Confused on what to dooooo

[BadJoey]

O K here is my problem .I have a 70 Challenger which is mostly complete . I also have a 70 383 Cuda which is rusted beyond repair cost wise . I've been keeping the Cuda thinking some day I'd come across a shell . Unless I hit the lottery I do not see me being able to do a Cuda . My Cuda came with a Shaker hood off a 71 . I see a Shaker hood on e bay (repo) for $650.00 (hood only) . Do I buy that hood and put the Shaker on my Challenger , then part out the Cuda or do I hold on and hope to come across some kind of break . I REALLY hate to break up a original Shaker , plus me and my Cuda have a past and I hate parting it out .  That is my biggest reason for wanting to do a Cuda . Anyone care to guess what I could get for the 71 shaker hood (hood only) ? I'm not going to decide right away and any insight I get here could help me with what I see as a VERY hard choice . THANKS .

[Moparal]

I'd buy the other shaker hood , if you can afford it , then set on the rest for now. It isnt hurting a thing. Nedd to know the condition of the 71 hood and some pics....ypu knew that. But 1500 to 5k is the going rate

[4Cruizn]

I don't think the shaker hood off of the cuda is going to fit on the Challenger??     Different animal all together . . .

Nice looking challenger by the way! 

[BadJoey]

Looks like I wasn't clear . I was talking about the hood and not the bubble or the ring or the base  or cable . I was thinking about using those parts for the new hood . Thanks 4 Cruzin .

[Road_Runner]

I heard you say that you have 'history' with the Cuda.  If its anything like the 36 year history I've had with my 70 Roadrunner, I'd say don't bail on your old friend if you don't have to.  Is there no chance to save the car?  I know they're ads for Goodmark but I've seen some of their examples of what people have done to save a car.  If nobody is forcing you to make a choice, leave your options open and keep it whole.  Besides, being an original shaker car (with original shaker) may make the $$$ make sense to restore it at some point.

Later, Jim

[torredcuda]

Sell the Challenger and restore the `cuda!      I assume you would be paying a shop to do all the bodywork making it expensive as all the panels are available and somewhat affordable?My 72 Barracuda was very rusty but I restored it rather than start with a better one as like you I had some history with the car and wanted to keep it,and mine is only a 318 originally.Start buying parts a little at a time and try and find a local body guy who can work on it on the side for less $.Last resort would be to part it out,I`d sell it whole to someone who could restore it rather than it see it parted out and crushed. 

[Cuda Cody]

A totaling unbias opinion, sell the Cuda (to me) and live happy ever after! 

[BadJoey]

The Cuda needs fire wall repair , floors , Trunk floor , quarters and tire wells, fenders, front and rear frame rails , cross member ,panel around tail lights , trunk lid,. Then everything elese that goes into restoring such a car and we are talking $$$$$$$$$$$ .I have been watching for a while and have seen shells between 7 and 10 grand . Sad thing is every thing said I'd probley be looking at about 30 grand . That's more then I can spend at this time . I'm 51 and have had the Cuda since I was 20 . I was using the cuda on my wedding day when we got married . I'm stuck what to do ?

[barracuda7199]

your cuda sounds like mine just i don't need the frame rails or the crossmember replaced just all the other metal u mentioned. i say get to saving and buying a little at the time. i will probably be 50 before i can fix my cuda but it will b there. i am only 28 right now.

[IMNCARN82]

Let's see the 'cuda.      Can you do any of the work yourself? Do you have the space,Tools,Ect...?    I'd like to see someone save it over parting out.   Put a shaker on the Chally for now.     Start collecting stuff.

[Super Blue 72]

Sounds like if you part out/sell the Cuda you'll regret it, IMO....

FYI, not a Cuda but a Challenger shaker hood (Converted from a flat hood), no bubble, is going for $1850...

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/pts/1618892045.html

[BadJoey]

http://www.e-bodyparts.com/Car-Hoods/Product-Pages/2141-sk-s.htm

[HP2]

What ability/tools/space etc do you have to work on the Cuda? If your can do more work, then it is more time than money. If you sending all the work out, then it will be more money than time. Which do you have to spend?

Certainly cars that need that much work can be saved.All it takes is time and/or buckets of money. But if you simply swap all of its parts to another body, can you really say it is the same car? I wouldn't think so, which means you might as well part it and find a decent one to replace it. If it does have a significant sentimental attachement, you could sell the Challenger to finance a start on the cuda rebuild.

Rambling thoughts on my part....

[Challenger III]

  I can't tell you how many cars I wish I never sold (including 2 Challengers). I would "borrow" parts from the Cuda, but keep it for sure!

[BadJoey]

Just for fun I put the shaker part on the carb and it looked very high .It doesn't look as if the hood would close even with the shaker hood . So now if I want to put a shaker on I'll have to change the intake as well . I have a stock intake but wonder how that would effect the motor performance . The motor is 30 over small cam and a 7 something street avenger carb . I wonder if that carb would fit on a stock intake . I wish that dam shaker did not look so good . Still no clue what I'm doing . Everything I would like to do to the car this summer will cost about 3 k . Which would be no big deal if I didn't just get laid off . I'm 4th on the call back list but still scared to spend .