Hemi Powered Levin

Here's my first WIP for this forum, but it is far from being a new WIP. I started this one about 2 1/2 years ago, but I've stalled out. Maybe posting this one here will motivate me to finish it up:biggrin: I like to scratchbuild, so I glady took the opportunity to mod this simple Fujimi TE27.

Here's the list of mods so far:

- Engine bay
- Chassis reworked to accept new front and rear suspensions...98% scratchbuilt...I did reuse the kit splash apron.
- Interior reworked with new door panels, narrowed seats, and new center console
- Scratchbuilt 2T-G engine, and T50 tranny...resin copy of my original masters

And the pics:

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff317/CrewDawg15/100_0862.jpg
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/9459/1000820wt0.jpg
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9190/1000832ru3.jpg
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4540/1000829bv1.jpg
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2705/dscf1041ws6.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/9453/dscf1182ye9.jpg
http://img231.imageshack.us/i/dscf5085i.jpg
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1643/dscf5085i.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/i/dscf5074n.jpg
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/7409/dscf5074n.jpg

These are just a few shot of the work done. Still a lot more to go before I can call this one finished :evillol:

Thanks for looking!

Jimmy

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7561/fujimmy1y.gif

looking good so far, love the scratch building. very nice, will be following this one

A different idea but I'm watching from now on!

hey jimmy, hanzel here. how are ya?

i remeber starting my levin te27 almost the same time as yours, and its not yet finished stll. :D

Nice scratchbuilding and the interior looks pretty well detailed (loving the floormats).

Can't wait to see it finished. :)

Thanks guys! The interior needed serious help...almost no detail at all (original door panels on top):

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6210/dscf1115fy8.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8441/dscf1084zy7.jpg

You need to get cracking Hanzel. I broke mine out earlier this week after I re-mastered my T-G engine with a new block (same as my T-C engine), head, timing cover, carbs, and T50. I was going to use the long tube headers, but I had clearance issues with the steering rack. I decided to use the manifold from my 20 valve engine to replicate a cast manifold...old skool. You know me...the more I look at something, the more I want to make it better. This T-G is version 3...but I have two other T block Toyota's to make before moving on to other types :devil:

On another note...I painted the body over a year ago, and the paint is still tacky...off to the alcohol tub for a strip, and a new paintjob.

Cool! That's some really nice scratch work going into this. Looks great so far.

You need to get cracking Hanzel. I broke mine out earlier this week after I re-mastered my T-G engine with a new block (same as my T-C engine), head, timing cover, carbs, and T50. I was going to use the long tube headers, but I had clearance issues with the steering rack. I decided to use the manifold from my 20 valve engine to replicate a cast manifold...old skool. You know me...the more I look at something, the more I want to make it better. This T-G is version 3...but I have two other T block Toyota's to make before moving on to other types :devil:

On another note...I painted the body over a year ago, and the paint is still tacky...off to the alcohol tub for a strip, and a new paintjob.

i might just get mine restarted. seeing yours is on the move again, i might just restart mine. my bodyshell needs a brakefluid bath though

That is very impressive work, and that engine bay & structure is fantastic! Do you have any more photos of the build up of that area?

That is very impressive work, and that engine bay & structure is fantastic! Do you have any more photos of the build up of that area?

I sure do!

first off, I drilled around the paremeterof the area I wanted to remove from the chassis...I find it easier to cut out that way

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3190/1000518de1.jpg

I reworked the strut towers by cutting the tops off and flipping them around (but I did have to remake one side though). Then, I built up the upper and lower portions.

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9389/1000545oh0.jpg
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9483/1000564jr8.jpg
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7500/1000582kk8.jpg

Finally, I built up the radiator core support

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9084/1000550wb7.jpg

Jimmy

Many thanks for the extra pics & explanation - much appreciated :)

Nice work Jimmy,you're a very talented modeller :D

what up jimmy boy! long time buddy. good to see this back on the table, looking forward to some more mango madness.

Thanks guys :biggrin:

Yeah Luis...ben busy casting engines for others that I ran out of time to work on my own projects. After looking at this one sit for over a year, and the recent facelift I did to my T-G I finally decided it was time for more progress. I've been working off and on this week and really burnt some midnight oil last night :evillol: I'll be posting up my progress later on today...

...stay tuned...

Jimmy

Here's an update...even though it doesn't look like much, it took me all week to get it sorted. Like I mentioned earlier, I had to strip the body due to some bad paint. After a couple of days of sitting in 91% alcohol, the bad paint came right off.

I try to improve on past work as much as I can. One thing that had always bothered me was the fact that I didn't integrate hinges into the hood. the more I look at something, the more I see room for improvement. I was going to have to re-paint the chassis since the new paint I got is a little bit darker than the olive that was originally on it...I always paint unibody chassis the same color as the body. I used the color change as an opportunity to add the hood hinges, and integrate them into the chassis. I also widened the radiator opening up...I had made the opening too small:

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/872/dscf5102z.jpg
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/4651/dscf5100g.jpg

Since I went as far as I did on the chassis, I decided the hood needed a little bit more detail. I traced the outline of the hood to a 3"X5" notecard, and made a pattern for the underside using pics I got from Kingtoy a few years ago...thanks Jeff :worshippy Once I was happy with the design and the fit of the pattern to the hood, I transferred the design to some 0.4 MM styrene card:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7858/dscf5103u.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2865/dscf5112ic.jpg
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6386/dscf5106.jpg

That's pretty much it so far. So I'll part with a couple of shots of the engine in the newly painted chassis...

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1893/dscf5118f.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1683/dscf5124.jpg


...Thanks for looking!

Jimmy

lol when I read HEMI I thought Dodge...


You do some great work, the cars lookin great!

Thanks man....


...I like to throw in a curve ball or two in my thread titles. Your not the only one who has thought I was referring to the mopar hemi. Yeah, the "T" Series Toyota motors have hemispherical combustion chambers...that's where the hemi comes in to play in the thread title.

I shot the color on the body yesterday. I'll give it a couple of weeks to cure up before giving it a sand, polish, and wax. In the meantime, been working on the chassis.

More to come......

Jimmy

I did shoot the color, but disaster struck. I like to cover up the sharp edges of the body with tape to protect them from burn thru. I got it all polished to a miror finish, then I pulled the tape off. The clear came off with the tape along with some of the color:moppie::swear: So it went in for another alcohol bath.

In the meantime, I wanted to correct something that had really been bothering me...the rear suspension. When I first built it, I sort of threw it all together and never really test fit it before final assembly. I ended up with a setup that looked really akward:

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9270/dscf5129.jpg

I took out my trusty razor saw and started a hacking :evillol:

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/8328/dscf5134k.jpg

I rebuilt the rear chassis tray...raising it by 4mm. Of course, this messed up the locating points between the rear of the body with the chassis, so I had to build up a comprimise between form and function. In the end, I ended up with the look I was originally going for. Now, it looks like it came from the factory :icon16:

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/4877/dscf5144.jpg

I also mocked up the exhaust. I'm going for a late'70's, early '80's hot rod look, so no fart cans with this one. It's still up in the air between a semi stock looking muffler, or a 240Z style over under dual tipped one...we'll see

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9995/dscf5147f.jpg

...and to close with...a sneak peek of the final color. I used Model Master 2 part lacquer GM Fathom Green Metallic. It's not the color I had originally intended but its really starting to grow on me :)

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/5469/dscf5155.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/8206/dscf5172z.jpg

I threw in a few extra coats of clear this time so hopefuly it'll be rigid enough to hold up to the tape.

Thanks for looking.

Jimmy

looking good jimmy boy. digging the color too.

Excellent work as always, Jimmy!! :sunglasse

Thanks boys!!!

This was the first time for me using the Model Master lacquers. I like the way they lay down...almost as good as my trusted Tamiya lacquers...almost :evillol: I really wanted a nice solid color, and not a metallic, but Model Master doesn't have one in their range that was close to the color I wanted. I'll just say that the owner (an American G.I. stationed in Japan :D) had just given it one of those funky '70's flake oversprays :smokin:

I'm almost done with the rear end...just a few more retro mods to do to it. Then, off to redo the front setup...I'm never satisfied :evillol:

It's been a long time in the making, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this one. Thanks for looking.

Jimmy

In keeping with my retro street machine theme, I decided thst the car could use a bit more traction. When I was a kid, I could always tell the weekend drag cars by their stance, and those traction bars poking out just beyond the front of the rear tires. I decided that together with the wide 60 series tires, a set of old skool traction bars was in order :ylsuper:

I fabbed them up out of 2mm "C" channel stock that I boxed in. Added some spring brackets, and mounted them up to the springs. Here you go with a shot of the modded rear with the hard, and parking brakelines added...just got to add the "U" bolts to complete the work.

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/4097/dscf5179x.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/7456/dscf5180g.jpg
http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/3340/dscf5181.jpg

...and it temp mounted to the chassis

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/6626/dscf5214.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/1469/dscf5218o.jpg


I also reached another milestone...I got the body to the piont where I can start adding the trim detail :biggrin:

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8743/dscf5197z.jpg


Thanks for looking!

Jimmy

This is looking really awesome and the setup in the rear is looking really good!

awesome jimmy!

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it :smile:

After looking at some 1:1 references, I realized that I had made my traction bars too short :mad:. I pulled the ones I had originally made off, and replced them with a longer more accurate set. I also added the "U" bolt detail to the real axle, and ran the hard fuel lines from the tank to the engine bay.

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8734/dscf5234x.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3774/dscf5238n.jpg

The wiring is a bit too shiny right now...everything will get toned down when I start weathering.

Jimmy

Looking good man. will the engine bay be getting any clear?

Looking good man. will the engine bay be getting any clear?

Thanks! I'm going to leave the engine bay uncleared. Most auto makers don't bother clearing the chassis. I know all of the cars that I've owned have never had a clear coat in those areas. Plus, I did have it clear coated when it was the other color, and I didn't like it...too shiny :frown:

Since I really only have the time to work on this on the weekends, I had to cram in as much as I can. I got the shocks installed...nothing special, just a set I found in my spare parts bin. I also started to knock out my exhaust. I wanted to look like something that the owner could order out of a JC Whitney, or Sears catalog. I decided on an over/under 240Z type muffler. I fabbed it out of Tamiya 5mm rod, and some really thin evergreen strip stock. I used some thin aluminum tubing for the tips...don't worry, they are going to be shortened, and cut at an angle just like the Z's are.

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/3360/dscf5270.jpg
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9646/dscf5272.jpg
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/5489/dscf5267.jpg
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/3615/dscf5261m.jpg
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/7381/dscf5252r.jpg
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/3373/dscf5247.jpg

Realy nice exhaust man!

Thanks dude! :)

I liked the wheels I had on it when I originally started this project, but over time I felt they were a tad too big for the look I was going for. I was going thru the Japanese Nostalgic Car forum Friday night to get some inspiration. I spotted a set of Techno Shadow wheels that I thought would look perfect for this build and the one I'm doing for the JDM build as well. I like to try new things so instead of clicking a mouse and having one sent to me, I decided to make a set on my own. I got my trusty Dremel and ground away the center portion of one of the kits stock steelies. I then made a new center section out of 0.5mm sheet, and used 0.75mm rod for the spokes. I used 0.75mm rod for the bolts, and the center cap & mounting point were cannibalized from a parts box wheel. At first I thought it would be a simple process...easier said than done :lol: Getting everything all centered up was a nuisance, but I finally got it after 6 tries.

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3537/dscf5033.jpg

It's not exactly the same as the original (the original rims have a little more meat to them), but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. After a few dunks in rubber, the Levin will have a full set of these to ride on.

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/1637/dscf5024h.jpg

Thanks for looking.

^as always, great scratchbuilding.

and of course you have to cast them jimmy. :D :D

and ill order. :D :D :D

i also got some new wheels for my other te27, finally got my hands on the toms igetta rims. :D

Nice score Hanzel!

Yeah, I've got to cast this one as I don't believe I could get the other three the same if I built them on my own. This one's not perfectly centered on the hub but it's close enough for a static model. I'll be starting the molds tonight when I get off of work, hopefully in a few days I'll have copies to post up.

Jimmy

I admire your scratchbuilding skills, great work!

Thanks Joe! I find scratchbuilding therapeutic, and nerve racking at the same time. Sometimes I get an idea in my head, but can never get it quite the way I want it to be. I throw in the towel and sleep on it. Then the next day, everything comes together like clockwork...persistence eventually pays off :lol:

looks good jimmy. looking forward to more. love the scratch built wheels.

Thanks Luis.

You won't be seeing the wheels any time soon. I'm having problems casting them. I gave up after I destroyed two different molds trying to get at least one set done :mad:

Progress is going to be a little slow since I'm working on a new build for another forum's community build project.

Thanks for looking...Jimmy

Here's a little bit of an update on this one. I wanted a break from the Fairlady while the paint was drying, so I decided to knock out the body detailing. I usually wait until last, but then it seems like that's when a lot of my troubles come from. JDM TE27 Levin's have rubber window trim, so no chrome here. I also highlighted the panel lines, painted and installed the turn signals. My attemps at making the wheels failed miserably, and I wasn't really feeling the wheels I had originally decided on, so I went with something different...gold Campagnolo's from one of my Skyline Japan kits. I feel that they suit the car better.

Here's the mock up so far

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/1170/dscf5114d.jpg
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/483/dscf5108j.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Jimmy

sweet, good to see this one up again. love to see this one done as well as the fair lady.

Oh Men you makes Modelling on the highest Topform..............absolute amazing

Thanks! Unfortunately,this one will have to wait for a while...it's in storage back in the States :(