AMT Mustang-GT Funny Car Update 02/27/16 Livery Restored

[AC Norton]

.........motor looks terrific, Gene, glad everything is coming together for you....those slight changes make a nice difference...great work...the Ace...

[dragzz]

looking great so far keep up the good work

[Speedfreak]

Thanks Ace, and , Tom. I'm putting the trailing links back in now, one down. 

Anybody have any tips on how to center the motor, since there are no motor mounts? Just eye ball it and pray? 

[slusher]

Great looking engine Gene. Fantastic painting of it. What did you paint the valve covers with??

[Speedfreak]

Hey Carl thanks, and, good question! I used Dupli-Color Hot Rod Gray ( I love that color!) primer, and , then Tamiya Light Gun Metal (TS-42) , then Testors Dull Coat clear. Three brands! It's fairly close to the color that some of these valve covers came in, should be a little darker for a closer match. 

The trailing links are in, I'll have pics shortly. 

Edited September 2, 2015 by Speedfreak

[AC Norton]

centering the motor.....well, the only thing I can come up with, without the car actually on my bench,,,,,the middle of the oil pan should sit center on the front axle/crossmember....making certain the trans is centered to mate with the drive shaft....but being this motor is kitbashed,,,,the headers , if they touch suspension, or something,,,,will throw all this out....5 minute epoxy is your friend here, as movement and shifting as ya go,,,may be the ticket. if you take some good pics of all mentioned, I will figure this out once seeing all the components in place....the Ace........

[Roadrunner]

This is looking just wonderful. I have the same kit that i need to finish, as a tribute to one that I did as a kid. I hope mine can turn out as nice as yours is.

[Speedfreak]

Thanks Kevin, hope this thread helps on your build, love your signature. 

Ace, the headers are from this kit, the engine lines up just like the kit engine, the oil plug, (that used to be there) , sits halfway across the cross-member, but that doesn't help line it up side to side, or , the angle. Looks like I'll have to get out my eyeball tool from Micro-Mark.   I hope I get it right, 'cause right now the stacks fit just fine through the cutout in the hood.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Speedfreak

[AC Norton]

yes, I know they are kit headers, but being the motor and such are different now, I was wondering if some parts now have problems with fit to other areas....usually when changes like this occur, it can be hard to find where that culprit may be hiding, that's throwing everything off just enough to cause fits....I've built enough in the last 46 or 47 years now,,,been there, dozens of times.......the Ace....

[Speedfreak]

One other thing that is 'off' here is the front axle. The drivers side wheel/tire are off the ground slightly. I didn't catch this when I epoxied the piece on, so , that means the other side is further extended which could be why I had some difficulty attaching the trailing link to the chassis on that side, I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't stay in place when I was attaching it. Here's a pic of how things lay underneath, there are still a couple of things to finish up: Like the brake disk that has slid out on the passenger side rear wheel. Man, taking photos sure does let you know where you're at.  

 

 

There is no adhesive on the rear shocks. The fit was 'just' tight enough that for me to place the shocks into the chassis then just 'slid' the tops along the axle housings(?) until the tabs slid into the holes. Tricky little buggers those shocks. 

Edited September 2, 2015 by Speedfreak

[Roadrunner]

Yea, the chassis leaves a bit to be desired, still, it's a classic, at least from my point of view.

[AC Norton]

super boss mustang funny.....well, that chassis work looks SUPER BOSS to me, I can tell you.....I'm jealous, Gene, send that baby up here, i'll send ya down a new kit.....lol....great, clean  work,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the Ace.........

[Sledsel]

Centering the engine..... be sure not to attach til the body is mocked. Centering to chassis may not center with hole in hood. Should, but does not mean it will.

With a similar kit, I drilled a hole in the block about where a mount would be and ran a piece of styrene thru and glued it. Painted it the same as the chassis. It sat on top the frame and when the engine was where I wanted it, I cut the ends off the styrene shaft to fit between the frame. I cut it a tad long and then sanded each side with a slight bevel. 

[Sledsel]

 

I have one of these that helps by taking tires and playing on the floor with them til I need 'em HAHAHA

 

[Speedfreak]

Andy, I certainly believe that about your cat. Cat's love playing with things that are 'not' cat toys. My black cat is quite the pistol. 

Ace, I think I might hang on to this when I get it done! Thanks for the positive words my friend. 

Kevin, I think it's a classic too, how can you 'not' like a AWB '65 Mustang funny car?

Here's what I've got so far: 

One of the rear tires looks kind of crooked in the pic but it's the camera, bends it weird somehow. And I've still got a couple of places to touch up as you can see. 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2015 by Speedfreak

[AC Norton]

Gene,,,,may I make just one suggestion.....the spot to touch up on the rear floor area could easily be masked off, then dusted with a bit of white primer, then sprayed gently with your silver to blend it in....I have done fixes similar countless times over the years, and I think that little bit of extra time and effort may pay off in the end result...just a thought,,,,everything is looking BOSS.....the Ace....

[cobraman]

Your doing a fine job on this kit. Built a couple myself. Love the AWB cars.

[slusher]

Gene, your making me want to start mine. It's still down the assembly  line...

[Roadrunner]

Are those the kit stacks, or aftermarket? Somebody out there makes some nice aluminum stacks, and I intend to grab a few sets one of these days.

[Speedfreak]

Ace, that sounds ace, I'll try the mask thing, thanks.

Thanks Ray, can't wait to see the big Ford. 

Carl! I can't believe I've inspired you to want to build a kit, yes! Have you built one of these before?

Andy, they are the kit stacks, I de-chromed them and did a lot of sanding/prepping and then shot them with Alclad chrome, out of the spray can.  

The engine has been uninstalled due to forces beyond my control, stay tuned! 

[Sledsel]

I think Kevin asked about the stacks, but I wondered also....

I thought a bug got on your interior... til it walked across my screen.

This is looking very very cool.

[Speedfreak]

Thanks Andy, it was Kevin. There was a bug on my interior earlier, flew over by my PC, weird.  

[Roadrunner]

Those look excellent for the kit stacks. Nice job.

[Speedfreak]

Thanks Kevin, those stacks are such a central part of this kit, I had to do something with them. I have some nice spun aluminum stacks from 'Speed City Resin, but , the kit stacks where just easier for me to get in place. The Alclad adds a lot of realism to them. 

Okay, here's where I'm at now; everything is attached and touched up, ready for the final push,........putting that body on, and , seeing how things line up. Should have pics of the results some time today. 

 

 

[AC Norton]

looking forward to seeing more soon, Gene,......the BMF and decals will make this awb car a mind blower......best,...the Ace.........