'34 Cabover

[geezerman]

OK, I think I may be able to pull this off now, after a small start.
Firstly, I've been thinking about this pile of cool truck parts ever since they arrived at the salvage yard. I knew that even if all the parts were there, I wouldn't have much of a clue as to how they'd go together.



Over a period of time I decided I'd like to try a cabover, 30's or 40's era.
But, I was reluctant to cut up the nice couple of bodies that I have. Father's Day brought a Snaptite '34  3 window coupe. Curbside, with no engine. That did it.
So, here goes !!




I first cut off the nose at the cowl. Gathered up some Ala Cart fenders from the salvage yard.



Cutting the running board risers to raise the cab up. (taped line is to trim the front)

[geezerman]

More Ala Carte pieces to edge the cowl front.
I'm beginning to realize that most of the truck pieces, like the engine, will be too massive for my build. Ill be using a Hemi. Hopefully, the trucks cool wheels will be ok !!

[bob29579]

Cool idea. I need one of those truck kits just for the duallies. That's how you'll make a firewall for it ? Just cut that down a bit ?

[geezerman]

I think I need more of the '34's runningboards that I impetuously cut off.


y' can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. Here goes. That's a roof off of a junker muscle car laying ready.



Love it when a plan sometimes comes together !!

[bob29579]

Nice. Looks different. Can't wait to see where it goes.

[geezerman]

Yesterday, I was digging out '34 grills from the salvage yard. Had a few 1:24s and another 1:25
The larger 1:24s will work better on this model (1:25).



So, this morning I tackled  enlarging the smaller grill shell to take the larger grill ! I will say, that of all of the butchering I have done, This was the most delicate because I would have only 1 shot at it. No more in the salvage piles.



while the filler was drying, I hogged out the center of one of the 1:24  grills.

[bob29579]

What's the red one in the background of the first pic ? I like it too.

[geezerman]

Jun 29, 2016 16:46:52 GMT -6 bob29579 said:

What's the red one in the background of the first pic ? I like it too.

Bob, That's an Ala Carte body I fished out of the salvage. I was looking at the two headlight housings on the nose piece. For maybe some additional openings on the cabover. I decided against it.

[geezerman]

My original enthusiasm for these truck parts has been dampened a bit. Everything's too big for what I'm wanting to do. I have too much work involved already to end up with something dorky like the last roadster I built from salvage. So. these neat truck wheels ain't gonna cut it !!



A long search for compatible wheels, tires, and backing plates finally got me something I like and will make the model look half way presentable.

[geezerman]

So. waiting on filler to cure....you know what the saying is about idle hands.

Planned to install an oval rear window salvaged from some C  cab. Didn't want to conform to the curvature, and  ended up being FUBAR!



Plan B. Heated a piece of plastic in boiling water and pre-bent a curve to match the rear of the cabover, cut out a window, and installed it w/ no problem.

[dogfish7]

Cool ideas Clay!

[geezerman]

Igor and I finally have the grill shell pretty good. There will be a lot of additional cab work before anything can be made permanent. Notice the stepplate cutout ?

[dogfish7]

[geezerman]

Cab is pretty close now, but not going to attach it to the fender assy. just yet. Time to figure out a chassis setup. I'm glad I held off chopping off the rear. Thinking I want to keep the rear fenders. Just have to widen them for dualies.
Intended to use the trucks 5th wheel, but it's (of course) too big. Scratching a smaller version.
Stubborn old goat that I am, I AM going to use the trucks huge differential (it's almost as big as the Hemi), just because !!

[bob29579]

It's coming along.