Revell '57 Ford Gasser

[stavanzer]

Due to an eBay error many years ago (2008), I have a box of Four of those Revell 427 Ford parts packs. 4 of the Pontiac, Chevy, and Caddy engines too. Seller was offering one of each kind, for a total of four engines. Imagine my surprise when I got 4 of each engine for a total of 16! I offered to send back the extras, but he told me it was his mistake, and that I should just keep them. What a guy! I still have most of them. I see one going into a '57 Ford one of these days.

Thanks for suggesting the 427, Bill. Now I know how to proceed.

[Daddyfink]

Notice stock suspension up front

[Chuck Most]

Did they change rear bumper? Hope springs eternal. 

Blown 392 Hemi from the 32 kit would be nice. 

Yep... no more overriders.

Weird you mention a 392 Hemi, as that's what I plan to put in mine. The one I'm using is from the '41 Willys, though. 

[modelfink]

I was really excited about this kit. Now, not so much. It's great having this info before spending the money. However, this kit in stock trim would be a cool tow car for a "Real" gasser and perhaps a few gasser parts could be used elsewhere.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I was really excited about this kit. Now, not so much. It's great having this info before spending the money. However, this kit in stock trim would be a cool tow car for a "Real" gasser and perhaps a few gasser parts could be used elsewhere.

DISCLAIMER: I could be wrong. 

As far as building a "real" gasser goes, I don't recall any specific gas-class rule that forbid building a gas-class car from a wagon. Though I don't remember the class and car specifics, I DO remember one old-time racer who preferred building his cars from wagons when possible because of the additional weight over the rear wheels.

Though the "me too" trend for a while has been to label anything with its nose in the air a "gasser", I'm pretty sure the actual class rules, at least the early NHRA class rules, would have allowed a wagon to compete if it met the rest of the class specifications.

[modelfink]

I think wagon gassers are super cool, after some kit bashing this would make a good one. My expectations were higher, but I would pick it up if the price were right.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I think wagon gassers are super cool, after some kit bashing this would make a good one. My expectations were higher, but I would pick it up if the price were right.

I started this one on the old AMT chassis shortly after the first issue of the Revell '57 wagon was released.

        

 

 

[Snake45]

DISCLAIMER: I could be wrong. 

As far as building a "real" gasser goes, I don't recall any specific gas-class rule that forbid building a gas-class car from a wagon. Though I don't remember the class and car specifics, I DO remember one old-time racer who preferred building his cars from wagons when possible because of the additional weight over the rear wheels.

Though the "me too" trend for a while has been to label anything with its nose in the air a "gasser", I'm pretty sure the actual class rules, at least the early NHRA class rules, would have allowed a wagon to compete if it met the rest of the class specifications.

The AMT '55 Nomad has had gasser parts including a suicide-spring front end for 50 years and no one has ever questioned whether that was gas-legal or not. And I'm pretty sure I've seen photos of both '55 and '56 Nomad gassers. Non-issue AFAIC.

[Ace-Garageguy]

The AMT '55 Nomad has had gasser parts including a suicide-spring front end for 50 years and no one has ever questioned whether that was gas-legal or not. And I'm pretty sure I've seen photos of both '55 and '56 Nomad gassers. Non-issue AFAIC.

Agreed 100%.

[FordRodnKustom]

I'll just be happy to call my build "gasser style" and not worry if it's class legal or not. I'm going to take the "gasser" parts from the wagon and add them to a sedan kit along with a Ford 427 (probably from a T-Bolt kit} to come up with something like this. I always liked this car.

A little long roof inspiration

 

 

[afx]

Here is the Revell Parts Pack 427 stripped of chrome and primed.

[FordRodnKustom]

Here is the Revell Parts Pack 427 stripped of chrome and primed.

Thanks for that pic. It's easier to see what that engine will look like than the looking at the glittering chrome in the pack. I do wish that set had the stock valve covers though.

[horsepower]

Snake, I see the others have provided the photo's you sought.

I look forward to building my kit.

I do agree that a Blown Big Block would have made a much better Gasser Motor for this kit, and reusing the pitiful 312 was 'cheaping out'  at it's worst. But better to have the kit, than not. The headers alone are almost worth it, by themselves.

Revell, should sell that tree by itself.

I agree with that, I am going to put the parts pack 427 in for the gasser, but those 312 parts are probably going to find their way into the stock bodied version of the '48 coupe kit, I haven't tried it yet but I hope those headers work without having to hack them up.

[horsepower]

 

That design of mag was never available in a 13" with a 5-bolt pattern either...to the best of my knowledge. I could be wrong.

  

Actually they were available in 13" five lug pattern to fit the Corvair, and the early Dodge Dart (but the tiny 4" bolt circle for the Dart was a special order)

[horsepower]

Yep... no more overriders.

Weird you mention a 392 Hemi, as that's what I plan to put in mine. The one I'm using is from the '41 Willys, though. 

the kit still has the rear bumper with the guards, even though the box photos show it without any guards. They're still on the instruction sheet too.

[Mark]

the kit still has the rear bumper with the guards, even though the box photos show it without any guards. They're still on the instruction sheet too.

The rear bumper in my kit has no guards.

[Chuck Most]

The rear bumper in my kit has no guards.

Ditto. 

[tim boyd]

....but those 312 parts are probably going to find their way into the stock bodied version of the '48 coupe kit, I haven't tried it yet but I hope those headers work without having to hack them up.

Del...I'm thinking exactly the same along those lines.  I've already cleaned up and painted the headers (Tamiya Chrome Yellow with Tamiya Flat clear) to simulate late 1960's flat yellow header paint....they actually look pretty cool.....TIM  

[Ace-Garageguy]

Actually they were available in 13" five lug pattern to fit the Corvair, and the early Dodge Dart (but the tiny 4" bolt circle for the Dart was a special order)

Thanks. Good to know. 

Now, if we can just get a measurement on the scale diameter of the rear wheels... 

[horsepower]

Ditto. 

I must have got hosed, mine has bumper guards, but I did look close at the box build and it looks like that one has used the wagon FRONT bumper without guards that IS in both the first issue kit I have and this one too. 

Does your kits have two bumpers without guards?

[keyser]

The question I asked was about rear bumper. Front is ok. 

Rear bumper should have 2 tiny bumps on either side of license plate area that are small bumper guards and place for license light. Kit has none. Guess it's my problem as will be pointed out soon 

Sorry for confusion

Just so people don't yell at me and my silly bumperguards, here's a vid of a Courier gasser that'd be easy conversion 

[pharoah]

Man,I feel that kit pulling  me in...

[Dave Darby]

If you are going to build a Revell 57 Ford into a gasser with no front bumper, do yourself a favor, and trim the bottom of the front fender (ahead of the front wheel) even with the bottom of the grille. That's where the fender ends on the real one. It'll look a LOT better. As for a 56 body on a 57 frame. No. Just... No. The 57 has a cowbelly frame, while the 56 is closer to the 1949 frame. It would be a nightmare of epic proportions to connect the two. And for what? A 9 in rear end that would practically be a bolt in swap on the 56? I highly doubt many, if any such swaps were ever done.

[Ace-Garageguy]

 As for a 56 body on a 57 frame. No. Just... No. The 57 has a cowbelly frame, while the 56 is closer to the 1949 frame. It would be a nightmare of epic proportions to connect the two. And for what? A 9 in rear end that would practically be a bolt in swap on the 56? I highly doubt many, if any such swaps were ever done.

"A nightmare of epic proportions"? Probably not. I don't know if you're a fabricator by trade...but I am. Anyone competent to measure, drill, cut and weld steel ought to be able to do it. I've seen a multitude of bodies swapped on to frames they weren't designed for over 40-odd years in the business. Some were hack-jobs, some were very clean.

Whether it was ever really done is moot. It could have been done, and here's why it MIGHT have been done.

Suppose you have a fairly nice '57 body shell bolted to a frame that's been lozenged or has a badly bent front rail. Entirely possible. Again, I've seen this kind of damage frequently.

And also suppose you don't have access to a frame machine or tie-down pots and a dozer capable of straightening the '57 frame, but the junkyard DOES have a straight '56 frame, maybe under a burn, cheap.

There's your reason to do a backyard swap. So...agreed, it's probably not the best way to go about building a drag car, but it's entirely within the realm of feasibility.  

 

[espo]

On the "gasser" look. The latest issue of Street Rodder, with the two '32s on the cover , has a photo story on a '57 Ford that is a street car done to look like a gasser. Good photos and description on the car that may help you with your build.