amt lil red express truck update 08-24-16

Hi needed a break from the car orientated builds and pulled this one out to try and finish as it was originally set up with the racers wedge, then to a drag build and now gone for that as low as you can go look. The change was due to finding the amt wagonrod rims in the parts box and thought they would look good under this build as they have that truck look. Then going through the parts boxes I managed to find the wagonrods chassis and it has the perfect wheelbase, has air bags, independent suspension and disc breaks . The only main mods are going to be taking a section out of the interior bucket to get the floor pan to sit lower and I have already removed a section out of the rear tray so the rear can sit nice and low. Am making a new flat floor with wheel tubs at the moment and also added an extra piece of stryne to the tailgate as it felt real flimsy. Motor wise I have an dohc hemi and a 440 put to one side for it although was also thinking of something like a turbo or supercharged slant six for something a bit different. Cheers and thanks for looking Steve

Looking good, I recon any car looks better sitting in the weeds.

Thanks Morrie for your comments. Have finished building the floor and wheel tubs for the tray yesterday , and also gave it a coat of primer to see how it looks.Also pinned the tray to the cab with styrene to keep the lot square, think it turned out ok and mocked up a fuel tank. Have stripped down the chassis and is in oven cleaner for a repaint. Hopefully will have the floor of the cab finished tonight. Cheers and thanks for looking Steve

Looking great VCV8, can't wait to see some paint on it.
Keep it coming.

That is some trick looking fabrication work in the tray Steve, nice work..

Just a small update of where I am on this build. Had the cab painted in a dark blue pearl but ended up stripping it as I just wasn't feeling the colour on this build, have decided on something lighter like an orange. Also have now decided to remove the side marker lights,drip rails and still not sure whether to remove the door handles. Have opened up the panel under the grill assembly and also made up some panels to fill the back of the cab that meets the bed. Filled the back of the bed where the bumper was and looking for tail lights I came across these for a different look, which are the 39 wagonrod's exhaust tips. Will be painting the centres clear orange and the other ring clear red. Have also added a bit to the chassis under the cab and have started the flat floor. Cheers and thanks for looking. Cheers Steve

Like those mods Steve, cool

The floor in the tray looks perfect, also the repurposed exhaust tips into tail lights was awesome, they look full custom.

Looks great looking forward to the colour Cheers

This is a very cool truck.

That will be a cool build when it is done mate.

Regards Tony.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Small update of where I am up to with this one. Have now glued the firewall to the interior tub and molded it in. Also removed another 2 mm from the interior floor and have molded the floor pan to the interior tub to get the body closer to the ground. Also have modified the front spindles and moved the rim shaft up higher to get that little bit more closer to the ground. Have sorted the engine and am going for a relatively mild 426 hemi and 4 speed only trouble is clearance with the hood even with the scoop so had to remove and scratch built a new hood scoop. Now that the bulk is sorted should be in paint and assembly soon. Cheers and thanks for looking Steve

That is a nice looking cowl scoop Steve, suits it. Stance is perfect, and bugger me It's got a HEMI!!
Can't get any better than that mate....

Coming along well......like to see it in paint.

Thanks Dale and Antwon. Was able to do a bit more last night. Started scratch building a cover between the radiator support panel and the grill to tidy things up and was thinking I may end up building a forward tilting hood as I can hide everything under the cover and scratch built a front apron to fix the front bumper to. Also did a bit to the interior finding a billet column in the parts box and removed the original steering wheel from the original column to use to keep it all looking stock. Also had to replace the pedals as they were molded to the floor that was removed and finished off the trans tunnel. Cheers and thanks for looking Steve

Steve,
NICE LRE!!!!! I know you from Mopars in Scale!!!! (NOW it dawned on me!) LOL NICE truck as you know for my posting on it over there!!!!

GREAT work and awesome Idea!

Thanks Hemi nice to see you here on this forum as well and looking forward to seeing more of your builds here. Cheers Steve

Yepper.... I'll be posting up a bunch over time.... As you know, (as well as Deecee knows) I've got PLENTY of builds going on!

Know whats thats like with multiple builds John as I have about 35 - 40 on the go at the moment. Cheers Steve

Steve,
I'm not sure I have that many going, but I know I have at least 10..... A few more then that that are "paused" as ideas on those have stalled out due to not putting much more thought into them.... BUT I'll pick 'em up when I get some of those done I have so close to the finished status so..... I want to get some of these real close ones done before I go picking up another one, you know? So far this year I've got one model done..... I want to try and at least get 2 maybe 3 more done, before Jan 1st.....

Hi got this one out a while ago and decided on a bit of a change of direction in the build. Changed up the engine and scratched up my own injection system for it. Also swapped out the rims for a more aggressive look and used a set of nascar dodge rims that I painted flat black. With the look of the rims thought the body needed just a little bit more so I used the stripe decal from the 1971 Dodge charger street machine and modified it to fit the front of the guards and also cut out a section so I could install the hemi decal. Have also installed a console from a 71 pontiac trans am. Still have a way to go but will post updates as I go along. Cheers and thanks for looking Steve

-LOVE that color! GAWD that looks good! NICE Engine too! That intake tho, gets me, you have any detail pics of the intake out of the truck? I have a few I'd be interested in making something like that for my own uses.... VERY fitting on the 426 Hemi!

Hi John will post some pics hopefully latter tonight for you. I ended up using a revell twin carb hemi manifold and then used a tunnel ram top off a chev then mounted a chamber made from evergreen along with the throttle bodies which I still have to detail. Cheers Steve

vcv8273 wrote:Hi John will post some pics hopefully latter tonight for you. I ended up using a revell twin carb hemi manifold and then used a tunnel ram top off a chev then mounted a chamber made from evergreen along with the throttle bodies which I still have to detail. Cheers Steve

Thanks Steve!!!! The intake you did well on, and thats something I want to do something similar, not an exact copy, so.... Thats why I asked on it!