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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2014 17:49:02 GMT -7
I went to the swap today and was not looking for another truck kit but the guy had a pre built Little Red Express and an extra Little Red Express missing alot but inside the large bag was this interesting Adventurer Fleetside bed. It had all the Adventurer trim on it. I filed all of it off in about 15 minutes and measured and sawed the bed down to short wide status. This is just cobbled together for the picture with some extra tires and wheels. The second pic is nose to nose with my slammed Little Red Express. What a difference in height!!   |
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Post by gardnerpag44 on Mar 23, 2014 19:03:12 GMT -7
Good looking truck  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2014 16:11:23 GMT -7
From that to this. I rebodied the truck with the new cab. I found a neat way to lower the front and back without having to stub and backhalf the chassis. On the front using all stock parts I snipped and filed what were the original lower control arms and sized them to fit on the frame above what is the upper control arms/crossmember. I did not even have to drill a hole for the metal axle. Just take a file and round out the holes a bit. As for the back I flipped the axle and rear end mounts on the spring, added a little piece to each spring to lower it and fit the rear end in between. This is the project as it sits now. 1/3 the work of the other one and pretty much the same results. Oh well, had fun doing the other truck and fun doing this one. Now if anyone could point me in the right direction for some tires and wheels for this one. I am going a little bigger on the rim size and wanting tires with a little width. I think this truck looks absolutely 'killer'. That fleetside bed really did the trick. I could have bought a resin one an fit it but I like working with plastic better and this bed was a fraction of the price I would have paid for the resin one. Unfortunately it is short the tail gate and tail lights. I guess I will have to keep an eye on ebay for some as I dont see many beds like this around?? Chas.   |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2014 16:27:42 GMT -7
nice lookin dodges Santa! did you see my post about top fuel slicks?
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Post by Skip-O-Matic on Mar 24, 2014 16:34:02 GMT -7
Coming along very nicely. I always like the short fleetside beds.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2014 18:46:15 GMT -7
Chas, they look good! You know I like them Dodges
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2014 19:12:25 GMT -7
Yeah, me too. I had a 91 That looked like this one a bit. I even took a couple of Prospector badges and set them on the back side of the bed on each side. Its stance is close to the truck I had. I am thinking maybe Pegasus or something like that for some larger wheels and low profile wide tires and some really outstanding paint color, a bed cover, smoothed sides and door handles, I am thinking about making a roll pan for the back and filling the tail light holes and making a tail gate as I dont have any of the stuff. If I do that I will have to cut up the grille and put like chrome tubing in it and do some custom work on the front too. I would like to get the missing stuff and make the body stock for my first choice. Im going to get back to trying to finish up the Mustang model I started and work my way back to this one. My Sox and Martin 73 Duster should be here by weeks end and I am sure I will get distracted by it and again lose focus on what I am doing. No more kits on the way but got some to trade off. Maybe I will post some wants and see where it goes. Paul I am sure has something I can use, Right Paul!! Knarf, I did not see your post. I will try to get a looksee after work Tuesday. Skip, thanks for the support and Paul, I told you I get really crazy with my builds. This one hit me like a Mack Truck. I got it, thought about it, sliced and diced, and just that quick here it is. I dont know? There is no hope for me!!
Chas.
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Post by gardnerpag44 on Mar 24, 2014 19:24:58 GMT -7
Don't feel bd I fall into the spot on my builds BTW I have stock tail gate and lites for you
I'll get them sent to you
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2014 15:40:38 GMT -7
Well, a goof on this setup and now it will require some 'surgery' to fix a flaw. when I set this up (and it was quick) the front suspension worked and will be tweaked a bit but is done for the most part. Ther rear is where I goofed. I had done the modification to the rear springs and fit the rear end in between the springs and bottom of the bed. It was tight but looked good. After I took a better look at it I mounted the rear end upside down. Due to this truck having a built on fuel tank after I flipped the rear axle right side up I found the tank was now in the way. So..... out comes the dremel and I carved out the tank. Unfortunately half of the frame is missing as the one side was the tank. I took an old LRE chassis and cut the left side frame section off I need for the right. I will fit it in place and smooth it all out and just add a generic tank on the rear of the frame. I will get some pictures of the front suspension mods and this rear frame fix and post some before and after. Heading to the Hospital to see Mom now!!
Chas.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2014 16:56:20 GMT -7
You can lay a strip of styrene in that void & sand it smooth & never know it after paint is on
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2014 22:00:01 GMT -7
Today I found a set of aftermarket wheels and tires I had. Did a little creative fabrication to fit them on to the axles. I also set up a rear end with leafsprings and put all of it together to get a look at the stance this truck will have. Sorry the picture had a flash in it and kind of fuzzed up the truck a bit but this picture shows the stance and now I know which way to finish off this build. I am seeing two tone paint, larger profile Pegasus wheels and tires, a bed cover, Little red express rear bumper and shaved door handles. I really like the fleetside low to the ground look. Hard to believe this is the same truck as in the first picture!  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2014 7:29:45 GMT -7
Last night I finished the proper spacing of the tires in the wells, Shaved the door handles and locks, rounded off some too crisp mold lines and rounded the back edges of the cab. I also finished the chassis modifications and created the missing frame rail and molded it in. Hitting a hobby shop for some nicer tires and wheels if I can find any? Tonight I am stripping the paint off the inside of the bed and mounting the bulkhead of the bed back on the shortened longbed. Chas. This picture group is a little better than the one I posted yesterday!    |
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Post by gardnerpag44 on Apr 4, 2014 12:13:10 GMT -7
Looks good Chas. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2014 19:02:43 GMT -7
Okay, I never thought I would go this route but it was in my head. I saw bigger wheels and tires. Well...its got them now! Since I went this route I am thinking about an SRT 8 motor and tranny, 4 wheel disc brakes, and whatever else I can dream up. I wanted a slammed truck. To me this is it! I like it, hope you do too!!! From this  To this  |
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Post by wheaton79chris on Apr 4, 2014 19:04:11 GMT -7
Like the stance! Definitely bigger rear tires though, those look really too small but the overall look is great
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Post by gardnerpag44 on Apr 4, 2014 19:08:29 GMT -7
Not a fan of big tires and wheels but really look good on this very cool |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2014 19:11:53 GMT -7
The new tires are off a new Challenger model. I wanted bigger wheels and the tires looked right too. I have to do a little modification to the right front wheel well due to a recess real close to the tire. Other than that these tires fit perfect inside the wells and are wide enough to take up a good percentage of the width in the wells too. It might be a bit over the top but its got me pretty stoked to keep on keeping on with this one. I cant wait to finish the chassis and move on to the interior and paint.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2014 19:16:36 GMT -7
Paul, I am not a huge fan either. I might be a bit happier if they were just a tad smaller but it is what it is. Having said that its growing on me a little as I look at the pics. I have a vivid image of this one done and in the end it will look good overall. There is a Model contest in Wisconsin in July and I want this one done in time to display it.
Chas.
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Post by Skip-O-Matic on Apr 4, 2014 20:21:02 GMT -7
This truck is really shaping up. The big wheels work on this in my opinion. The SRT8 engine and 4 wheel disc brakes sounds like a good idea too. On the newer cars one of the reasons for the larger diameter wheels is to clear the large rotors and calipers that the old 15 inch wheels won't. That's why if you build an all out pro touring car or truck you really don't have a choice.
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Post by jbailey on Apr 4, 2014 20:48:49 GMT -7
I like the way this truck is shaping up! The big wheels work well on it I think.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2014 19:44:16 GMT -7
Did some work on the truck today but it was small items. thought I would post a few pics of the chassis and the mods created to get the trucks stance and the frame fabrication. First picture shows in the red circles the front suspension that I lowered. The crossmember is stock and mounted like it should be. The lower control arms have been filed down and are mounted to the side of the frame underneath and the axles go through in between them.  This picture shows the frame fabrication in the red circle. Note the white area in the middle of the frame rails. In there was the molded in gas tank. On removing it half the frame rail in the red circle went with the tank. I fabbed one out of styrene and used white putty to fill in any flaws.  In this picture the white styrene sheet on the frame is to make it more sturdy. I filed down the frame rails to allow room for the rear end housing. In the red circle is the area I had to cut and fab in some plastic to fill the hole I made cutting out the notched area. I used a scrap LRE chassis and just cut a piece out of the left front wheel well and trimmed to fit. It has putty on it now and is drying. This had to be done to allow room for the larger tires.  |
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Post by gardnerpag44 on Apr 5, 2014 20:14:45 GMT -7
Great looking work Chas. nice detail of your work also |
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Post by Skip-O-Matic on Apr 6, 2014 8:50:06 GMT -7
Looking good. Nice to see the modifications you did also.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2014 13:01:43 GMT -7
Did some modifications to the chassis and fabbed up a trans crossmember for the new motor/trans. This picture shows the stock chassis on the left and the modified on the right. Circled is the area that needed to be filed down for engine/trans clearance  This picture shows the heavy modification to the stock engine crossmember. Much reshaping was done to it. In addition you can see the fabbed trans crossmember and the area where the tank was removed. Look close and you can see the area of the frame I had to make from where the tank was.  This picture just shows the front area of the frame with the wider area for the motor/trans combo  This is the first shot of the underside with the mocked up motor trans combo. Now you can see why the fabbed trans crossmember, modified engine crossmember, and the filed down frame was needed. Circled is the room that was made for the factory hedders and the clearance that they have now.  This is the engine in its new bay from the top. This engine trans combo was from a late model SRT 8 Challenger. It fits in between the frame rails snug as a bug. There are nice even gaps on both sides where the hedders drop down along side the frame. This truck has taken on an entire new look and attitude to go with it. I still have not come up with a permanent rear end setup I am happy with as of now. I have a temporary setup for mock up but not for the build. I am about to tear into an interior bucket removing the seats and installing high back bucket seats, tilt steering column, and doing some detailing to the door panels. Next will be building and painting the motor and trans.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2014 18:06:16 GMT -7
this is kool  |
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Post by gardnerpag44 on Apr 13, 2014 21:23:01 GMT -7
Sweet doing some great conversions here nice work smileyCA9464IN_zpsd9ee499f
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2014 9:11:08 GMT -7
Well, a bit of time so I started putting some color to the truck. I chose this color (Nassau Blue) because it looked like a decent color for the truck. The chassis gets the blue along with parts of the motor. The rear end setup has been finished and the chassis has been drilled out for the setup. Also in this picture is the Mustang II gas tank, the 4 wheel disc brakes, some of the backs of the items on the fan belt assembly and the correct orange Fram PH9y oil filter. Still a bunch of detail paint and assembly to do but its getting closer to being finished. If you look close under the crossmember those two arms are the motor mounts fabbed up and installed to hold the motor at the correct height instead of just having the oil pan rest on and be glued to the crossmember. Chas.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2014 14:53:08 GMT -7
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Post by gardnerpag44 on Apr 20, 2014 21:19:11 GMT -7
Sweet looking great smileyCA9464IN_zpsd9ee499f
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 9:21:47 GMT -7
Thanks Paul. This motor has the injection system with a flex looking tube coming out of the front of it into an air filter box. THAT will screw up the look. I have seen CXhevy injection systems and they have an oval cone shaped air filter right on the front of the injection system. So... its off to hunt one down to get the look it needs. Getting ready to do the interior. I put an ad on parts wanted for a couple of interior tube. I have to cut two totally apart to create one. The door panels are going to get some real looking armrests and handles etc. and the interior gets high back bucket seats. I am toying with an idea for a custom made dash to back of cab console too. Lots of work to do on that one but its got to get done right!
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