvelous work going on Gary!!! Such an ingenious approach to the 4 link.

[garydavis]

Thank you very much Joe!

[Joe Rix]

This is just amazing and fun to watch Gary. You are gifted with some crazy skills.

[garydavis]

Thank you joerix.


The 4 bar suspension is finished being fabbed and in mock up.The bolts aren't in as this is only temporary. After it's all painted...they well be added...Thanks for looking in folks...[/b]







The coilovers(front and rear) were finished.The rear mounting bars for the coilovers were fabbed and they are mocked up in these pics. The white shocks are the front and blue are rears. As soon as the motor is set in it's permanent location( hopefully today) then I can get the correct length for the drive line. Then the interior sheet metal and bar work can begin...

The fabbed coil overs....




Rears mocked up....

[mustang1989]

Oh man!!! Can you fab up one of these for my real truck?? This looks AWESOME Gary!! Very well detailed and executed!!

[garydavis]

Mar 7, 2023 12:56:16 GMT -5 mustang1989 said:

Oh man!!! Can you fab up one of these for my real truck?? This looks AWESOME Gary!! Very well detailed and executed!!

If it were as easy to build the 1/1 shocks as the scale shocks...I'd do it in a heartbeat! Thanks for the compliment Joe...

I did get the engine in it's permanent location and that enabled me to set the correct length for the drive line.....


I also wanted to make the front wheels pose-able. So I decided to fab a Rack& Pinion steering system out of Aluminum and Stainless tubing. Rod ends are from RB Motion. I used the 34 ford system as a guide and over all lengths...here are a few shots of that progress....




I used .020 wire to make the ribs and also used Teflon Tape to make it look like the rubber covers them. I then painted them flat black..






I managed to get the bracket for the rack onto the chassis. The system is mocked up in these pics.The bolts are threaded and will have the nuts on them at final assemble....

[mustang1989]

Just a modifying and customizing along the way and lookin' great Gary!!! I like how you're almost treating this like a real car in construction.


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[jeaton01]

Brilliant!

[Tobi]

Stunning job!
I love the workable steering. Went down that road on a few occasions myself already.

[garydavis]

Thanks Joe and jeaton, for looking in and commenting.

Yea Tobi...poseable steering sure makes a difference in the way you can display the build. Thanks for the compliment too!! LOL