Super Simple '68 Camaro Mod
Hi Guys,
I've done several different builds and they have involved machine tools and quite a bit of time. But, with the Trans-Am race coming...and some new racers here on RLD...I thought it would be cool to do very simple mod on a '68 Camaro (which was raced in the Tran-Am series).
And you don't really need much more than this...
The car is a current Copo '68 Camaro and the donor wheels and axles will be coming from a '69 GTO with Faster Than Ever wheels. The stick-n-seal is new to me, but seems to work well.
The wheels and axles are a direct 'pop in' replacement on this car...but I'll glue them in place as well.
And, of course, while I have the body off, I'll strip the paint and shoot a new rattle can paint job on it.
Stay tuned...I'll make this '68 faster and a little cooler as well!
Discussion
When drilling the rivets on a Hot Wheels car, please be careful...
I like to lay the cars upside down in a vise and drill very slowly, until you start to get into the plastic of the chassis. If you've ever held a car by hand and had drill catch, you will understand why I put it in a vise. Those cars can fling out of there really fast!
Fortunately, the drilling went well and I was able to gently 'pop' the body off. Here's what the parts look like...
Since I drilled the rivets carefully, I'll be able to 'pop' the body back on to test. Here is what the Camaro looks like with the body off...
Remember, this car only weighs 33 grams, so I'm going to have to fit 7 grams of weight in there somewhere!
But first? I need to swap some wheels!
- the loc-tite stik n' seal doesn't hold in axles, use JB QUICK for them... — model40fan
- Thanks Smitty...I wasn't sure about that! — 72_Chevy_C10
In most newer Hot Wheels, the axles are held in by three little plastic tabs. It is pretty easy to get a stiff blade under the axle and pry up to pop the old axles out...
As simple as that...
But when getting the donor FTE axles out, I like to be a little more careful. I cut the little plastic tabs off, so I won't risk damaging or bending the axles at all...
It's a little fiddly, and you'll want to do it under a magnifier, but you can carefully pry the little tabs up...install the FTE wheels and axles...and then...carefully...bend the tabs back over the axle.
Now, you have a new '68 Camaro chassis with a set of 2005-2006, first generation FTE wheels and Axles in it...
Let's see if I've gained any speed!
No big gains yet...but a small one. 1.96. That's without adding weight or glueing the axles...we are well on our way!
I might have to call the car "My 2 Cents"...
With two pennies, the weight is at 38 grams. I'm not sure I'll use the pennies, but I'm trying to keep it simple...so I might!
I figured that I would strip the paint off tonight too...
I like to do sections at a time...
I'll do the front, the middle...
The rear...
And, before you know it, it's done...
And I also dabbled some JB Weld on the axles...
And then, flipped it over and put it on my wheel jig...
The wheel jig keeps the axles in line...and you can go back about a half hour after you put the JB Weld on, and set your end play.
A little paint and some glue tomorrow, and we'll have a potential Tran-Am car
The stripped body sitting on the chassis, with the axles JB Welded in place...
Kinda makes you want to see another Bare Muscle series, doesn't it?
I radiused the rear wheel wells...just a little...and primed the body this morning. I'll shoot paint later today.
- Super Bowl of spray-bombs... go C10 go !... buddy loves the fade jobs... good stuff — model40fan
The pennies are glued into 'My2 Cents'
And the bottom has been ground out of the seats...
The interior sitting in place over the pennies...
Grinding the interior takes a little patience, but I think the cars look good with interiors
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/Mobile%20Uploads/20150131_163610_zpsawsvqtjg.j...
This is the last time you'll see the stock Camaro!
I just ran the cars down my current track...14" drop and 160" straight. The Camaro ran 1.97-1.98 and the GTO was at 1.92 (that's a couple car lengths difference). Luke11's Galaxy that just won the Sedan race ran 1.89! But that car was about 55 grams and the GTO is about 39 grams...the Camaro, as it sits, is 33 grams.
The way I figure it, if I can get the Camaro down around 1.93-1.94, that would be great!
Off to drill some rivets!