MPC 1/16 General Lee Firewall Issues

[John Clutch]

I just purchased this kit, and it seems it has the wrong firewall. I CAN NOT POST PICS AT THE MOMENT, I WILL DO SO TOMORROW AT WORK, but hopefully by my description, someone might be able to help......

The instructions are showing two different firewalls.

"Firewall A" is the same on steps numbered 1,2,3 and 6 through the end of the steps. This firewall is flat from driver side to passenger side fenders, with notches on the top to receive the hood hinges. 

" Firewall B" in steps 4 and 5 (THIS IS THE FIREWALL I HAVE) has no notches for the hood hinges and has a block section that protrudes into the driver's compartment on the driver side floor. This firewall does fit the contour of the transmission tunnel and is notched for the framerails, but the frame rail notches are very wide.

This firewall doesn't allow the interior door panel to fit and the width of it makes the fenders pop up. When trying to fit the body/firewall/floor together, there is about a 1/4" gap on both sides of the floor were the rocker panels meet. 

When I fit the chassis/body w/o firewall, the hood fits snug and follows the contour of the fenders/cowl well. 

The firewall came on a tree with the items specific to the General Lee, including the push bar, lower front and rear valance and truck bulkhead.

I can make it work if I have to, that's not an issue, but if this is a common issue with the kit, and there is replacement parts, I would rather go that route. Thanks

Clutch

[John Clutch]

Here are the photos of the components. The firewall needs to be trimmed down .075 on each side to fit inside the body properly. Ive searched for the build and I dont see any with this firewall. All have what I called "Firewall A" If you notice the chassis section, where the firewall sits, on the driver side the floorpan protrudes into the engine bay a bit, and has 4 locating tabs in that area that nothing on the instructions say to use.

BUT......I didnt see any completed reissue MPC 1/16 General Lee kits either. (My kit has a 2010 copyright on it) Could this be why? And I read on another forum that people didnt like this kit, but didnt go into specifics about it.
 

Here are some photos of other 1/16 General Lee found off the internet. The tree that my firewall was on was different.

 

[John Clutch]

LOL ok. I found it. This firewall belongs to the MPC 1/16 Richard Petty Charger. The odd thing is it was on a tree with the pushbar, front and rear valances for a 1969 Charger. The chassis doesnt sit right in the body either. It has the "right" rollcage system and not the NASCAR one.

I spent all night looking for info and then within 5 minutes today, I find the issue lol

 

[bummer666]

hey Clutch, tanks for the heads up on the firewall unfortunately I found out the hard way I had it painted and all together until I tried to put shell on!!   " @#$$@@$$!! " 

so I cut out battery box and used the end piece of battery box and glued it were battery box was, and shaved down each side of firewall like you said .075 (3/16") and it fits im post some pix of progress so far but thanks again  

                                                         bummer666

[bummer666]

one last thing how did you figure out the top notch's on firewall for hood??