73 Road Race Cuda

[dodj]

No pressure..........

But I'm getting fat on the popcorn. Should ask for less butter......

[Cudakiller70]

No pressure..........

But I'm getting fat on the popcorn. Should ask for less butter......

All that popcorn is making me thirsty this guy needs a soda and so do I, better make it a diet soda.
 

[CUDA JAS]

LOL that wouldn't be pretty

So on a related yet different subject, I am looking over the Dakota gauge cluster; now to put this into prospective, I already built one cluster with auto meter gauges, then changed my mind an bought about $900 in Speed hut gauges; so I can

A) keep what I have and make them work as intended (build a new mounting platform for them or
B) sell all of what I have and buy the Dakota set up

Now option B would be easier but to be honest I am not real excited about the gauge faces and less so about the color of the illumination (white, blue or red). Nothing against them at all, however for what I am doing I really prefer the speed hut design, however making a new mounting plate for them is going to take some effort. As I type this out I think I am leaning back to option A....

I like option A, not sure what the speed hut gauges you have look like, but knowing what the Dakota ones look like...option A.

I think Dakota missed the mark on the gauge faces. They just do nothing for me. Cant place it but they just look off.  It would have served them well to have several options for the gauge faces.

Jason

[crash340]

Ive just emailed DD asking if they had any intention of options down the track, they dont have any gauge sets available at present as they only did a pilot run, I think whats missing is red needles, maybe some red numbers on the Tach redline etc, Ive asked them if thats possible, stay tuned.

[70chall440]

As for the DD gauges, my opinion is they look too much like a Chebbie gauge... think Camero or Chevelle.

In reference to the popcorn and such, here are some pics, got the engine bay painted. Not sure why, but I was angry all day. Not really at the car per se, but just it seemed like everything pissed me off. Despite that, I got the engine bay painted along with some other smaller things that were a little light. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the black going so I can get past paint and on to color sanding and buffing then on to assembly.

Here are before and after pics just to keep your attention... 

[crash340]

  Good job Mike, I can almost hear it running!!!!!

Yeah, the DD gauge look is a little 'bland' as such, however, I think with red needles and a better stencil on the numbering to look more like a period correct Mopar would be icing on the cake,,,,,, what Im interested in mostly is what the gauge set offers,,,, elapsed times, warnings for presure and temps, shiftlight outputs, easy add-ons for such things as trans temps, head temps, AFR and so on,,,, all of which require add on gauges normally. Hell, even a good shift light is a couple hundered bucks, with this one, id wire the indicator lights and high beam to the gauge and the three original light pods in the dash would be wired togeather to all come on as a shift light!!!

[70chall440]

Definitely the advantage of going with SH because you can get all of that plus a custom layout. Its the mounting issue that of course is a problem, but I am pretty sure I can come up with something.

[dave73chally]

Definitely the advantage of going with SH because you can get all of that plus a custom layout. Its the mounting issue that of course is a problem, but I am pretty sure I can come up with something.

What size speedhut gauges did you order and what type of dash do you have? Standard or rallye. I have a standard dash with speedhut gauges started assembly this past weekend. I am having trim rings 3D printed based on another member's design on here

[70chall440]

I have 4" gauges and am building a rallye cluster.

[70chall440]

Got the underside of the hood painted, getting the fenders ready now. I have a little dilemma that I am trying to decide how to proceed; with the underside of the hood painted, I am concerned that when I flip it over to paint the top, I am going screw up the bottom in the process. So I am thinking I can

1. pad the stands and hope it is ok
2. I can try and build some stand coming from the hinge mounting points and the hood latch area. Got to have a large area to put it and sanding it might be an issue.
3. I could paint the fender lips, mount the hood and paint it on the car. This would work, but I would then have to remove it again to reassemble everything else.
4. I could perhaps paint it standing up. I am not really excited about this as I feel it will look better if it is painted flat.

At this point, I am thinking #1 is probably what I will do once the paint cures and hardens, however I am not real certain at this point.

[lulurocks]

i wouldnt hang it ... It may sound weird but you want to paint on the same plane as the panel will sit on the car, belive it or not you will see the difference 

I would paint the fender tops and hood at the same time , black especially, painting parts in different humidity and temp at different times can lead to parts looking different , paint today is very scientific.

I would paint it on the car , new paint is constantly emitting solvent  for weeks/months  after you paint, I agree with your concern about messing it up resting it on something .  That will eliminate that worry .

Again just a thought ...
 

[crash340]

Paint it on the car

[70chall440]

Well it seems unanimous, on the car it is.

[EbodyMod]

Looking great man! I am so jealous. i am stuck overseas and can't touch mine! But your pics and progress give me my daily joy.

[EB3-GranCoupe]

Definitely on the car, that way the spray on the hood, and on the fenders are even.  you may have to buy more tape and plastic, but I think you will be happier with the outcome.