'70 Grande Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 In 2022, I will have been a part of this forum for 10 years, and this is my first WIP post. Looking forward to your comments, suggestions and criticisms. With all the excitement for the upcoming Moebius '64 Nova kits, I wanted to present a project that I started when the first shots of those Moebius' kits were seen from a model show that I think was about 1-1/2 years ago. This WIP is the ancient, AMT 1/25 1965 Chevy-II "Street-Freak/Gasser" kit that I originally intended to do a standard wheelbase chassis swap and still build as a Gasser drag car. I was going to call my Gasser the "Money-Pit", because I spent a chunk of $'s to gather-up all of the things needed for my intended build! Well, as many of you know, initial build-intentions frequently morph into something else, and that's exactly what's happening here. These first pics will show you my initial intention and project-start...  1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 My initial plan was using the "Street-Freak" kit's 427 engine, but not with injector stacks; instead using a high-rise, dual-carb set-up coming outta that hole in the hood. Â 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 (edited) I thoroughly researched where the factory-stock rear wheel openings needed to be located on my converted '65 body. For the chassis-swap, I wanted the factory-stock chassis from the AMT 1/25 1966 Chevy Nova kit as both 1:1 car's are the same 110"-inch wheelbase. Here's where the work begins, and the "morphing" begins as well! Turns out, probably due to these kit's being originally-molded decades apart, the kit wheelbase's did not match-up. The '66 Nova factory-stock chassis was probably a scale 1-1/2-to-2"-inches longer that the wheelbase for the '65 kit. At the top of Pic #2 below, it shows the amount I cut-out of the '66 chassis to gets things lined-up properly. Edited January 8, 2022 by '70 Grande 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 The challenges are growing... the engine compartment of the '65 Chevy-II is shorter in length from the radiator wall back to the firewall than the '66 Nova. I really like how the '66 Nova's engine compartment walls look inside the '65 Chevy-II body, but now there's a bit more adjustment work to be done here. I expected this, but was hoping for a overall simpler-chassis-swap. Also, I have learned that the "Street-Freak" kit's 427 engine is going to be too big/long to fit... time to dig a high-performance 327 Corvette engine outta my parts box and do an engine-swap... the morphing continues. Also, because the drag slicks that I originally intended on using on my Gasser build are going to be a tight-fit in the rear chassis, I'm probably going to a more, high-performance street car project and scrapping the Gasser theme for this build. Any thoughts, suggestions, questions or criticisms welcomed.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1972coronet Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 Quite the ambitious project ! And , yes, kitted years-apart is right : I'm not sure when the 1965 Nova was kitted originally(or if it was ever offered in stock form) , but the AMT 1966 Nova L-79 was kitted in 1988 (delayed release by one full year) . To me it appears that the entire front clip needs to be pulled-back quite a bit . Nickle's worth of advice with five cents change. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khils Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 26 minutes ago, 1972coronet said: Â I'm not sure when the 1965 Nova was kitted originally(or if it was ever offered in stock form) Unsure of original kit date.....this is an original '65 Chevy II Craftsman...separate hood with engine plate.and Im leaning twords the altered wheelbase cars were its demise. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khils Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 5 hours ago, '70 Grande said:  engine compartment of the '65 Chevy-II is shorter Mark,  Included a pic from the '65 Chevy II Craftsman for your comparison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 Finished installing the factory-stock-positioned rear wheel openings to my '65 body; joints yet to be cleaned-up. I know some trim details are missing from behind those rear wheel openings, but I want to work on other aspects of pulling this build together before getting into the body details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Looking good, Grande! I have a couple similar projects in mind and you are inspiring me. Model on! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott8950 Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippi Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Looking pretty sharp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 14, 2022 Author Share Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) A WIP update: As seen in one of my previously posted engine bay pics, the '66 Nova's engine bay sidewalls and firewall were going to need some adjustments to fit this '65 Chevy-II body better. The major issue is getting the firewall moved towards the rear by about 3"-to-4"-scale-inches. Fortunately, I think I came up with a good solution. As seen in the following pics, I was able to cutback the outer-floorboard edges as shown in the first pic below, (cutback started at the bottom of the pic/uncut seen at the top of the pic). Second pic with cutout piece moved back and reinstalled.  Edited January 14, 2022 by '70 Grande 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 14, 2022 Author Share Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) Trimming back of transmission hump seen in the first pic and firewall gap for moving firewall back seen in second pic. Â Edited January 14, 2022 by '70 Grande 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocking Rodney Rat Posted January 14, 2022 Share Posted January 14, 2022 This is looking good. I started a similar project a few years ago and almost got it done when I realized the roof was warped (I believe it was scrunched in a box for too long) and the project was abandoned... https://public.fotki.com/jferren/63-chevy-nova-pro-t/ -RRR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) Fortunately it was not too complicated to get the firewall moved rearward and more accurately positioned as seen in the first pic below. One end result of that adjustment is now the engine bay sidewalls will need to be lengthened to reach all the way back to be connected again to the repositioned firewall, (gap seen in 2nd pic). Fortunately I have an extra set of sidewalls from the '66 Nova Pro-street kit that I can use to make this alteration. Edited January 15, 2022 by '70 Grande Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 (edited) Need thoughts and opinions. This '65 Chevy-II project started in my mind as a Gasser-build. Realizing that the intended 427 big-block motor wasn't going to fit, I changed directions and started working towards a small-block powered street machine build. Now, I'm leaning back towards the Gasser. Seen below are 3 pics. Pic #1: Street-machine rake on stock-height suspension parts with steelies all-around for the street, thin/stock Firestones upfront with tall, treaded Firestone's on the rear. Pic #2: Raised front suspension on leaf springs with thin/stock Firestones and tall slicks at the rear, all on steelies. No inner engine bay sidewalls. Pic #3: Same as #2 except going with tasty little 5-spoke mags upfront. Looking for your thoughts or opinions on what direction you think I should go on this project... thanks. Edited January 15, 2022 by '70 Grande Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I like #1, but don't hate the others. Have you thought about what you're going to do with the new Mobius '64 and '65 when you get them? Yes? Then do something different with this one. (That's how I'm handling my current '62 rebuild project.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 My vote: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott8950 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I like #2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vettegasser Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Number. THREE. Yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarheelRick Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Got to go with #2, really like the look of narrow steelies. Also like the work you are doing with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I like them in the order you posted them!😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Is the lower edge of your rear fenders a deliberate style choice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 3 hours ago, Snake45 said: Is the lower edge of your rear fenders a deliberate style choice? Snake, yes, I deliberately modified them because I always thought the factory stock rear fender's lower edges hung too low and look "dumpy". I appreciate the votes on my 3 build styles thus far; hoping to get some more input from other forum members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevy II Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 #1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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