Help with brake install from scratch?

[70chall440]

As long as everyone is making suggestions:

The best one I have found is to drop the kmember altogether and mount the motor and tranny up using a dolly. This way you can mount practically everything up before putting it back in the car. Plugs, exhaust, alternator, intake, carb, etc...

I have done many many cars by dropping the motor through the top but with a paint job like yours this is the last place you want a mistake. If you search my build thread you will see how it all went together and I'm sure there are many more examples.

 

absolutely agree, dropping the body over an assembled K frame is the way to go; not difficult at all and actually ALOT easier than going from the top. I didn't believe it until I did it; could not believe how easy it was over coming from the top and trying to align everything and not beat the crap out of the firewall and inner fenders.

[wantone]

First - where do I meet your 29 year old hot daughter and have her work on my cuda with me      and second - great looking car!   

[Chryco Psycho]

absolutely agree, dropping the body over an assembled K frame is the way to go; not difficult at all and actually ALOT easier than going from the top. I didn't believe it until I did it; could not believe how easy it was over coming from the top and trying to align everything and not beat the crap out of the firewall and inner fenders.

X3 , I have been installing all engines on the K frame from the bottom for years

[Wadmin1021]

Thank you all for your advice, input and help! To touch on a few things: My husband didn't want the engine bay or the trunk the body color, he wanted them black. We are not going for an OEM restoration, we want some things original and some things custom! Second, my husband out the K-member bolts in this way because they are easier to adjust! No offense taken! We need all the help we can get! This is our first (and probably last) restoration so we are learning as we go! A lot of great advice and help so far! And wantone.... Who's 29 year old hot daughter? It's just me and my husband working on this and although I don't consider myself "hot", I'm not too hard on the eyes but I'm definitely not 29 (maybe 29 + 6)! 😆 Seriously though, thank you everyone - keep the comments coming!!!!


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[70chall440]

Hey it's your car and you can do what you want, but know that if you show it at any Mopar show with a black engine compartment; everyone is going assume you are Chevy people... just saying.

Not really sure what the part about K members bolts being easier to adjust, there is no adjustment. If you assemble the engine and trans onto the K member (you need to mock up a cradle of sorts but it doesn't have to be complicated. You can use long bolts with the heads cut off and made into pins, then lower the car onto the K frame (obviously the K frame and engine combo needs to be high enough so you can put the car down over it) using the pins to align the K frame, then replace the pins with the bolts. Understand that you really need to use the factory bolts as they are unique to the K frame. One of the Mopar mags just did an article about this and has some good tips in it.

[Chryco Psycho]

I am sure she is referring to the upper control arm bolts not the K frame bolts .
  I agree that everyone will assume the Chev influence with a black engine compartment  but that is your call .
 Once you have installed 1 engine from below on the K frame you will never try to install one from the top again , the engine can be very complete with everything attached , even wiring & heater hoses , pullys etc & the body just drops right over it all , if you have the rear suspension in place you can put axle stands near the front of the leaf springs & just lift the body by hand using the diff etc as a counterweight & have a second person prop the body up whille you roll the engine / K frame under the car & then just lower it back down & bolt it up , this can be done in minutes !

[Wadmin1021]

Okay, first of all, I have never seen people more "dedicated" to tradition or OEM than Mopar people! That's a good thing - no offense intended. I have to be honest, I am a Ford girl (GASP!!!) and have been since I helped my Dad as a little girl. It wasn't until I married into a Mopar obsessed family that I even knew anything about them. I assure you that we are in no way Chevy people and I don't even get that reference unless black engine bays are a Chevy thing. We don't plan to "show" this car, we don't plan to sell this car, and we don't plan on caring what people think when they look at this car. My husband has been through hell since I've married him and I told him he will have a '71 Cuda (his dream car) if it kills me and he can restore it any way he wants! I will be out there turning wrenches with him wherever and however he needs me. He's not good at asking for help with things he doesn't know which is why I joined this forum and have already received so much good advice. I love the passion, but this one is for us!


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[jimynick]

You go girl!! Yeah, the black engine compartment IS a Chevy thing, but since mine's black to begin with, we have some solidarity. LOL Glad to hear you and your hubby are going to drive it; too many times (in my opinion) people spend an ungodly amount of time and money restoring one of these cars, only to never really drive it- except maybe on/in or off/out of it's trailer. Paint it the way YOU like, as you've said and enjoy it. The good advice you've been given about installing the engine/trans, may I say; you should seriously consider. Keep the pics coming as you get there! 

[Wadmin1021]

Thanks so much jimynick!!!! No offense intended but yeah, this one is for us and will be a driver!!! We will consider and possibly implement most if not all of the advice! We are resto newbies so we will take the advice of those more knowledgeable than us!!


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[Chryco Psycho]

I am glad you are doing this for you . You have to be satisfied with what you create & no one else !!
 We are glad to offer help & advice along the way but it is still your choice on what & how you build this project  .
Congrats on building your dream , many do not get this far , at least you have the car & you are well on your way .

[Wadmin1021]

Thanks Chryco Psycho!


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