Working on an old cutom Barris kit

[lordairgtar]

So I'm carefully dismantling an AMT ZZR Spy car build that I acquired a couple of years ago. Partially assembled but not painted. I had this as a kid and I was finally able to get my hands on one. They usually go for stupid money on eBay when they show up....rare kit. Old styrene is either very brittle or very flexible. I want to replace the front axle with a similar type in a newer kit. It's a typical dropped tube front axle like you would find on a T bucket hot rod. I'm also considering replacing the two lumps they call Buick nailhead engines with some from better kits. But I'm most concerned about that fragile axle. It bends too easily and I'm afraid to break it. AMT later killed this kit by re doing it as a fire truck custom.

Edited May 15, 2014 by lordairgtar

[Ace-Garageguy]

Wow, that's a rare one. Good luck with your rebuild and upgrade.

Just a minor clarification...the awful engines in that kit aren't "nailheads", which Buick made from '53 thru '66 and can be identified by a rear-mounted distributor and vertical valve covers, unlike just about any other V8. The exhaust port spacing on a nailhead is unique too, with the ports paired closer together towards the ends of the heads.

The engines represented in this kit are 1966 cast-iron 340 cubic inch engines (derived from Buick's aluminum 215 engine design) , identified by a front-mounted distributor.

If you want to upgrade the kit engines and maintain accuracy, nailheads aren't what you'll be after.

Edited May 15, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[lordairgtar]

Good to know. What source can I use for the proper engine. I figured since the car was built in around 66 (date of the film release), I naturally assumed nail head. I had a 64 Buick LeSabre (in fact two of them) with the 300 cid engine which was derived from the 215 cid, I think.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Yes, the 300 was an iron-block, aluminum-head derivative of the all-alloy 215 as well. The last in the series was the 340, only built in '66-'67. An entirely new 350 was introduced to the Buick line in 1968.

The valve covers on the 215 (Buick version, not Olds version) and 300 look kinda like the nailhead. The tops are horizontal like it, but the bottom rails are canted, more like other engines. I seem to remember the 340 having valve covers that look like most other engines.

I honestly have no idea (at the moment) which kits may have good interim smallblock 340 Buick engines.

Edited May 16, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[lordairgtar]

Thanks. I'm gonna check into this a bit more. Some kit somewhere had to have those engines. Research time. I seem to recall my 300s had aluminum heads. I had blown a head gasket on one and the shop was concerned that the escaping gasses were causing a groove to form on the head surface.

Edited May 16, 2014 by lordairgtar

[Ace-Garageguy]

Thanks. I'm gonna check into this a bit more. Some kit somewhere had to have those engines. Research time. I seem to recall my 300s had aluminum heads. I had blown a head gasket on one and the shop was concerned that the escaping gasses were causing a groove to form on the head surface.

You're absolutely right. I should have added "block" after "iron". The heads on the 300 were indeed aluminum.

[ChrisBcritter]

How about the engine in the AMT '66 Skylark Modified Stocker?