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Post by poet on Oct 31, 2020 13:00:08 GMT -7
Hey Gang. Well I've been taking off a bit from building since I finished the Jeep and decided I needed to get something started. I'll be building the 62 Pontiac Catalina as a straight axle gasser. I got the kit open box with a bunch of other kits. The engine and rear axle were missing, which the seller informed buyers of. I bought the 72 GTO kit for the engine because it was at Ollie's for $11. Little did I know how bad that kit is. Though this is supposed to be just a quick little build, a couple of my pet peeves wouldn't let me leave well enough alone. Namely, the starter and oil filter attached to the oil pan. I also had to cut the tranny off because the tailshaft is molded to the chassis, and all that was attached to the engine was the gearbox section. I had some Fireball Modelworks AFBs laying around so I decided to put them on this. That may change, however because I thought I had a pair of Holleys but I might have used them.
I'm going tunnel ram so I had to fabricate a manifold from parts box parts. It was a challenge cutting enough away in the back to fit the distributor but I think I did it. I also wanted the carbs sticking out the hood so I added a box plenum.
Finally, below is the chassis mocked up with my fabricated drop axle (about a scale 6"drop). I didn't want it sky high but it will sit up a tad. I'm using the kit springs in the rear but sitting the axle on top of them with 3mm spacers.
I've got to finish cleaning up the traction bars and add some shock mounts, and a front support before I can glue it together.
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Post by leon on Oct 31, 2020 16:58:15 GMT -7
Nice work on the fabrication Dennis!
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Post by sharp on Oct 31, 2020 19:30:39 GMT -7
Looking real good Dennis! Its gonna be a cool looking gasser!
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Post by stitchdup on Nov 1, 2020 1:17:24 GMT -7
Cool
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Post by DeeCee on Nov 1, 2020 3:57:36 GMT -7
This is going to be a cool project Dennis, and i know where your coming from with the molded starter etc:, who the signed off on these ideas  |
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Post by mustang1989 on Nov 1, 2020 4:47:33 GMT -7
Right off the bat I could tell this was an older kit with the red parts and all the flash. Looks like you're gonna work wonders with it though, I have no doubt about that.
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Post by poet on Nov 1, 2020 7:43:45 GMT -7
This is going to be a cool project Dennis, and i know where your coming from with the molded starter etc:, who the signed off on these ideas Thanks Dale. I thought the same thing about how they could have allowed that to go forward.
This kit almost looks like they were experimenting with some cost saving processes that failed.
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Post by mustang1989 on Nov 1, 2020 11:13:05 GMT -7
This is going to be a cool project Dennis, and i know where your coming from with the molded starter etc:, who the signed off on these ideas Thanks Dale. I thought the same thing about how they could have allowed that to go forward.
This kit almost looks like they were experimenting with some cost saving processes that failed.
Never looked at it that way but now that you mention it, that makes sense. The mindset way back when was that most folks were fine with the way that kits were.....and in part...that's true. Alot of the aircraft kits back in those days (since that's what I was working mostly with back in those days) had minimal details and the ones that they did have were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off base in terms of accuracy. |
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Post by RetroSpectKustoms on Nov 1, 2020 17:35:17 GMT -7
Fantastic start! I'll be watching this one.
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Post by transammike on Nov 2, 2020 9:23:52 GMT -7
Gonna be cool car Dennis, I just loveed those big Pontiacs as drag racers. Straight axle front steps it up a notch too.
May I ask where those front leaf springs came from??
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Post by poet on Nov 4, 2020 14:29:40 GMT -7
Gonna be cool car Dennis, I just loveed those big Pontiacs as drag racers. Straight axle front steps it up a notch too. May I ask where those front leaf springs came from?? Thanks Mike. Those springs came from 3D scale.
I bought a couple of sets last Christmas when he had a sitewide sale.
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Post by transammike on Nov 5, 2020 8:33:24 GMT -7
Thanks Denis, a bit on the pricy side (for me at least) but they are perfect.
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Post by poet on Nov 8, 2020 16:00:19 GMT -7
Thanks Denis, a bit on the pricy side (for me at least) but they are perfect. No prob Mike. I feel the same way about the cost. That's why I bought them on sale.
He should be having one around or just after Xmas if you can wait that long.
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Post by poet on Nov 9, 2020 8:46:06 GMT -7
Thanks everyone for the comments. Just a quick post to show that I am still working on this, though slowly. I got the chassis completed minus the engine. In the pics its just held in with putty. For the engine, I've still got to detail it, fab the headers, and touch up the paint. The stance came out as I like for a gasser, just a bit up in the front. I plan to measure for the hole in the hood so I can start looking at spraying some color. I've got some Solar Gold left from my 32 build, and also some purple pearl I bought and never used. Any suggestions on which color might look best? I want it to be period mid-sixties so I'm not sure about the pearl. Thanks.
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Post by transammike on Nov 9, 2020 10:29:18 GMT -7
Love that side view "mock-up" Denis. What an super cool looking Pontiac!!!
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Post by DeeCee on Nov 9, 2020 17:44:14 GMT -7
Looks very cool mate, I like the idea of the Solar gold,
and I reckon purple would go well with it, the 60's were pretty bright you know.
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Post by leon on Nov 10, 2020 14:16:11 GMT -7
Mock-up looks really good Dennis!
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Post by RetroSpectKustoms on Nov 10, 2020 19:22:35 GMT -7
Mock up looks the goods! Stance is fantastic! I think the gold with maybe a purple roof would look sweet.
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Post by pete on Nov 11, 2020 18:36:24 GMT -7
This is going to be too Kool for skool!!!
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Post by mustang1989 on Nov 12, 2020 3:47:01 GMT -7
This is coming along very nicely Dennis. Are those Carter carbs from Fireball? Those look GREAT!!!
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Post by sharp on Nov 12, 2020 11:15:16 GMT -7
This is looking great so far Dennis! Can't wait to see more on this!
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Post by poet on Nov 13, 2020 17:47:33 GMT -7
Love that side view "mock-up" Denis. What an super cool looking Pontiac!!! Looks very cool mate, I like the idea of the Solar gold, and I reckon purple would go well with it, the 60's were pretty bright you know. Mock-up looks really good Dennis! Mock up looks the goods! Stance is fantastic! I think the gold with maybe a purple roof would look sweet. This is going to be too Kool for skool!!! This is coming along very nicely Dennis. Are those Carter carbs from Fireball? Those look GREAT!!! This is looking great so far Dennis! Can't wait to see more on this! Thanks much guys. Yes Joe, those are from Fireball. He does such nice work! I should have another update soon. I kinda botched my first attempt on the headers trying to do fenderwell exit.
I think I'll go to under car the next try.
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Post by transammike on Nov 20, 2020 8:49:44 GMT -7
Really looking forward to more Dennis.
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Post by vcv8273 on Nov 24, 2020 17:21:41 GMT -7
Looking awesome Dennis liking all the mods and stance looks spot on
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Post by poet on Nov 27, 2020 11:02:24 GMT -7
Hey Gang, just a quick update on the Catalina. I got paint on it and had no big issues, which is rare for me  . I do plan to do a bit of polishing though to bring out the shine a bit. After which, its on to the final finishing, decals, and foil! Thanks for looking and commenting.
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Post by leon on Nov 27, 2020 11:25:35 GMT -7
WOW...This is looking great Dennis.
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Post by stitchdup on Nov 27, 2020 12:39:52 GMT -7
Love tha paint colour, it gonna look great polished up. What paint is it?
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Post by poet on Nov 28, 2020 16:18:21 GMT -7
Love tha paint colour, it gonna look great polished up. What paint is it? Thanks. Its HOK Solar Gold over white primer. I've used it before over grey primer but it really pops over white. I've got a little left that I'm going to try over silver just for kicks.
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Post by poet on Nov 28, 2020 16:18:55 GMT -7
WOW...This is looking great Dennis. Thanks Leon. |
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Post by lowlife on Nov 28, 2020 16:52:59 GMT -7
Great looking Gasser Dennis ! Think I missed this before but cool idea to Gasser it, love that paintwork ! I read ages ago a comment by an old boy who raced gassers back in the day. He used to get crazy seeing gassers with the front up high ! Apparently, people got the idea from seeing early pics of gassers leaving the start line, the front would lift up, and people took that as that's how a Gasser should look ! Most apparently we're actually level , and not high at the front !  |
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