dragcarz

While waiting for the chassis mods to dry, I started on the tunnel ram. The Johan AMC motor has a deep curved lifter valley. A tunnel ram comes in the Gremlin kit but the lifer valley is flat and it’s too tall. I started with the duel quad intake from the 53 Corvette and added the plenum from another tunnel ram. The scrap Matador kit had a single 4 barrel intake the matched the curved valley. I cut the ends from the 4 barrel intake and put the AMC ends on the Corvette manifold. The 1/1 car had modified tunnel ram hobbled together by AMC, and this looks similar to theirs.

Yes, I’m enjoying the build also, thank you, that’s a great shot!

I think the front is a little low and I still need to raise the rear a smidge and get the body off the tires.

I forgot to post the in progress stance photo.

Stance, Ride Height, whatever you call it, can make or break a model! Get this wrong and it just won’t look right. All the detail in the world isn’t going to help if at first glance the model doesn’t appear realistic sitting there. I try to find a good photo of the car sitting still, and pay attention to where the center of the wheels are in relation to the body rocker panels. Is it above or below the rocker panel and I try to place the wheel centers accordingly. I also try and match tire sizes. If I can obtain the correct tire/ slick size, I measure different kit slicks and conversion the measurements to 1/1 scale. On the real car, according to my reference material the rear springs were moved inboard into the rear frame rails for additional tire clearance so I starter these modifications by notching the rear rails and filling the original spring mount holes with styrene. The Dana Rear axle housing was also braced, so I added the braces using Plastic Rod.

Small update, the downer 69 Rambler chassis’ front crossmember was short molded. The front frame rails were also very thin, like Kit flashing, so I needed to replace the crossmember and I filled the gaps in the rails to strengthen it. Kari suggested the engine from the Matador kit might be a more accurate, so I pulled my NASCAR Matador kit out. At some point I had obtained a poorly built glue bomb and put it in with the new kit. There I found my answer to the crossmember. I cut it free and trimmed it to fit. I did look at the engine though, and I have the one from the original funny car kit and it appears to be a good choice, so I’ll be using it. I also found that the AMT NASCAR kits rear spring fit perfectly in the shock towers. I have some lower control arms, I think there from the Monogram 65-66 Mustang kit, that I’m going to try and make work

Just beautiful Jerry!

Hot Rod Magazine, May of 1983 Roll cage appears either white or Light gray.

Really nice conversion work here. I have several resin bodies but I prefer doing them in plastic. Well done!

Very nice, love the early Pro Stockers !

Hey Rex, I’m glad to see you interested in this project again. I’m no expert but I am a huge fan of the early Pro Stock cars. A lot changed from 1971 thru 1973 with theses cars. With that said in 71 that all they required was a roll bar and many racers including Jenkins used bolt in Lakewood roll bar. By 1973 tube chassis’s and back half cars were becoming common. Pro stock required two front seats, optional rear seat. Stock dash and door trim panels. In 71 the hood scoop could only be 7 inches tall. I often have thought that the Mustang would make a cool Pro Stock car, but the Maverick’s and Comets were smaller and lighter. I have a couple NHRA rule books I refer to and you can find the Rules on Google. I’ll be following your build, just keep it simple. The first Pro cars were very simple Big motor, little car, Slapper bars and a four speed.

So very cool, I love your conversion! Very nice work!

Wow I love what your doing here, a much more realistic and accurate approach to this kit. Really good stance. Your doing excellent work on this kit!

Right now I have the Ohio George AMT wheels…. I would assume there the same wheel.

I need to check this out, I could sure use some more reference photos on this car. There’s not a lot out there.

I started on the engine from the funny car kit. I modified and deepened the oil pan as was the practice back the. The headers from the AMT Gremlin kit appear to be a perfect fit. I lengthened the header collectors with evergreen tubing.

Ok, so I revisited this post as I started working on the Hornet again and realized it’s been a year ago since I last posted anything. It took me forever to get over Covid, it really messed me up physically. Im what they call a long hauler, but enough of that. I had cut the inner fender structure from the American kit and aligned and glued it in place. Since the interior from the American is too narrow I cut the floor from the door panels, and removed the back seat. The molded in front suspension is not accurate so I’ve trimmed it from the chassis plate. I have some parts box Mustang front suspension that is more close to the original AMC pieces. I’m going to need to trim the shock towers and make shock mounts.

Very nice build!

SWEET BUILD!!!! I love this! Looks great!

Wow Misha, this looks great, I haven’t been on the forum lately and I’ve missed your build. I love the Chevy engine swap and your attention to detail is appreciated! Great build, can’t wait to see it completed.

Your in my prayers Joe, I’m so sorry for your loss!

I like it! The older I get the less imagination I seem to have, it’s good to see you still have yours. Looks great!

Looks so good, very cool project!

Looks great, very creative!

Very nice!