dragcarz Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I built this kit when it first came out, way back when. I built it out of the box back then. It was molded in red, and I painted candy red right over the red plastic, and I applied the decals. It came out great in my opinion. I lost track of my original kit a long time ago and always wanted to do it again. Several years ago I happened on a glue bomb California Flash build up, painted black. I stripped it and it’s sat a long time. The problem that’s kept me from tackling this project is, do I do it out of the box for nostalgia sake, or do I use a newer Duster kit and do a detailed build? I have tons of articles and reference material for this car. My reference showed things like no name plates, no marker lights an the cowl grille vents filled. The rear wheel openings are stretched.I decided to jump into this project and I removed the emblems marker lamps, hood pins and I filled the cowl grill after removing the windshield wipers. The old Dart Sport has all the new parts I need should I want to go the out of the box route. I’d be interested in your thoughts as I go back and forth to which chassis to use. I want to finish this project and not get bogged down re-engineering the kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtx6970 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 (edited) Tough call. My 1st thought is use the current 71 and make it really nice / accurate replica . BUT....... I got lucky and managed to pick up a real clean built car a couple years ago. As I was giving some serious thoughts to build one from the current 71 Duster . Now,,,,I have serious doubt I'll ever take this apart and do anything to upgrade it. Its survived this long I would feel bad to take it apart now Edited September 4, 2019 by gtx6970 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 There’s something about an original kit. Had mine looked like yours, I don’t think I would touch it either. It looks so cool just like it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicmustang Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Looking good. Still have my original build too. Only thing I did to it was remove the molded in exhaust pipes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 10 hours ago, gtx6970 said: Tough call. My 1st thought is use the current 71 and make it really nice / accurate replica . BUT....... I got lucky and managed to pick up a real clean built car a couple years ago. As I was giving some serious thoughts to build one from the current 71 Duster . Now,,,,I have serious doubt I'll ever take this apart and do anything to upgrade it. Its survived this long I would feel bad to take it apart now Yup, that's a survivor! Good call to keep it as is. Would be nice if there was a way to fix the front edge of the decals on either side though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caine440 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Looking good. I have 2 of the originals in the wings waiting to be saved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtx6970 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, Tom Geiger said: Yup, that's a survivor! Good call to keep it as is. Would be nice if there was a way to fix the front edge of the decals on either side though. I had thought about replacing the decals with after market. But.....just cant bring myself to pull it apart. I've got maybe 4 or 5 more builds. Similar condition that will most likely remain as is(all old drag cars ) My appologies to the op for taking the original post way off track . Edited September 4, 2019 by gtx6970 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYLIBUD Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Great job!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted September 5, 2019 Author Share Posted September 5, 2019 It’s all good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted September 5, 2019 Author Share Posted September 5, 2019 I cut the rear wheel wells out of the Sport chassis... still a snug fit for the slicks. Body cleaned up and the first coat of primer. Mocked up with the Sport chassis. I’m gonna look at the Duster chassis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Stance looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straightliner59 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Looking good, so far! I agree with JC--it sits just right. I've always loved this car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtx6970 Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codi Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Love this thread. Can't wait to see your next update. cheers, tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooOld Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Looking really good ! I also built this kit back in the early 70's and it's still one of my favorites , definitely watching your progress ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 Quick update. I decided to keep as much of it the original MPC kit. I test fit both the AMT Duster and the Revell Dart chassis’. Both seemed more work than it was worth, at one point it seemed easier to swap the tail light panel from the California Flash kit to the AMT Duster, but that would totally defeat my purpose. I removed the rear wheel openings and chiseled the drive shaft off. I sanded the details off the front aprons. Some brushable primer surfacer, now a little drying time while I work on subframe connectors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 It’s been a while since posting anything on this project, so I thought I needed to do an update. Something went terribly wrong somehow i this has turned into a major project that I never intended. After cutting out the wheel wells, I made new tubs, I didn’t like the gaps between the body and the chassis, so I added new rocker panels. The real car had sub frame connectors, so I added them. It’s not perfect but it will work for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 I removed the center console, filled the transmission tunnel, removed the rear seat, I smoothed the dashboard, and made the rear interior panels. Again it’s not perfect but I’m having to learn to model again without full use of my finger. I removed the washer motor from the firewall and it looked too plane so I added the pinch weld so common on dusters. I also started the roll cage, kinda dumb I guess as I was planning full windows and most of this will never be seem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted April 29, 2020 Author Share Posted April 29, 2020 The 72 car had Cragar Trick wheels, the kit came with the 71 Fenton wheels, I struggled with this as I wanted the originality of the kit to remain intact. I only had the kits rear wheels, so I opted to go with the Tricks. I returned to getting the car to sit right and the wheel falls right between the original mount holes so I’m filling them and will drill new holes for the front wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYLIBUD Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 Looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces ll Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 Thanks!... That's giving me ideas for the AMT '71 Duster kit... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMuscleFan Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 Nice job on the body/frame modifications! I'm a Mopar guy and I do love these old pro stock drag cars! Simply the best era of drag racing! Keep doing your good work sir!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted April 30, 2020 Author Share Posted April 30, 2020 Thanks for the comments, very appreciated. I need some good painting weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BubbaBrown Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 Question, what is the hole in the hood and duct to scoop for ? Beautiful work I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragcarz Posted April 30, 2020 Author Share Posted April 30, 2020 Hey Bubba, in the early years of Pro Stock there was a lot of experimenting on hood scoops. The rules stated the carburetors had to be covered and with tunnel ram intakes and carbs sticking through the hood, Racers got creative. Butch Leal’s idea was to funnel as much air to the carbs as possible, so the design was to direct air into the carbs. Hope that answers your question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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