AMT 70 Dodge Super Bee detailed build

[Keef]

After being inspired by @StevenGuthmiller and his highly detailed 68 Coronet build, I’ve decided to challenge myself to attempt a highly detailed build. I am starting with the AMT 70 Super Bee kit and the Revell 68 Charger kit. Plans are up in the air right now but I have an idea of how I want it to look when done.

Found some used pieces from a 69 Charger in my parts box and said “I wonder ?” The wheelbase lines up perfectly.

Im probably going to use the 68 interior simply because it’s complete and unmolested, and nobody makes an accurate full detail interior for it. May try to scratchbuild one if I work up the nerve, but default plan is use the 68’s.

As for the engine I’m torn between the Hemi or a nicely detailed 440-6pack.

I have a resin pitchfork hood I bought several years ago from Harts Parts but it is warped a bit. Does anyone know of anyone who offers that hood in resin?

All comments or suggestions are welcome and appreciated. This is most likely going to be a long term project and I will keep it updated as often as possible.

[TarheelRick]

Sounds like an interesting build. Not much of a MOPAR fan, but that inspirational picture is a really wicked looking machine. 

[Can-Con]

Keith, you should be able to easily straiten out that hood by holding it under hot running tap water, bending it back to shape and cooling it in ice water. Might take a few attempts to get it to stay but it does work.

Resin is a lot easier to work with for this then kit plastic as the plastic will shrink when it warps but the resin doesn't.

[Keef]

20 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

Keith, you should be able to easily straiten out that hood by holding it under hot running tap water, bending it back to shape and cooling it in ice water. Might take a few attempts to get it to stay but it does work.

Resin is a lot easier to work with for this then kit plastic as the plastic will shrink when it warps but the resin doesn't.

I’ll give that a try. I bought two of them originally and they were pretty warped when I got them. I tried to straighten one of them and it snapped right in half. If I can’t straighten this one out I’ll probably end up using the twin scoop hood unless someone else makes a resin hood for it.

[slusher]

I have one of those hoods mine not warped if I remember right.  I hope you can fix your hoods

[StevenGuthmiller]

I’m intrigued by the fact that the Charger chassis fit the Coronet body perfectly.

Oddly enough, some mods were required with the fit with the ‘68 Coronet.

I wound up having to move the rear suspension forward a hair and widening the track of the rear wheels slightly to get it to look right.

I also raised the rear end a little, not so much because it was incorrect, but because I wanted it to have a more aggressive look, and with the large, resin Fireball Modelworks A-12, 15 inch tires I was using, a little extra clearance was desirable.

I got a little scrutiny for the stance and wheel size on my ‘68, but that was the look that I was shooting for.

To me, it gave that “ready to stomp in heads” appearance! ?

As I’ve already gone through a similar project with all of it’s trials, if there is anything that I can help with, feel free to ask.

I would be more than happy to contribute anything that I can on your project.

 

 

Steve

[Bills72sj]

6 hours ago, Keef said:

I’ll give that a try. I bought two of them originally and they were pretty warped when I got them. I tried to straighten one of them and it snapped right in half. If I can’t straighten this one out I’ll probably end up using the twin scoop hood unless someone else makes a resin hood for it.

A last resort option is to carve out a hole in the stock hood and whittle out the pitch fork on the resin hood and graft them together.

[Keef]

8 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

I’m intrigued by the fact that the Charger chassis fit the Coronet body perfectly.

Oddly enough, some mods were required with the fit with the ‘68 Coronet.

I wound up having to move the rear suspension forward a hair and widening the track of the rear wheels slightly to get it to look right.

I also raised the rear end a little, not so much because it was incorrect, but because I wanted it to have a more aggressive look, and with the large, resin Fireball Modelworks A-12, 15 inch tires I was using, a little extra clearance was desirable.

I got a little scrutiny for the stance and wheel size on my ‘68, but that was the look that I was shooting for.

To me, it gave that “ready to stomp in heads” appearance! ?

As I’ve already gone through a similar project with all of it’s trials, if there is anything that I can help with, feel free to ask.

I would be more than happy to contribute anything that I can on your project.

 

 

Steve

And after some more mocking up and trial fitting it appears I was mistaken. That’s what I get for using a gluebomb chassis for initial mock-up. ?

Mr. Guthmiller you are correct that the rear suspension will need to be moved forward just a smidge to make it line up properly.

Not a big deal, and after re-reading your build thread for the Coronet, I feel comfortable with doing that. 
 

It also appears the front suspension needs to come down a little bit. I was thinking of using these wheels but, the more I look at them the less I like them. 

[Keef]

2 hours ago, Bills72sj said:

A last resort option is to carve out a hole in the stock hood and whittle out the pitch fork on the resin hood and graft them together.

I think I’d rather bite the proverbial bullet and order another one than to attempt that. ??

[Keef]

Forgot about having these wheels and tires. 
 

Body color steelies with dog dish caps? ?

[Bills72sj]

Maybe you could get a set of these and paint the spokes to match you 1:1 inspiration.

[Street Rod]

Looks like you’re off to a good start! I’ll be following along with your build, I have this kit on the shelf and plan to make the conversion to a stock Super Bee with it. 

[dino246gt]

This might not be the look you're after but I found the tires I wanted and the big wheels that fit them, but I cut out those wheel centers and fitted the Fireball rims and dog dish caps that you have.

After finishing, here's the result:

[StevenGuthmiller]

15 hours ago, Keef said:

Forgot about having these wheels and tires. 
 

Body color steelies with dog dish caps? ?

Yup!

That's the direction that I would go!

But then again, you probably already know how I feel about custom wheels, outside of a few like Cragar S/S, Keystone Classics or Torque Thrusts.

Classic car, classic wheels is my motto.

Save the giant chromies for your Escalade!

 

 

Moving the rear suspension forward a little was a pretty straight forward operation.

I just trimmed the mounting bracket off of the front of the leaf springs, and then added new ones further back.

In my instance, I also added new mounting shackles to the rear of the springs to raise up the suspension, and filled the holes in the chassis with a "mounting plate".

Keep in mind that the drive shaft will likely need shortening as well, depending on the engine you use.

 

Should you decide to go with a Hemi, don't forget the torque boxes.

Actually, they were pretty easy to replicate too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

[Keef]

1 hour ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Yup!

That's the direction that I would go!

But then again, you probably already know how I feel about custom wheels, outside of a few like Cragar S/S, Keystone Classics or Torque Thrusts.

Classic car, classic wheels is my motto.

Save the giant chromies for your Escalade!

 

 

Moving the rear suspension forward a little was a pretty straight forward operation.

I just trimmed the mounting bracket off of the front of the leaf springs, and then added new ones further back.

In my instance, I also added new mounting shackles to the rear of the springs to raise up the suspension, and filled the holes in the chassis with a "mounting plate".

Keep in mind that the drive shaft will likely need shortening as well, depending on the engine you use.

 

Should you decide to go with a Hemi, don't forget the torque boxes.

Actually, they were pretty easy to replicate too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

Can’t forget the torque boxes, or the K member skid plate ??

I understand where you’re coming from with “saving the bling for your Escalade” ? 

I have another one of this kit in my stash that will be a Coronet R/T(have all the resin goodies for it) so I think I’ll save the steelies and dog dish caps for it. 

Thank you for the pics showing how you modified the rear axle Mr. Guthmiller , I was thinking along the same lines as what you did but I was trying to make it more difficult for myself ?

I think I have arrived at the perfect ride height.

[Keef]

Not much progress today. Worked on getting the torque boxes opened up and ready for final attachment. Drilled out the holes in the frame. And made a set of headlight buckets for the grille.

[Scott8950]

On 10/21/2023 at 11:01 AM, Can-Con said:

Keith, you should be able to easily straiten out that hood by holding it under hot running tap water, bending it back to shape and cooling it in ice water. Might take a few attempts to get it to stay but it does work.

Resin is a lot easier to work with for this then kit plastic as the plastic will shrink when it warps but the resin doesn't.

That's how i straighten anything warped,  i usually get the water to about 150/175° and do quick dips until i get the part back into shape and then i stick the part in the freezer for about 15 minutes. 

Edited October 24, 2023 by Scott8950

[dino246gt]

Nice work!

What did you use for the headlight buckets?

 

[Keef]

5 hours ago, dino246gt said:

Nice work!

What did you use for the headlight buckets?

 

I cut down a scrap grille from the Revell 70 T/A Challenger 

[NOBLNG]

Nice work so far Keith! I do believe you have found the perfect stance.?

[slusher]

Sharp wheels ? and nice work on your head lights!

[Keef]

No progress to report as of today. Had a fur baby pass suddenly yesterday, he was a daddy’s boy and was always in the garage with me when I was down here working on stuff. It just doesn’t feel the same today without him. I’ll post some progress when I eventually make some. 

[Supernurd]

Very sorry for your loss ?

[rickcaps55]

I'm so sorry I fully understand my little buddy Bandit passed in Jan of this year he was with me for 20 years it still hurts.!

[Keef]

3 minutes ago, rickcaps55 said:

I'm so sorry I fully understand my little buddy Bandit passed in Jan of this year he was with me for 20 years it still hurts.!

Beautiful boy, Russian Blue?