1988 Mustang GT

[Dhgfx4]

Decided to take a break from my Lincoln Mark VII project and wanted to do a simple kit with minimal work. Well, that was a lie. Picked up AMTs reissued 88 Mustang GT (although it has an ‘87 style intake manifold)..

and we all know how terrible the head lights are..

I got to thinking since I have the left over body from Revells Mustang LX kit I wanted to incorporate the more realistic headlights..

so far what I have. Grafted the LX header panel & head light buckets into the GT bumper. Going to have to fill in the LX grille since the GT is smooth. All I have to for tonight, we’ll see how this surgery goes..

[Zippi]

Nice mods.  Looking good so far.  

[Beans]

Now I will get to see all the things I should have done when I build this one.  Looking forward to this build.

[Dennis Lacy]

I’ve had the very same idea. My daily driver is a 1987 GT and I would love to build a model of it but the front end on this old AMT/MPC kit makes me want to vomit! ? 

Very interested in seeing how this turns out for you to get insights on my own upgrade. If it were me I’d also definitely be using the complete correct engine from the ‘90 LX kit.  Probably the whole chassis, too! ?

[chris chabre]

4 minutes ago, Dennis Lacy said:

I’ve had the very same idea. My daily driver is a 1987 GT and I would love to build a model of it but the front end on this old AMT/MPC kit makes me want to vomit! ? 

Very interested in seeing how this turns out for you to get insights on my own upgrade. If it were me I’d also definitely be using the complete correct engine from the ‘90 LX kit.  Probably the whole chassis, too! ?

May as well find a revell cobra and backdate it haha

[Dennis Lacy]

43 minutes ago, chris chabre said:

May as well find a revell cobra and backdate it haha

They have terrible headlights, too!

[Dhgfx4]

7 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

I’ve had the very same idea. My daily driver is a 1987 GT and I would love to build a model of it but the front end on this old AMT/MPC kit makes me want to vomit! ? 

Very interested in seeing how this turns out for you to get insights on my own upgrade. If it were me I’d also definitely be using the complete correct engine from the ‘90 LX kit.  Probably the whole chassis, too! ?

One step ahead of ya lol

 

also I think I’ve finally found a use for these Pony wheels I’ve had for years

[mustang1989]

Good idea on the headlights. I've got both of these kits and couldn't believe they tried to get by with chrome headlights on the AMT offering. Crazy.

[Dhgfx4]

Nose swap was a success 

[mustang1989]

Very nice job on that front end. That's gonna make a WORLD of difference!!! 

[Maindrian Pace]

Great job on the headlight conversion. I built this custom in 1988 when the kit was new, and I hated the headlights even then; so I used cut down Monogram Monkees GT convertible lights to spruce it up a bit. The new tool Revell lights should look a lot better.

[mustang1989]

36 minutes ago, Maindrian Pace said:

Great job on the headlight conversion. I built this custom in 1988 when the kit was new, and I hated the headlights even then; so I used cut down Monogram Monkees GT convertible lights to spruce it up a bit. The new tool Revell lights should look a lot better. 

Now that.............is BAD A$$!!!!!

[slusher]

On 7/25/2021 at 9:37 PM, Dhgfx4 said:

Nose swap was a success 

Absolutely, nice touch…

[David G.]

Nice conversion!

David G.

[Dennis Lacy]

@Dhgfx4

That looks a million times better!!! 

[Dhgfx4]

Thanks for the compliments. I did some more work this evening, mostly test fitting. I decided to not use any of the amt chassis and entirely revell, as the suspension, interior and under hood have way more detail (at first the plan was to just use the motor from the LX kit and maybe the under hood piece.)

the only pieces from the GT kit I’m using is the rear half of the interior. I cut out the LX package tray and rear seat setup, and put in the GT rear seat and interior side panels aft the more detailed LX door panels. Still have to make a floor behind the rear seat.

suspension and modified interior tub all mocked up. Did have to slightly shorten the rear trailing arms to center the tires in the wheel well. 

[David G.]

Good progress on this one.

David G.

[thatz4u]

looking good so far

[slusher]

14 hours ago, thatz4u said:

looking good so far

I agree.

[mustang1989]

I like the fact that you're making this into an LX and that you're using a mix of parts from each kit. Gonna make for a good finish. 

[Zen]

Looking good! I think you need to eliminate the front & rear lower aero GT pieces to make it a true LX. (if you're going that way?)

[Can-Con]

On 7/31/2021 at 9:12 AM, mustang1989 said:

I like the fact that you're making this into an LX and that you're using a mix of parts from each kit. Gonna make for a good finish. 

 

52 minutes ago, Zen said:

Looking good! I think you need to eliminate the front & rear lower aero GT pieces to make it a true LX. (if you're going that way?)

I don't know where you guys are getting that he's building it into an LX. 

I think you missed something when you read the captions with the pics. 

?

[mustang1989]

3 hours ago, Can-Con said:

 

I don't know where you guys are getting that he's building it into an LX. 

I think you missed something when you read the captions with the pics. 

?

Yeppers......there goes my ADD again. Reading waaaay too quickly. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Dhgfx4]

Yep, still staying a GT, just using the LX kit for mostly everything except the body lol

anyways got some color on the interior, tried embossing powder for the first time on the door cards and floor. Came out decent I suppose.

[FLHCAHZ]

Really looking good!  Great body work