'76 Caprice Rides Again!!!!

[stavanzer]

What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from?

This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. I'd say the MPC '78/79 Monte Carlo, but those are not really a god candidate as, they are too nice in their own right to be parted out. Oddly, both kits have trailers, though.

[Can-Con]

20 minutes ago, alexis said:

What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from?

This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. I'd say the MPC '78/79 Monte Carlo, but those are not really a god candidate as, they are too nice in their own right to be parted out. Oddly, both kits have trailers, though.

I was gonna say the Monte Carlo but..

 

Anyway, why would a 454 be wrong for a '76?  ,, although, yea, it is pretty weak.

Edited January 13, 2022 by Can-Con

[Rob Hall]

24 minutes ago, alexis said:

What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from?

This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. 

76 was the last year for the 454 in the full sizers.  Not sure how visually it would differ from an early 70s one (maybe the exhaust?)

[Fat Brian]

1 hour ago, alexis said:

What would be a good kit to source a Small Block 350/305 engine from?

This kit has the early 1970's 454 Big Block, and it is both wrong for '76, and poorly detailed. I'd say the MPC '78/79 Monte Carlo, but those are not really a god candidate as, they are too nice in their own right to be parted out. Oddly, both kits have trailers, though.

The one from some versions of the Revell 69 Nova is very good and some kit breakers are selling just the engine on ebay. There is also a more stock one with an automatic transmission in the AMT 72 Chevy truck.

[1972coronet]

I'd imagine that --at least in-scale-- the engine colour (Corporate Blue) is different, and the air cleaner would have the heat riser tube & snorkel .

Both the 402 ( "400" ) and 454 were optional for '76.

As for a small block : the MPC Chevy / GMC 'Squarebody' pickups have a decent engine with an auto trans (don't know if it's a TH-350 or TH-400) , complete with the aforementioned air cleaner / hear tube. The clutch fan from the AMT LT-1 --truly, the pulleys / belts / accessories and fan-- would be correct for 1976, IIRC. 

[Can-Con]

2 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

I'd imagine that --at least in-scale-- the engine colour (Corporate Blue) is different, and the air cleaner would have the heat riser tube & snorkel .

Both the 402 ( "400" ) and 454 were optional for '76.

As for a small block : the MPC Chevy / GMC 'Squarebody' pickups have a decent engine with an auto trans (don't know if it's a TH-350 or TH-400) , complete with the aforementioned air cleaner / hear tube. The clutch fan from the AMT LT-1 --truly, the pulleys / belts / accessories and fan-- would be correct for 1976, IIRC. 

They were red. 

I can't post the pics but here's a link of an all original '76 with the 454.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/CA0814-189994/1976-chevrolet-caprice-classic/

 

And here's a sharp '76 wagon

https://barnfinds.com/original-454-1976-chevrolet-caprice-estate/

 

 

[Rodent]

Yeah, IIRC "Corporate Blue" came out in 1977. A neighbor was so upset that he might get a Chevy engine in his Cutlass wagon they ordered the 403 instead of the 350. I don't think that Mr. Day was smart enough to come up with that idea on his own, he may have been coached by a neighbor lad......

[Can-Con]

1 minute ago, Rodent said:

Yeah, IIRC "Corporate Blue" came out in 1977. A neighbor was so upset that he might get a Chevy engine in his Cutlass wagon they ordered the 403 instead of the 350. I don't think that Mr. Day was smart enough to come up with that idea on his own, he may have been coached by a neighbor lad......

and who would that have been, Steve? ??

[stavanzer]

I had the Olds 403 in my '79 Buick Wagon. Never gave any trouble.

Red it is then for the smogger, Big Block.

Many Thanks Guys!

[Motor City]

actually, the correct color for the big block is orange, not red; early small blocks were red orange; the '79-'82 and '86 El Caminos might be good kits to get the small block from

Edited January 14, 2022 by Motor City

[espo]

The mention of the Oldsmobile 403 engine reminds me of the Firebird Trans Ams built with the Olds 403. Drove one for a little bit with no complaints. 

[RDean58]

Since this is being re-issued, I thought I'd post some pics of the one I finally completed after three repaints. Started it in 2000 and finally got it done in 2020. I had to separate the windshield from the bag glass to get it all to fit. Nice old kit. Painted the Testor's Plum Crazy enamel. with flat purple interior and purple flocking.

I should have detailed the caps on the wire hub caps but I just ran out of desire to do any more detailing on it.

I'm not sure if I'll get a new issue or not, but the trailer is cool. 

[stavanzer]

Beautiful Build, Robert. I really like the colour!

[Oldcarfan27]

I've already got about a half dozen of them, so not really in the market for another one. 

Now if it came with the Coke machine....

[Rob Hall]

I have several from the last few reissues and one original issue..will pick up a couple more as parts kits for resin conversions.

[Bob Ellis]

On 1/13/2022 at 3:51 PM, Rob Hall said:

76 was the last year for the 454 in the full sizers.  Not sure how visually it would differ from an early 70s one (maybe the exhaust?)

The 1976 Caprice kit has a leftover 427 engine from the 1968 Impala.

I always questioned the dual exhaust with single cat converter. Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976.

[1972coronet]

58 minutes ago, Bob Ellis said:

Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976.

According to this 1976 brochure, the 454 came with dual exhaust (likely a 2-into-1-into-2 setup):

The Old Car Manual Project Brochure Collection (oldcarbrochures.org)

[Rodent]

59 minutes ago, Bob Ellis said:

I always questioned the dual exhaust with single cat converter. Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976.

This is what Rock Auto shows for 1975 and 1976. Wagons were even weirder.

 

[Rodent]

Saw on eBay this morning that Paul has a 4-door Sport Sedan resin builtup for sale. Says that he will soon be offering the kits as well.

[Mark]

18 hours ago, Bob Ellis said:

 

 

I always questioned the dual exhaust with single cat converter. Maybe somebody has information about the real 454 exhaust in 1976.

Chevrolet did that with the Z/28 when they brought it back in '77.  The ads showed the two mufflers and tailpipes, but not the single converter.

[1972coronet]

Those 1975-1980 two-way cat cons were restrictive garbage. A straight pipe plunged-through the 'converter will get a visual-pass on I/M smog inspections ?

[Bob Ellis]

4 hours ago, Mark said:

Chevrolet did that with the Z/28 when they brought it back in '77.  The ads showed the two mufflers and tailpipes, but not the single converter.

I agree. But did they do the Z28 exhaust treatment on the Caprice after 1974?

[Bob Ellis]

Just now, Bob Ellis said:

I agree. But did they do the Z28 exhaust treatment on the Caprice after 1974?

Forget my comment. I see the Rock Auto diagram. Seems like a waste of mufflers since one Catalytic converter causes all the backpressure?

[espo]

It's plastic. build it the way you want. 

[Motor City]

'76 Caprice promo shown below; I used to own a '73 Caprice 2-door hardtop with the 454 and it had full dual exhaust as correctly shown on the '73 and '74 Caprice model cars