Model Engine Maker

General Category => Oddball => Topic started by: galland on April 09, 2019, 10:22:53 PM

Title: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: galland on April 09, 2019, 10:22:53 PM
I have a buddy that I have known for over 40 years who seems to know more about the chevy's from the 50's and 60's than anyone I have ever met. I decided to try my hand at making a miniature 60's style high performance air cleaner and give it to him as a present. I just finished it this morning. The top is a 1/4 scale version of the open element type used on engines like the 302 Z28 and the 396-375 H.P.
   Gary
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: stevehuckss396 on April 09, 2019, 10:36:57 PM
That is awesome!  I hope he appreciated it.

BTW: I do have a birthday coming up. Haha!
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: b.lindsey on April 09, 2019, 10:48:07 PM
Beautiful Gary. I am sure he will appreciate that immensely.

Bill
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: Chipswitheverything on April 10, 2019, 02:08:42 PM
That's really beautiful Gary, your lucky mate will certainly grin ear to ear when he unwraps that little gem!  Dave
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: galland on April 15, 2019, 12:03:50 AM
Say would any of you guys know where I could get a 1/4 scale decal to go on the air cleaner? This is the original. I have looked everywhere with no luck.     Gary
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: 90LX_Notch on April 15, 2019, 12:08:20 AM
Very nice, as well as unique.

-Bob
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: Johnmcc69 on April 15, 2019, 12:52:29 AM
Hi Gary, with some computer "trickery", you should be able to re-scale the image & print it out on some adhesive backed decal/"sticker" paper.

 Happy to help you with this if you would like,

 John
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: awJCKDup on April 15, 2019, 01:34:31 AM
Gary, very nice. Could I ask how you made the filter element?

John
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: galland on April 15, 2019, 01:43:20 PM
John from Erie Pa, I will send you a private message on hear discussing this. Just to let you know, I am rather a computer dummy when it comes to doing things like what you mentioned.

2nd. John, I thought on this for quite a while and finally went this way. The top and bottom plates are threaded onto a center aluminum ring. A Teflon ring is a light press fit over the aluminum one. I found the .010 thick aluminum mesh at Hobby Lobby and it was cut about .125 taller than the Teflon ring and extends into grooves cut into the top and bottom plates. The orangish rubber cord was got from McMaster-Carr and is pressed into the grooves which holds the mesh tight against the Teflon. It all seemed to work out pretty well. If the wing nut is removed the whole thing comes off as a one piece unit.
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: galland on April 15, 2019, 08:18:32 PM
John,  This is the one that came on all original Z-28's. I think they are about 5 inches long.    Gary
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: Johnmcc69 on April 15, 2019, 10:58:44 PM
 Hi Gary, I imported your .jpg into Draftsight, scaled the original to your estimated 5" length & then re-scaled to 1/4" scale. I tried saving the file back out as a .jpg, but lost all control of the scale when I then imported it into Inkscape & MS Paint.

 I can only understand "Real" units (Actual length measurements), & did some looking if there was a connection between "Pixle" length & real world measureable units. I looked it up on the web, & it seems that "Pixle" size is a function of computer monitor resolution. (?)  :facepalm:

 Like I had mentioned in your PM earlier, doing it this way in Draftsight gives me total control in all scaling & can make any decal to any size I wish.  :LittleDevil: This technique also works in AutoCad.

 This image seems to be a pretty good quality & at this scale you should be able to print it out & have it look pretty good.

 I can edit the attached PDF & remove the full scale version, & dimensions if that would be better for you. You should be able to print it out at 1:1 & get what you want.

 As mentioned before...very cool little project!

 John
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: toolznthings on April 16, 2019, 02:19:30 AM
Very nice work ! Really neat !  :ThumbsUp:
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: b.lindsey on April 16, 2019, 01:36:50 PM
I did something similar for the decals for the Briggs & Stratton engine though I had to created them in Autocad. The local office supply store (or Amazon) should have 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of clear mylar that can be laser printed, then cut out and applied. It sticks well to metal or any smooth surface. They will wear some over time so I printed out a whole sheet with multiple images and kept the rest for later.

Bill
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: johnl on April 16, 2019, 06:22:53 PM
I made a similar air cleaner top for my Demon V8. I always liked them and the finned valve covers.

I like the air cleaner label idea too.

(https://oi370.photobucket.com/albums/oo143/johnlesar/IMG_0109.jpg) (http://s370.photobucket.com/user/johnlesar/media/IMG_0109.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: galland on April 20, 2019, 02:35:24 PM
I located some 302  Z/28 emblems  (tie tack or lapel pins) and I thought they looked good so I ordered some and made a 1 inch taller upright on the base to hold them. Now I just need to get to work on the decal for the top lid.     Gary
Title: Re: Miniature Chevy air cleaner
Post by: b.lindsey on April 20, 2019, 02:51:27 PM
Nice find Gary. Those add a lot to the base!!!

Bill
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