73 Road Race Cuda

[70chall440]

some more

[70chall440]

for those of you who need/want to restore that silver ring around your taillights or the words/markings on your heater controls on the dash, this is the ticket. comes in silver, white, black, yellow and red and available from any welding store. I have used all manner of paint markers over the years and this type works really well. Dries fast and lasts a long time.

[70chall440]

Just for reference, here are some of the distractions that kept me from working on the Cuda;

My 70 Challenger RT 440 6 pac: built in 04/05 but never really completed it. Took about 3 months to sort it all out
My 66 426 Hemi for my 70 Road Runner project; had to spend some time painting the motor. Didn't take long but who doesn't love a pic of a Hemi?
My 52 Dodge B3B pickup w/ a 56 Desoto 330 Hemi: this was one of those "good ideas" that ended up taking about 14 months to build

there were others as well such as my 98 Ram 3500 Diesel that I "had" to have; ended up sucking down about 6K (after the 5K buy) only to be traded in on a 2014 2500. Then there is my 76 D700, which didn't take any time other than a day to get it but there were some days of pondering on what to do with it (ongoing process).

[70chall440]

Here is my antenna, a seemingly minor issue that required a fair amount of fabrication. This is a "semi automatic" antenna I got from Amazon. it is activated by a switch which will be located in the console I made.

[70chall440]

that last picture was the first install. When I begun this project I didn't know a lot about body work or replacing panels. Like many E bodies the lower quarters were bad so I bought some skins. So happened I got a new plasma at the around the same time; match made in heaven (or so I thought). So, off with the old quarter panel sides via plasma and then a very bad attempt at installing the skins. it was after the poor attempt to install these skins that I made the antenna bracket and installing it into the quarter. Later on with the help of an experienced friend did I realize how bad it all really was, therefore full new AMD quarters were ordered and I am currently in the process of fitting and subsequently welding them in. This time it is all fitting and going much better; everything fits...

[70chall440]

Since I am running an efi 6-pac I had to modify the tank. At the time I did this there weren't any EFI tanks available or at least I didn't find any. Therefore, I cut the top off the tank and made my own baffles. when I reinstalled the top, I welded in a flange so that the top would have something to weld to other than just butt weld the seam. We will see how it works out. I made the outlet and return lines so that they can be removed if need be.

[cudamadd]

 Nice job hope you finish her soon .  I  can see she will be a killer ride 

[70chall440]

Thanks, I hope so. It has been an absolute money sponge.... not complaining just saying.  of course it is completely my fault, I could have done a much easier simpler rebuild and would have been driving this car years ago. I have stayed pretty much on course however with the original intent which was to make a car that handles really well, has lots of power and has a lot of AAR influences. In my youth I had a sublime AAR that I never got to be a running/driving car and had to sell because I was on orders overseas and going through a divorce, so this car is representative of that car.

To that end, here is something to make you cry; I bought that AAR for $250 sans drive train. I was stationed in NC and towed it via a homemade tow bar from ND to NC behind my 73 Challenger. I worked on it for about 2 years amassing lots of parts from local junk yards (2 complete interiors, a shaker hood, 340, trans, etc). I sold it for $1200 in 1986. I still wonder where that car is.

[dodj]

Nice stable of vehicles.
How do you like your two post lift?

[70chall440]

Nice stable of vehicles.
How do you like your two post lift?

Yea it ha grown over the years (the vehicles that is). I cannot imagine not having the lift. When I was younger I worked at an exhaust place where we had both a 4 post and 2 post, so I got experience with them both. Both have their advantages but IMO the 2 post is more versatile overall. I bought this one in 05 for like $2200 +/- and have never regretted it. Getting low vehicles like my Viper on it can be a challenge but I have made some 2x10 runners that I drive up on and then can remove the parts in front of the rear tires and behind the front tires to get the lift arms under the car.

[70chall440]

looking forward to putting this in. I want to paint it black but it seems almost criminal to do it. I am thinking of using the duplicolor removable paint. Used it on the grille on my 14 2500 4X4 and It seems to work good.

[crash340]

The silver grills look great on any color, but Im not sure the red highlights work, the previous owner blacked out the red on my grill, kinda glad he did though as I'd struggle to do it on an original grill
Leave it silver, I'll look great against the sublime

[larry4406]

Details on the grille in the box please. Is that the new reproduction that is starting to surface?

Nice car and project. I am partial to its original Basin Street Blue color.

[70chall440]

I will install the grille as is and see how it looks, I have a feeling it would look better blacked out but we will see.

Yes, this is the new repro grille from Vans. I saw that and it at the nationals and it because a early Xmas present. it is a really nice piece. Talking to the guy at Vans; he gave me the following information;

- the is a exact reproduction (I will confirm when I install it
- they "Vans" is the source for this grille, anyone else selling them is getting them from Vans
- this grille is made from a "spun" polymer which is stronger and more resilient than the original (time will tell)

it appears to be a very nicely made piece, not sure how it fits or how the chrome trim and headlight buckets will fit, I am not close enough to test fit it just yet. For those wondering, show price was right at $800 which included $45 for shipping. Seeing that I spent $350 for a broken grille, this is a pretty good deal IMO.

[bored]

looking forward to putting this in. I want to paint it black but it seems almost criminal to do it. I am thinking of using the duplicolor removable paint. Used it on the grille on my 14 2500 4X4 and It seems to work good.

That is one good looking grille!!