Paul's 1970 340 Cuda Restoration

[Paul97]

Well, here we go.  Starting the restoration of my 1970 340 Cuda 4 speed!

My plan is a little different than the normal approach.  I am going to fully strip the car, but I will be restoring each piece as it is removed.  The pieces will be protected and put in storage as I complete them.  I will do the body work last and then re-assemble the car.  Hopefully everything will go back together.

I started with removing the entire dash assembly.  The dash pad had been covered with vinyl material at some point in the cars life.  All the glue and filler underneath it made for a messy sight.   

Next was a cosmetic restoration of the radio.  Unit functioned really well, so I just cleaned inside and out then painted.

[dfrazz]

That looks like a good start Paul.  Any pics of the car as it sits now?

[Paul97]

Next step was the light bar, followed by the dash frame.  Both were sand blasted, primed and painted.

[Paul97]

More pics of the dash coming together.  Pretty much cleaned and painted everything.  Almost done!  I am really happy with it.  Still need to install a new road light harness which I have on order.

Also, need to find a glove box latch knob in decent shape or have mine re-chromed.  Anybody have this done recently?   

[Paul97]

That looks like a good start Paul.  Any pics of the car as it sits now?

Absolutely!  I posted some pics in the newbie section.

[loco340cuda]

Nice work, keep the pictures coming!  How about some more details and pictures of the rest of the car?

[74 challenge]

every restoration book I have read says to do it the way you are doing it - by restoring the parts as you remove them. 

Keep up the good work!

How did you re-do the silver and writing on the dash?

[Pimtao]

That' looks great! Can't wait to see more
I really like the approach you taking on your restoration!

[Paul97]

The car is a 1970 340 'cuda with a four speed.  All numbers matching.  The car is FK5 with black vinyl top and black interior.  It is mostly complete with the exception of missing the original carb, wheel lip mouldings, vinyl top and trim.  It was re-sprayed close to the original color at least once and a good percentage of that paint has failed.  Some rust in the trunk, lower quarters, deck filler and a few other spots, but really not as bad as it could be.  Previous owner also installed a 72 or later Rallye Dash Cluster which I removed and replaced with a correct standard dash as per the fender tag.  Pics are from the day I brought her home.

My goal is to restore it so that it looks relatively close to original.  However, I probably will not get too involved in duplicating inspection marks, date codes or exactly correct plating on every part.  I do want the  car to look like it just drove out of 1970, but have a few modifications for safety and reliability.  I live North of Houston and driving around with four drum brakes is just plain scary so disc brakes will be in order on the fronts at a minimum.  The exhaust will be upgraded, as my wife says it needs to be LOUD!   

[Paul97]

every restoration book I have read says to do it the way you are doing it - by restoring the parts as you remove them. 

Keep up the good work!

How did you re-do the silver and writing on the dash?

Thanks for the compliment.  I did the silver on the dash with a Testors Enamel Paint Marker, Silver Argent, 2546.  Just went slow and steady by hand.  Writing on the heater controls was a PenTouch Paint Pen, 0.7 mm White.  I just dabbed the top of the letters.

The gauge faces and switch plate are from Performance Car Graphics.  I was very happy with them.

Radio and Heater Control back ground was SEM Trim Black. Wrinkle Finish where needed was VHT High Temp Wrinkle Plus

Gauge and Radio Needles were Pactra Backing Color RC290 followed by Pactra Fluorescent Orange.  I really like how the needles came out.

[cwestra]

Nice job.

[74 challenge]

Thanks for the compliment.  I did the silver on the dash with a Testors Enamel Paint Marker, Silver Argent, 2546.  Just went slow and steady by hand.  Writing on the heater controls was a PenTouch Paint Pen, 0.7 mm White.  I just dabbed the top of the letters.

The gauge faces and switch plate are from Performance Car Graphics.  I was very happy with them.

Radio and Heater Control back ground was SEM Trim Black. Wrinkle Finish where needed was VHT High Temp Wrinkle Plus

Gauge and Radio Needles were Pactra Backing Color RC290 followed by Pactra Fluorescent Orange.  I really like how the needles came out.

awesome thanks! they look great. I have some of the silver and white to re-do.

[loco340cuda]

Thanks for the compliment.  I did the silver on the dash with a Testors Enamel Paint Marker, Silver Argent, 2546.  Just went slow and steady by hand.  Writing on the heater controls was a PenTouch Paint Pen, 0.7 mm White.  I just dabbed the top of the letters.

The gauge faces and switch plate are from Performance Car Graphics.  I was very happy with them.

Radio and Heater Control back ground was SEM Trim Black. Wrinkle Finish where needed was VHT High Temp Wrinkle Plus

Gauge and Radio Needles were Pactra Backing Color RC290 followed by Pactra Fluorescent Orange.  I really like how the needles came out.

Great info, thanks for sharing. 

[Paul97]

I posted this all last night, but somehow it all disappeared!!!  Anyway, spent the last two weekends taking apart the steering column and restoring.  I had lots of help from my twelve year old boy.  Very happy he is so excited about working on the car, but he seems to have the idea that it is his car,......   

Luckily, my son did all the sand blasting.  He really seems to enjoy doing it, so I am not going to argue it.  He will not even let me near the blast cabinet anymore.  The parts were pretty dirty.  Found a few wasp nests in the column, luckily all vacant.  Used new bearings, bushings and turn signal switch on assembly.

Had a question last night on what I used to paint the parts.  This is what I did:

- primer with Duplicolor self etching primer DAP1690
- base coat (interior and exterior) with Duplicolor flat black DA1605
- texture coat exterior using Rustoleum Fine Textured Finish 7220 Black
- applied black dye for 1970 cuda interior from David at Performance Car Graphics to exterior

I let the texture coat cure four days before applying the dye.  I let the dye cure for a week before assembling the column.  I applied the dye with a touch-up gun at 35 psi.  I am really happy with how it came out and can't say enough good things about Performance Car Graphics.  They have been very helpful advising me and I appreciated the fact they didn't just try to get me to send them my parts for them to restore.  I'd like to do as much of this restoration as I can.

[Paul97]

Painting and putting it all back together!  Time for a