Any trouble with the AMT '66 Nova??

[Southern Fried]

I'm well into a build ( 3rd one attempted...none finished) and have ran into a small problem.

The chassis/engine/interior are almost finished. However, when I do a mock up, everything lines up. The axle/spindles are centered in the wells, and the radiator support is in the correct place, however, the grill seems it will be a non-fit, as if the support is too far forward???

[cobraman]

A photo or two might help us answer your question Phillip.

[bismarck]

You need to take some material off the back of the grill piece behind the headlights. don't go too deep, or you will grind clear through them. take a little bit off at a time and test fit often. Hope this helps.I've built MANY of these kits. Also check for possible contact with the core support.

Edited October 29, 2015 by bismarck

[TonyK]

I'm just about done with the Grumpy Jenkins version and the kit hasn't been too enjoyable.

Had the same problem as you with the grill and ground the back of it at various points and it fit better but never right. Later I dropped the hood on and you could really see the bad fit. I can't remember other problems at this time because I've set it aside so many times that I've forgotten. I recall the steering wheel was badly warped. Tried to get that shaped back but it never did.

Funny how there are no decal placement instructions; just the box art. Checking the Internet gave me a little more info on that.

[unclescott58]

I remember building that kit when it first came out in the 80's. I built it stock. The only real problem I remember having was that hood would not sit down flat with stock air cleaner in place. And yet everything else lined up fine. The engine was mounted as shown in the instructions.

Overall, I was not as impressed with this kit as other's were at the time. I do not have my original one anymore. I do have an unbuilt one I picked up maybe 20 years ago. But, because of the initial impression with my first one, I've not been in a rush to build my second.

[Snake45]

 The only real problem I remember having was that hood would not sit down flat with stock air cleaner in place. And yet everything else lined up fine. The engine was mounted as shown in the instructions.

 

I had the same problem. I ended up just leaving the air cleaner off. Next one I do, I'll give everything on top the engine a slight haircut.

Only other problem I had was trying to figure out which way was "up" on the hood trim. I'll actually fit both ways, but only one is right.

[1972coronet]

The finest item on the original , 1988-issue was its moulded-onto the windscreen  interior rear view mirror !

I built a couple of them back in 1988 , and I honestly don't recall any fitment issues with it . I'm not saying that to come across as contentious to the others' comments / input , but rather out of personal experiences .

That kit was a quantum leap in kit development at the time . Separate interior panels , drivetrain installation points , and that extra short block / long block were so ahead of the curve at the time ! Actually , the kit's release was pushed-back an entire year ; it was supposed to be released in 1987 ...

...which was a remarkable year in the realm of modelling .

[Art Anderson]

I had the same problem. I ended up just leaving the air cleaner off. Next one I do, I'll give everything on top the engine a slight haircut.

Only other problem I had was trying to figure out which way was "up" on the hood trim. I'll actually fit both ways, but only one is right.

I simply shaved down the top of the carburetor.  Seeing as how the stock air cleaner completely hides the carb, that posed no problems at all.  I had no problems whatsoever with the fit of the grille into the body though.

Art

[Casey]

Coming soon...-ish:

AMT-1198

1/25 1966 Chevy Nova SS

[Rbray47]

I haven't built a stock one, but I use a lot of the pro street Novas as donors. There's a lot of flash and raised ejector pin bumps. The chassis alone takes forever (it so it seems) to clean up. 

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, Casey said:

Coming soon...-ish:

AMT-1198

1/25 1966 Chevy Nova SS

Cool! 

I have several copies in the Snakepit, but have become a big fan of the VeryDisco Channel's Street Outlaws, particularly JJ's Memphis crew and his two '67 Novas, ZipTie and Heifer. I've built one AMT Nova but would like to build several more. 

SPOILER ALERT: Results of last Monday's episode below: 

 

 

The high point of my week was last Monday night watching JJ absolutely blow that obnoxious Kye Kelly's doors off with Heifer. I thought SURE JJ was in for an asswhoopin' on that race, and would have bet a small amount of money on that outcome (which I would have been glad to lose). 

[Scott8950]

On 3/13/2020 at 1:48 PM, Snake45 said:

 

SPOILER ALERT: Results of last Monday's episode below: 

 

 

The high point of my week was last Monday night watching JJ absolutely blow that obnoxious Kye Kelly's doors off with Heifer. I thought SURE JJ was in for an asswhoopin' on that race, and would have bet a small amount of money on that outcome (which I would have been glad to lose). 

Snake that crappy road they raced on played into jj's favor, the higher powered cars from nola struggled badly. I gotta give props to jj and how he waited on Scott Taylor to fix John doe. JJ has some nice novas but i love ol heavy and big blocker killer camaro.

[Snake45]

7 hours ago, Scott8950 said:

Snake that crappy road they raced on played into jj's favor, the higher powered cars from nola struggled badly. I gotta give props to jj and how he waited on Scott Taylor to fix John doe. JJ has some nice novas but i love ol heavy and big blocker killer camaro.

JJ has shown me many times that he's a class act, a man who's quick to give respect and treats everyone fairly. He's truly a man of honor. 

I was surprised to see him screw up not just one but two races before the big finale. You don't see him lose often, especially by something as stupid as forgetting to turn on the nitrous bottle, and you don't often see ZipTie lose, especially when Precious is driving it. Was good to see him redeem himself with Heifer, though. Beating Kye Kelly (I don't like him, but I respect his accomplishments) is no mean feat. And JJ 60-footed the HAIL out of him! 

I have to wonder why JJ didn't invite the 405 to his shootout. I also have to wonder why none of the Memphis crew ever runs the No Prep races, even when they're right there in Memphis. 

[Scott8950]

31 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

 

I have to wonder why JJ didn't invite the 405 to his shootout. I also have to wonder why none of the Memphis crew ever runs the No Prep races, even when they're right there in Memphis. 

I wondered why they were not in his shootout myself. Im guessing its either due to filming or possibly JJ's crew wouldn't be as competitive on that track, most of the cars on JJ's crew run mid 4s to low 5s while others like Ryan, Lizzy, Kye, Chief and a few more have dipped into the high 3s. JJ is best at using the road to even the playing field.

[Snake45]

27 minutes ago, Scott8950 said:

I wondered why they were not in his shootout myself. Im guessing its either due to filming or possibly JJ's crew wouldn't be as competitive on that track, most of the cars on JJ's crew run mid 4s to low 5s while others like Ryan, Lizzy, Kye, Chief and a few more have dipped into the high 3s. JJ is best at using the road to even the playing field.

You're probably right--thanks! 

I like to think of these outlaw races as the 21st Century equivalent of the old early Funny Car and and pre-Pro Stock match races. Some cars are clearly faster than others, but on any given day, any of them could beat (or lose to) any other of them due to any number of factors--driver error, breakage, loss of traction, or a hundred other things. I've become quite an addict and now eagerly look forward to Monday nights! 

[Scott8950]

20 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

You're probably right--thanks! 

I like to think of these outlaw races as the 21st Century equivalent of the old early Funny Car and and pre-Pro Stock match races. Some cars are clearly faster than others, but on any given day, any of them could beat (or lose to) any other of them due to any number of factors--driver error, breakage, loss of traction, or a hundred other things. I've become quite an addict and now eagerly look forward to Monday nights! 

Same with me looking foward to monday nights, i enjoy the show

[slusher]

On 3/13/2020 at 11:07 AM, Casey said:

Coming soon...-ish:

AMT-1198

1/25 1966 Chevy Nova SS

Hobby Lobby still selling the pro street version...

[Casey]

8 hours ago, slusher said:

Hobby Lobby still selling the pro street version...

...which is a totally different kit, other than the body-specific parts. 

I'm hoping the bench seat and steel wheels which were newly created for the Grumpy Jenkins kit will again be included with this release.

[slusher]

14 hours ago, Casey said:

...which is a totally different kit, other than the body-specific parts. 

I'm hoping the bench seat and steel wheels which were newly created for the Grumpy Jenkins kit will again be included with this release.

A stock one. Maybe the seat and wheels will be in there for you.

[Casey]

[moparfarmer]

Mine is an older rendition(Bill Jenkins car)  so far so good but heard the front suspension some people say it difficult..Thing I did notice the coil springs don't sit straight up but at a slight angle(maybe the way it should be, I'am a Mopar guy so I don't really know but it just doesn't look right) On the sour note on the kit,mine has a slight warp that will be straighted out when I super glue the chassis to the body..Mine's a definate WIP because I work on it very sparingly but maybe more because of home isolation..Its been three years..Bodwork/Paint/and foil by "the KIng". I putter around on it once in a while..

 

[Chuck Kourouklis]

I appreciated this kit belatedly when it first came out - was really more into current machines at the time - but when I got it a few months behind the curve, I very quickly grew enamored.

The suspension arms have bosses to put the uprights at a bit of negative camber once they're installed, so I filled and redrilled mine, upper and lower, to put the front wheels more purely perpendicular to the surface and still fake some steering.  There might have been some air cleaner clearance issues on mine, but I'm not positive about that 30+ years later.

One thing I can advise everyone to do is not to slide the body forward to the stops on the engine bay side aprons at the cowl.  Everyone who does that puts the body a bit forward of centering the wheels relative to the wheel arches, and the model happily allows you to fudge the body shell backward a bit till everything is properly aligned.

Edited March 24, 2020 by Chuck Kourouklis
typo

[Dave Darby]

15 hours ago, Casey said:

Great looking box art, except that snorkle hood scoop looks a bit out of place on what otherwise looks like a street car.

[Snake45]

3 minutes ago, Dave Darby said:

Great looking box art, except that snorkle hood scoop looks a bit out of place on what otherwise looks like a street car.

Especially with the tiny stock rear tires!   So this issue won't include slicks or at least big tires, then? 

[stavanzer]

I would guess not. Round2 is getting really stingy with the tires lately. 5 or 6 years ago, even the Hopped Up version shown would have gotten 8 or 10  tires. We'll be fortunate if this one has more than 4 tires. I do not know what has changed, but something Has!

Edited March 25, 2020 by alexis