73 Road Race Cuda

[70chall440]

Thanks for posting Mike.
What did your electric latch come out of?

Not sure exactly but I know they were used in the late 70's and into the 80's. I used to see them all the time and there are some on Ebay right now.

That said, there is one caveat to this; I discovered today that the electric latch needed another modification to work at least on a cuda (I have one unaltered on my Challenger). Due to the Cuda trunk latch bar (the part that is bolted to the trunk lid) is of such a design that it cannot be captured by the electric latch. Therefore, you have to trim the electric latch a little to make it work, here are some picture, you will notice that there is an electrical component that I removed, this is the "trunk open" switch which tells the driver the trunk is open. You have to remove this to trim the latch so that it will work with a Cuda. Mine is working as of today.

[70chall440]

I'm not trying to talk anybody into painting their door handles with the same body color but to be fair I don't think you guys should be scaring somebody off that might like that look. If done correctly, disassembled, lightly sand blasted, primed and painted, they are not that fragile. Their is painted surfaces all over the car and a stupid move could chip it no matter where it is. If you are careful with your keys, just like at the trunk lock.........no problems. I drive my car a lot and passengers are in and out of my car all the time. My car has been on the road about a year and a half now with no sign of wear or chips, and many many cars out there have painted handles. Just my humble opinion but I wouldn't let wear and chipping scare you off. :stirpot


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Appreciate your comments and I am not all that worried, however I decided that I don't want them body color, at least not right now. As the car comes together I will reevaluate it and if need be I can paint them. My window sweeps will remain chrome as will the tail light rings and grille trim, so I think the door handles will fit right in.

[70chall440]

Laid the hood on for prospective, I think it is coming together.

[Denison636]

It's not what others like, it's what you like. Keep up the good work. Wish I could be brave and paint mine like you did.

[Cudakiller70]

It's not what others like, it's what you like. Keep up the good work. Wish I could be brave and paint mine like you did.

Exactly, can't wait to see you drive it. 

[70chall440]

thanks all. I am definitely looking forward to getting it running and driving. I cannot help but wonder what demons await me... LOL I am sure there is something is there just waiting to not work, fail, etc. That's what it is called a "project".. LOL

[dodj]

I thought about blacking out (or just removing) the rings, however I kind of like it. Its hard to explain, but I like the little "retro" touches; guess I am just old. Its just like the woodgrain on the dash, I like it because it is familiar and takes me back. I am going to leave the door handles, taillight rings, grille trim chrome/stainless for now.

Seeing as you decided not to paint the handles, i agree with leaving the other silver parts as is. If the handles were the only silver accent, it would look odd, I  think.
My car has all the silver accents you can put on one of these cars (i think). Rocker trim,  wheel well trim,  chrome mirrors. .......

[70chall440]

correct, I am not going to paint the door handles. I will have the window whiskers which have a chrome strip, the grille trim and the tail light rings. I don't want to add more than that I don't think.

[70chall440]

My car originally came with a rear window defroster which I think was about the only option it did have (318, AT car), therefore I always knew I would put it back in. Since the car was a 1 rear speaker car (defroster on the right side), I had thought about getting one of the adapter things Mopar used in the day to allow a speaker and the rear defroster to be used, but after looking at them I decided to build my own. Didn't look overly complicated and I like making things, therefore I present the following. Not done yet but close. I am going to put a screen above the speaker and I think some hushmat as inside the box as well.

[dodj]

Hmm. U get frost out there?

[70chall440]

maybe... LOL; I doubt I will ever use it, I just want it in there. Hey, we all have our demons and things like this are mine. It came with it, it was an option, the dash as a knob for it, therefore I want it in the car.

[js29no]

maybe... LOL; I doubt I will ever use it, I just want it in there. Hey, we all have our demons and things like this are mine. It came with it, it was an option, the dash as a knob for it, therefore I want it in the car.

           

[70chall440]

Can't make this stuff up...

I need to get this done so I can move on. I have been delaying doing the gauges because I would like to get an old bezel and cut it up to allow me to build the gauge support plate.

[dodj]

maybe... LOL; I doubt I will ever use it, I just want it in there. Hey, we all have our demons and things like this are mine. It came with it, it was an option, the dash as a knob for it, therefore I want it in the car.

Ha. I've got two rear defrosters (sitting on a shelf)  but I've never seen a bracket like you seem to be making.

[70chall440]

Mopar had/has a bracket to allow you to use a speaker and the defroster; Classic sells them for $169, but I just didn't like it and felt I could make one, thus my effort... 

I have way more time in this that I probably should but I do like making things, so there is that. Like I said, doubt I will ever even turn it on, but if I want to, I can.