OK now that I have my new cuda convert. home and ready for re-construction, a plan is needed! My buddy asked the other day . . "what the plan?" "Where do we start"?? Now to paint this picture alittle more, the car has been in the body shop for the last 3 years getting all the nessesary work to make this car as solid as I could get it. After stripping everything out of the car including dash, convert. top and all glass, the shell was taken to a media blasting shop in Detroit so that I could have the body stripped. I tell you, that car came out of that shop one silver piece of metal. (can you say "Naked Cuda") Any work that needed to be done could easily be seen. Since this car spent some time in Florida, quite a bit of repair was needed including truck, front floors, quarters, trunk ext. and some spots in the rear tailpanel. Also where the water sits at the back of the convertible top needed attention. OK so all this work is completed and a beautiful coat of a purple that I mixed at the paint store is applied! (no name for the paint, special mix but in the computer if I need more) The car comes home finally after a few years. I think I actually went a year and half without even seeing my car. So the car is now home and the k-frame is all new and beautiful with all poly bushings Its installed already so I have a rolling shell all new ready for assembly!
While the car was in the body shop, I spent the time aquiring parts of course. New parts are as follows:
1970 440 4 barrel completely rebuilt new
727 trans completely rebuilt new
New gas tank and stainless pre-bent lines
New glass all around
All body parts are here and painted plus I have a beautiful grill with all the stainless and buckets,
new seats, door panels carpet & convert. top w/ glass
All new wiring harnesses complete including road lamps
The dash completely gone through be me, I even reset the odometer to 00000 so I can start new. I have a new brake booster, wiper motor, blower motor, complete gasket set, firewall gasket set, rubber bumpers and the list goes on. Some part are still needed but I'm working on that. So back to the question on order of assembly?? I think the firewall is the place to start because it will be the hardest to get at when the motor goes in, and I think the dash and steering assembly should be close to the front of the list since the steering wheel goes through the firewall. Is it easier to install the dash before the steering assembly?? So if I complete the firewall and install the dash . . . then I think I should go right to the motor and trans!
With the motor and trans in, I can install wiring and fuel lines? Do you think I should run fuel and brake lines before the motor and trans? So lets say I make to this point and my car is now close to starting! My attention would be on all systems to make the car run. Once I get it to run and move, I can start to install glass body markers and the new interior. I still need to find shaker parts but will probably buy an aftermarket kit. I know they're available at I think Ben snoker or something like that in California. I also still need a steering wheel but I might buy something custom?? Don't know yet. I was able to aquire alot of parts for the dash and interior from a smashed Challenger that we bought at auction. It was smashed on the drivers side. I was told a car crossed the x-way and hit it, but the car was a nice show car before that. Oh here is a picture of my spare bedroom, it was the safest place for parts! Love that shaker hood! Any help on process will be appreciated! Thanks Everyone!
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