1971 Rallye Red Cuda Resto-mod Project

[Rolling_Thunder]

It doesn't sound like you want to do anything that can't easily be undone?  No one should get in too much of a bind over it - it is your money and car afterall. I got grief a lot over modifying my 68 Charger with a 6.1 and T-56 (this was before the Gen III swaps became so common) - but honestly- unless they pay your bills....     

Good luck on the project - stunning car.

[BobBejeski]

Maybe someone could help me with these,     I am getting my part numbers together to order my interior. It was originally black,  and although many really like the white,  I completely prefer the black and want to get it back to it.   Hey Alan,  I'm sure you replaced about a 100 of these parts, maybe you have insight as to where to order them.   I am going Legendary on the interior swap,  but cant seem to find these parts anywhere in the book.  I am not even sure the "proper" name designation.

  The trim that goes above the door and clamps the headliner.  Similar trim goes around the interior of the rear window,  and about the top of the windshield glass.   What is it called and where is a good place to buy it in black.   Some have said just paint the white ones,  but I much prefer buying new,  especially since the entire interior except the dash will be new.

   Thanks,

  -Bob

[BobBejeski]

Hey....."the customer" is always right....

Here is an original FJ6 340 4spd Cuda that I built into a 440 resto-mod....http://www.alangallantautomotiverestoration.com/RESTO-MOD-1971-CUDA.html  similar suspension you're talking about...

 
  Just saw your post on the interior page about those interior items not being available in reproduction.  Hard to believe nobody banged those out yet...its seems almost everything is available in repro from SOMEBODY,   but ohh well,   I will do what I gotta do.  Just hope they come out looking like they belong.

 
  On the cuda 440,  Great pictures.  FJ6 is my second favorite mopar color, followed by Plum Crazy 3rd.   I love the wild mopar colors.

  2 Quick questions on that car......1. How did your customer like the suspension set up?     2. Did he go with a new rear?  or just beef up the stock one when he went with the RMS LYNX system?

  Thanks,

  --Bob

[Challenger in NC]

Very sharp car!

[Plum6Pak]

  I love it, what a beautiful car! Can't help but notice that the poor little Corvette seems to be pouting since the king showed up. 

[BobBejeski]

I love it, what a beautiful car! Can't help but notice that the poor little Corvette seems to be pouting since the king showed up. 

  I know, so true.     It will still work well for a date night with the wife in comfort and AC (and runs a 12.2).   But the cuda is the Daddy's night car...

[battrm]

post some more pictures of your car.  I think it really
Looks good.

[anlauto]

Put a Hemi in the Corvette and leave the Cuda alone

[js29no]

Put a Hemi in the Corvette and leave the Cuda alone

     

[69CHARGERMD]

Look at page 10 of " E body parts for sale " on Moparts.com
They show some rear window trim pieces you are looking for in black....FYI
I saw this when I was looking thru that section,,,,and thought it might help.
I copied the info off the add,,,,but there are pics on Moparts site ( page 10 )

CUDA REAR WINDOW INTERIOR MOLDING SET.GRAIN GOOD.$35SET,CALLS ONLY 603 209 1678

[BobBejeski]

Look at page 10 of " E body parts for sale " on Moparts.com
They show some rear window trim pieces you are looking for in black....FYI
I saw this when I was looking thru that section,,,,and thought it might help.
I copied the info off the add,,,,but there are pics on Moparts site ( page 10 )

CUDA REAR WINDOW INTERIOR MOLDING SET.GRAIN GOOD.$35SET,CALLS ONLY 603 209 1678

  I will check that out.  Thanks!   My only concern would be,  if I cant get a complete set,  I don't want to paint the side and fronts,  and purchase black ones for the rear. They probably would not match the paint job.   If I have no choice  but to paint,  then I would probably do all my white originals.  But I will check it out.

  And hey Alan,    maybe I will put the hemi in the corvette.......................then I can put the LS3 in the cuda....

 -Bob

[cudamadd]

Nice vett but better looking cuda . IF you put a Hemi in the corvette the $ value will go up 

[rhamson]

     I wanted to start a thread as I begin my first Mopar Project.  Its early stages,  but in reading the wealth of information that can be shared on these boards, I thought is it would be both helpful and encouraging. 

     Starter Car:

    1971   FE5 Red Cuda Fully Restored    (over -restored in areas,  not OE)
    Show Quality Engine Bay and Undercarriage
    340 Engine  (Govier says its "incorrect font" , so not a true numbers matching car)
    Automatic
    Shaker Equipment Not Original
    Original Interior Black
 
    Price Paid  $59,900      (I'm not shy,  I will discuss invested costs of each product and installation as I go)

     Goal Completed Project

     Exterior :  Add Gull Wing,  Chin Spoilers,  Black Vinyl Top, and Rear Window Louver
     Interior:   Change Back to Original Black
     Engine:     Fuel Injected 578 Hemi
     Trans:       Tremec or Passon 5 Speed
     Suspension:  RMS  AlterKtion front and Street Lynx Rear  ,   Guess I also need to upgrade the Rear and Axles?

          I am still learning,  so some of these items may change,  and I'm open to input (except on the exterior and interior items,  those are my picks) And I am sure there are many smaller items I havnt even thought of yet, that will be needed to make the powertrain combination work.

   BIO:
                    Back in high school (1998) i went to my first chryslers at carlisle and mopars were infused into my blood stream.  Although  my friend had 70 cuda 440 6pck i fell in love with 71 and its grill, fender gills, and  its over the top billboards.  Shortly thereafter I read the "reynolds wrap" hemi cuda article with the survivor rallye red hemicuda originally purchased by the hier to the reynolds tobacco co. That became my favorite looking car in the history of the world. Its still for sale on ebay for 1.5 mil. That car is the basis for my resto.
   But i want one i can drive and show,  hopefully for somewhere around $100,000 ,  but will be mechanically better than the original, but maintain the stock look exterior and interior. 
   Took me 15 years of saving but i finally found a meticulously restored FE5 RED cuda with many of the options i want. Undercarraige is immaculate.  Engine bay too. I purchased it  from champion Motorsports in chicago area for 59,900 and had it shipped to me near scranton pa.  I realize some would be disappointed with me starting with a restored CUDA to start with, being there are not many left out there of the roughly 5000 built,  but its not a true numbers matching car, and not an original shaker car.  And its VERY hard to find and already restored 318 Barricuda, as not many restorers want to invest the time and money into bringing them back to life.  And I don't have the time and resources to do my own NUT and BOLT,  so this really was my only viable option, and it STILL took forever to find one.
 
   It will be a cuda built my way. As if i ordered it myself in 1971. But with modern suspension and a 572 Fuel Injected Hemi.  Make sense?   My Goal still leaves me with $40,000 left.  We will see if I can finish it near budget, but I don't want to cut corners. This car wont be sold,  I'm 35 years old and plan to enjoy it as my  dream car for a long time.

  Here are some pictures,  first of my car,  then of the PLATFORM car I am using as my visual inspiration,  the RENOLDS WRAP HEMI SURVIVOR!

  -Bob Bejeski,  Scranton PA 


       
   

You have got my support. Don't worry about the leave it original crowd as these cars were made to hot rod. The collectors and barn find people have made this almost a gawkers only hobby with the old muscle car prices being driven up so high most can't afford to drive their "investment". I was around when these cars were new and they were driven hard then. They were death traps as they could hardly stop or turn without causing an accident. Since your car is not a numbers matching investment do as you please my man and welcome to restomodding.

[70chall440]

You have got my support. Don't worry about the leave it original crowd as these cars were made to hot rod. The collectors and barn find people have made this almost a gawkers only hobby with the old muscle car prices being driven up so high most can't afford to drive their "investment". I was around when these cars were new and they were driven hard then. They were death traps as they could hardly stop or turn without causing an accident. Since your car is not a numbers matching investment do as you please my man and welcome to restomodding.

Absolutely agree!! your car, do what makes you happy.

[roadman5312]

Absolutely agree!! your car, do what makes you happy.

                            X3