Disassembling a promo...

[ClassicDarts]

I bought a silver MPC '83 Chevy Cavalier promo recently with the intention of taking it apart to detail paint the lights, dash, door panels, window trim etc. (if not outright repainting the body and interior a different color)

I went the promo route because it's much cheaper than the kit version and it has a more accurate-looking wheel offset than the kit.

I noticed though, that most of the model is glued together. (other than the two screws holding the front part of the chassis plate in place)

Is there a specific method of debonding the glue without breaking anything? Or, did promo versions of models use a specific type of glue that differs from typical model glue, etc.?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Oldcarfan27]

I thought that promos weren't glued but heat swaged, melting the tabs to hold parts together.

Only way to separate those is to break off the tabs and reglue parts together afterwards.

If yours is glued, thats a new one on me.

[ClassicDarts]

That's what I would've assumed, but it looks like with the rear part of the chassis at least, that it's glued to the rear bumper.

Apologies if it's not easy to see in the picture... but there seems to be clear glue there.

 

[Plowboy]

The rear of the chassis just slides in above the bumper. Take the two screws out, pull the front down and it should slide forward and out.

Word of warning: Do NOT force anything on these particular promos! If it doesn't come loose, keep working on it until it does. I had an '88 Beretta interior explode in my hand trying to push it forward. The styrene they're made from is super brittle! Handle it like it was made out of glass.

Edited October 18, 2021 by Plowboy

[ClassicDarts]

Thanks for the advice! That worked. I got the chassis out and cut the melted ends of the taillight pegs out.. but not the locating pegs themselves. So far so good.

I also shaved off the tiny bit of tree-mounting leftover on the passenger side taillight that every single '82 and '83 Cavalier promo that I've ever seen has. lol

Although this could easily be a one day project, I don't have much free time lately, so i've put the parts in an empty Studebaker Avanti box. Guess I'll chip away at it bit by bit.

[1972coronet]

7 hours ago, ClassicDarts said:

I bought a silver MPC '83 Chevy Cavalier promo recently with the intention of taking it apart to detail paint the lights, dash, door panels, window trim etc.

I recently bought the same promo - colour and all - for the exact reasons ( cheaper than the kit ; proper wheel spacing ; just a detail painting to spruce it up ) . 

I've resigned myself to performing only exterior upgrades ( panel line wash , etc. ) .

You're now in a similar situation as that Barrel 'Cuda  in your photo : You're going to see it every day , wanting badly to rescue it ! Haha .

[Plowboy]

3 hours ago, ClassicDarts said:

Thanks for the advice! That worked. I got the chassis out and cut the melted ends of the taillight pegs out.. but not the locating pegs themselves. So far so good.

I also shaved off the tiny bit of tree-mounting leftover on the passenger side taillight that every single '82 and '83 Cavalier promo that I've ever seen has. lol

Although this could easily be a one day project, I don't have much free time lately, so i've put the parts in an empty Studebaker Avanti box. Guess I'll chip away at it bit by bit.

You're welcome! I use a Dremel with a router bit(ball shape or cylindrical) to grind away the swaged locating pins. You can also use a drill bit that's a larger size than the pins. Best to do that by hand, not with a drill.