Mike Dobrzelecki

In my previous post getting started on this project, I thought it would be a quick couple of days of research, get the kits, some after-market and plan the build - WRONG! As I stated, I want to build my brother, Dan's, street-racing/Raceway Park-racing 56 Chevy 2-Door 210 Wagon. So, I called my brother, who is now 71 years old. That's when he took me to "Dan's 56 Chevy School For Advanced Learning". He has an extremely clear memory of almost 100% of the details of his multi-year build of his 1:1 scale street racer, and any model build of is going to get way-complicated. I need some more help from the experts on this forum. Here goes my extensive list: What I have: Resin 1956 Chevy Sedan Delivery Wagon kit body & some interior Revell 1956 Nomad 55-56 Chevrolet Bel Air 210 Nomad Gauges for Revell kit Model Car Garage MCG-2235 '56 Chevy Del Ray PE Detail Set for Revell kit What I have coming: Revell 56 Chevy Del Ray What I need help and suggestions with: ENGINE Need a Chevy 396 Big Block engine. Notes: My brother's engine came out of a 69 Camaro. He stated that although the engine was called a 396 it was actually "rated" as a 402. As I understand it, the outer dimensions for the various sizes of Chevy Big Blocks are the same, though some outer details differ. In surfing the internet I came up with other builds using 396 motors, and they included excerpts from instruction sheets (see attached), but it was not clear from the posts what kits they came in. -What are some recommendations for donors from kits or after-market resin engines for a Chevy Big Block 396? Please note next 4 items, too. He modified the engine mounts by adding a 3rd set, which he describes as a 2-2-1 configuration. he said the extra mount was 'in the back'. He equipped the motor with a Holly Dual Feed 780 carburetor - I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. He mounted Hooker Headers - I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. He mounted a dual (two?) air cleaners under a chrome pan - I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. He installed a Hurst 4-speed M31 Super Shifter - I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. He installed a Lakewood(?) "Scatter Shield" - basically a steel bell housing vs the aluminum one for the tranny. I assume that these looked exactly alike - just a different metal - correct? He swapped out the generator for an alternator -If it does not come with the donor motor, I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. He installed a larger water pump 6 cylinder version for 8 cylinder.-If it does not come with the donor Chevy kits/ donor motor, I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. He kept the dash instruments the same, but mounted ones for racing, namely oil/water and tach below the dash - Lots of choices here but I need suggestions for the best after-market for this. He swapped out the stock steering wheel for a 3 spoke chrome unit -Lots of choices here but I need suggestions for the best after-market for this REAR DIFFERENTIAL He stated that this posi-traction unit came out of a 57 Pontiac - I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. Sway Bar added - I need suggestions for donor kits and after-market for this. TIRES AND WHEELS He mounted 14' up front and 15" tires in the back, all with Cragar SS mags, Rear Tires had 9 1/2' thread-Lots of choices here, but I need suggestions for the best kit or after-market for these. PAINT Body was painted "Rally Green", with just a hint of metal flake. Roof was painted a rich gold with lot's of metal flake - I need recommendations for model car paint for these colors. Thanks in advance for your help.

Thanks again everybody. I have been in touch with Steve over the past few days. It's still available. I also think that the Sedan Delivery is my best bet, too.

Thanks everybody for your comments. Great info. Since I started this thread, I managed to search for previous posts on this site and came up with a lot of other good information. Some of the comments include: "1955-57 Chevy and Pontiac had two distinctly different station wagon bodies--the standard 2/4dr wagons, and the Nomad/Safari. Regular wagons used the same windshield frame and glass as 2dr and 4dr sedans, while the Nomad and Safari were built around the convertible/hardtop windshield frame and glass, which is approximately 2" lower than the sedans (think .080" or 2mm lower on a model). The Nomad roof is shorter, and the tailgate is sloped forward quite a bit more than it's regular station wagon brethren as well." "If I remember 55 and 56 share more body parts. 57 chevys have a lower cowl so things like windshields are different from 55 and 56.I believe regular wagons use sedan doors and windshields so the Revell 56 sedan doors and roof height would give you a proper reference. It might be easier to use the 56 Delray as the basis and add the Nomad roof.Of course , you have to fill in the grooves and make door frames etc. All in all, a lot of work either way.I'm not 100% sure on the wagon thing as I was more interested in a 55 sedan using thee 56 sedan. The first thing I always look for when doing a conversion for is interchange of parts within a line. Its nice with The Reveille trichevies they are tooled similarly. One other thing I recall is 55 and 56 frames interchange but 57 frames are different in the front frame horn area. Anyway, just google a specific question like "does a 56 2dr sedan windshield (or door) interchange with a 56 4r wagon and you usually will be routed to a Trichevy forum where they always have someone discussing. If I can use existing kit parts I'm further ahead. Hope this helps." "If the Revell '56 Del Ray is considered a Sedan (and I think it is, since it's no Hardtop nor Convertible), is the roof height correct? Has anyone measured and verified this? Being the only Tri Five sedan kit Revell has released, and based on Dennis' comments regarding the differences between '55-'56s and '57s, the '56 Del Ray sounds like it would be the best kit-based donor for the windshield surround and windshield for a '55-'56 wagon (Nomads not considered wagon for the sake of this discussion, just to be clear). Not sure how accurate AMT's '55 Bel Air Sedan is, though...I would guess most people would prefer to use a newer Revell based kit if possible." " "Revell's 1956 Del Ray is where you want to start for the body. The Del Ray is simply a regualr 210 series two-door sedan with a "family duty" intereior if I remember the GM brochures correctly and Del Ray is a really cool name. The sedans and the regular wagons share the same windshield and doors - identical! As noted in the earlier posts, the Nomads/hardtops/convertibles have a two inch shorter windshield as well as the hardtop window openings." Model Haus gets it right (again) - the roof height on their 55-57 wagons and sedan deliveries is correct. I've seen another 1956 2-door wagon resin body that was mastered off the Nomad and that roof is little low - but nice if you're looking for a chopped top. In all cases, the two door door is longer than the front door on a four door. On the wagons, the rear curved quarter glass on a four door wagon is longer then the rear curved quarter glass on a two door - note the position of the glass divider/end of the rear door. The roof on the regluar wagon is longer than a Nomad, and the tailgate is a different shape - not just the trim. As mentioned above, a lot of work to do a conversion. A Nomad kit is also required... The wagon and Nomad chassis are the same - The sedan/hardtops have a differernt fuel tank shape and location than the wagons. Wagons and Nomads use the same rear bumpers with the license plate on the bumper.

After a little digging, it looks like R&R Resin have 56 Chevy Wagon 210 2dr resin body, too. I sent an email - I hope they're still in business. Some sites stated that the resin body is no longer available.

My brother, Dan, built a bitchin drag racer out of a 56 Chevy Wagon. Here are the photos taken in June 1969, prior to its conversion. Photos were taken in Dover DE, when he was stationed at Dover AFB. That's my brother, Dan, who looked a lot like Steve McQueen back then, standing beside the car (that's me sitting inside it). The next photo is my other brother, Ron, sitting at the wheel.The car was a straight wagon - not a Nomad, and, as I recall, it was a 2-door, but I need to verify this.My problem is that no one makes a straight 56 Chevy Wagon. My choices seem to be: Revell 56 Chevy Nomad 1/25th ScaleRevell 56 Chevy 2-door 1/25th ScaleMonogram 56 Chevy 1/24th? Scale My questions:How hard would it be to convert a Nomad into a straight wagon? Is the roof line different? Is the rear tailgate at a different angle in the Nomad vs the straight? wagon Which is the best issue of the Revell kit to start with?What would I need to do?Would parts from other non-wagon 56 kits help?The Monogram kits are sometimes identified as 1/24th and other times as 1/25th - what is the correct scale? Would they be of any help, at all?Is the 56 in the photos a 2 door or 4 door? I think the former, but look at the windows.As far as I can tell, AMT never had a 56 Chevy - correct?Would the Star Model resin deliver van resin body help?