More American Muscle~in progress

Hey guys. I figure some of you are awaiting the showing of the 454SS and what's coming next. So, I'll hold you off with some progress on this. It's Monograms 57' Chevy Bel Air 1:24. It comes with a 283 cubic inch small block chevy with options of Rochester EFI or two 4bbl carburetors (rochester). Being the 454 person I am, that's right, you guessed it. It's gona have a 454 big block chevy. The motor Im using needs a set of headers, so the box stock sbc headers will be modded to accept the big block engine. The motor is now supercharged, but that will come off seeing as I want it all tucked under the hood. I'm going to use a set of Revell ITR seats, and some other things in the interior to modernize it a bit. Suggestions are welcome.

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Looks sweet,can't wait to see more progress.

Lil'budman

Very nice! I love it. I think your plans for the build rock too. I look forward to seeing this build develope into a rocking '57.

J. Barry

Very cool. 57 was a classic year. I've been looking around for a 57 kit for a while. I haven't had any luck, but I did find a 56 Nomad. I've been working on that for a little.
Keep us posted on the build up of this.

Sounds like a cool plan. This car has loads of potential and you're working with some of the best aspects of it. So what's the word on your 454SS? How come we've seen hide nor hair of it? Now that you have your own thread I'm going to bug you over it.

I dont call this muscle, I call it hot rod. I like it.

Thanks for the replies guys. Didn't expect this much attention.

Will- The 454SS, you're really interested? Well, I'm not showing until what it will be pulling is complete. If you wanna know what it's pulling, Ill snap a shot of the motor that it has when it comes time for another update, and yes, it's a 454! :evillol:

Eugene- This was a lucky find, and a discontinued kit, so it will have to come out exceptionally.

J, budman thanks for your replies. I didn't think too many of you would think the ITR seats were a good idea, but thanks.

Mike- You say Hot Rod, I say Muscle Car....lets just call it a Muscle Rod.

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Modified kit roll bar with rear support bars that will rest on the rear dash.

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The box tires were so thin, there was no way this car would hook with the 454 in it on those...they would only be good to smoke the hell out of!

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Miscellanous parts, includes the SC that I removed from the 454, also there are two shocks which along with 2 link bars and 2 coils will be added in place of the leaf springs for a 2link.

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Ahh, the 454. May not be able to see it because it was purple. I had to dremel out the SC manifold, so some puty to seal the gaps on the intake and the block will be needed. I'm also not definite on that carburetor, may use one from the SC.

Yeah, I've been looking around, and I just found out that kit isn't made anymore.
Oh well, I think I got a great deal on the Nomad. Brand new, $5. I looked on the internet, tons of people are charging $26 for the thing.
The 454SS sounds interesting. I remember a while back when you were building the truck. Can't wait to see what you have in store.

Meant to mention this. AMT puts out a 57 coupe. Yellow with black steel wheels on the box, I think it has some extras with it. The 454SS is looking great, just some superglue frost to clean up.

Meant to mention this. AMT puts out a 57 coupe. Yellow with black steel wheels on the box, I think it has some extras with it. The 454SS is looking great, just some superglue frost to clean up.

I've seen that kit. I've never really liked AMT after I built one of their truck kits. I don't remember the specifics of it, but all I remember is that it was a Chevy, and everything was molded in purple. That truck was a pain in the ass, and I promised myself that I wouldn't buy anymore kits from AMT. I ended up throwing that kit away.

Do people really use superglue? I always seems to melt the plastic whenever I use superglue, and you always get more on your hands than on the materials themselves.

You're really in deep, using that horror of a Monogram kit. Thing was originally tooled up in 1978 (as I recall) and was still inferior to the then decade plus year old AMT kit.

Really, if you wanted a 1957 Chevy Belair with a four-link and a 454, using the super accurate AMT/Ertl '57 Bel Air Street Machine (1998 issue).

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Layla, I know you're trying to be informative. Not only did I not know that the AMT kit was issued, I'm satisfied with my kit. I don't want it to go together perfectly, I want to modify to fit a 2link or four, modify to fit the big block. That's is the purpose of modelling. Modifying! I'm very happy with my kit, and I wouldn't trade it for another. I, however, will look into that AMT ERTL after this one is done.

yep. The AMT kit is great. Comes with wires for the distributor, a sheet of BMF and PE Parts.

Looks to be a cool build, keep us posted on the progress!!

UPDATES:

Brushed the block with aluminum-chrome by model masters, glued the oil pan, glued the valve covers, cut and modified one of the headers. painted the roll cage, glued the seats together, and test fitted some different tires and wheels.

Paint Question for those who've done 2 and 3tone jobs.

I plan to spray the body and hood with aluminum paint, let it set and dry hard. Then mask the trim on the body with M3 blue painters tape leaving all the chrome (silver) pieces taped up and the body exposed. Then I plan to lay the brightest glossiest red I can find over the aluminum painted body. After a day I'll remove the tape then all the silver (chrome on the 1:1) will be silver and the rest of the body bright red. After I'm confident the paint is rock hard, I'll mask the intire body. On the rear fins, there is a spot inbetween the silver trim that forks out, this spot will be trimmed out (the tape trimmed) then these spots will be sprayed gloss white. Day after tape will be removed, and several coats of gloss will be applied, then the normal polish/wax routine. The result should be a gloss red body, silver trim, and white inbetween the silver on the fins.

Is that the best way to go about getting the paint job I want, or not?

I don't know. But I do know you shouldn't let the tape sit overnight. Wait for the paint to set up, when it would be tacky (but don't test it!) and pull it off then. If you wait, the paint will dry and stick to the edge of the tape, and in some places will stick better to the tape than the car. You'll end up with a bunch of cracks along the separation line.

unless he scores the paint carefully with an exacto... but that isnt exactly the smartest path

I don't know. But I do know you shouldn't let the tape sit overnight. Wait for the paint to set up, when it would be tacky (but don't test it!) and pull it off then. If you wait, the paint will dry and stick to the edge of the tape, and in some places will stick better to the tape than the car. You'll end up with a bunch of cracks along the separation line.
So usually about 20mins or so after the last coat of that particular color, then remove the tape? This is the first time I've considered doing such a project, so bare with me if I change colors to sublime green or chevy bright orange.

Nice '57!

IMHO the way to paint the side spears is;
Prime the whole body white (this will make your main color brighter as well), mask and paint the spears gloss white, unmask in 15 to 20 minutes (while the paint is still flexable or it may chip), let the white dry (several days at least), mask the painted part of the spears with BMF (bare metal foil). now paint the body. Again, remove the BMF masking in 15 to 20 minutes. Now let the body dry for several days.
I would do all the body trim with BMF. If you don't know how, this is as good a project as any to learn on. This car really needs all the trim nice and bright, and there is really nothing better looking or easer to do then BMF.

I'm building a '57 as well. I'll start a progress thread in a bit. I'd be happy to do a 'how-to' on paint, but my car won't be ready for paint any time soon.
:p

Thanks for the advice Ferrari TR. Well, I've run into another problem. Since this will probably be my girlfreinds birthday present (57 is her fav chevy), she wants dark metallic red. So, I'm still undecided on paint so far. I will do the spears in white, and as far as BMF goes, well, I don't think so. I've always liked the side trim in silver, not chrome, which the bmf will represent chrome. I'm thinking of priming the body with black or dark red primer, and painting the spears then mask those and paint the body color. The trim will be body color. Then again, I'm still undecided.

mmmmmmm my all time favorite car, the 57 chevy.............it looks awsome so far man.

Thanks for the input and comments guys. Progress will be slow, but sure. I have some pics for you guys. First is a mockup of how I want the car to ride, just about 2-2.5mm higher. Second is a pic of the motor that's going in the beast behind my 454SS. It's a 454, fuel injected, supercharged, corvette coil packs with corvette head covers, bent leaned back headers, and the motor is pale semi-gloss yellow with red, and silver accents. The third pic is a pick of the 57's motor so far, it may be a lil rough, but it still needs work. I should have the other header done tonight, and it should be paint and assembled by tomorrow.
The last pic is a pic of something I painted. This was cleared 3times and polished with M3 2k paper wet and waxed 2x's with turtle wax.


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I love the stance of the 57. Looks great. I think it needs to be just a little lower though.;)

That motor looks WOW!!! I'm getting all excited just wondering what this car, wait, sorry, automobile, wait, maybe it's even a boat. Ok, I'm getting excited just wondering what this mean of transportation is going to be.
(The GTO backround really sets it off nice!)

It's a Streetrod, plain and simple.

Looks good so far mate, I need a convertible 57 to make a lowrider out of. Might try to find that AMT kit when I got some money.

wow, that's looking great. I love this car because it was one of my first that I ever built, when I was a little kid, of course it looks like crap but I still have it, great memories. :)

Awesome work, 86. Sure it'll be good but you'll have to make it special for it to stand out against all the other 57 chevs out there. I say paint it gold. Modernised cars always look good in 'metallic' colours.

Hey guys. Thanks for the input. I have a pic for everyone. This is the painted undercarriage and modified rear suspension. I plan to cut and smooth away the attached leaf springs from the rear end. I have holding the rearend: 2 coils, 2 69' Z28 rear shocks, 2 ladder bars, and the 2 kit supplied rear shocks. (not all of this is needed in real life, I just added the kit supplied shocks because I didn't know if the link bars, coils, and shocks would hold the weight of the car.)
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Now, I have a question. Who here uses testors glue? Well, I do. I'm at a delimma. Last night I was working on my other project everyone's wanting to see. I had some traces of tacky glue on my fingers that got on my polished and waxed surface. Is there anything I can use to take this of without damaging the surface I worked so hard on to get just right?

Thanks for the input, and look for updates in a while.

I use testors, and I haven't really found anyway to get it off without doing any damage to the paint. I sometimes sand it really lightly, but a lot of time, you end up pressing really hard to get it off, then ruin the paint. Good luck to ya.

Might try some goo gone, or some mineral spirits, hopefully it'll just need to be re-waxed if I mess something up.

Do people really use superglue? I always seems to melt the plastic whenever I use superglue, and you always get more on your hands than on the materials themselves.[/QUOTE]


Super glue rocks!I only use model cement when I need a strong join or the part needs to be tweaked to get a better fit.Super glue can literally take days off building a model.Use a pin or tooth pick to apply it.

Your model looks great man.

You could try repainting that area after some careful sanding.But depending on the type of Paint and polish you used it might not work.I have successfully done this but I don't use wax or silicone based polishes on my models.They are the enemy of all paints!

thanks for the input, Eugene. I have tried the mineral spirits and it's working but, also working into the wax. With luck it'll need just a re-wax.

Here's some pics. I had to dremel a bevel into the oil pan for the 454 to fit between the rails and properly on the front member. Here's pics.

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Is anyone even interested in this anymore? I appreciate those posts who I've goten from and hope that you all post more.

I have some bad news. The 57 wont sit as low as I planned.

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These pics show the body on the chassis with the wheels tucking but not connected. Anyway, as you can tell in the photos, the carburetor sticks up way above the hood line. The oil pan is sitting on the surface and pushing the motor up to an angle that gives me no hood clearance. As a result, the car will ride at stock height to give me clearance with the oilpan.

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This is my completed interior with ROLLCAGE, itr seats, red face gauges, red shift knob, red shift boot, and red pedals. I bought some Testors dull coat to flaten the gloss paints, and well, apparently it was labeled improperly and this was gloss coat. As a result, this interior will have to be the most Armor All coated leather interior you'll see.

Interior looks way hot. Looks like a modern car almost. I'm still interested. I was just gone cause I had to go to work for the past two days. Full 8 hour shifts suck.
Chassis looks hot with the red and the silver. Keep us posted.

I'm guessing you have a lot of GM brochures or soemthing in your house that you like to look at? I have a whole box that I've been collecting since I was about 10.:)

Eugene. Thanks for your post. I'll be getting back to work soon, maybe mid next week. I had it all off and paid for a trip out in the GULF on my dads new boat, but bad weather and his job got in the way.

The brochures. Well, I have 4 for the new GOAT because, well, I'm in love with it and drool til no end whenever I see one, especially the purple ones (if I buy one, it's going to be purple!) I use the car brochures for posters/wall patches. I've put some holes in the wall, and well, theres nothing I can do, so I affix a new GM car over it to make it look better.

BTW, The underchassis and all the finished rear suspension work had to have another coat of silver, which means no red rearend, no red stabilizers, or link bars, but I might brush them flat red if I feel like it. I'm just a lil down on this car, don't know why...

Just keep reminding yourself of how awesome it'll look when finished. I think thats what keeps us all going.

Just keep reminding yourself of how awesome it'll look when finished. I think thats what keeps us all going.
Thanks bloodhound. I've actually completed the fabrication and whatnot. All that the car needs is some primer, paint, clearcoat, and polishing. BTW, I decided, I'm not doing the spears. I have a deadline I'd like to meet, and well, this large paint idea just wont work. So, it'll all be one color. Jennifer said she doesn't care, it's just a model. Be it the real thing, I'd go to the ends of Earth to get it just right.

I say just BMF the spears or brush them aluminium. it'll save a lot of time and you'll still get the look you want.

BMF is like 6USD at my LHS. Plus, I've never worked with it before, and I don't want to screw up someones birthday present.

awesome project, cant wait to see the 454 under the hood, should look crazy...

sr5, most BMF can be peeled right off if you make a mistake...

Really, will it stick to a waxed/polished surface? Well, I might check it out. How well does it go into grooves and the like?

I've used it on some smaller badges on my GT500 project (see below) and it worked pretty well. But I recommend a sharp hobby knife to cut off excess foil, a blunt one will require force and end up scratching your paint.

Eugene. Thanks for your post. I'll be getting back to work soon, maybe mid next week. I had it all off and paid for a trip out in the GULF on my dads new boat, but bad weather and his job got in the way.

The brochures. Well, I have 4 for the new GOAT because, well, I'm in love with it and drool til no end whenever I see one, especially the purple ones (if I buy one, it's going to be purple!) I use the car brochures for posters/wall patches. I've put some holes in the wall, and well, theres nothing I can do, so I affix a new GM car over it to make it look better.

BTW, The underchassis and all the finished rear suspension work had to have another coat of silver, which means no red rearend, no red stabilizers, or link bars, but I might brush them flat red if I feel like it. I'm just a lil down on this car, don't know why...

Sorry to hear about the paint. Maybe if you have time, you'll be able to paint the red on there.

The new GTO is pretty nice, but I'm still not sure about the styling of it. It just doesn't seem very aggressive. It does look pretty good though.
I need to go to the GM website and get that CTS-V brochure...

I hear ya on the non-aggressive styling. In a way, that's what I like about it. It looks like a grand prix with cosmetics upgrades. until you burn someone and they read the GTO badge on the back...heh.

I havent seen the CTS-v yet tho. I might've seen it on SPEED the other day when they were running road races .

GTO = hot motor in a sleeper of a car. Just like the original. That's a good deal in my book.

Your '57 is looking hot. I'd try the BMF on it, it's not hard at all. Just burnish the part you want to stick well, then let the sharpest knife in the universe just glide across the foil. It's not hard at all. As far as the carbs sticking out - cut the hood. A long rear-opening scoop would be sick and let it drag the body on the ground while keepin' that hot little motor covered all pretty like.

Something needs to be said about glue here: I am assuming that by "testors glue" you mean the tube type plastic cement. That stuff is awful, it's impossible to control. The only thing that stuff is useful for is melting chunks of styrene in to make your own filler putty. Instead, I use the liquid Testors cement from the glass bottle. It's a lot more expensive, but it lasts forever (I don't think I've ever run a bottle out... spilled, yes, used up, no). But don't use the brush that comes in the cap, get a small natural bristled (ie sable, not polyester) paintbrush to apply the glue. This way you can control the glue application almost perfectly. Superglue is best applied with a pin or toothpic... I find the toothpick better as the rough wood surface keeps the glue right at the tip of the the applicator, and it's $.50 for a box of 1,000 or something.

As far as the carbs sticking out - cut the hood. A long rear-opening scoop would be sick and let it drag the body on the ground while keepin' that hot little motor covered all pretty like.

I agree with williom! cut a hole and let the body hit the floor!

I hear ya on the non-aggressive styling. In a way, that's what I like about it. It looks like a grand prix with cosmetics upgrades. until you burn someone and they read the GTO badge on the back...heh.

I havent seen the CTS-v yet tho. I might've seen it on SPEED the other day when they were running road races .


That's kind of what the old GTO was. Just a sweet motor, inside of a family coupe/sedan thing. Big motor in a small car!

The CTS-V is so hot. If you don't know about it, it's so hard to tell, but if you do, the wheels and the grill are a total give away. I've been trying to convince my parents to get one, then give it to me once I can drive. :evillol:
I'm so off topic. I'm sorry. Everyone back on.

Thanks for your posts guys. i'm going to try and pick up some BMF tomorrow. Anyway. I've kinda got another change in color. I can't seem to find a bright red, or the Toyota Medium Red Pearl I want, so I'll use some Krylon Flourescent Yellow...what you think?

Looking good. That motor looks just right sitting in there. I cant wait to see this thing finished.

Flourescent yellow? You'd might wanna rethink that one. The red seats and the like won't exactly match with the bright yellow. Unless you plan on repainting those pieces. It'll look like the fastest pizza wagon on earth otherwise!

sweet looking chev SR5, very schmick indeed. especialy with the big bad rat motor shoved under the bonnet. (what is it with 57's atm. i just picked up a cheap snaptight kit from K-mart to smack together) and im with the others, cut the bonnet to make the carbs fit. lower is better imo.

new GTO= australian holden monaro=POS!
i hope the US market doesnt have the same porblems as the australian monaro.
and for all those people who dont know what a monaro is go to http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=12
laters, WIDE

Thanks for your posts guys. i'm going to try and pick up some BMF tomorrow. Anyway. I've kinda got another change in color. I can't seem to find a bright red, or the Toyota Medium Red Pearl I want, so I'll use some Krylon Flourescent Yellow...what you think?


I hope that you really rethink that Flourescent Yellow idea. If you can't find the red that you wanted, why not just get a different red. It doesn't have to be that exact color.

I really like the Flourescent yellow idea. I don't see the problem. Hey, you say fastest pizza wagon on Earth, why not? Gotta make money somehow to pay for it...

I've seen plenty of bright yellow (tuner) cars with black and red interiors and I actually liked it.

BTW, I've installed the rat, and gone for a smaller, thin low profile more detailed carb, and this one wont have an air cleaner. Pics in a bit.

*EDIT* pics added

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I dunno, I guess the only way to find out is the hard way. It's your car anyways. Rat motor looks sweet, most chromed engine pieces look a little silly but you've got it just right.

thats lookin FULLY SIK ULEH!!!! its so sleekism...its lookin really good sr5. i wish my 57 wasnt a curbside promo now...
laters, WIDE

The rear looked so good when it had the red there. Oh well, the body of the car isn't going to be red, so I guess it was a good respray.

SR i found that pain at wal mart. is that where you looked...well im in the states...

Well, here's where I am now. I decided the whole car will be a solid color. Here's why 1 sheet of BMF is now $3.99 for a 3x8 inch sheet. I said the hell with it. I primed in grey, white and laid down a sleek silver base, which after curing, will be covered with Krylon (notice I didn't say flourescent yellow, because I'm still undecided on color.)

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Stance I was after; notice the low-pro fronts, and firestone meaty rears

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If only.....1450hp BBC from Grave Digger /\

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The car with the rolling chassis and rat 454...

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Lookin' sweet so far... You should throw that Grave Digger mill in there, just to murder everyone. But then, you'd need a 'chute or something.

I say leave it silver, Look's sweet in silver and plus, I've never seen a Silver '57 :sunglasse .