Kenworth T800 Conversion

[Saltie Olds]

Does anyone know about any Kenworth T800 conversions for any of the AMT W925 or Revell W900 Kenworth kits? Like this Kenworth T800 truck? Thank You.

[Jim B]

Converting a 1970s W900 to a 1990s (or later) T800 will require some work, but I know the Gary Wallace of GW Trucks (gwtrucks@yahoo.com) does make the T800 hood/fenders, cab & front suspension corrections.  Not sure about that sleeper, though.

[Saltie Olds]

16 minutes ago, Jim B said:

Converting a 1970s W900 to a 1990s (or later) T800 will require some work, but I know the Gary Wallace of GW Trucks (gwtrucks@yahoo.com) does make the T800 hood/fenders, cab & front suspension corrections.  Not sure about that sleeper, though.

Awesome. Thank You.

[Saltie Olds]

35 minutes ago, Jim B said:

Converting a 1970s W900 to a 1990s (or later) T800 will require some work, but I know the Gary Wallace of GW Trucks (gwtrucks@yahoo.com) does make the T800 hood/fenders, cab & front suspension corrections.  Not sure about that sleeper, though.

Awesome. Thank You.

[Saltie Olds]

So then, would I be better off on getting a Revell, or maybe a AMT, KW T600 and converting it into a T800?

[Jim B]

The Revell W900 is a 1972-1982, but it does have the 8-bag suspension.  The AMT T600 is a 1990-94 cab/hood/sleeper with a 1970s frame, suspension, engine, & interior.  It needs a lot of work to make it correct.  Essentially what AMT did was took a T600 cab/hood/sleeper and stuck it on their W923 frame.  These might help:

CM17 Jan 1993 - Updating AMT's Kenworth T600; the rear suspension. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM18 Mar 1993, Updating AMT's KW T600; steering syst & front susp. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM19 May 1993, Updating AMT's KW T600; correcting the hood. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM20 July 1993, Updating AMT's KW T600; the air-intake system. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM21 Sept 1993, Converting AMT's Cummins NTA 370 into a N14. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM23 Jan 1994, Updating AMT's KW T600; installing the Cummins N14 album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

I've never built the Revell T600, but I understand it's a 1986-89 T600A.  Perhaps some other builders can chime in on how accurate it is.  It has to be better than the AMT T600.

Good luck with your project.

[Saltie Olds]

26 minutes ago, Jim B said:

The Revell W900 is a 1972-1982, but it does have the 8-bag suspension.  The AMT T600 is a 1990-94 cab/hood/sleeper with a 1970s frame, suspension, engine, & interior.  It needs a lot of work to make it correct.  Essentially what AMT did was took a T600 cab/hood/sleeper and stuck it on their W923 frame.  These might help:

CM17 Jan 1993 - Updating AMT's Kenworth T600; the rear suspension. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM18 Mar 1993, Updating AMT's KW T600; steering syst & front susp. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM19 May 1993, Updating AMT's KW T600; correcting the hood. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM20 July 1993, Updating AMT's KW T600; the air-intake system. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM21 Sept 1993, Converting AMT's Cummins NTA 370 into a N14. album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

CM23 Jan 1994, Updating AMT's KW T600; installing the Cummins N14 album | Dutch Model Truck Club | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

I've never built the Revell T600, but I understand it's a 1986-89 T600A.  Perhaps some other builders can chime in on how accurate it is.  It has to be better than the AMT T600.

Good luck with your project.

Thank You for all the info. Now I know if I want a incorrect KW cement mixer, I could get just the hood and body from the AMT T600 and put it in their KW mixer truck. Then while I’m at it, make the T600 hood look like a T800 hood. I’m thinking I’ll be better off with the Revell KW T600 kit and do some kit bashing with the W900, or the T900, and make my own T800.

[Fat Brian]

1 hour ago, Saltie Olds said:

Thank You for all the info. Now I know if I want a incorrect KW cement mixer, I could get just the hood and body from the AMT T600 and put it in their KW mixer truck. Then while I’m at it, make the T600 hood look like a T800 hood. I’m thinking I’ll be better off with the Revell KW T600 kit and do some kit bashing with the W900, or the T900, and make my own T800.

The Revell T600 is better but still not 100% correct. The main issue is the rear cab corners are still the early rounded ones instead of the later angled ones but once the stacks are on its harder to see. If you get the early version it also has the first generation Aerodyne sleeper top. Here's one on ebay, they're pretty pricey.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Revell-1-25-Kenworth-T-600-Aerodyne-Conventional-sealed-/284802633463?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

[Saltie Olds]

12 minutes ago, Fat Brian said:

The Revell T600 is better but still not 100% correct. The main issue is the rear cab corners are still the early rounded ones instead of the later angled ones but once the stacks are on its harder to see. If you get the early version it also has the first generation Aerodyne sleeper top. Here's one on ebay, they're pretty pricey.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Revell-1-25-Kenworth-T-600-Aerodyne-Conventional-sealed-/284802633463?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

Great, Thank You. I’m thinking getting two of those and do a custom stretched sleeper. But so that I could have the exposed fuel tanks and side steps, and to make it easier to modify the hood, I’m planning on kit bashing it with the Revell W900 as well.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

This is one of Gary Wallaces kits for example. They are great! I started with a Revell of Germany frame. Swapped the rear suspension for rubber block. Swapped the engine for a Cummins M-11. This one also has Gary’s correct front suspension as well.

[Saltie Olds]

13 hours ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

This is one of Gary Wallaces kits for example. They are great! I started with a Revell of Germany frame. Swapped the rear suspension for rubber block. Swapped the engine for a Cummins M-11. This one also has Gary’s correct front suspension as well.

That’s Awesome Looking. I tried emailing him, but haven’t heard back from him yet. So I’m thinking I might have to do my own conversion.

[Force]

Regarding the Revell Grmany and AMT T600's as a starting point.
The Revell Germany kit is the first version T600 from 1984-89 with angeled flat glass split wind screen and early Aerodyne sleeper for one and a flat top  with a large fairing for the other, the AMT kits are a T600A from 1990-94 with one piece curved wind screen and the newer Aerodyne II sleeper so cab and sleeper wise the AMT kit is newer.
Chassis and engine wise it's a another thing, the Revell Germany chassis is a lot newer than the AMT as it dates from 1982 as it shares some parts with the K100 and some added stuff, the AMT kit dates back to 1971 with hopelessly outdated engine, trans and rear suspension.
The T800 in the picture above look to have the 1995-2007 B style cab with the "Daylight Door" and the angeled roof to intergrate with the sleeper better,

[Saltie Olds]

4 minutes ago, Force said:

Regarding the Revell Grmany and AMT T600's as a starting point.
The Revell Germany kit is the first version T600 from 1984-89 with angeled flat glass split wind screen and early Aerodyne sleeper for one and a flat top  with a large fairing for the other, the AMT kits are a T600A from 1990-94 with one piece curved wind screen and the newer Aerodyne II sleeper so cab and sleeper wise the AMT kit is newer.
Chassis and engine wise it's a another thing, the Revell Germany chassis is a lot newer than the AMT as it dates from 1982 as it shares some parts with the K100 and some added stuff, the AMT kit dates back to 1971 with hopelessly outdated engine, trans and rear suspension.
The T800 in the picture above look to have the 1995-2007 B style cab with the "Daylight Door" and the angeled roof to intergrate with the sleeper better,

Oh Fun. So what would a good kit be to start with, for suspension and engine? The early Aerodyne sleeper, that the Revell Germany kit has, is perfect for the custom sleeper I’m going for.

[Force]

Well the Revell Germany kit has the same Cummins NTC 475 engine as the Peterbilt 359's and K100's and it has the KW 8 bag suspension from the K100.
Revell Germany W900 has a Cat 3408 and a KW 8 bag suspension, the Revell US snap W900 has a Cat 3406 and 8 bag.
The AMT kit has the same Cummins NTA 370, a 5 or 6 speed main and 4 speed auxillary trans and a Hendricks walking beam suspesion as the W925...ohh, and the interior of the cab is also a carry over from the W925.

[Saltie Olds]

42 minutes ago, Force said:

Well the Revell Germany kit has the same Cummins NTC 475 engine as the Peterbilt 359's and K100's and it has the KW 8 bag suspension from the K100.
Revell Germany W900 has a Cat 3408 and a KW 8 bag suspension, the Revell US snap W900 has a Cat 3406 and 8 bag.
The AMT kit has the same Cummins NTA 370, a 5 or 6 speed main and 4 speed auxillary trans and a Hendricks walking beam suspesion as the W925...ohh, and the interior of the cab is also a carry over from the W925.

Sounds like I’m going to have to do a lot of kit bashing on this project. Not to me soon a lot of research on the T800.