LOBBS Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 (edited) The '69 Nova has me a bit frustrated at the moment so I'll step away for a bit and start up on this one. I've had the '59 Vette for years with no real direction on which way I wanted the build to proceed. That all changed with my trip to the Heartland Nats today. I came across this Revell C6 Vette missing its body but otherwise complete for the whopping sum of $4. Needless to say, I snatched it up quickly. Given the '59 Vette's separate frame and that the C1 and C6 are nearly identical in wheelbase, this should be a rather straightforward swap. I'll be drawing some serious inspiration from this SEMA build. Edited June 10, 2013 by LOBBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs396 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Sounds cool Kyle, looking forward to some progress pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 That Vette is hot. Good luck with your build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 That will be serious BAD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Looks like a cool idea. Go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris White Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 I love the pro tour look, please build it !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wonderbread Kustomz Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Oh please build it! That is sick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOBBS Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 (edited) I've been doing some more research on the ZR59 SEMA car and it is C6 Vette up front only. The back is a bagged 9-inch all on an Art Morrison frame. I want to do a full C6 setup front and rear complete with the torque tube. I can go 2 ways with this. Modify the kits '59 frame (mainly the pick up points and seriously reworking/eliminating the X-member). This would be more "correct" but would require much more scratch-building. The second option is modifying the C6's chassis plate to fit the '59 body. The chassis plate of the C6 is relatively flat and could be reworked into an aero belly pan relatively easily. It's not as prototypically correct but does involve much less frame work. Someone on EBay does a very nice set of American Racing Salt Flat wheels to fit the large diameter tires in the '59 kit. I'm currently leaning towards option #2 and going with a pro-touring/land speed theme. Edited June 10, 2013 by LOBBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o-man Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 #2. There is nothing better than modern mechanicals. Moreso if you want it to turn left and right vs. going straight an 1/8-1/4 mile at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooltas Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 why not use the nice chrome wheels in 59 and tires from 2009 vette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOBBS Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 (edited) why not use the nice chrome wheels in 59 and tires from 2009 vette I'm down to choosing between the Torque Thrusts included in the '59 or the resin Salt Flats. One of the biggest knocks against the Revell C6 Vette kits, in all their variations, was that the wheels are too small in diameter and the tires were too narrow. I'm staying with the LS2 from the C6 Vette kit so their is no need for steamroller rear tires. The 20" tires from the '59 kit will do just fine. It then becomes a matter of which of the two above mentioned wheels to go with. Edited June 10, 2013 by LOBBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Great Project! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customsrus Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 (edited) I was wondering what happened to that c6 kit. I passed it up but went back to get it and it was gone, at least it a found a good home. I would go with option #2 having the complete c6 frame under the car. As someone else said it would have the more modern mechanical upgrades, plus as you said it is a lot easier swap to do. Edited June 10, 2013 by customsrus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs396 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Someone on EBay does a very nice set of American Racing Salt Flat wheels to fit the large diameter tires in the '59 kit. That would be our very own Casey Excellent wheels! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus M. Jones Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 the c6 transaxle will protrude into the cab of the car so it might not work. double check before you get too far into this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOBBS Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 the c6 transaxle will protrude into the cab of the car so it might not work. double check before you get too far into this build. Ain't skeered. I'll just use a bigger hammer. Seriously though, thanks for the heads up. If I go the belly pan route, much of that portion of the frame will be hidden. I'll make it fit even if I have to rebuild the tranny tunnel and give up some trunk space. I'm not opposed to shaving some material from the body and running gear in the areas that won't be seen as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I have a set of the Halibrand Salt Flat wheels that I'm going to be using on a project, they are very crisply cast. Those will look great on your 'Vette" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOBBS Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 (edited) Time to start sizing this project up. As I mentioned in the OP, the C6 wheelbase is very close to the C1. Just a hair over 3 inches longer in 1:1. A pass on the Bridgeport at work with an 1/8" end mill would solve that in quick order and give me a nice clean, accurate cut to work with. And as mentioned above it is going to be a very tight fit getting that transaxle to slide in behind the interior. It doesn't look like it is a deal breaker just yet. Worst case scenario would be to use a similar setup as what I'm doing with my '69 Vette. That would entail transferring the C6 suspension to the '59 Vette's frame and using a traditional transmission up front layout with a standard driveshaft. I would have to track down another Dana 44 rearend assembly from the latest Revell Viper kit to perform that swap. Edited June 11, 2013 by LOBBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooneyzs Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 That sema Vett is one sweet ride. You going to do the paint like that?? I think it will look killer if you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOBBS Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 That sema Vett is one sweet ride. You going to do the paint like that?? I think it will look killer if you do. I'm not quite sure which way I'll go with the paint just yet but I may incorporate the matte black into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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