In 1987, Peterbilt Motors stopped building the 350 series conventionals, including the Classic 359. The 370 series, including the 379 replaced the older trucks. No kit exists of a 379. Clint Freeman Componants (Bill Drennen master) did offer a 379 resin conversion, but that no longer is available.
I got the wild idea to cosmetically convert an AMT 359 to look like a modern 379.
I modified just about everything. I cut the hood sides off, ground off rivets and the hood's top crown lines. Made new panels for the right side to eliminate the air cleaner opening. New panel lines were scribed in the hood and cab. New rivets added. Widened the windshields. Made new larger "unilbilt daycab" rear window, small fuel tanks. I added length to the fenders, as well as added the outer lip that AMT forgot.
I added a left mount breather
Here you can see the Revell grille and headlights. The Revell grille required me to widen the AMT hood
You can see the large rear window, I also added the passenger door peep-window.
She's not dimensionally perfect by anymeans. The cab is too narrow. The interior is still all 359, with the exception of highback seats.
Here's a run down on modifications made:
CAB:
Sanded off kit roof line. Scored in new correct seam line.
Used a scribing tool to rescribe the door jamb. This builds up a lip on the outer edge, allowing the lip to be picked-out with silver paint.
Widened and squared the windshields, and added a new thinner center post.
Filled in the left cowl air vent opening.
Enlarged and bumped out the rear window.
Scribed new panel seam line at the cowl. Added rivets to match.
HOOD:
Removed rivets and belt lines and hood center crown.
Replaced right side hood panel
Removed both sides of the hood from the hood top.
Sanded the bottom edge of the hood top to allow for a slight (1 degree) slope. 379 hoods slope, the old 359 hoods were level.
Scribed in seam lines on the new hood side panels.
Added rivets to the hood and cab
Modified the rear of the fenders, extending them 1/4 inch. Removed the step.
Added the outer lip to the fenders using thin Evergreen round rod. This should be done on all AMT 359s. Revell did this.
Filled in the fender turn signal mount.
Added a flat strip topped with a round strip to the center crown of the hood.
GRILLE
I scribed in the side panel seams, added rivets to the sides and grille screen surround
Using round Evergreen plastic rod, I cut 7 upright bars, covered them in chrome foil, and applied them to the grille.
DONOR PARTS
From the Revell Can-Do wrecker, I used the grille, headlights, bumper, battery boxes from a junked Revell 359, Revell air cleaners also.
Front wheels are the 10 holes from the Transtar II kit
CHASSIS
The chassis is the AMT 359 kit, cut down to a single axle.
The modern 379 uses a different chassis, cab mount and other subtle changes from the kit. I did not make these modifications. The radiator should be braced to the firewall too.
Fuel tanks cut to 75 gallon size with chrome straps.
Polished Aluminum tubing for the tall stacks
Microscale black pin stripes outline the silver stripes.
Model Car Garage Peterbilt etched metal nameplates
This was an enjoyable project. With some additional work to the cab, a proper looking 379 could be made.
A droopy visor, polished Vortox breathers, fat straight pipes, a resin Caterpillar engine from RNK or CFC and your doing even better.
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