My first major kitbash..... '71/'73 Chargers

[JollySipper]

I've been working on this some, thought I would show what I've got so far.....

Trying to go for a "replica" of a car Dad recently got........

That's all I have for now.... Will show progress as I make it!

[JollySipper]

What I've done up to this point is to cut the engine bay from the '71 Charger..... I'll be using the chassis, engine bay, drive train, and such from the AMT kit. The interior won't be correct (the wood grain on the door panels is different between the two years) and I'll probably have to trim the bottoms of the door panels a bit.

Gonna need to get some half-round for the trim around the top and along the rockers........

Wish me Luck, Thanks!

[Custom Mike]

I'll definitely be watching this one TJ, I love the '71-'74 Chargers! Nice color on that one too, how much did it cost him?

[JollySipper]

Thanks for the interest, Mike!  I've sent you a PM......... 

[Bob Ellis]

I used the MPC Super charger kit with the ERTL 1971 Charger for Burn Notice. Took a lot of cutting and sanding didn't fit that well.

[Bob Ellis]

Six Pack scoop on a flat hood. 1974 grille with bumperettes removed.

[JollySipper]

Thanks for that, Bob! Where did you have trouble with fitment? Anything else I should look out for?

[PARTSMARTY]

I'm a mopar freak-i'll be watching !!!

[MeatMan]

Sounds like a great project! Good luck.T.J.

[Curt]

Good luck with this project, TJ.  I'll be following this one.

[Monty]

Since you're doing the replica thing, you can get accurate RWL sidewall decals for your tires from Fireball Modelworks.  The P/N for those Cooper Cobras is WL-09.  http://www.fireballmodels.info/

 

[Bob Ellis]

Thanks for that, Bob! Where did you have trouble with fitment? Anything else I should look out for?

Cutting the ERTL 71 chassis to fit 74 interior

[JollySipper]

Little bit of progress, I got the engine bay mounted to the body......... Let's just hope it holds!

And checking to see if the hood fits flush...........

Thanks Guys, for your comments and for following along...........!

[JollySipper]

Got the interior where it fits...... All I had to do was remove some along the tops of the door panels and the leading edge of the dash....

Please ignore the gold paint, I've ordered some bronze that should be here soon......

[72 Charger]

Nice work grafting the 71 guts into the 74. I have the same kits and I was planning to do the very same conversion . So I will be watching with great interest

[JollySipper]

Nice work grafting the 71 guts into the 74. I have the same kits and I was planning to do the very same conversion . So I will be watching with great interest

Thanks, Friend.... The only thing I've found out to watch for so far is where the engine bay is located. The locator pins on the chassis mount to the inner fenders, and where they are determines where the wheels are in the wells.....

[72 Charger]

Thanks TJ I have built the 71 Charger before and I found that the wheel base is 1mm to long. This forces the front wheels into the front fenders . I cut the front sub frame and removed 1mm and reattached .

[avidinha]

I used the MPC Super charger kit with the ERTL 1971 Charger for Burn Notice. Took a lot of cutting and sanding didn't fit that well.

Bob Ellis, when I saw your picture, I did a double take. I thought you somehow got a picture of my Burn Notice Charger.

[Ron Hamilton]

Looking good so far. That is a conversion I plan to do in the future on a '72 as well as a '74 Charger. I did the conversion on a '74 Roadrunner, and it worked out great. I bought several '71 Chargers while they were cheap, and I am glad I did, as I have several projects where they are used as the base kit.

[JollySipper]

Looking good so far. That is a conversion I plan to do in the future on a '72 as well as a '74 Charger. I did the conversion on a '74 Roadrunner, and it worked out great. I bought several '71 Chargers while they were cheap, and I am glad I did, as I have several projects where they are used as the base kit.

Hey, Ron....... Whatever you do, don't get the Dirty Donnie version of this kit! Soooo much flash...... The decals are cool tho.....

[Ron Hamilton]

Hey, Ron....... Whatever you do, don't get the Dirty Donnie version of this kit! Soooo much flash...... The decals are cool tho.....

To me, for what I will do with it, the Dirty Donnie version costs too much, and is moulded in Orange, which is a deal breaker for me. I agree with you, it does have a nice set of decals. I have built two '71 Chargers so far.

[JollySipper]

I just had to see what the bronze paint looked like and how it sprayed...... I'm not disappointed at all with it...

Also got the basis of the engine done....

 

[disabled modeler]

Looks nice Tim.... I like the 72-74 Chargers their classy looks add to them.

[426-Hemi]

Nice start! Can't wait to see where you take the factory kit, to make into the '72 -'73 type.. (I have a '71 that I want to make into a '74 Charger SE)..... SO, I'll be tuned right in!

[Dodge Driver]

More approval and encouragement from me as well, TJ. Of course I also have two of these conversions to do. A '72 and a '73-4 are in the wings.

Lots of good will is urging you on