Monogram '56 Chevy - fixin' the engine

[Jantrix]

For a recent club build off I decided upon the venerable Monogram ’56 Chevy hardtop. Engine options are a small block Chevy with a Z-28 cross ram with dual carbs OR the much maligned and mechanically botched, twin turbo blow though/draw though intake. I have to say I’ve never seen anyone take a serious crack at the twin turbo engines. So that’s what I’m going to do.

This twin turbo was added to two Monogram kits that I’m aware of. The blue version of the 1956 Chevy and the 1969 Camaro Z-28. The Z-28 has some pretty wonky body dimensions and is not very popular. But it has some really good parts if you like 1/24 kits. I have both engines. The Z-28 engine has a different block and other parts, but the turbo parts are identical.

After some study of both types of turbo, and examining the kit parts and instructions, it seems that the kit designer had both setups on his mind, drank a six pack and then went to the drawing board.

What we ended up with is turbos set up for blow though, with carbs set up for draw though. With some minor tweaks and scratch building we can successfully build either. I’m going to do both, starting with the blow though for this ’56. The draw through will be a little more complicated and I’ll do it afterward. I’m going to do this with as little modification of the kit parts as possible.

Here's where I am so far. More soon.

 

 

[cobraman]

Interesting, I will be watching.

[Jantrix]

If you check out the instructions, see the tube that goes to the plenum under the carb? If those tubes went to the top of the carb, it's a simple blow through setup. Like the photo but without the intercoolers.

[bisc63]

Always wanted to see one of these plumbed up properly. It's voodoo to me.

[Jantrix]

First things first. I've separated the plenum from the turbos. The tan piece is a header collector (I think) that is the perfect size for a carb hat. Next is to mount the turbos. More voodoo soon.

[LouO]

Those boxes are blast from my past. I'll be watching this.

[Cpt Tuttle]

Nice to see someone that dares to make something out of this not-so-good kit.