Blending Two 1/18 Scale Trucks to Make Two 1/18 Scale Trucks

[Oldtimer]

Still on a tear with these ACME Rampers.  Got one more, intact in the box after I do these two customs.

Here's what we're starting with, the ACME White Chevy Ramper and an Anson White Chevy Club Cab dually.  The dually has some issues, no mirrors, and the tailgate is dented.



Same drill as before, used a Dremel to cut the Ramper chassis apart (God Bless ACME for their design and construction of these, they make customizing so much easier than having to build my own chassis).





And then the dually.  Start with removing the bed, and then grabbed a jeweler's saw to parse the plastic chassis.







Club Cab Mock-up





And then I was standing there, admiring my handywork, sipping on the last of my 16 oz Lone Star Light, and it hit me:  I've still got two pieces of truck remaining.





Tonight there will be some more Dremel work, cutting out the plastic on the Club Cab to slot the Ramper chassis into.

[Oldtimer]

Decided to start on the short wheelbase version, since I've already done one of the long wheelbase conversions, and know exactly what I need to do.

I had hoped that, miraculously, this one might be a bolt together, using the rear tongue coming off the cab, maybe matching up with the bed.





No such luck, so had to remove that tongue and proceed to build a connector for the two dissimilar chassis.

Began by using masking tape to get everything relative.





And then the chassis rails don't line up between the two chassis.





And then there's these kick-downs on the bed chassis.



I figured that I would use brass angle to connect the two chassis.



Got the back connected, pretty easy since the bed chassis is plastic.  Notched the brass to allow for the misalignment of the two chassis rails, probably reinforce that point with JB Weld at final assembly.





I can clean up this slump when I do the final.



Looks good from above.

[Oldtimer]

Made a little progress last night (while the wife was watching Dancing with the Stars and I couldn't watch the football game).



This is how I am maintaining chassis alignment (and no, the cardboard is not a mock up for a headache rack).



The plan is to add one more set of screws into the front chassis, right next to where the notch in the brass angle is, and then screw and glue the angle to the front of the truck, making it removable (if necessary) by taking out the two rear screws.

[Oldtimer]

Just a quick update.  It appears my mechanical solution to tie the two chassis pieces together is going to be successful.





Need to close the gap, which will require grinding away the lip at the back of the cab, and then shortening the chassis connector by about 5/16".

[4wheels]

Jim, it looks like once that pesky lip is gone, you could just re-drill the rear screw hole for your brass connector a little further rearward. Going to be a good looking truck!

Brian

[Oldtimer]

This post reminds me of those old problem-solving flow charts.



It was going to be a simple fix, grind off the lip, shorten the brass rails, and Bingo, we're done.  Right!

I did all that, and it didn't look right, so I f**ked with it, and then it really didn't look right.

So, back to tried and true JB Weld technology.

Taped it back together as best as I could, plus the tape keeps the JB Weld from dropping through onto my workbench.



And this is pass Number One.  I will turn it over, retape, and make another JB Weld pass on the other side.



Pass Number Two is curing right now, maybe more progress pictures tomorrow.

[Oldtimer]

The first image that came to mind when I took this picture was that of the face of someone who just had a nose job.  Plus, if you look at the angle between the bed and the cab, I was a little worried that something was amiss.









And here's what you get when you take off all the bandages.



And then after some Dremel and paint pin work, and installation of the now painted gloss black chassis connector.  Might be a couple more details required here, but I really like how it came together.



But once I had it all cleaned up, and into final assembly . . .







Here it sits next to its donor.





And now, put to work.



Next up, the Chevy Club Cab Ramp Back Hauler.

[4wheels]

Nicely done! Looks "factory".

[Oldtimer]

Houston, the Ramper has landed!





Really satisfying build, love the way they both came out.  Here are the Siamese Twins.





And here are three treatments on the same chassis, the original is in front, this ramper in the middle, and a box truck in back.





Thanks for your support and encouragement!