F-100 Boat Puller... the "Grave-Robber"

[rerebuilder]

Nice machine work on the chute mount. But why does it look like it is hinged? The disc do look like you will have some work to do to make them operable.

[dr frankenstyle]

[QUOTE=Bmxreeves;5486481]Wow this look great.

Thanks , it's about time to break out the sewing machine again.

Originally Posted by rerebuilder

Nice machine work on the chute mount. But why does it look like it is hinged? The disc do look like you will have some work to do to make them operable.

Thank you , I think it's just the anchor-point for the 'chute that looks like a hinge. It should look a little better with a 'chute-pack on it, with the strap hooked up to the pin.
Getting the discs and calipers mounted to the spindles and knuckles will be the first challenge.

[dr frankenstyle]

I got a little more done on the 'Jockey today. Got the easy part of the disc's done, got the rotors punched out for the front wheel bushings.



They drilled truer than the plastic hexes did, so my front wheels spin straighter now too. I started with the small (rear) rotors, in case I screw 'em up. If it all goes well, I may up-size to the bigger set since they do fill the wheels better.



Next is the tough part, hooking the calipers to the little Associated knuckles.

Don't be fooled by my using words like "milled" or "machined", I don't have high-tech equipment. I've done most of my stuff with a bench-top drill-press (Delta, I think), 2 or 3 decent vises (one x/y axis slide-vise), a few end-mill bits and such, files and other basic tools. Like in the old days.
Anyone can do it too, with a little practice.

[dr frankenstyle]

Made a little body progress so far this weekend, got the lights pretty well figured out and moving. I used some flashing metal and bent up some taillight buckets roughly in the shape of the taillight stickers. Then sliced up some old off-road lights I had to make reflectors/bulb-holders.



Fit the slices into the boxes and voila. Then I "blacked" her eyes, finishing the punch with a Uni-bit that gave me stepped cones as headlight buckets. Then I drilled the markers for 3mm led's.



Next, I took the small pair of spot's and cut off the back halves to use as led holders for the headlights. (cut the axle mount portion off of the brake calipers too, while I was cuttin').



Then, with a micro-ball burr bit in the Dremel, I cut some buckets for the marker lights. I tried to leave a little in the middle at each end for the "lens screws".
I'm using the lenses from the small spot's as headlights to look more like the old sealed beams. Oh, painted all the buckets silver too.



Here she is with the Vaterra lens stickers on and the headlight lenses in place.



And with the markers on. The left one is a yellow led, the right is a white, I think I like the white better.



Now I just have to get 'em in the body.

soon ....

[joe122]

Man, the little details, bumper, chute bracket and lighting just make this such a stand out build. Said it before, very creative and very cool tow truck for the boat.

[dr frankenstyle]

Originally Posted by joe122

Man, the little details, bumper, chute bracket and lighting just make this such a stand out build. Said it before, very creative and very cool tow truck for the boat.

Thanks again , coming from a celebrity builder, like yourself (hats off to you again for the RCCA page ), that means a lot.
The detail you (and others here) put into your builds is quite inspiring. Gotta at least make a feeble attempt to "keep up with the Jones's".
I'm not quite ready to "scratch" one from nothing, but I just can't keep myself from changing 'em into something a bit "different".
And I gotta admit, this one IS prettier in front of the boat.

Oh, and I've been checking out your 'chute pack, so if I make one that looks similar, well ..... thanks.

[rerebuilder]

With the work you are doing you are right there with the Jones. I do like the way you take a simple build come out awesome.

[dr frankenstyle]

Originally Posted by rerebuilder

With the work you are doing you are right there with the Jones. I do like the way you take a simple build come out awesome.

Aww, I want mine to be different than THEIRS.
and Thanks much I never can make ANYTHING simple, ...
but I'm pretty happy with the way they turn out too.

I got the headlight buckets in the grill today, hope to get 'em painted and back in the truck tomorrow, and get the taillights in too.
I got some sport-style side mirrors coming too, hope I like 'em when they get here.

[dr frankenstyle]

Well .... today was a good, productive day for the Coffin Jockey. (not much else tho)
Got all of the light buckets installed, and the lenses, and the led's for the markers silicone'd into the grill.



Her smile lights up the world.




Got the grill assy. back in the truck too. My darned camera over-brights the lights, I may have to use the GOOD cam' to take some decent low-light shots with the trailer.



Here's the tail's. Same thing with the cam', the lights aren't quite this bright. You can clearly see all of the lens lines (in the Vaterra stickers) in reality. They look really good, I impressed myself a bit with how well they all turned out.



Here's a "lights-off" face shot. I like how the "sealed-beams" turned out.



Oh .... AND I got these mounted too....



here is a closer look. I screwed a hanger bracket to the knuckles.



...and the "proof" shot to show 'em workin'.




...and the beat goes on.

[joe122]

Love the little details, lighting just sets it of. The rear shot is coolest.....all tire!

[rerebuilder]

Lights came out good. Brake calipers are perfect. The body posts in the hood just stand out to much. However truck is really looking good.

[dr frankenstyle]

Originally Posted by joe122

Love the little details, lighting just sets it of. The rear shot is coolest.....all tire!

Thanks, she does have a nice ass, don't she. Yep, the rear track is 7.5 in. and 4 inches of that is tire. (but they do make burnouts tough )

Originally Posted by rerebuilder

Lights came out good. Brake calipers are perfect. The body posts in the hood just stand out to much. However truck is really looking good.

Thank you, sir, so far so good.
Yeah, I'm thinkin' it's time to install the magnets and cut down "the trees".

[dr frankenstyle]

Originally Posted by rerebuilder

..... The body posts in the hood just stand out to much.....

Here she is ... de-horned.



I wish they had just left the body UN-punched , but oh well, I liked the '68 too much to pass on it for that.
Got the magnets (JB) welded into the chassis ...



... then made a pair of brackets for the body's magnets. I set them up to screw to the grill and bumper mounts, instead of just on the flex-an.



They seem to hold nice and strong, but if I need more hold, after a test-run, I can always stack another neoD on the body side.



I still need to get the Phantom Purple on the post tops, and some clear, but they look a little better.

[dr frankenstyle]

Here's the latest ... a shot of her glowing in her "evening-dress" Ready for a nice, slow weekend.




And she does like to show-off her butt a little too.



I posted a side-shot in the boat thread too. These are for anyone not following with it.
And THANKS to RCC and to everyone for the "likes" and all the good words.
Gotta LOVE this hobby!!
...And RCC!!!

[Bmxreeves]

Originally Posted by dr frankenstyle

Here's the latest ... a shot of her glowing in her "evening-dress" Ready for a nice, slow weekend.









And she does like to show-off her butt a little too.







I posted a side-shot in the boat thread too. These are for anyone not following with it.

And THANKS to RCC and to everyone for the "likes" and all the good words.

Gotta LOVE this hobby!!

...And RCC!!!

Wow. That looks really good. Nice job!


__________________________
1.9 Ibex tuber - The Merica ibex.

[rerebuilder]

I do have to admit that rig is the perfect addition to that fantastic boat you put together. I don't think slow weekend will be easy to do with that truck. Great build.

[dr frankenstyle]

[QUOTE=Bmxreeves;5490607]Wow. That looks really good. Nice job!

Thanks lots That's the look I wanted from the start of this truck build.

Originally Posted by rerebuilder

I do have to admit that rig is the perfect addition to that fantastic boat you put together. I don't think slow weekend will be easy to do with that truck. Great build.

It grew a little more personality of it's own along the way , but it sure does suit it's original purpose pretty well, if I do say so myself. and Thanks.

.... and still more to go ....

[rerebuilder]

IMO I think you should put a pro stock scoop on the hood mounted with magnets when you are running your wheelie bars. Then you can remove when towing your boat. Just a suggestion. Looks much better without the posts poking through the hood now.

[dr frankenstyle]

Originally Posted by rerebuilder

IMO I think you should put a pro stock scoop on the hood mounted with magnets when you are running your wheelie bars. Then you can remove when towing your boat. Just a suggestion. Looks much better without the posts poking through the hood now.

Yeah baby I think we have the same 10w30 blood disease.
That very idea occurred to me while I was doin' up the body magnets.
I'm thinkin' maybe a model plane nacelle to start with, vacu-formed, for light weight. Or I may have to "scratch" one up. But yep, I'm thinkin' that would look good too.
and heck, now I may have a new project, a small trailer to carry all the "drag-queen" makeup.
and Thanks, I'm still getting used to how much better the hornless hood looks.

[rerebuilder]

Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that you had the same idea I did not want to seem that I was guiding you to do something you did not want to do. I like how your thinking works on your builds and look forward to see what you come up with next.