Author Topic: 73 Road Race Cuda  (Read 201034 times)

Offline Cudakiller70

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #270 on: April 11, 2016 - 01:01:40 AM »
Lookin good! I see progress! Why's your shop so clean? I can't change the air filter without 1/2 my tools and other stuff on the car, floor, under the car.
Auto spell I'm tired of your shirt
The above is just my opinion
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
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Offline dave73chally

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #271 on: April 11, 2016 - 08:36:09 AM »
I have been working on the car quite a lot lately, lots of little issues to deal with. I had to cut out a piece on the Dutchman panel and weld in a patch panel, also reinstalled and adjusted the front fenders and header panel. I have already welded up the quarter panel seals completely and today I filled those gaps with All Metal. I also put new seam sealer around the tail light panel and drip rail.

Nice work! All metal is good stuff
73 Challenger
512 / 4spd / Hotchkis & QA1 Suspension

Offline 70chall440

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #272 on: April 11, 2016 - 12:49:36 PM »
Lookin good! I see progress! Why's your shop so clean? I can't change the air filter without 1/2 my tools and other stuff on the car, floor, under the car.

Kind of a new years resolution, I have always tried to keep the shop clean, at least tidy, but have normally failed miserably. Then I am looking for something and cannot find it, so screaming and cursing ensues. I decided that if I actually put crap away when I am done or at least centrally locate it, I might be able to find something. So far it is working, however like every shop, any flat surface becomes a handy place to lay things with the "I will out that away later". Its a work in progress.  :bigsmile:
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 70chall440

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #273 on: April 11, 2016 - 12:54:21 PM »
Nice work! All metal is good stuff

Thanks and I agree. I recently had to remove some because I got ahead of myself and getting it off is a challenge. A grinder/flap wheel does it ok but it definitely sticks. Sanding it is a lot of fun as well. That said, I really like it for the seams and places where you would normally have a metal of some type. For anyone reading this that is not familiar with body work who gets the idea "why not just use all metal instead of body filler" I would say, there are basically 2 reasons; 1 - All Metal is a bit porous and as such needs something on top of it to smooth it out so it doesn't print through the top coat and 2 - it is far too expensive (~$40/qt) to do a whole car.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 70chall440

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #274 on: April 11, 2016 - 10:03:13 PM »
Every time I do body work I realize why people get paid so much do it. I got the sail panel seams knocked down but I need the body filler I ordered to finish them. I was able to make adapters for my bumpers to put them on my fender stand so I could work on them some as well. Its hard to stay on task as there is so much to do. I now remember why I never got into paint and body work...
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline Cudakiller70

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #275 on: April 12, 2016 - 11:45:41 PM »
Every time I do body work I realize why people get paid so much do it. I got the sail panel seams knocked down but I need the body filler I ordered to finish them. I was able to make adapters for my bumpers to put them on my fender stand so I could work on them some as well. Its hard to stay on task as there is so much to do. I now remember why I never got into paint and body work...
If you did body work everyday for a living I'm sure you would have some of this routine down,  :dunno: but I think it takes a certain person who likes to do this work for a living. Looks like you've got some good fab skills that sure help though. Shops still clean.  :2thumbs:
Where did you get the AAR hood I see in the back? Are you happy with the build quality?
Auto spell I'm tired of your shirt
The above is just my opinion
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
John Adams

Offline 70chall440

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #276 on: April 13, 2016 - 12:24:03 AM »
Thanks for the compliments and yes the shop is still clean, well mostly so.

The hood is from Stinger (aka AAR fiberglass) and yes the quality is pretty good. I think this is a better hood than the originals to a degree.

I agree, if paint and body work was my calling I am sure I would have it dialed in. I have done a bit of it over the years and have painted a number of vehicles. The problem I am having is getting my head around all of the steps/sequences. I know what they are (mostly) but I am not comfortable/confident with them so I have to constantly think about it in detail. I guess it is mostly a confidence issue, not a skill issue per se.

As I see it and have it in my head, the sequence of events needs to be as follows (body guys feel free to jump in here)

1. perform all metal repair/fab work
2. align the panels/set the gaps
3. contour the body as needed
   a. fill quarter seams, fill any place metal isn't to be used
   b. shoot polyester filler/primer (as many times as necessary)
   c. block down until flat (as many times as necessary) - plan to block using 80 and 120
4. shoot primer filler and block (as many times as necessary) plan to block using 120, 220 and 320
5. paint inner structure
   a. door jambs and doors
   b. inside car (not painting everything, only a few areas
   c. underside of trunk and hood
   d. inner fenders and inside valances off car
   e. inside of trunk
6. paint outside of car
7. Assemble car
« Last Edit: April 13, 2016 - 12:31:45 AM by 70chall440 »
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 70chall440

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #277 on: April 14, 2016 - 12:44:32 AM »
I have been easing into this body work, got the sail panels about sorted out and today I mounted the trunk lid and stripped it. I figured out this car had 3 paint jobs in its life prior to the one it is about to get; the factory paint, 1 respray in the original Basin Blue, then a recolor to black. I am using Evercoat Rage body filler; man it goes on nice and sands out really well.

I still need to figure out the sanding levels. So far I have been using pretty coarse grit to contour and shape what I need done, however I am a little unclear how fine I should go for the polyester filler (I am thinking 80 to offer some bite); then how fine to shape that before I go to primer. In the past I went to 320 before paint.

BTW, it is finally looking like a real car and I am getting excited to see it in color. I am really happy with the sunken in marker lights.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 70chall440

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #278 on: April 14, 2016 - 11:43:33 AM »
I did notice and corrected it after the picture was taken.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline redo1973

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #279 on: April 14, 2016 - 09:04:17 PM »
Man I'm jealous :ylsuper:  Can you tell me what the size of the gap is between the deck lid and the dutchmen?  Mine is looking too wide but all my other lines with the quarters are good.

Offline Challenger in NC

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #280 on: April 14, 2016 - 09:56:11 PM »
Car is looking fantastic.  You'll have a lot to be proud of in the end.

Offline Denison636

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #281 on: April 14, 2016 - 10:15:23 PM »
Every one is a critic. Do things that so long as your happy with them. There is a million ways to do things and everyone has there own opinion. I don't really pay attention to many people on due to this. Not knocking them but I have forgotten more about a motor then most ever learned. I call these people on here key board ninjas that like to knock everything. I bet 90% of them pay to have there work done or buy it already done and can read some specs. A perfect example is I could not tell you my exact cam I got in my car with out digging out the card. I probably put in a hundred cams sense I did mine and some can't believe I don't have it memorized. I can however tell you the stuff that meant something like oil clearance for rod and crank and what type of compression I measured due to I spent a lot of time in that.
Overall great job and keep up the great work. If you seen half of the stuff I have seen come threw the shops I work at you would be amazed what places let slide
Its just a little 340 with a miss

Offline dodj

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #282 on: April 14, 2016 - 10:36:15 PM »
Those markers do look good 70Chall!  :2thumbs:
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline 70chall440

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #283 on: April 14, 2016 - 11:57:43 PM »
Thanks all. I take all advice, comments and even criticism with an open mind. I know what I want to do and how to do many things, however there are somethings which I am less experienced with (such as paint and body) that I will gladly seek advice. Also, for me it is good to have another set (or sets) of eyes on things as after I have stared at something long enough it just looks "right", whereas a casual look by someone else (albeit on a picture) my see something I am completely over looking. That said, I don't suffer fools all that well and someone who is just being a dick will surely get the same in kind. Then there is a "personal preference" aspect wherein I like something and someone else doesn't. In that case, I will be polite, however in the end it is my name on the title and therefore I can do whatever I like. I would like to think I have a good vision for the end result, however I am sure there is someone out there that may not agree, so be it, that is their right.

I do agree with the comments about far too many "keyboard warriors" on the internet in general. I have no issues with someone who doesn't have the time, skills or tools to build a car, however I do get slightly annoyed when they talk like they were the ones who actually built it (we all have run into them). I meet a lot of them at car shows where they are proud to rattle off numbers, stats, etc; typically things someone else told them and they believe like the gospel. I surely don't know every spec of my car, I can tell you where I got the parts and I can look up whatever spec is in question, but I don't concern myself with memorizing any of them.

For those of you have or are building a car/s, you know how much time and effort it takes and to you guys I welcome your comments. To those of you who just like the cars, have purchased one or spend a lot of time on the internet looking at cars, I welcome your comments as well. All of the comments keep it alive and help with the enthusiasm when things get bogged down.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline Denison636

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Re: 73 Road Race Cuda
« Reply #284 on: April 15, 2016 - 12:05:40 AM »
Very well put. Keep up the good work.
Its just a little 340 with a miss