mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Aug 29, 2022 15:17:35 GMT -7
A new project started out of a need to add another coat of paint to my 1997 Dodge Caravan. I envisioned the '69 GTX painted with the same color of MCW Seafoam Turquoise Metallic with the Performance Hood Package. The engine will be the standard 440 CID engine with 6 Pack carburation. If that doesn't fit under the hood, I will use the stock 4-bbl. carb. The transmission is the Mopar A-833 4-speed transmission. I started by trimming all of the little bits and pieces of flash and realized that I would have to assemble the firewall, side panels and core support if I am to wash the body and chassis before adding primer and paint. The wheels are Cragar SS mags, my favorite! More GTX to come...
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41chevy
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Post by 41chevy on Aug 30, 2022 10:00:43 GMT -7
Looks to be a really good project! Paul
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Aug 30, 2022 19:44:53 GMT -7
Thanks Paul!
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Post by mustang1989 on Aug 31, 2022 9:56:31 GMT -7
Oh HELL yeah!! This is gonna be cool to watch!!
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Aug 31, 2022 11:15:14 GMT -7
Keep watchin' Joe! More GTX to come!
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 1, 2022 7:27:16 GMT -7
Last night, before turning for the night, I added some strip styrene and glue to the score line under the '69 GTX hood. I wanted to fill the score line and to strengthen the hood since I have been "tweaking" it to fit level on the body without moving. You can barely see the scoreline from the topside of the hood. More GTX to come...
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Post by Grandpabeast on Sept 9, 2022 2:33:01 GMT -7
looking good. The devil is in the details .
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 9, 2022 6:51:58 GMT -7
Thanks Grandpabeast! I have been finding little things that mean a lot in the long run. My goal is to build a better looking model, not a 100% accurate model.
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 9, 2022 15:14:06 GMT -7
Spent a little time on the GTX this afternoon. I assembled the engine and lettered the tires. The engine had no valley pan of cover and the intake manifold just sat on top of a wide open area. I made a cover from a piece styrene and glued it in. More GTX to come...
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 9, 2022 19:11:20 GMT -7
The more I looked at them, the more I didn't like the valve covers I had put on. I found a set that I liked better and while they are not 100% correct, they do look a lot better! Momre GTX to come...
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41chevy
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Post by 41chevy on Sept 10, 2022 10:27:12 GMT -7
Looks good especially the valve cover change. All the engine needs is the small piece of fiberglass insulation Mother Mopar put to isolate the engine heat from the intake manifold. Paul
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 10, 2022 19:38:38 GMT -7
If I remember correctly, that was the first thing many hot rodders tossed away. They said it robbed the engine of some horsepower. Not sure if that was true or not.
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Post by mustang1989 on Sept 11, 2022 4:17:06 GMT -7
Good looking progress so far and those rocker covers do look alot better.
The idea behind the insulation is to keep the intake manifold cooler so that a cooler air charge can make its way to the heads. Cooler air is much denser, thus packing in more oxygen molecules for greater combustion, which in turn, equals more horsepower theoretically.
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41chevy
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Post by 41chevy on Sept 11, 2022 11:02:31 GMT -7
Good looking progress so far and those rocker covers do look alot better. The idea behind the insulation is to keep the intake manifold cooler so that a cooler air charge can make its way to the heads. Cooler air is much denser, thus packing in more oxygen molecules for greater combustion, which in turn, equals more horsepower theoretically. In 1971 I ran one of my 440 6 pak Challengers with it and with one with out it. I lost 2 tenths of a second in the one with out the insulation. Stuck it back in and gained the time back. One car ran as SS/CA the other ran SS/C sponsored by Bayside Chrysler Plymouth.
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 11, 2022 19:38:29 GMT -7
Joe and Paul, thank you for updating me about the insulator. I used to hang out with a group of hot rodders back in the late '60's and early '70's and I was told that insulator robbed horsepower from the engine. I guess we were wrong...
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41chevy
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Post by 41chevy on Sept 12, 2022 10:05:55 GMT -7
Joe and Paul, thank you for updating me about the insulator. I used to hang out with a group of hot rodders back in the late '60's and early '70's and I was told that insulator robbed horsepower from the engine. I guess we were wrong... My input before I tested it was Sox and Martin, Dick Landy and The Ramchargers performane clinics explaining why they all ran the insulators but I had to see if it made a difference myself.
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 12, 2022 18:18:29 GMT -7
I have never seen one until it was removed from my friend's engine. I was going by what he said. Tonight I painted the engine, the distributor and cap and I made an ignition coil, painted it and wired it and painted the 6-barrel carburation. Now, you are asking why did I paint the 4-barrel and the 6-barrel intakes? I haven't decided which one I will use yet. Why they don't add ignition coils to these kits is beyond me. More Plymouth to come...
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 18, 2022 18:33:26 GMT -7
I started detailing the engine. I added my plug wires, fan belt with power steering pump and alternator and the fan. I had to make an ignition coil from a piece of round styrene stock and added a wire to it. The tires proved to be problematic, so I replaced them with a set from Revell and I will add some white letters to the tires. More GTX to come...
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41chevy
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Post by 41chevy on Sept 19, 2022 9:42:01 GMT -7
Engine looks excellent! I like your wheel choice too. Paul
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 19, 2022 10:42:54 GMT -7
Thanks Paul!
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 26, 2022 8:37:27 GMT -7
The 440 CID engine is complete and ready to be installed in the chassis. I added the air cleaner and decal and then I installed a STP Racing decal on the oil filter. The alternator has some clear red paint on the fins to represent the wire turnings on the armature. The wheels and tires have been further detailed and I still need to find tire decals in my stash that I know I have. More GTX to come...
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41chevy
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Post by 41chevy on Sept 26, 2022 9:52:17 GMT -7
Engine and wheels look good. Paul
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 26, 2022 14:06:10 GMT -7
Thanks Paul! I decided to add more detail to my 440 6 pack. I used a piece of wire and some superglue and added the hose from the PCV valve to the carbs. Then I found my Shabo Tire Graphics and added Goodyear to the tires. I thought I had an extra set of water slide decals, but I must have used them elsewhere. More GTX to come...
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Post by CoyoteCrunch on Sept 27, 2022 7:53:14 GMT -7
Very nice, love all the details, and I think the tires look awesome!
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 27, 2022 17:58:14 GMT -7
Thanks CC! I painted the GTX this afternoon. More GTX to come...
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Sept 30, 2022 14:57:24 GMT -7
The chassis is almost completed, except for the exhaust tips, wheels and tires. More GTX to come...
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Oct 9, 2022 19:17:01 GMT -7
I did some detailing on the front grille, rear trunk lid and the taillights. Then I started taping the hood for the Performance Hood Treatment. More GTX to come...
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Oct 27, 2022 7:52:00 GMT -7
I finally painted the '69 GTX with Tamiya TS-6 Matt Black. Next will be Gloss Clear over the Matt Black to bring out a glossiness to the paint. More GTX to come...
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Post by sharp on Oct 27, 2022 18:15:50 GMT -7
Looks great Mike! I like those colors
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mrmike
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Post by mrmike on Oct 27, 2022 19:28:28 GMT -7
Thanks Mike! I appreciate it!
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