a Rookie Race car for MattCat...

72_Chevy_C10 Monday, 2/9/2015

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Hi Guys!

It us another snow day for me...everything covered in a layer of ice, with snow on it's way! So, I today is a good day to do a build-up on what I think a good 'Rookie Car' should be...and this car will be raced by MattCat, who lives in Australia and would, therefore, have a hard time competing in our mail-in races.

Now, I know that I am not a rookie racer, but I want to help Matt race with us, and I want to show how easy it can be to put a modded race car together. 

The car that I am starting with is a '69 Pontiac GTO Judge...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150208_092021_zps3qlzoo4z.j...

It already has 5-Spoke wheels (which are required in the Rookie Race), so it will be a matter of drilling the rivets, adding weight to the car, glueing in the axles, painting the body, and putting the car back together.

Here goes...


Discussion

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As I have said in the past, I like to lay the car in a vise to drill the rivets...you don't have to tighten the car in there, just lay it in there to support it and hold it while being drilled...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_093516_zpsweijlhau.j...

Drill until you are into the plastic of the frame. This is what the drilled rivets should look like...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_093916_zpsvbdf4dys.j...

The frame should separate easily from the body...if it doesn't, then drill a little deeper. Here are the parts of the car...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_093938_zpss2bedsxx.j...


You can't really see it very well, but there is a flattened 50 caliber lead ball (they weigh about 18 grams) right behind the car...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_093750_zpslzmbfipl.j...

And that gets the weight of the car very close (a little over) the weight limit for tge race, 57 grams. I will probably end up drilling some small holes in the lead to get it under the weight limit.

For this car, I will be glueing in the axles using JB Kwik...I prefer the original JB Weld, because the Kwik has a kib day funky smell to it. But, it is quick!

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_100342_zpsgh28xs5a.j...

I like to use Hot Wheels blister backs as a 'palette' to mix the JB on. And the toothpicks are for getting the JB neatly into place

It's hard to see in this pic, but there is JB Kwik over the 'hold down tabs' for tge axle...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_101408_zpstb1bdn0i.j...

And then, I put the car,  upside down, on an axle alignment jig...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_101454_zpshgmkwv6l.j...

You can really use anything that has small, parallel ridges in it as a jig. I milled these and I'd be happy to send you one...but I have to make them when I get a chance at work (so , I'm a little slow getting them made).


  • yes please! I've using Ruffles chips, but they seem to "get lost" too often. ( sorry, had to. :).. lol) — CrzyTrkrDude
  • I'd make more, but I ate the prototype! lol — 72_Chevy_C10

Be sure to set your wheel 'end play' when gluing in the axles...you don't want to have a wheel tight against your frame.

Here's the stuff I use for stripping paint...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_125710_zpszjwmkehd.j...

It's pretty nasty stuff, so please be careful if you use it


  • i use aircraft stripper, made to strip metal not wood, NASTY stuff...i spread it on with a bus.card, tea spoon per car. — model40fan
  • I use some stuff that comes in a gold spray can..... foams up on the car and bubbles the paint away — KandORacing
  • Gets the job done in about 10 minutes or so, takes it clean off — KandORacing

I had to take quite a bit of material off the bottom of the seats to clear the lead, that I had glued into the chassis...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_132706_zpsih1nfbir.j...

And, if you know me, you know tgat I probably won't leave this interior chrome...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_132720_zpsq7sxz7b3.j...


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MattCat 2/9/15

I haven't been on lately because of upgrades to my local internet tower, but if like to say I'm really grateful for what you're doing.

Thanks loads,  Matt




The GTO is pretty darned close on weight...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_165109_zpsgtdrkdpk.j...

And I think the charcoal gray metallic/matte black two-tone paint looks a little nicer than the orange...

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150209_170107_zpshqql5ehu.j...

I just need to glue the body back on and it's ready to go!


  • Is the aussie a right hand drive ? — model40fan
  • Great job Chris. Did you undercoat it first and how many layers of paint did you give it? — Keef921
  • it could be right hand drive...I didn't think about that! — 72_Chevy_C10
  • Yep, us aussies are are right hand drivers! — MattCat
  • Nice color — redlinederby

Keith,

I actually just wiped down the bare metal with paint thinner and shot one coat of each! I was using Rustoleum brand paint and it covers pretty nice!


  • I sometimes put on a coat of primer before color but it doesn't really matter. — redlinederby
  • good ol' "Jobe" let slip that he uses brown paper towels as ultra-fine sand paper... — model40fan
  • Cool, cheers Chris — Keef921
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redlinederby 2/10/15
Site manager

For what it's worth, here's my old how-to for custom painting...details the stripping and stuff, with links.

http://www.redlinederby.com/topic/custom-paint-hot-wheels-diecast/1

I would just dunk my car into a jar of paint stripper...pull it out 10 minutes later and scrub. It is awful stuff, so wear your gloves and goggles. Not fun when it hits your skin or face.


  • I use Carb cleaner. Comes in a gallon can with it's own basket. I can sink 3 or 4 at a time. — Nightstalker
  • Couple of days later and the paint almost falls off. Nasty stuff, gloves a must. — Nightstalker
  • Thanks for the link Brian, I've just been stripping a couple of cars and want to get them painted this weekend. — Keef921

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