We haz truck! It looks mean if I do say so myself.
But, we aren't finished yet. We still have details to button up.
I love that SSD went the extra step and molded some parts in different colors. This negates the need for one of my least favorite tasks, painting, and often molded parts look better than painted parts especially when it's shoddy work like my painting.
The fuel cell receiver box and lid are molded in a nice, bright red. There is a very small slit for wires. I like the minimal slot because it makes for a very small area for mud and water to splash into. But there's no o-ring seal on this box so it definitely isn't waterproof. If you have a lot of lighting or things like that you may need to enlarge this slot. I did not have to do that.
The lid mounts to the receiver box by way of two screws that thread from the bottom up into the underside of the lid. This leaves you without any screws on top of the fuel cell itself. But this forces you to install the lid before place the fuel cell into its mount.
The mounting system for the receiver box is very unique for an RC. It has a scale mounting "strap" system similar to what you'd see on 1:1 vehicle. It is molded in light grey which is the same color as the transmission. It looks very cool.
I thought I was really going to like this system, but in the end I did not. You have to remove the receiver box from the mount in order to remove the lid. This only entails removing four screws, but if your wires are ran without enough slack you will have a tough time getting the receiver box out of the mount. Be mindful of that when tidying up your wires.
It does look very cool once it's installed, but, of course, I forgot to take pictures of that. :roll: I'll try to add it later if I remember.
Up next, we get to build the heart of this bad boy. I've literally been waiting for this part since the TK was first announced. No LS-swap here, because it already comes with a perfect engine...the LS! "thumbsup"
Earlier I stated that some of the plastic parts were molded in color. SSD also included parts with plating.
The valve covers are plated in what turns out to look like aluminum as seen here. You can also see that the valve cover isn't symmetrical which I found to be very odd. You can install the heads on either side of the motor, but the valve covers are specific to one side. I test fit all of the motor pieces together before getting CA glue involved and I'm glad I did. If not, I may not have realized this asymmetry until after I got glue everywhere I didn't want it.
SSD definitely didn't cheap out here. The distributor is two pieces and the air cleaner is three pieces so that they could mold the pieces in the proper colors. No painting required here. Very nice touch. Sweet! "thumbsup"
Even the thermostat housing is a separate, molded piece. This is scale model quality stuff here.
And after just a little bit more than the perfect amount of CA glue, you have the mostly completed LS engine!
I say a little bit more than the perfect amount of CA because you can see the familiar, white, chalky mess of too much CA hiding at the seam between the block and the head. I tried my hardest to not have this happen so I don't know how it did! :evil: Oh well, it still looks bad ass.
If anybody knows how to remove this white, please let me know! Sanding and scraping won't do it without affecting the plastic underneath.
I do wish the timing chain cover was also finished in the aluminum or chrome plating, but that's my only complaint. An ambitious person could spray it with Molotow before gluing it.
The oil pan will be installed after the engine is in the truck. That would also look cooler with an aluminum or chrome finish, but it's black.
Hopefully SSD sells this motor kit separately in the future. I imagine they'd sell plenty and it will replace the long extinct and way overpriced Parma hemi.
But, we aren't finished yet. We still have details to button up.
I love that SSD went the extra step and molded some parts in different colors. This negates the need for one of my least favorite tasks, painting, and often molded parts look better than painted parts especially when it's shoddy work like my painting.
The fuel cell receiver box and lid are molded in a nice, bright red. There is a very small slit for wires. I like the minimal slot because it makes for a very small area for mud and water to splash into. But there's no o-ring seal on this box so it definitely isn't waterproof. If you have a lot of lighting or things like that you may need to enlarge this slot. I did not have to do that.
The lid mounts to the receiver box by way of two screws that thread from the bottom up into the underside of the lid. This leaves you without any screws on top of the fuel cell itself. But this forces you to install the lid before place the fuel cell into its mount.
The mounting system for the receiver box is very unique for an RC. It has a scale mounting "strap" system similar to what you'd see on 1:1 vehicle. It is molded in light grey which is the same color as the transmission. It looks very cool.
I thought I was really going to like this system, but in the end I did not. You have to remove the receiver box from the mount in order to remove the lid. This only entails removing four screws, but if your wires are ran without enough slack you will have a tough time getting the receiver box out of the mount. Be mindful of that when tidying up your wires.
It does look very cool once it's installed, but, of course, I forgot to take pictures of that. :roll: I'll try to add it later if I remember.
Up next, we get to build the heart of this bad boy. I've literally been waiting for this part since the TK was first announced. No LS-swap here, because it already comes with a perfect engine...the LS! "thumbsup"
Earlier I stated that some of the plastic parts were molded in color. SSD also included parts with plating.
The valve covers are plated in what turns out to look like aluminum as seen here. You can also see that the valve cover isn't symmetrical which I found to be very odd. You can install the heads on either side of the motor, but the valve covers are specific to one side. I test fit all of the motor pieces together before getting CA glue involved and I'm glad I did. If not, I may not have realized this asymmetry until after I got glue everywhere I didn't want it.
SSD definitely didn't cheap out here. The distributor is two pieces and the air cleaner is three pieces so that they could mold the pieces in the proper colors. No painting required here. Very nice touch. Sweet! "thumbsup"
Even the thermostat housing is a separate, molded piece. This is scale model quality stuff here.
And after just a little bit more than the perfect amount of CA glue, you have the mostly completed LS engine!
I say a little bit more than the perfect amount of CA because you can see the familiar, white, chalky mess of too much CA hiding at the seam between the block and the head. I tried my hardest to not have this happen so I don't know how it did! :evil: Oh well, it still looks bad ass.
If anybody knows how to remove this white, please let me know! Sanding and scraping won't do it without affecting the plastic underneath.
I do wish the timing chain cover was also finished in the aluminum or chrome plating, but that's my only complaint. An ambitious person could spray it with Molotow before gluing it.
The oil pan will be installed after the engine is in the truck. That would also look cooler with an aluminum or chrome finish, but it's black.
Hopefully SSD sells this motor kit separately in the future. I imagine they'd sell plenty and it will replace the long extinct and way overpriced Parma hemi.
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