Chevrolet Beretta 632 Cid. Bracket Car.

[W-409]

Starting new project... I bought lots of glue bombs, and this was one of them. No paint was used, but rear wheel openings were cut bigger. They are too big now, I need to make them bit smaller. Otherwise really good basis for building Drag Race car. For the engine, I took Chevrolet's 427 BBC, but it will be converted to Merlin 632 Cid. big block. It will be with Tunnel Ram and two carburetors. After some test fitting, I started cutting room for that engine. Transmission is still missing, but I had to cut some material away from chassis plate and interior too. Now engine fits nicely, but still needs to remove more plastic for the transmission. I made that crossmember for the frame from orignal one, but I removed all of those front wheel drive parts, and glued only that crossmember piece on its place. It keeps that engine on right angle too, but I need to build engine mounts also. Anyway, here are some pictures for you:

Edited February 13, 2012 by W-409

[W-409]

I made hole for the hood, but maybe it needs to be bit bigger after all. I will fit scoop there anyway.

[Dr. Cranky]

With an engine like that you definitely got my attention! Hope to see more progress!

[george 53]

NIko, when guys do crazy things like that, they usually build completely new chassis for them. Your gonna need to really beef up your chassis pan to take the torque of that big block! But hey, it's only plastic and shouldn't be a problem with your skills. Go for it, i LOVE watchin this kinda stuff come together! You GO Brother!

Edited December 15, 2011 by george 53

[W-409]

Thanks, Virgil!

George, The rear chassis was cut away, and that's good, because I need to build completely new one anyway. I'm not going to install Pro Sportsman tires, maybe bit smaller ones, but they need more room anyway. Thanks for the comment, I will continue this one soon!

[SuperStockAndy]

The word Beretta didn't catch my eye, but 632 did! I'm a sucker for huge engines

Looks awesome!!

[W-409]

The word Beretta didn't catch my eye, but 632 did! I'm a sucker for huge engines

Looks awesome!!

! I'm not so interested about Beretta either, but after I test fitted scoop from '66 Nova Pro Street, I had to build it this style. Possibly one of the only ways to make Front wheel drive Beretta interesting. (Well, this is going to be Rear wheel drive Of Course!)

Thanks!

[W-409]

It has been long time without updates. But today I took this on the bench again. Those rear wheel openings were too big, so I had to make them smaller using styrene. Now I need to make somekind of "axle" so I can do same thing for the other side too.

And there's lots of sanding to be done, and bondo is needed too. But this is just starting point-I will build other side on same situation, and then start shaping and cleaning out those...

[Guest]

Would've been a LOT easier if you had started with this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Revell-Beretta-Pro-Street-Model-Kit-1-25-Unbuilt-Box-/180782876825?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a177fc899

[Mooneyzs]

Niko... you are doing a great job on this man. its looking good.

[eviltwincustoms]

Would've been a LOT easier if you had started with this: http://www.ebay.com/...=item2a177fc899

I agree, it would have been a lot easier to begin with that in the first place, but then where is the fun in starting with the end product right Niko?

Very nice start, on a lot of body mods needed for that stock Beretta body... let alone that chassis pan. I know you can do it though just based on your other projects you have posted pics of!

My only suggestion would be to take the pic as a reference and work your rear fenders to look more like the model. Get those tires tucked back under the fenders where they belong on like a Sportsman or SG car.

Edited December 28, 2011 by eviltwincustoms

[Truck parts]

Look good so far

[W-409]

Thanks guys! It would have been lots of easier to begin with that, but... I think, it's great to look these pictures, when this build is finished. And I'm not building this as typical Pro Street. That kit would have needed lots of modifications too, even if it would still have been easier start.

Bart: The placement of those tires is still big question to me. The mock up shows that better. Needs to make other side to the same position, and then needs to look if I move them under fenders or not. I'm looking for some Bracket Racer look for this-not so professional Drag Car.

[Nitrozilla]

Michaelangelo said his sculpting technique was to chip away all of the stone that wasn't part of the statue. In the case of model building, you have to chip away and add what the final body style will be.

You do whatever you need to do to complete your vision too.

[W-409]

That's true. I'll be working on this soon again. Tomorrow I'm away from home, and I come back on sunday. That's the first day, I can continue this build. I take some models with me, but not this one, because it needs styrene, bondo and too much other things, what are too hard to take with me.

[W-409]

Well, it has been a while, but actually almost every day I've been thinking about this project, and it looks like, it's going to be Large one. I have finished that rear wheel opening area from both sides, well there's some bondo work left, but no styrene should be used anymore. I need to sand those smooth next, and then I can look about the front end. I'm going for Flip Nose, but before doing anything, I'd like to hear some advice, what's the best way of making Flip Nose. And should I build that firewall before cutting front end away?

These first two pictures are from test fit of those rear slicks, and they aren't perfectly on their place, but they fit alright and look good.

[tooltas]

outlaw 10'1/2 tire racer is what i see

[W-409]

Yeah Thanks, I'm not sure about the car category yet, maybe that Outlaw 10,5 would be a good choice. I guess I'll be able to do some work for it today, so stay tuned for an update.

The advice on Flip Nose is also welcome.

Edited February 11, 2012 by W-409

[crowe-t]

Niko,

Nice work so far! I always liked the Beretta as a drag car. I've been wanting to build a Reher-Morrison Beretta but just haven't gotten around to starting that project.

[AZ Boy]

Good going on this Niko. I can't wait to see how this ends up!

[SuperStockAndy]

Very cool. When you say Flip Nose, I'm assuming you mean the whole one-piece fenders and hood? The Flip Nose is what Gassers used

[W-409]

Thanks Fellas!

When you say Flip Nose, I'm assuming you mean the whole one-piece fenders and hood?

Yeah, that's what I mean. Is there a better name for it?

No big progress yet, still thinking, should I glue that hood on its place and cut fenders off, or build the firewall before cutting anything. I sanded those rear fenders, and I'm going to put some more bondo there.

[SuperStockAndy]

Yeah, that's what I mean. Is there a better name for it?

I think the only real name is a one piece front end. Pretty creative huh?

[eviltwincustoms]

So Niko... What class are you building this car up for? I think you may want to start picking what class you want to build to, to better understand how you need to work in your rear fender wells and that chassis. You have a lot going on and I would hate for you to start building yourself into a corner and have to live with a decision you didn't or wasn't expecting.

Otherwise, your build looks good, a lot of progress work going on in this build.

[W-409]

Well, this is going to be some kind of Bracket Car. For West Coast Street Cup, and class would be ET Bracket. That's my choice, because rules are quite "free". Thanks for those pics of the Beretta, that first one helps me with the firewall issue. I think, I'll do the firewall before I cut those front fenders off.

And yes, that one piece front end sounds like very creative.