stavanzer Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from? This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. I'd say the MPC '78/79 Monte Carlo, but those are not really a god candidate as, they are too nice in their own right to be parted out. Oddly, both kits have trailers, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can-Con Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) 20 minutes ago, alexis said: What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from? This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. I'd say the MPC '78/79 Monte Carlo, but those are not really a god candidate as, they are too nice in their own right to be parted out. Oddly, both kits have trailers, though. I was gonna say the Monte Carlo but.. Anyway, why would a 454 be wrong for a '76? ,, although, yea, it is pretty weak. Edited January 13, 2022 by Can-Con Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 24 minutes ago, alexis said: What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from? This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. 76 was the last year for the 454 in the full sizers. Not sure how visually it would differ from an early 70s one (maybe the exhaust?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Brian Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 1 hour ago, alexis said: What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from? This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. I'd say the MPC '78/79 Monte Carlo, but those are not really a god candidate as, they are too nice in their own right to be parted out. Oddly, both kits have trailers, though. The one from some versions of the Revell 69 Nova is very good and some kit breakers are selling just the engine on ebay. There is also a more stock one with an automatic transmission in the AMT 72 Chevy truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 I'd imagine that --at least in-scale-- the engine colour (Corporate Blue) is different, and the air cleaner would have the heat riser tube & snorkel . Both the 402 ( "400" ) and 454 were optional for '76. As for a small block : the MPC Chevy / GMC 'Squarebody' pickups have a decent engine with an auto trans (don't know if it's a TH-350 or TH-400) , complete with the aforementioned air cleaner / hear tube. The clutch fan from the AMT LT-1 --truly, the pulleys / belts / accessories and fan-- would be correct for 1976, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can-Con Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 2 hours ago, 1972coronet said: I'd imagine that --at least in-scale-- the engine colour (Corporate Blue) is different, and the air cleaner would have the heat riser tube & snorkel . Both the 402 ( "400" ) and 454 were optional for '76. As for a small block : the MPC Chevy / GMC 'Squarebody' pickups have a decent engine with an auto trans (don't know if it's a TH-350 or TH-400) , complete with the aforementioned air cleaner / hear tube. The clutch fan from the AMT LT-1 --truly, the pulleys / belts / accessories and fan-- would be correct for 1976, IIRC. They were red. I can't post the pics but here's a link of an all original '76 with the 454. https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0814-189994/1976-chevrolet-caprice-classic/ And here's a sharp '76 wagon https://barnfinds.com/original-454-1976-chevrolet-caprice-estate/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodent Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 Yeah, IIRC "Corporate Blue" came out in 1977. A neighbor was so upset that he might get a Chevy engine in his Cutlass wagon they ordered the 403 instead of the 350. I don't think that Mr. Day was smart enough to come up with that idea on his own, he may have been coached by a neighbor lad...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can-Con Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 1 minute ago, Rodent said: Yeah, IIRC "Corporate Blue" came out in 1977. A neighbor was so upset that he might get a Chevy engine in his Cutlass wagon they ordered the 403 instead of the 350. I don't think that Mr. Day was smart enough to come up with that idea on his own, he may have been coached by a neighbor lad...... and who would that have been, Steve? 😉👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 I had the Olds 403 in my '79 Buick Wagon. Never gave any trouble. Red it is then for the smogger, Big Block. Many Thanks Guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) actually, the correct color for the big block is orange, not red; early small blocks were red orange; the '79-'82 and '86 El Caminos might be good kits to get the small block from Edited January 14, 2022 by Motor City Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 The mention of the Oldsmobile 403 engine reminds me of the Firebird Trans Ams built with the Olds 403. Drove one for a little bit with no complaints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDean58 Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Since this is being re-issued, I thought I'd post some pics of the one I finally completed after three repaints. Started it in 2000 and finally got it done in 2020. I had to separate the windshield from the bag glass to get it all to fit. Nice old kit. Painted the Testor's Plum Crazy enamel. with flat purple interior and purple flocking. I should have detailed the caps on the wire hub caps but I just ran out of desire to do any more detailing on it. I'm not sure if I'll get a new issue or not, but the trailer is cool. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted March 11, 2022 Share Posted March 11, 2022 Beautiful Build, Robert. I really like the colour! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldcarfan27 Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 I've already got about a half dozen of them, so not really in the market for another one. Now if it came with the Coke machine.... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 I have several from the last few reissues and one original issue..will pick up a couple more as parts kits for resin conversions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Ellis Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 On 1/13/2022 at 3:51 PM, Rob Hall said: 76 was the last year for the 454 in the full sizers. Not sure how visually it would differ from an early 70s one (maybe the exhaust?) The 1976 Caprice kit has a leftover 427 engine from the 1968 Impala. I always questioned the dual exhaust with single cat converter. Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 58 minutes ago, Bob Ellis said: Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976. According to this 1976 brochure, the 454 came with dual exhaust (likely a 2-into-1-into-2 setup): The Old Car Manual Project Brochure Collection (oldcarbrochures.org) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodent Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 59 minutes ago, Bob Ellis said: I always questioned the dual exhaust with single cat converter. Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976. This is what Rock Auto shows for 1975 and 1976. Wagons were even weirder. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodent Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Saw on eBay this morning that Paul has a 4-door Sport Sedan resin builtup for sale. Says that he will soon be offering the kits as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 18 hours ago, Bob Ellis said: I always questioned the dual exhaust with single cat converter. Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976. Chevrolet did that with the Z/28 when they brought it back in '77. The ads showed the two mufflers and tailpipes, but not the single converter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Those 1975-1980 two-way cat cons were restrictive garbage. A straight pipe plunged-through the 'converter will get a visual-pass on I/M smog inspections 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Ellis Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 4 hours ago, Mark said: Chevrolet did that with the Z/28 when they brought it back in '77. The ads showed the two mufflers and tailpipes, but not the single converter. I agree. But did they do the Z28 exhaust treatment on the Caprice after 1974? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Ellis Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Just now, Bob Ellis said: I agree. But did they do the Z28 exhaust treatment on the Caprice after 1974? Forget my comment. I see the Rock Auto diagram. Seems like a waste of mufflers since one Catalytic converter causes all the backpressure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 It's plastic. build it the way you want. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 '76 Caprice promo shown below; I used to own a '73 Caprice 2-door hardtop with the 454 and it had full dual exhaust as correctly shown on the '73 and '74 Caprice model cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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