Father & Son Dodge Truck build....New Progress 9-11-2016

OK now that BOTH inner fender wells were removed from the donor frame, and cleaned, and then sat up for installing, I got right to it.....



Looking at it from the passenger side of the truck, you can see the opening in the fender well to allow me to add a steering shaft from the steering wheel, as well as all the pipe work from the power steering pump on the motor.



Looking from the drivers side.....Granted, BOTH these pictures show the "open" corners.... I have to go back and "fill" those in. ONLY the opening for the steering will be open when all said and done!

Coming up next, is something NEVER done.... These 2 trucks had never seen each other unless in passing, I took the 2 models to see if the height from one to the other was good for both trucks "stance"!!!!!

Stay tuned!

As I mentioned in my last post, I HAD to see what the stance was between the 2 trucks.....



My Power Wagon on the left, Dad's Adventurer on the right!



Under a bit more light......



I say, the stance is PERFECT, my truck was built to sit high, as it was, the real ones were about as you see these 2 models, Dads truck on the right, needs a bit of work to get it where my Power Wagon is, BUT I think this is GREAT!!!!! Mine was was built purposely to sit high (I wanted to go muddin' in it) Dad's was a "family 4x4 truck" and sit at a high "stock" height as he added slightly bigger tires and rims to his.....

I'm VERY pleased with this work so far, on BOTH trucks! Got a ways to go on my Dad's, BUT it will happen.... I got to sit and detail up the rear axle for his and then figure out its suspension as well as shocks for both..... Ought to be a fun task! SEEING these last few pictures of both trucks front-to-front like that...... WOW!

As always, more to follow as things are done!
ENJOY!

Well after a bit of time and a good weekend to keep me out doors a bit, I actually got a bit done to the truck in the evening!
So, without going on an on, hows about a look see to what I did!?



Seen here, all "clear coated" shiny...
Frame got painted, and clear coated! Sadly, however the paint on this frame is a bit "odd" looking. I think due to the frame being resin for one, and 2, the paint when I went an cleaned up the air brush, seemed a bit "think" I guess, as it was left over from a pre-mix I done a while ago.... Was flat paint, and With my dad he had "undercoated" every vehicle he owned so..... The frame got a slightly different treatment, I'm not sure what that was to consist of, BUT was flat black as told to me by my uncle!

SO, with knowing that, I clear coated the flat black frame, and then allowed that to dry and went back and dry brushed dullcote onto the just the frame rails and cross members.





Dullcote added to the frame and cross members!

More to follow these short messages!

Then while at that painting, on the frame, I got the steering box, painted and detail painted, all in the while AFTER the spray painting was done, as the steering box would have been a cast iron steel color. Which, was unpainted like the color of a unpainted transmission (they're normally a matching color of bare cast iron)



Then a bit different view showing detail painting I did:





These 2 pictures show the gloss black bell crank that needs a ball joint, rod to go from the open hole, to the jointing, steering bell crank, on the axle spindle....
I have yet to make this part.... This won't be made to fit till the axle is ready to go into place on the front suspension!

More to follow after these short messages....

Enjoy!

While that was all setting and curing drying paint, or glue.... I got the transfer case loose from the donor frame, to refurbish to usable standards. Just like the transmission will be and the steering box, the transfer case would have also been a cast iron color of steel.



Cast-on detail wasn't real bad, BUT it needed something more..... A good ole oil/grease pan was needed (factory detail part was merely "flat" and was a 2 part detail all together, With the added "pan" detail painted bare steel color, as it would have been, I made the part from 2 small sections of plastic sheet, one thicker then the other as the "lip" would not have been real thick anyway, BUT the sump in the pan, would have been..... I have yet to add one last detail to this part, as it needs a drain cock for transfer case fluid changes.....



Short message, more to follow this one!

SO, as I had firstly spoke to the uncle, this truck of my Dads, got some decor, added to it, firstly (I should have known) was the stock valve covers, removed, and replaced with chrome ones that were OEM chromes covers that were Mopar made.....



Then if you look, I added the distributor, and the exhaust manifolds. This truck, unlike mine kept single side exit exhaust. Meaning, I will have to make a cross-over pipe to go from the passenger side manifold, the the drivers side, in a "Y" pipe.....

Not sure what oil filter Dad may have used over the years, BUT I added mine to his truck as tho it was a OEM "Mopar" replacement part, in white. IF I can find a "Mopar" oil filter decal, before the engine is ready to go into place, I may add it to the part.... If not, "white" is good enough as the decal depending on location, wouldn't be easily seen anyway!



The other side of the engine, missing the exhaust manifold, it was drying when this picture was taken. I did however get the starter in place, and if you look closely, you can see the carburetor linkage and return spring in place.

The one thing this truck have had, was the California Omissions items, I KNOW without asking anyone that my Dad had removed these, (wasn't required to be inspected in the state of Pennsylvania.) SO, those parts will be omitted from the build!



A shot of the back of the engine. I have to add the PCV valve, and hose, as well as some other small things. I have to add the transmission fluid dip-stick not seen here, as well as paint the transmission, (I wait till last to paint the transmission as I use it as a "handle" to hold the engine while detailing it.)



A NICE head on view of the engine. A Mopar 360 4 barrel..... I need to get the holes drilled for the plug wires, and add in wire looms.... Those are next to be completed! -I also need to make an oil dip-stick that will be added to the left side of the front, of the engine.

A short and sweet update to follow....

Last but not least, I was working on the frame and got to looking, theres a nice location for the spare tire! I took the last tire I had,and got it ready for a spare on Dads truck that will be placed in the stock location....

The tire however, wasn't the best tire, the hole was trimmed (or so it looked) that the rims I needed to put into it would not fit, SO, that gave me the idea to take this 5th tire I had to make an actual detail part with it!

Dad himself, did not have a matching rim for the spare, BUT what he did do, was take an old Steel wheel, and have it painted, (NOT sure if it was paint, or if he had it powder coated like he did with the spoke'd rims) But it was in fact "white" so..... I took a spare one I had a as an extra, that matched no other steel wheels I had, painted it white and it got glued into a matching tire......



Rim glued in, center drilled out.....



looks pretty good! My next treat to this, is drilling out ALL the lug nut holes! It would have any lug nuts on it, as a spare, right?

ENJOY for now! More to follow when progress is made!

SO..... it has been a few days, the rain stopped and the weather got nice, and ole John had some out door stuff to do and yet got more to continue out doors but I did get a little done!

I took the engine and got the plug wires, and boots in place....



I also got the valve covers on the engine too (I almost forgot that the last I posted), the engine had no valve covers or anything for details up top! The valve covers ALSO got wire looms mounted to them to hold the plug wires!



The wire looms are how I "directed" the wires to lay as they are too!



Just the opposite side!



Back of motor, showing the coil wire "loose".... BUT the coil in place! (The coil, is a in-shop made part! This model (just like my truck in this build) did not come box-stock with a "coil" detail.... The "silver wrap" (mount in real life) was made using scrap BMF!



Coil wire in place!

Up next, is short and sweet (I did not get a lot done to the build so far this week), but one more post to follow, right after these short messages!

I began replicating the firewall. Just like how mine looks, Dads truck was pretty much the same!



A little bit of wire being done, BUT a lot of holes drilled for wires from the engine, and hoses for the heater.. and battery lines as well.... This is almost ready to have it "fitted" to the frame, like mine was done in my truck! BUT a little detail yet to be done and some touch up paint as well!

Thats it for this quick update, but I guess, something is better then nothing!

ENJOY!

So a little update, not much mind you, but a little..... As you all should know by now, I'm remodeling my shop, and most of the work benches..... Which will make model building and all a bit easier once done! BUT, in the evenings when the noise has to cease, I work on Dads truck in this build, just to keep it going, and not stop on it completely.....

SO, what I have done was searched out a "junk" drive shaft, as Dads truck would have had whats known as a Divorced transfer case, meaning it had 3 drive shafts! One from the transmission, to the transfer case, and then one each, to the front axle and one to the rear axle. The transmission would NOT be bolted to the transfer case on this truck, as it was on mine! BUT, because, I didn't want to cut up a good one, I took the donor frames "front" drive shaft (not the best of quality of details), BUT had half ways decent "u-joints" to be salvaged from it to make the needed one to go from the transmission to the transfer case! REALLY short one I might add, there is no real "shaft" to it..... Mostly all "U-joint" detail!







Notice, the engine? Its upside down! WELL I had to get the plug wires to the locations in the head in order to make this part happen, the loose plug wires would NOT have allowed me to flip it over like this to "fit" the first drive shaft to the frame! SO, that was a pre-step, I had to do in previous postings of the build, as it all goes together like a jig-saw puzzle!

Thats it for now, More to come on this build as I am able and have the shop in somewhat of a orderly fashion! (I got my work cut out for me!)

Enjoy, for now.....

Well guys, As you all know, I have been busy..... Before Fathers Day, as well as this past Thursday, a few know I was in the hospital for a day procedure that came out OK, I'm a bit sore, but to have a stent added to either leg is a bit of a task on the person having it done so. but anyway, I'm doing good and feeling "OK" just a little sore" but handling it pretty well.....

As you all know (or so I thought I've mentioned) I lost my Dad a little over a year ago, now (was a year in March) SO with that, and have had thoughts of him on my mind with the builds a few of you of/from me, this Father & Son build was directed towards this whole thing, and Fathers Day, all I wanted to do was relax, (because I had too) and work on my Dads model in this build (because I could), in honors to him, and thats just what I did!

This is one of those postings, to show a little of a lot of little parts, small details that will lead to much bigger sub-assemblies in the near future!
So with that, I got to thinking how the rear axle needed to go together, and got to looking at where I left off on it. THEN before getting into that looked over the frame to see where I was on that (kind of "reflecting" past work), and where to "pick up" again, so-to-speak....

So, I took the frame, and thought,A LOT had to go onto my trucks frame in this build BEFORE the axle could be placed onto it, (I WAS NOT going to attempt working around a mounted rear axle!)





Very "end" of the rear brake line. This is the "hard" line that goes to the mount seen mid-frame, to a fitting, that will run forward to the brake master cylinder lower manifold.... The hard pipe itself, has a fitting on it, that carries it through the little angle iron bracket on the frame cross members! This line was made formed and placed for the picture. I had been removed, painted and let dry before gluing in place! The fitting is now brass colored, and the line is steel colored, as these had steel brake lines!



Just like my model trucks frame in this build, the brake line will follow the inside of the frame rails, in the corner of the frame, where it meets the floor boards, all the way to the front. My trucks frame was built this very same way! Only difference is Dads truck was 2 scale feet longer then mine! (He had a full size bed "Sweptline" so.... mine was Step-Side short box.





As you can see, I went through drilled need mounting holes, and got the copper line ran to be in place, got it all fitted, and then, removed it all to paint:



Which means, this step to getting the rear axle in place is complete! NOW, I got to get the engine in place, with all the exhaust pipes in place in order to get the axle onto the rear suspension! I got a ways to go! (Thats what I get for taking the time to remodel my shop!) BUT the things I have done in it to date, has been much easier, much more user friendly, and way more comfortable to do with it set up as I have it! -SO, that alone makes the time WELL worth the effort involved! -HOPEFULLY LESS "make shift" tables in the near future (Unless they're in MY WIFE'S side of the shop, then, I don't care!) LOL

Engine work coming up next! ENJOY....

Well as I mentioned, Engine work was up next......
I had to add a oil dipstick to the 360 in this truck, which was a fun added part (I make them, myself, paint the "tube" install, into/through a left over wire loom and done......



The "chrome" loop is just in front of the valve cover, difficult to see, BUT you can see the shadow of the wire itself, on the engine block, just behind the fuel line! Very fine black line. I will attempt to get a better picture of this next time I snap pictures its such a small detail part!

Then, what took the most "patients" was the engines pullet and belt set up..... What a task! I needed to incorporate the following:

Water Pump
Alternator
Power Steering
Air Conditioning
Crank
and a single tension pulley

What FUN that was! I took a few "glue Bomb parts, broke factory belts, and removed them, chucked the pulley in the Unimat and left 'er rip.... Spinning the pulleys back "round" again, to wrap Evergreen Styrene around them (as belts) for strength, and then flattened the outer most pulley glue bomb, to use to over lay it onto the rear ones, and make it all fit and look the part.....

I *THINK* I managed to get 'er done!





Blue pulley to be the crank pullet, black one to be the water pump pulley, the very highest mounted one A/C Compressor pulley, silver to the left of the AC pulley is for the Alternator, and off to the right is power steering MID-mounted silver pulley a tensioner pulley.

I'm NOT 100% sure how this was to all be under the hood of my Dads truck, BUT because his was "stock" and NOT trusting on-line sources as being 100% honest to the stock location, I set it up as best I knew how and look right..... Got to remember this truck is/was after all a 1979 model Dodge! A LOT can be changed over time so..... SO, I tend to go with what little I know added to the know-how on my own truck was, and thinking how it reflect on a slightly different truck a year newer.....

I do think however, I pulled it off! -It really isn't a "detail" thats going to be fully 100% seen when all said and done ANYWAY, so only needs to "look" the part 100% top end! -Which, that I know is 110% accurate!

Tedious little details done, MORE to come as I'm able! Enjoy!

So, on Fathers day, and a little bit yesterday, and more will come after tonight..... I did get some done, but could not "handle" for pictures and so, had to wait till I could.....
Our very own "Stray" had posted pictures of his "spare" wheel on a build, and his persistence, on showing me what he had done, I simply did it on this build! I wasn't originally going to "open" the "slots" in the steel rim, BUT....... He persuaded me to do and do it just for looks sake! And with that here is how mine turned out! (THANKS for the inspiration Stray!)

I took this:



To this:



With flash ---^


Without flash ---^

I think it came out GREAT! I like how it looks even tho when all said and done, and in-place on the truck it won't be easily seen! BUT, theres more..... Me, being well, ME, I took it a STEP further!

The truck, has to have a spare tire mount, in the "stock" location under the rear portion of the bed..... SO, I took the frame, and began measuring to make one......



Right now, it doesn't appear to be much, BUT ohhh yeas it is! This "pole" is mounted to a resin frame, NOT glued, its machine screwed to the frame! This will hold it in definitely, BUT I plan to also "glue" it to keep it from rotating over time, WHY? WELL thats why I say its something "more"..... The Spare tire WILL BE REMOVABLE! Once all is done and the mount detail is all added to the pole itself, I plan to go back to where it screw mounts and totally fil in the head of the screw in the top side of the frame thats fitted by means of countersinking the screw and all and will be covered and buried in the frame itself, NEVER to be seen again!

I have yet to paint this as I have some angle plates to add to it to date, so is left bare machined white styrene.



Tire "in-place". just setting there for now! I have to make the cross bar that will have a screw that will thread down into the mount pole that will "pin" the rim with tire to the under side of the bed, AND look as tho it can be removed with a 1/25th scale hand! NOT a screw driver! I however do have a little detail to add to this and then after that it all will get painted. Exception to painting will be the underside of the cross bar that will hold the tire by means of pressure to the rim, I do NOT want the cross bar to have black paint get onto the white rim! SO, only 3 sides of that cross bar will be painted!

More to follow, stay tuned!

So while I was working on the engine, and working on the spare tire, I also got to thinking WELL I've got the frame near ready for the rear axle, so why not assemble and detail it as for when I am done with the frame, I'll have the rear ready to go right onto the suspension!

SO, I did.....



Now, as you all reading should know by now, I had been taking parts from a Donor frame, to make all this happen, this rear axle came from that donor frame! Thing is, even in good shape, it was still too narrow to fit right and look right, SO, I had to widen it just a bit 3/32ns per side to get the width right.... BUT the issue with that came along as I was not using the stock rims or wheel backs! Meaning, I had to make a lot of my own parts to have this all come together. The wheels in the tires and the wheel backs used left NO rear brake drums! I had to turn my own brake drums, to fit the application. Which you'll see better views of in just a bit. BUT adding all that, plus having the narrow axle issue, I had to fit the axle casing with a turned "addition" to get the width right so it went from 3/32nds inch to something to the tune of 5/64th inch to get it close.... SO, I turned one longer piece about 2 and 1/2 the needed length that way I had the same diameter addition for both sides! OR some for error.....

Once I had all that assembled and ready to go, the detail adding was next! I took the rear, and added "L" angle brackets to hold the hard brake line plumbed on the rear axle, to these brackets on either side, drilled and then fitted with the pipe itself. Once glue was dry, I took and then fitted the ends of each with fittings, and ran into the rear of the brake drum housing. And then let alone to dry, for an hour or so, and once ready, slid the fittings to their proper locations in the line CA glued them, and let that to dry.... Once dry ALL got painted in-place. Brackets painted gloss black to match that one the rear axle. The lines painted steel, as per factory Mopar. And fittings painted brass, as per materials they're made from, and then from the brackets to the brake drum housing "rubber" for hoses......



That large "brass" fitting seen next to the rear axle "pumpkin" is the fitting that will have a hose running from it, to the little cross member bracket fitting on the frame that will have a hose going from one location to the other. You can reflect this detail on my truck in this build, both were the same but slightly different. NOT by a lot tho..... I think mine was on the other side of the pumpkin, but the frame bracket was in the same location.....



Other side, same thing.....
Over-all it looks really good! Detail is spot on to a real truck of the same type and everything is just...................... pleasing to date! I'm happy thus far with everything......

Then as you all know, I made my own belt system set up for this truck, last you seem there was no power steering pump on the belt cluster, that has been remedied.....



I got to paint the "cap" to it flat black, and this whole detail assembly will be ready to go onto the engine!

One step closer to getting the engine in the bay..... THEN I'll be able to begin running exhaust pipe!

Thats it for now, more to come when progress happens! Enjoy!

Well its been a little since I've added any updates. Just a few "short" ones, but no less........"PROGRESS"!!!!!

SO, As you guys know my last posting, I was working on making a removable spare tire mount. WELL, its done, and on the model! Took a bit to figure out how I was going to go about it! But, its in-place!



The "pole" was turned on the lathe as you know, but the ring base, was a part I had to drill out a center hole, and then pop the scrap through a hole punch to get the roundness of it, slightly filed the hole as the drill bit I used was undersized, so I could "fit" the part to the pole and then off to glue it to the frame as well as the pole with a good CA on the trucks frame (remember the frame is resin) and the pole is styrene! SO, once the frame CA dried, I glued the ring to the pole with Tenax 7R!

Then while that was sitting and drying, I worked on the firewall. Now this was FUN, as I had to make an identical copy of the one I made in my truck (in real life, on the 2 trucks, they would have been VERY close the same!) SO, I had to take my Power Wagon truck, and literally "copy" it, a second time!





That looks pretty good (There is ONE, difference!) I had thought my Dad, (being "Dad") and thinking, I knew him, and I did....... BUT, in normal things with him, he would HAVE removed the A/C, for the power consumption it used. BUT to hear my uncle, he tells me Dad NEVER did it on this truck! Which, surprised me to hear, as I know for a fact this was one of VERY FEW that Dad didn't remove the A/C compressor from! SO, with the firewall detail, I'll be adding the heater core hoses and fittings (like I did on my truck, BUT I'll also be adding the A/C piping too, that runs from the compressor to the firewall! (Meaning, I'll have running pipe from the front of the compressor to a condensing radiator near the standard radiator!) SO, a little "extra" detail being added over-all, BUT the extra fittings to the firewall as well and I have yet to add them!

So, while some of the paint was drying,and CA drying from the added wiring to the firewall. I got to working on the belt set up on the engine, A/C compressor added, as well as the power steering, and alternator. This all looks GREAT! Alternator is painted so, the internal wires are seen between the cooling ribs of its casing, as well as "drilled" for the wires that lead off of it, just as I did on my Power Wagon model. The blue wire runs to the coil, and back to the firewall. The red wire on the alternator runs to the battery, and across the radiator core support. (I have to get that all detailed up pretty soon too!)





-and now to top it all off, I'm working on adding valve stems to the rims on Dads truck! I haven't yet gotten pics of that yet, BUT, they are drilled for them, and 2 or 3 have them in place! -Thought I'd let everyone know, I did choose to add them, as I said, they are drilled with having the hole smaller to "press fit" the valve stem, and because on Dads truck the tires are solid vinyl, I drill partly into them and press the wire "valve stem" into the vinyl to "grab" and hold in place without glue!

More to come as progress happens! -Enjoy!

WELL, well well, it sure has been awhile, on this model! (My accident well, yeah, you know all about it!) ANYWAY, I had gotten to the point on my "Dream Truck" build that I needed more parts to continue so... (I have to order the parts, when I have the spare $$$ to do so) SO, I sat it aside and just pulled out another that I had already got a good go on and in doing so, I seen this one, having ALL the details on the differentials, both front and back, and seen I had the suspension in place, followed by the brake lines were also don, SO.... I thought having a lot of the hard work already done, WHY NOT? pick back up where I left off, assembly and adding the remaining detail as I went. (SOME small details had to changed from my prior work in order to get it all to fit.

SO, to re-start this build, I took the firewall and got a good look at what I had originally done, and what was remaining to be needed.



Well was pretty much done besides needing some wiring holes drilled into it (almost impossible for me to get pics of!) BUT I seen that it needed brake lines coming from the master cylinder, and some other wires added, BUT, those other wires, won't be in-place till AFTER the firewall goes onto the frame, and the motor is in place! I did the brake lines on my spring arbor to get them as-seen, line (or close) to what they'd be on a real car or truck. Thing is, these have to done a special way as the area they are. the inner fender wells of the truck model make for TIGHT clearances in this area, so.. PLUS, I had to add in a triple valve to the ends of them, and mount it to the frame. I had to pre-think how this was going to go from my last truck (my truck) in this build as they BOTH have the steering shaft work in them, so I had to plan for its placement, as well how things would go, around it.

Then once that as all done on the firewall, I had before me was thee engine! This happens to be a Mopar 318 LA. Thing is, my Dad changed his in real life (He changed EVERY "318" he owned), in all of my life and know about, as ALL Mopar LA 318 (NOT to be confused with the 318 "Magnum" 2 different engines!), were made with a 2 barrel carburetor. Dad, well he was him, and as I know him, and know how he like "upgrading" as he called it, things, he took a 4 barrel intake from a Mopar LA 360 and added it to the 318. The 318-340 & 360 could all take intakes from one to another AS LONG as they weren't "High-Performance" intakes as those were found on the 340. They had different "runner" set ups, that wouldn't work on the 318's without a head change.

ANYWAY, I noticed a few small details not on the model 318 of mine here. One being the transmission dip-stick for the automatic Mopar 727 Torqueflite wasn't made and added. Seen here:



I had made my own head-bolt "hanger" to support the top end of the dip-stick, and be able to "shape" it around the head, and exhaust manifolds..... And for what it is, and was, looks pretty good!

The engine isn't "missing" anything else right now, (I have yet to address the air cleaner, BUT that will be done once its in the frame, and the engine compartment is around it. SO, that is missing, but will come! A little detail touch up once all the handing is done (motor in the frame to stay) is when that will happen.

SO then, I got to looking at the frame, and you know, I had the axles done, ready to go in place, and I had a look over them to see if they were missing any of my "standard" details BEFORE they were added to the frame as the frame at this point, had ALL of its suspension in place, just waiting to have the axles added. SO..... Just a "quick" mock-up" of the frame and all to make sure the axles were the same height and the truck sat level front-to-back, and side-to-side. SO, here we have it!



Mock-up, looks pretty dang good from here! SO, being it is, I've added the axles both front and back, centered the wheels in the wheel wells, with the body in place and glued the 4x4 differentials in place. Nice thing is, this build is "low" (not exactly my thing on a 4x4 of this type) BUT, thats how my Dad had it, he wanted a reliable, everyday driver, with a little power but be "pleasing" to drive and all for work, so he kept it "stock" for the most part, ALL that I know he changed in owning this truck, was the engines valve covers, air cleaner, oil and transmission dip stick "ends" ALL were "Dress-up" parts in chrome, (YEAH, he LOVED chrome!) He undercoated the whole thing underside. And added the white spoke rims (if I remember correctly, he got the truck with steel wheels (NO Hub caps) so....I think he also had planned to put dual exhaust on it, BUT that never happened, the flood took the truck before he got to add dual exhaust out the back..... This I remember talks of it by family members.... I also think/recall he added a little chrome "bling" in the interior, but nothing more then chrome knobs on the automatic gear shift lever on the column. MAYBE the turn signal lever, (I can't remember!) So. I'll be talking with my uncle, to see, if he remembers/knows or not. -He helped my Dad a lot on doing stuff like this that was those 2's "past time"...



Front differential in place. (MAN, the spots!) Thats dust! And I "dusted" them BEFORE working on them, or taking these pictures! Probably doesn't help that there is a lot of "black" paint...... Shows every speck of dirt.

ANYWAY, The differential has its cross hard line brake line on it, as can be seen, as well as the "hose" on either end going to the brake rotor. As well as all its fittings. I had all this DONE! So really all I have to do here is add the bell-crank, that is for the steering from the gear box, to the radius rod that actuates the steering, when the wheel is turned inside the cab. That one detail is al lthat remains here, I have yet to make this part, I'm trying to work around what is needed thats a bit more in-depth of work, as this won't take a lot to make.

So with that we'll more right to the rear differential!



Not to shabby here either, the part already had its hard brake line running across the axle length, so checking for any loose parts (MAYBE, if any) and that they all were detailed, so with that, all was great. I just had to find the "center" of the wheel well for mounting it. Done and in-place!!!!! All that remains now is the brake hose connecting the axle hard line to the frame hard line, and its fittings, which is made, and I got the fittings painted, I have yet to paint the wire as the hose.....

Also got to looking a the spare tire..... Looks really good, BUT I have to make the wheel mount to hold it in place as of yet, Thats coming, just not right now! I'll make that once I have the frame DONE, ready for interior work for the cab. As normally, I work at the model in the following order: Engine, DETAIL, transmission, DETAIL, frame, DETAIL, suspension, DETAIL, axles, DETAIL, Wheels & Tires, DETAIL, Interior, DETAIL, body DETAIL, -Complete. With having said that, The last details to be added, would be the bumpers, (in this case) any "in the bed details" I plan to add, and then the spare tire details, (I had to get the spare done for frame placement to aid in the location/how run the exhaust. Just for pre-planning. Granted, thats why I'm not going to continue any further on the spare and its detail as it will be in place and removed several times before the model is all done!

So I thought I'd show pics of the rear portion to clarify the placement and details of the rear axle and stuff.

Then, moving right along..... We get to the engine compartment. I took and mounted the firewall in place AFTER the brake lines from the master cylinder were dry and paint was dry.... While it was setting I set down to make the triple valve. Got it painted, and once that was placed onto the ends of the brake lines, the whole sub-assembly was located to the frame and mounted. Then I allowed that to dry, and moved right along on the frame as then, all the brake lines coming and going from the triple valve needed made and installed. Which seen here:



All that is in place! UNPAINTED but in-place. I'll go back and paint it once its dry, to keep from having to do it twice. (tight quarters) You can see how the triple valve was mounted and all the lines ran from it.



Other side of the firewall (behind it) to show the triple valve rear brake line feed.
This is it for now till more progress is done, I just re-picked up this model to continue its build, SO there will be a bit to do, for pictures as I continue.... BUT as time goes and things are done, more will follow, stay tuned! (I'll go till I get to a place, I can't continue either with needing something, or limitations from my hands..... BUT that, we'll see!

ENJOY!

So a bit more to add.....
I left off with adding the brake line to the rear axle, NOW its time I get the fuel lines in place. Dads truck, had the fuel tank behind the bench seat, in the cab! SO, having said that, (a bit different for me) I had to come up with what needed done to get them in place....

I had to locate where they would pass through the floor panels, and follow the frame rails to the front, (or towards it anyway) to the "T" that has the return line.





Seen above is the "T" in brass, with mounting pad, as well as the dual lines headed back to the tank through the floor!



Seen here is the front line out of the "T" to the engine's mechanical fuel pump. It goes over the top of the engine mount, to a bracket that has 2 fittings, one to hold the "hard" line and on the other side, a fitting to couple a hose top it from the mechanical fuel pump thats on the engine.

Short post, More to come after these short messages!

So while I was adding the fuel lines, I totally spaced the radius rod for the steering! I got the fuel lines done, and right to making and adding that steering rod to the frame!!!!



VERY DIFFICULT, to do and to see in the pic. BUT I managed to get it on there!!!!
I had to test fit the engine a few times to make sure placement of things was right and noticed the engine didn't quite sit right. SO, I had to modify the mounts just a little, wasn't to bad to do!



So once that was done, back to where I left off on the steering details!
I also had yet to add the actual steering shaft, leading from the firewall to the steering gearbox! SO, off to the parts bins I went to see what I had suitable for the detail.... a small shaft of some sort (has a U-joint sort of in it) so, thats what it was gonna begin from!



Its built, and in place, to stay, but needed painted which I did as you see it!



Painted, to stay, and now everything looks pretty good! I am getting ready to install the 318 engine.....

More to come as progress happens, ENJOY!!!!!

So a bit more to add....
I actually got the engine in place in the frame rail mounted to STAY!



Shows it in place. The loose red wire is coming off the alternator. The rest that were loose are in place! Notice, the holes drilled into the steering gearbox? Those are for the plumbing from the power steering pump, to be added!



This pic shows the fitting on the end of the fuel line that will have a hose connected to the fuel pump on the engine!



In this pic, you can see the hole for the fuel line hose to go to the mechanical fuel pump, the hole is present!

ALL of thee above are all thats left to do as far as connections to the lower portion of the motor and or belt run systems.

Then we go to the underside of the truck!
For those thats following remember, I got to get the axles in place but had NO shocks in-place on the suspension! _I had to pick out what I was gonna use for this as the stock parts on the front did not come with the kit for a 4x4 truck, (made from the Little Red Express), it was a 2x4 truck and had no front shocks!) SO, I choose to use coil overs in the front.



You can see the mount on the OUTSIDE of the frame just behind the wheel!



A bit better shot of that side!



A bit of both sides seen here. These where fun! I had to come up with a coil-over shock, that also had a mount for the axle, and a flat pad on the opposite end to have a frame mount made for it. -The frame mount was made from the left over engine mount cross member I cut out to get the engine to fit the way it was made too (like real life) so. I keep all those left overs on the bench so when needed I have them for such uses!



A good shot of the frame mount behind the wheel assembly.



Same thing, other side! The whole front suspension is now complete!!!!!! Then while the frame was sitting there upside-down, I thought and seen that the divorced transfer case and jack shaft were sitting waiting to be added to the truck so I thought, I'd get them in place since the motor was in to stay!



In this, I took the stock "salvaged" transfer case from the donor frame I used, and detailed it just a bit, by adding a "pan" on it, for changing and checking the internal parts and grease/oil (heavy oil if used) changes. I may add a drain plug to it yet!

So far all looks pretty good, I'm very pleased! My next task, is getting the shocks on the rear axle!

Stay tuned, more to come as I get that accomplished!

Well as mentioned, my next task was to get the rear shocks picked out, and painted, and then by all means, in place! WELL what seemed to be the fun was finding the shocks to fit. As the truck itself, was "leveled" front to back to keep a stock height 4x4. Just as my Dad had it. Problem being, was that the box stock truck was a 2x4 truck, that had the rear slightly lifted, to give the truck a "raked look". Having said that, The rear shocks for this were slightly longer, then what a leveled 4x4 truck would have had. SO, making the task a bit more difficult. SO, off to the parts organizer that I had shocks in I went.

SADLY, I didn't then and don't now have a lot of choices for shocks. SO, then I went to hit the kit boxes! (I have a BUNCH of kits that is getting the "stance" changed), requiring custom made shocks (I didn't want to have to go that route this time. SO, I found/looked for what I had left or would from other builds, that had the stance changed.) I plan to lower a this kit I have, so will need special made shocks when the time comes. SO, the box-stock shocks in the kit were in question for this build. Turns out, these work GREAT! So, off to making them the Monroe shocks that my Dad kept under his truck these went. White and Dark Blue. With the mounts made to reflect the rear and floorboards there were to connect too!





I got a little touch-up to do..... BUT so far, this whole truck frame looks GREAT!!!!!
Now that I got the suspension done, I have to go through do a quick paint touch-up and then I can move on to getting the exhaust piping done. Then the rest of the fine details.
So while I was waiting for the The shocks to dry once they were painted, I began looking at the frame to see what I had to do to get the exhaust pipe started. Needless to say this truck, with its Mopar "LA" 318 engine and my Dad being well, my Dad, he left almost everything stock, UNLESS it could be easily seen or HEARD. SO, Having said that this truck Dad left it have a single pipe exhaust, meaning it needed a "Y" pipe to have the 2 exhaust manifolds crossover to one pipe exit. Meaning, I had to make my own "Y" pipe for it! SO..... I sat out to make a "Y" pipe.



Now granted, its only as-is as I have a LOT of "forming" yet to do, BUT thats not to say I will even "try" to form it as it is. BECAUSE one wrong bend in the pipe, means I'll be making a 2nd one! SO...... I might do as little "forming" as I can get away with, and cut it to length to have other formed pipe, meet up to it, with a pipe joint. This will save me the headache of having to do things over again that aren't exactly easy to do in the first place. This whole thing will be made to have a single muffler and will exist the truck just behind the driver's side rear tire! -The only thing I can think of at this point my Dad did to his real truck was one, put on a single "Glass Pack" muffler, AND a chrome exhaust tip. Which means, BOTH these 2 details, I'll be making custom from bits I have around the shop. My Uncle told me that Dad spoke of doing a full exhaust on this truck over the last winter he had it, BEFORE the spring flood took it from him, as he wanted to put dual exhaust out the back on it, but never got around to doing it so it will be made in reflection of what his real truck had.

Thats it for now, More to come when I got more to add!!!!! -Thanks for lookin'!

Well now that the frame's 95% complete, I thought I'd get right into the detail of the engine! I had to add the fuel line to the mechanical fuel pump..... What a fun little hose to make FIT!





You can see it bare copper right below the alternator!
Once that was in to stay, and painted to resemble a hose, the fun began! The power steering hoses from the pump on the belt set up, to the gear box on the frame. the first one was made, "formed" and the hose "pipe allowed to look the part, and a sleeve over it to look like a "hose" also "formed" and once fitted, the "pipe" was painted to look like a steel pipe, on each end. There are 2 of these hoses.

First one:



Good GAWD is that chrome bright!



"Hard line" painted to look the part. Shaping this supply line was a fun task, OMG if you guys only knew, (the pump is only glued to ONLY the pulley and belts!) Makes doing these type details a real PITA! BUT, the detail factor is worth the trouble!
Then the real fun was the return line to the same thing, goes from BEHIND the power steering pump to the steering gear box, and kinda winds around you might say. (trying to get that "factory look" here......



THEN you'll notice in the picture, I also had got the heater hoses in place, on the passenger side of the truck over the edge/corner of the inner fender well! These are done from the engine run through a fitting on the fire wall, left long out the back till they were "in-place" as they have "mounts" along the fenders edge.

There really aren't many more "connections" to the engine to be made, upper and lower radiator hoses, and the alternator wire to the battery, and then the battery wire to the starter.... Then the whole engine compartment will be done! -I'm working out the stuff thats going to be on the radiator core support, next!

More to follow as things get done!

So as the holiday continues, HOPEFULLY I'll get more & more done! A lot of "fine" details to go, even under the hood! Anyway, as I had last posted, I got the heater hoses in place. As you all seen, BUT this Mopar 318 ALSO got an A/C too! So, I had to get the parts organizer out to see what I had for A/C hose, to connect it to the firewall. WELL turns out, the A/C hose that I THINK goes to this A/C pump on the fan belt arrangement, but wouldn't "fit" the application (this truck) SO..... I used parts of it, to make it fit. I made my own "hose" for it and hard plumbing.....



Now for the most part, the engine and all is piping and even hose "work" is done, EXCEPT the radiator core support wiring and hose-work, will follow as that has to be looked at to see what all needs done to get it up to the standard of this model truck. -I HAD to get all this small pipe and hose work DONE before the radiator and core support went into place!

SO, I got to looking at the core support, and the factory kit radiator. Both are done well, BUT the radiator needed some sort of "stand-off" from the core support, (I didn't like how it looked mounted almost "flush" to the core support so. I made some "stand-off" mounts, and put them right on the radiator, where the factory mount is!





Looks pretty good, for the distance gained. SO, I went with it.... (Gets the radiator cap just a little "away" from the core support.) Which is what I was out to achieve!
Then, I got to thinking, while working on the radiator, The A/C needed a Condenser too! (radiator-like part) that was to be somewhere in-front, or behind the actual engine cooling radiator! SO, no real space for that behind, so in front its going! In front will allow it to be "sunk" into the opening of the core support just like for the radiator to allow air to blow through it.... BUT the question was, "What do I use?" Off to the parts bin yet again, to see what might be lurking..... All I had was a radiator, with a fan shroud on it, and all one piece connected to the core support, Wasn't interested in using this for a A/C condensing radiator SO, off to junk piles..... I got some old beat up die-cast models from my Step-Son, and low and behold a radiator thats thin enough and small enough to fit the space, with little work to do so! Came out of some car, he gave me some time ago, missing a lot of parts, so I stripped it of things I thought I could use on the model cars, so.....



Core support, painted to match the trucks body color, then the radiator after it got the stand-offs added top it, and below that is the A/C condenser.





Then while I was diggin' for the A/C condenser, and just before I put my parts organizer away, I seen a fan shroud!!!! So, it too will be on this truck! -I don't recall the model kit having one, but both my old Dodge Power Wagon, and Dads Adventurer should have had (My ole '78 truck did but it was badly cracked at both bottom mounts so I removed it when the 360 was pulled and before the 440 went in! So, my model in this build will not have this detail!)

All put there to see.... The fit! Now granted, the radiator is merely just sitting on top of the core support here, but that being said the A/C condenser slips right under with no issue at all, meaning I'll have to make some sort of bracket on the front of the A/C condenser, that will connect it "hang" onto the core support. Hopefully, the front of all this together will be seen between the grille and the front of the core support and all its parts when in the truck as there should be just a little space between the back of the grille, and the front of the core support..... This whole thing when done, WILL not be glued in till I know for sure it all will fit as it should!

I'll have more in a day or so. Hopefully with the holiday of Thanksgiving upon us, I'll be getting a bit more done to this build!

Enjoy for now, more will come!

Then while I was looking for parts, I totally forgot all about the spare tire, rim, and its mount! I got everything together and put it in place!



Now as you see it, isn't the way its gonna stay! I plan to add a rectangle of wire soldered to the slot of the screw to look like a "grab & twist" that would be like a ring in a bulls nose, BUT not "hinge" as this is also going to remain "REMOVABLE"!!!!! With a little soldering work from me, it should work GREAT as the wire will be HARD music wire! -Ought to strong enough to be grabbed by tweezers for removal!

While the truck was up-side-down, I got to looking at it for placement/design of the exhaust pipe and muffler (and this time a CAT!), and how and where the pipe and things were gonna be! SO, got to thinking, Dad was said to have put a single "Glass Pack" muffler on this truck in real life. Sadly, Thats a detail I know I didn't have, not one to look the part anyway! SO, off to the scrap plastic I went..... grabbed what looked bigger then what I needed and off to the lathe I went! This is what it came out looking like:



The top "piece" is the slug I used for the part, turned down in the lathe it went to looking like what you see on the bottom part. (Just happened to be red plastic too!) As these "Glass Packs" would have been a bright red anyway!



This shows the "end" of the Glass Pack muffler, it was "center drilled" while in the lathe, so that I could turn the pipe connection as thin as I could get it.... Looks good, BUT these "ends" on both ends is made long and got trimmed before they were painted!
Once it was dry, it was glued to the "Y" that I made, that is pictured above! Here it is in place:



Looks pretty good, if you look, I even added the pipe hangers! The pipe is painted Testors "Steel" the Catalytic converter, is painted Testors Metalizer "Titanium" polished, then coated, The muffler itself is painted Krylon "Bright Red". The exhaust pipe hangers are simply blackened copper wire. NO PAINT!



Then, I went to adding the "tail pipe". I had to remove the spare tire in order to make this, BUT I had to keep it in place to route the pipe and judge the bends to get around everything...... Turned out VERY WELL if I do say so, myself!



Looking from the front to the back, to see how the exhaust pipe is bent and is made to fit around everything.



Looking from the back to the front, to show how the tail pipe is mounted, as well as the hangers, The pipe itself, is cut off "long"..... As once the bed is in place, I'll adjust this and add a polished tip (probably Aluminum tube polished, to look like chrome!!!!) -That will be done, on my lathe when I go to do it!

Fits perfectly around the spare tire, and allows space on the frame, for the class 3 hitch I have yet to make, that my Dad had for pulling his camper (I may TRY to build this too at some point, as it will have to be "scratchbuilt", 100% of it!)

Thanks for looking, thats it for now more to come as more is done!

So with a bit of looking for parts, and have posted the pics of what I did and found for the radiator, and core support, I came across another radiator-like part..... It was to be thought to go in place for an A/C condenser radiator! AND it "almost" fit! SO, the whole outside dimension was GREAT, BUT the thickness was the issue (The core support fits really close to the rear of the grille!) Having said that, off to set the Unimat up for the task of milling OFF the back-side of the part!



One pass.....



Second pass....



After the 3rd pass, it was perfectly fitted thickness-wise! SO I got right to adding the mounts, (one fell off while in the mill) so, I got it back in place and now awaits to have those painted, and then to make the locations for the A/C lines in, and A/C lines out.....
Which I have some thought to put into this task.... A little work to it as well, but once done, like the rest of the under hood details, it'll look good!

Short update, but more to come!!!!!! -Thanks for looking!

So, I got a bit of research to see how things went on the Core support, (I know how the radiator, and fan shroud was placed) BUT the A/C condenser was a slight issue, (or so I think anyway) I need to see just how on the Dodge trucks the A/C parts/lines were ran other then that I've added) As that stuff seen already in place is where it should be, that I know, BUT I myself haven't once worked on a 70's Dodge truck that HAD A/C so, its in question. Till I find and do all I can to research this, I moved on a bit, and let the other sit aside till I have what I need to continue to deal it.

SO, whats left? The interior! Now as a few here may know, I was on a look-out for a bench seat, this is just one of the reasons I need a bench seat! My Dad's truck HAD a bench seat, NOT buckets as the model came with, MOLDED into the interior tub! SO, I went to cutting them out....



Nice and clean..... NOW I had to leave the front edge in place as the bench seat would need this, or so I hope! (I don't have the seat yet, but no harm removing whats not needed.



From the back, as you see the box stock interior tub is made to be an "Automatic" shift truck, the REAL truck (as the Little Red Express) was a standard! This was the issue I found with my truck in this build, (which I changed!) BUT in Dad's truck, it will remain as-is, as his truck was a true Automatic shift truck! -Had a 727 Torqueflite transmission in it, that was powered by the Mopar LA 318..... NOT a Magnum, 2 different beasts, and slightly different in detail too! SO when I got to detail the interior, these seen pedals will stay, as "bases" as I plan to add my own "treads" to them, that won't be anything special so-to-speak, or see, BUT something to make them just a bit more, pronounced in being seen in the truck. -Made from the same materials those are I put in my truck!

I also went as far to fill in the standard shifter mount hole too. I have one to add, sure for the 4x4 shifter, BUT, thats in a slightly altered location nearer to the dash, and further to the passenger side of the truck! Also will be a completely different shifter too!
I'll probably be doing a bit of detail to the door sides while the seat isn't in there. Make it a bit easier! I'll also be detailing the seat, the levers on each side to prop the back of the seat forward, adjustment lever, and even seat belts! (I just got to figure out what will be used for seat belts, (I've never made them from scratch before so... We'll see!



Then I went to putting in the "base" of the tub, and the back, NOW, granted, this is just for support, NOTHING more.... I'll do the "interior finish" to fit whatever bench seat I get..... So, for now, this is how the truck will be till those seat trades I got going come!

Thanks for looking, much appreciated!!!!!