Questions about 60"s MoPar SS cars

[Bill J]

I wanted to make a model or two of some Super Stock Mopars from the early 60's and have some knowledge but also have some questions. The 64 Plymouth "Lawman" kit is one I have going and I have added a more detailed cross ram intake, some Fireball Modelworks AFB carbs and want my engine bay to be accurate. I have no idea what headers I can use to be accurate on the Max Wedge 426. I ordered some factory, cast headers from Hart's Parts, which are copies of some old JoHan parts. What I wonder is how many racers actually ran those  headers and if not who makes some accurate wedge tubing headers for a racing Mopar?

Also, what is a good match for the burnt orange metallic  on the "Lawman"?  Nice color but looks hard to match with available hobby paints.

I am also looking for some accurate period cheater slicks, which were required in the SS/S and SS/SA classes back then. Anyone have a source?

Sorry for all the questions, I have not built a drag car in decades. Any help would be appreciated

[Metaldrumm]

Hi bill j ,the way i do it is reasearch the things that are in question.Then try to match parts for that application ,u cant always get things 100 percent accurate ,remember its a model have fun with it, also the 68 dart has some nice headers that should work for u. Hope that helps

[AC Norton]

at that time the wedge motor car's ran fender well exit headers, made by various header constructor's. the Johan headers from the 64 Dodge kit's are your easiest bet here, as picking up painted used sets online should not be a problem. if you run an ad in the WANTED section on the forum here, you would most likely get results too...as for cheaters, the same 64 Dodge has a set in it as well......just a thought.....best, the Ace....

Edited October 31, 2016 by AC Norton
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[Jon Haigwood]

The SS factory headers were designed for racing but from what I have found is the SS rules in the 60's allowed for exhaust modifications. 

Looking at the cars pictured here http://georgeklass.net/super-stock.html it shows a lot of Mopars did not use the factory Max Wedge headers and a lot did use the fender well exit headers. . I think its up to you on which direction you go. It seems the cars running the factory Max Wedge headers also use a specific exhaust system. 

I am building a factory stock 64 Dodge 330 Max Wedge from a Ramchargers kit. It has headers that run under and exit near the back of the transmission. I found some factory cast headers in another kit and fabricated the exhaust system to match. 

[Bill J]

I thank you all for giving me some ideas and options. I do have a set of the old Johan Dodge fender exit headers that are resin copies from MCW I guess that is what I will use. Jon, thank you for that link, loads of great information and pics there. I saw a pic of the 1:! Lawman and clearly shows fender exit headers. That helps me a lot.

I do not have a set of Johan cheater slicks and definitely not paying a premium for a kit to get some. I am still looking for a good resin copy or version of SS cheaters,, so any ideas would sure help.

[Jon Haigwood]

You might look at the cheater slicks here http://www.speedcityresin.com/PartsPageTires.html  

[AC Norton]

I thank you all for giving me some ideas and options. I do have a set of the old Johan Dodge fender exit headers that are resin copies from MCW I guess that is what I will use. Jon, thank you for that link, loads of great information and pics there. I saw a pic of the 1:! Lawman and clearly shows fender exit headers. That helps me a lot.

I do not have a set of Johan cheater slicks and definitely not paying a premium for a kit to get some. I am still looking for a good resin copy or version of SS cheaters,, so any ideas would sure help.

Bill, running cheater's is fine, however many ran an MH or other popular brands as well....my point....I would use a set of the AMT  MH  slick's like included in many of their current line, not to mention their tire pack sets that include 4 set's all differently detailed....the Ace....

[Bill J]

Ace, a cheater slick is what the tires allowed for Super Stock class were called. They were made by a number of tire makers, including M&H. The rules of those days only allowed a 7 inch wide tire which had to have at least 2 grooves around the tread area. Basically a slick with 2 grooves and limited to 7 inches wide. I think that so many model companies have dropped a pair of slicks into their kits for so many years, we've lost track of the actual rules. To my knowledge and recollection, the only correct SS slicks were in the Johan kits back in the '60's. There have been some resin copies and there are some that are narrow slicks with a pair of grooves cut in before casting, the Johan version is the most accurate I have seen.

[6bblbird]

The Johan, Max Wedge headers are your best bet as "chassis" headers were not available for B bodies for quite a few years into the future. You may notice that once these headers were installed, you had to go to a smaller diameter tire for clearance.

 I recently bought a built up '64 Dodge just so I could get the headers! They really look cool (and correct).

If you get into a bind, send me a p.m.. I should be able to spare a set of cheaters.

Did you know:  In the sixties, aftermarket wheels were allowed in Stock, but only if they were equal in weight or heavier than the o.e.m. wheels.

That is why you see so many stockers of the day wearing stock or chrome reverse wheels.

WF

Edited October 31, 2016 by 6bblbird

[6bblbird]

 This photo shows headers on the 64 car that look very much like the Johan headers.

The reason why 426 wedge cars used fender well headers was those dang torsion bars. It took almost a decade before header mfgrs. were able to build a way around them and still make equal length tubes.

WF

[gtx6970]

The slicks on these Lindberg kits are not correct for a true 64 SS car. Let me ck I 'MIGHT '  have an extra Johan set  I can spare. Or your best bet is Speed City Resin as mentioned.

As far as the red color, ?????? I'm still looking as well. I have the same car in process( body is already painted in white ) I'm thinking I may mask it off and just airbrush some clear red over the white and call it good

[6bblbird]

I built this one a while back as a fictional  Nostalgia S/S so I was not restricted to the rules!

I do remember that the color was from Duplicator but for the life of me I can't recall the actual color. If you have a Duplicator dealer with a large selection you might be able to match it to the can's cap.

 

[Bill J]

Wow, good information from everyone. I also really appreciate the offer of some Johan cheaters. I did order a set of the cheaters from Speed City Resin Casters, I will see how they work out.. I did know the rules allowed for aftermarket wheels but did not know there was a weight restriction. Makes sense. Seems like I remember seeing a lot of Cragar's back around that timeframe. That would probably make the weight rule because they were a steel rim with a cast aluminum center. I'll probably go with the steelies that came in the kit.

Walt, your Lawman model looks great, love the color you used. I have some Ford Emberglo but in the bottle it looks too dark, may paint a spoon and see what it looks like over white. I guess my other option is to check Scalefinishes to see if some factory color would work. Here in Phoenix it is hard to buy spray paints, the law makes stores lock them up and they're hard to look at and even harder to find the person with a key!

[6bblbird]

When I lived on Long Island, all spray paint was jailed!  Always a pain to find the "warden" with the key!