54 replies to this topic

[Pablo]

I plucked a Cuc body from my vintage stash of horrors and envisioned a black and gold paint job. Inline with lots of brass rod, a vintage motor, etc

 

[Martin]

You had me at "Inline, brass, vintage"

[Alchemist]

"I plucked a Cuc body from my vintage stash of horrors and envisioned a black and gold paint job."

 

The black and gold John Player livery always looked fantastic to me.

 

I'm sure this project will be no different than your other project builds - awesome!

 

Looking forward to progress pictures please!

 

Ernie

[Pablo]

Thanks guys    Parts gathering has begun.

 

No rules here, so I'll set the Russkit bracket face at dead vertical and make the rears appropriately. I may set the clearance less than 1/16; not sure yet.

 

Fronts are Russkit Replicas with EJ's #15 rubbers.

 

I pulled three can choices. The chrome one has Bob Rule's genuine autograph on it

 

 

 

[Pablo]

Don't know if this "collage of parts" motor will work until I assemble it. Champion can, Tradeship endbell, Mura 20 arm, unknown magnets. At this point all I know is, everything seems to fit.

 

Arm is .515, hole would be .535 with a Goat Boy slug, no shim devices needed. It may be a fail, or it could rock - we shall see

 

[Pablo]

Can shortened a little and crappy gimbal BB gizmo removed

 

 

New Professor Motor bushing fits the hole fine and will be soldered in. The Mura arm didn't work for this setup so I found a different (mystery) arm that fits better. It's the proper OD and length, and the shaft is dead straight. So I'll give it a go 

 

[Pablo]

Endbell attached to can with Koford screws. Can bushing silver-soldered. Champion sticker fell off but I think I have a new one. It may not be pretty but EB to can and shaft alignment is dead on perfect, trust me 

 

[Pablo]

Motor assembly complete but the old vintage arm needs a comm cut. And it may be too much horsepower for this car. So I've requested a new custom arm from John Havlicek, smaller wire and milder timing. The setup is good to go

 

 

Time for more planning and soldering 

[Pablo]

While Havlicek winds the new arm, the infamous "Black Cuc" parts are boxed up for travel to Tennessee. You can kill a roach, but his offspring are hiding in your moving boxes. That's why I'm cleaning and vacuuming my stuff before I ship it    

 

[Pablo]

The (partially assembled) Cuc will arrive in a PODS container 13 Jan    This is going to be fun 

[Pablo]

Havlicek custom arm is en-route 

[Pablo]

Black Cuc Havlicek arm arrived today at Wolcott Ice Station Zebra Ranch 

[Bill from NH]

Are you saying the weather in TN is cooler than MS? Are you eyeing snow shovels yet?    

[Don Weaver]

So your vacation is just about over! 

[Pablo]

Bill, a neighbor shoveled my snow without even being asked 

 

Don, "the only easy day was yesterday" LOL

[olescratch]

  Glad to see you back at it!

[Pablo]

I'm glad too, John  Right now I'd say I'm 85% done arranging my stuff. I really like my idea of using plastic adjustable tables for now. Easy to move around to my liking. I have more of them coming soon. For now I'm still sorting my stuff

 

 

Actually ready to resume the Black Cuc build

 

[James Wendel]

Shelving... I see a desperate need for shelving. 

 

I have found flush bifold doors to be a great, cheap shelving option.  Check Craig's List or Facebook Marketplace. 

They are light and ridged... 79" long and 12" or 15" wide.

[Pablo]

I see a need for more plastic tables, I love them    

 

Havlicek arm fit the setup perfectly, easy assembly and break in. Performance is superb as usual. 7T steel press-on pinion

 

 

 

The Bob Rule motor is a grand slam home run. Now for the chassis - it's going to need to be hefty with lots of brass rod

 

 

[Pablo]

Motor box. Russkit bracket, braced with 1/16 brass rod. Nothing fancy. Axle rides in tubing. I'm not intending this to be a copy of anything so I just go as I please 

 

 

[Pablo]

I think three main rails is enough for this car. The infamous "local raceway" everybody keeps talking about is 1.7 miles away from me now, so I'm greatly looking forward to testing and tuning this car   

 

[Pablo]

WB is 3 7/8, GL is 7/8. Drop arm plan - Cox flag, secured with a brass collar; .123" setup nut elevates the Dynamic tongue gizmo at proper height. First I'll build a rod nest 7/8 wide by 2 1/2 long as a rough drop arm and go from there ......

 

 

[Courtney S]

Looks great!

[Pablo]

Thanks Courtney     

 

Rough drop arm is a total of 14 tubes and rods. I used a combination of both to avoid having it too heavy up front. Putting some tubes in the mix gives me the bulk I need without the weight of all rods. At least that's my thinking 

 

Tacked both ends with the Hakko then fired up the torch and made everything flow. Worked out fine, but it reminded me to add 2 fire bottles to my buy list, one for kitcken, one for hobby room 

 

 

Tomorrow I mount my band saw ........

[Bill from NH]

Piano wire would have been another weight-saving alternative. Covered with solder, as in the above photo, only you & Jo Jo would know for sure.