1961 Dodge Dart Phoenix D-500

[Bucky]

Very good scratching! How many of those emblems go on a '61 Dart? 

[StevenGuthmiller]

47 minutes ago, Bucky said:

Very good scratching! How many of those emblems go on a '61 Dart? 

Just one to my knowledge.

Just above the rear bumper.

 

 

 

Steve

[Bucky]

That's good. Takes a little pressure off!

[StevenGuthmiller]

Just spending a little time in the shop working on engine bay configuration.

 

These are the types of things that are absolutely required when doing a lot of retrofitting and bashing.

As I'm adding modified fender wells from another source, the engine intake set up is very consequential to how well the intake and fender wells will play together.

It appears that I'm on the right track.

 

This is the kind of engineering that I've really come to enjoy.

Focusing on the little stuff so that it won't come back to bite me later on.

 

Really looking forward to some more of the detail things in the future.

I've got a million little ideas in my head.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[#1 model citizen]

Glad to see this thread. I have been working  off and on on a ‘61 wagon (Modelhaus) for decades now, not being able to bring myself to shave the Polara chrome trim off the body to create a Dart Senaca. I finally this last fall modified the seats and I then discovered and purchased a Time Machine Resins Polara wagon on eBay. I am now mixing and matching the parts of the two kits and hope to eventually come up with both a Dart and a Polara version. 
I tried using the ‘64 Dodge chassis but it wouldn’t work with the wagon interior tub, otherwise it is an almost perfect fit. I will, however, be able to use the  ‘64 K member with the resin chassis. I have been trying to figure a way to blend the inner fenders of the 2 kits for a more accurate look and looks like you have the solution. Although it would be inaccurate, it looks like the firewall and inner fenders of the ’64 would also be a perfect fit with little if any modification. (I’m so tempted to do one like that!) I have also mated a ‘41 Plymouth manual three speed transmission to the ‘64’s slant 6 (although I don’t know how period correct that is) and chiseled the 2nd exhaust pipe off the chassis (for the Dart. The Polara will run the 383 w/dual exhaust.) Your ’61 seems to be moving right along and looking good!  

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks John.

 

Got a little more time in the shop today, working on a few upgrades on the intake.

Being as the valley pan area of this engine will be at least partially exposed, I began constructing a valley pan of sorts, and then began working on some added details on the intake manifolds themselves by adding some flanges where they bolt to the head, doing some sanding to better depict the shape of the manifolds, and beginning to add some points where accessories are bolted to them.

Hopefully they’ll look a little better than original.

 

 

 

 

Steve

[gtx6970]

Steve,

Keep in mind. these bolt holes in the ends of said valley pan are covered by a metal strip at each end . THEY are held down with bolts 

 

 

Edited April 19 by gtx6970

[Mark C.]

On 4/5/2025 at 6:00 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Thanks fellas!

 

I had been thinking about how to crack this very tiny nut in order to differentiate this model from a standard Dart to a D-500 version, and I thought, the only way I'm going to figure it out is to get into the shop and see what I could come up with.

I could tell immediately that I wasn't going to get it exactly in scale due to the size of the parts that I was working with, but I still ended up being pretty proud of the results.

Still might do a little more cleaning up, but it appears that it will work just fine.

 

This is the kind of stuff that I LOVE experimenting with, and the sort of things that keep me interested in the hobby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

I’m just gonna say “WOW!”.

[jdcar32]

On 4/12/2025 at 4:57 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Just spending a little time in the shop working on engine bay configuration.

 

These are the types of things that are absolutely required when doing a lot of retrofitting and bashing.

As I'm adding modified fender wells from another source, the engine intake set up is very consequential to how well the intake and fender wells will play together.

It appears that I'm on the right track.

 

This is the kind of engineering that I've really come to enjoy.

Focusing on the little stuff so that it won't come back to bite me later on.

 

Really looking forward to some more of the detail things in the future.

I've got a million little ideas in my head.

 

 

check, check, and double check, right? It's amazing how real life tight spots turn into engineering issues when scratch building. These engines offer a lot of detailing possibilities.I love the 'Sonoramic' Chrysler cars. Have fun !

 

 

Steve

 

[Nazz]

A very interesting project Steve! I will be following.

 

 

Jerry 

[thatz4u]

Steve, LUCK, there I wished for you.....I'm doing a few kitbashes myself but will follow yours