Kit Review

'57 Corvette 283 Fuel-Injected Engine

AMT kit #8337

Parts included with kit #8337

Review:

If you have ever rebuilt a Chevy small block engine and actually enjoyed doing it.. this is the model kit for you.  My first question after seeing a picture of this kit listed in AMT's catalog was " where is the rest of the '57 Corvette in 1/6th scale?"  Well you can't have everything.. but after a short review of the 20 page instruction/assembly manual that comes with the kit.. I was impressed.  There are 300 parts including vinyl belts and sparkplug wires, valves, pushrods and a complete Rochester FI unit!  This is definitely not your typically weekend to relax model building project.. but from the box art, what a great looking and working display model you will have once it is assembled.

Final Comment:

• The engine block exterior surface does not duplicate the rough foundry casting finish found on Chevrolet small-blocks, if you would like to create this surface detail I would suggest the following.  After a base of primer paint has been applied and allowed to dry, coat the block surface with and even spread of white glue, then sprinkle fine sand particles onto the surface.  This is at best a trial and error procedure (practice first on a piece of scrap plastic ).. but if you want to create a realistic looking Chevy small-block, the castings were rough finished.

• The instructions indicate that the model can be disassembled into sub-assemblies once completed..  to see the mechanical parts in operation (valves, crankshaft and cam).   It is a little difficult to determine without actually building this model if that is possible.  If it is possible to disassemble the engine then the interior walls of the block castings should be painted a metallic steel color.  The instructions indicate that the cam lobes are not to be painted.. along with other moving parts inside the engine. The decision whether to paint these parts you will have to make as you put the model together.

• There are many details included with the kit (e.g. oil filter element).. and many more that can be added if you really want to superdetail this model.

• The engine stand leaves a little to be desired compared to engine stands I have rolled around my garage when building the real small-blocks.. with a little work and some scrap plastic a more realistic stand can be fabricated.

• Overall I was really impressed and can't wait to start putting this model together.. it is not the type of kit everyone will want to build, but it sure has a lot more detailing than what you will find in that 1/25 scale model kit!

Reference:

• How to Rebuild Your Small-Block Chevy, By David Vizard (1979) - This is a well worn and trust manual I have used when rebuilding small-block Chevy engines.  It does not include any information on the Rochester FI unit.

• At this time I could not find any reference material on the Rochester FI unit.

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Page updated  09/02/99