First Annual SMC Engine Building Show

[strevo]

Wow, this is great stuff so far! After nearly 4 long years, it looks like I'll finally be getting out of my apartment and into a house in the next few months, so I'll finally have some space to build in. I'm going to try to get some more work done on my Testarossa motor once we get settled in to the new place, and hopefully I can enter it into the show towards the end.
-Steve

[sydeem]

And I forgot building the early unblown TDR Hemi 426 engine. Building these out of the box with a few wires and details is very satisfying and prepares you for scratch building as you invent details.

[sydeem]

Gee - I forgot I did try my hand at scratch building way back when - here is my attempt at a stock 1932 Flathead.

[Don Garrett]

BOX STOCK ....Lindberg 1/12th scale big block Mopar.
Just paint and a few wires........

[comp1839]

this is AWESOME!!!!!!!! keep 'em coming!!!!!!

[Andym]

Wow, I'm glad this is a show !! The competition is really STIFF with the entries just posted.

At our age, the competition is the ONLY thing that's stiff.

[hot ford coupe]

Dang it. I knew I should have rephrased that.

[Tage]

My Revell 1:6 426 Hemi. Metal & plastic. Bolts replaced with brass.
Other that that - box stock , with some detailing.

[Rick]

RULES UPDATE

Due to the fact that some engine kits include a transmission, either molded to the block/bellhousing or a transmission that is included in an engine kit, I have adjusted the rules in the Box Stock and Modified catagories. Please note that in Box Stock , there can be no modifications or additions to the transmission.

[Rick]

I've got a bunch of TDR engines sitting on the shelf so I've decided to build one for this event. I'm going to build this engine for the "Box Stock" catagory in the hope that those many members who haven't participated will be incouraged to do the same and participate with whatever they have.

This engine is a typical GMPP 454 crate engine with a 4bbl carb. The kit included a bellhousing and Muncie style four speed so they will be attached. I'll add plug wires and a bit of plumbing but its a going to be a basic box stock build.

The kit comes well packaged and the parts fit is excellent so no fitting is required. However, this is a RP produced kit so some smoothing is required. In addition to hand sanding , another option is the use of a Driemel tool with some sanding cones and a sanding disc. A note of caution, set the Driemel on SLOW speed and wear eye, nose and mouth protection.

Lets get to work!

[Rick]

After about five min of sanding the oil pan is ready for a coat of high build primer . A little bit of finish sanding and another coat of primer followed. The pan is now ready for wet sanding and paint application.

[Rick]

The valve covers are smoothed and primered. The GMPP crate engine comes with aluminum heads so I've also smoothed the kit heads. I've left the block as produced to simulate the cast iron look. These parts just need to be wet sanded and they'll be ready for paint.

I've really enjoyed smoothing the parts with my Driemel tool. It sure saves a ton of time! Anyone working on a RP produced kit should consider this option.

Typical of most kit engines that are being built box stock , this kit needs very little work to make it look "right" and its an easy build. I really hope that some of our "silent" members will open up a kit, build an engine and display it along with the rest of us. It really is fun!

[Don Garrett]

Rick, it may not fit within your guidelines for box stock but for the guys that want to......I've found that if hardware (scale nuts & bolts) doesn't fit within one's hobby budget on TDR engines, simply snipping the heads of common household pins makes for a pretty good substitute. Hold them with tweezers, dip in a dab of CA and apply them to the indicated bolt holes. Things like oil pan & valve cover bolts are perfect candidates for this low buck treatment.

[hot ford coupe]

Uh oh. Don just gave away one of my secret techniques. I use this technique quite a bit when I'm trying to simulate bolts and screws. If you can get a hold of a really thin diamond disc, you can cut a slot, darken it with a little black wash and you have a really nice screw head. One thing I also do from time to time is chuck one of the pins in my Dremel and with a file make the pin head smaller as needed for smaller screw heads. If you're worried about the pins not looking exactly like hex bolt heads, don't worry. From a normal viewing distance, they look fantastic and sparkle under added light. My Big Allison is loaded with straight pins.

[bills69camaro]

I will be entering two sbc's, one will be a stock 350 and for the other one I'm going to make a crossram, finned valve covers and maybe
headers. They will be entered in the scratch built category.
Now I have to get my hands on some reference material for the
crossram.

Bill