1965 Chevrolet El Camino - El Toucam. Finished pics on page 6

[PR19_Kit]

I really should take some snaps.

Yes, you should. 

[zenrat]

I really should take some snaps.

Yes, you should. 

So I have.
Twin Camino WIP 29-07-2019 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Front engine (Small Block Chevy painted Orange) sits nicely in the standard Edsel engine mounts.  Only modification needed was to rotate the transmission crossmember by 180 degrees to get it to sit under the transfer case.
I have yet to build the mountings for the rear engine (Pontiac 421SD painted Pontiac Engine Blue) but it has its clutch attached and will have a drive shaft where the pink line is.
The blue line is where drive from the transmission to the rear axle (asymmetric Ford 9") will go.
Next stage is to scratchbuild the rear engine mountings, come up with some rear suspension and find some front suspension and steering to replace the Edsel parts that died during the glue bombing.

[PR19_Kit]

Very impressive engineering there Fred, I like it a lot. 

[zenrat]

Since the above pic I have found some front suspension (Definitely Revell - possibly '69 Corvette but I will be adding parts from a n AMT '70 Monte Carlo) and added mountings for it.
This enabled me to offer up the body to check rear axle location.  The result of which was that I found I needed to shorten the wheelbase of the chassis by 5mm.
I did this by cutting a section out of each rail just behind the two mounting brackets on the inside of the parallel centre section of the chassis.
I glued it all back together and plated the top where it won't show.
After letting the glue dry overnight I started adding tubes the mountings for the rear engine and rear axle.
I want the engine mounted as close as I can get it to being directly above the rear axle and to achieve this I had already replaced the crossmember with the square (shock mounting) tabs with one further back.
As usual with this sort of work I have only a vague design in my head and make it up as I go cutting and gluing bits where I think they are required.  Lots of offering up engines and axles takes place and sometimes bits have to be pulled or moved off before the glue sets.

I've just looked at my concept sketches and they say "scratchbuilt double wishbone IRS".  Well that's not happening.  I'm instead going for a live axle hung on either a coil sprung two link or four link set up.
I have a complete 1/25 scale white metal aftermarket Hot Rod four link rear end in the stash which I considered using but as always when I get it out and look at it I thought "no, it's too nice - this one won't do it justice".

Anyhoo, once I get both engines mounted I can then get on with fabricating the interior bodywork and things should speed up a bit.

[PR19_Kit]

I have a complete 1/25 scale white metal aftermarket Hot Rod four link rear end in the stash which I considered using but as always when I get it out and look at it I thought "no, it's too nice - this one won't do it justice".

I've got one of those kits, and the rest of the chassis too, and I have similar thoughts when looking to use it in a build. 

One day I'll get an idea that will REALLY be worth using it on.

[zenrat]

Most of the Hot Rods i've been building lately have been pre '69 so a 4 link wouldn't be appropriate.  I do have some plans for later ones though.

Last few days i've made (from sections of sprue) a drive shaft loop in the rear engines clutch case mounting crossmember and have started on scratching mountings for the other end of the engine.

[zenrat]

Both engine mounts are more or less finished.  Toothpicks represent drive shafts.
Toucam WIP 10-08-2019 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[NARSES2]

So the rack is still in use in Australia then ? 

Looks like something in the Tower of London.

[PR19_Kit]

Nice dual drive train there Fred. 

Looks like it was engineered in Solihull. 

[zenrat]

Nice dual drive train there Fred. 

Looks like it was engineered in Solihull. 

That bad huh?

[PR19_Kit]

Nice dual drive train there Fred. 

Looks like it was engineered in Solihull. 

That bad huh?

Hehehe, the quality of L-R Solihull's transmissions is pretty darn good, but their structures, and especially their electrics are diabolical!

[NARSES2]

Nice dual drive train there Fred. 

Looks like it was engineered in Solihull. 

Did they really use cocktail sticks as drive shafts ? 

[scooter]

Nice dual drive train there Fred. 

Looks like it was engineered in Solihull. 

Did they really use cocktail sticks as drive shafts ? 

Scaled up, they were probably surplus to requirement RN spars.

[PR19_Kit]

Nice dual drive train there Fred. 

Looks like it was engineered in Solihull. 

Did they really use cocktail sticks as drive shafts ? 

Having seen some of the results of tests they did on our transmission rig, I think they may have done! 

When you see a 4 ft long drive shaft that's apparently been tied into a knot you start to wonder what the devil they've been doing with the rig!

[zenrat]

I've started on the body.  I've removed the tub and radiator support panel and have installed two firewalls.
Front one is from the kit and rear one is scratchbuilt.
Toucam WIP 16-08-2019 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Toucam WIP 16-08-2019 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr