1971 Rallye Red Cuda Resto-mod Project

[anlauto]

I agree too ! It's your car build it as you please 

Destroy another original rare Mopar, that will just drive up the price of the untouched originals 

[70chall440]

 

[js29no]

I agree too ! It's your car build it as you please 

Destroy another original rare Mopar, that will just drive up the price of the untouched originals 

     

[BobBejeski]

   Didn't mean for this thread to be so polarizing.....buts its nice to get some support.   Trust me,  I appreciate the rarity and originality of 66-71 mopars.  I am a big fan of the collector car market,  and one day hope to add some numbers matching OE restored originals into my collection.  But most of those are more museum pieces than something you can drive and enjoy.  And I am not at the "investor" stage yet.   For now I want a car that I build my way and enjoy.   And I started with a fully disassembled, painted, and re-built NON NUMBERS MATCHING car,  because I don't have the time or expertise to buy a project for 15-25 grand and spend years with in pieces all over my garage.  (I know how these things go when your not a professional, money and time pit)

    Where now all I have to do is bolt on a few things like gull wing, louver, chin spoilers,  and essentially have a car like a would have ordered it in 1971.
 
  I do plan to put the Alterkation and further along,  a Tim Banning or Muscles Motors Fuel Injected 572 Hemi.   At that point it will be my dream car.  I should be somewhere near $100,000 being the car was $59,000.     Even if I bought a restomod fully done,  it would cost near or above that amount,  and it would not be how I WOULD WANT IT.  I would be buying somebody elses dream car.

   With that said,   If mine was a true numbers matching billboard shaker car,  I not only would not have modified it.  I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT,  so as to not do what Alan is referring to.    I purposely looked for a car with a replacement engine,  to keep the cost down,  but also not have the guilt of modifying a true piece of history.   

   For whats its worth....

  -Bob

[70chall440]

Good points all and while I respect those who love original cars, I do not share their enthusiasm or interest unless it was something really different and dare I say weird. Having grown up when these cars were very new and watched them being modified upon leaving the dealer lot, I guess that stuck with me. I cannot say I would "cut up" or back half a true numbers hemi or 6 pack car, but I definitely would change brakes, modify the engine etc. I absolutely love Mopars, especially E bodies, but I want them to run well, be reliable, stop, turn etc commensurate with more modern cars. When I first got my 70 Challenger done (U code car), I was so underwhelmed when I drove it as it all came flooding back, the rattles, no steering feel, etc that I have never really driven the car seriously. Yes I know this is a personal problem, however my point is to make the car as you want it so that you will enjoy it which is exactly why I am going to EFI on my car/s and upgrading the suspension, brakes, etc. As I see it, resto mod is the way and judging from a lot of the auction results, it appears becoming very popular. History has its place for sure, but I do not hear a lot of the same comments when talking about a Sox and Martin, Garlits, or other big name racer who chopped up a brand new very rare car to go racing. Now that is "provenance" and valuable, well this is similar only using better technology.

Sorry for the rant.... a little too much caffeine today. 

[The Cuda Guy]

A few years back there was a guy on here that had an orange 70 vert and he had a monster 572 hemi in his car and if I remember correctly it was like a resto mod too.  He ended up selling the hemi and put in a I think 6.2 crate hemi in his car because the 572 hemi was way to much engine for that car. 

I just mention this because a 572 hemi isn't cheap and discovery learning that an engine like that isn't exactly what you wanted might be a real kick in the sack. 

My car has a built pump gas 493 in it, honestly that engine is a lot for the street, it is scary powerful.  I am sure most 572 hemis will be more powerful than it. 

I don't know what your experiences are with powerful cars, so please don't take this the wrong way if you are in the know and have done this type of thing before. 

Either way good luck!  Your cuda is badass!!!


Don 

[70RAG383]

Nice car you have there.  I like the restomod approach just to bring these cars up to today's safety standards.  And besides, you paid the money, do what you like.  There's not alot of ebodies on the road and yours will still be admired.

I am doing the same with a numbers matching 70 Challenger RT/383 convertible.  I want to drive the car with my kids in it!  I've owned it since 1977 and its handling and braking were horrible.  With the suspension mods it will be alot more fun and safe to drive.

And all of these modifications can be undone and put back to stock anyways, not that I would ever do that.

What are you planning for wheels and tires?  I'm trying to keep the stock look as much as possible but haven't come across wheels and tires that I really like.  If you're going with bigger brakes like Wilwoods  then stock rallyes won't fit.

[RzeroB]

   Didn't mean for this thread to be so polarizing.....buts its nice to get some support.   Trust me,  I appreciate the rarity and originality of 66-71 mopars.  I am a big fan of the collector car market,  and one day hope to add some numbers matching OE restored originals into my collection.  But most of those are more museum pieces than something you can drive and enjoy.  And I am not at the "investor" stage yet.   For now I want a car that I build my way and enjoy.   And I started with a fully disassembled, painted, and re-built NON NUMBERS MATCHING car,  because I don't have the time or expertise to buy a project for 15-25 grand and spend years with in pieces all over my garage.  (I know how these things go when your not a professional, money and time pit)

    Where now all I have to do is bolt on a few things like gull wing, louver, chin spoilers,  and essentially have a car like a would have ordered it in 1971.
 
  I do plan to put the Alterkation and further along,  a Tim Banning or Muscles Motors Fuel Injected 572 Hemi.   At that point it will be my dream car.  I should be somewhere near $100,000 being the car was $59,000.     Even if I bought a restomod fully done,  it would cost near or above that amount,  and it would not be how I WOULD WANT IT.  I would be buying somebody elses dream car.

   With that said,   If mine was a true numbers matching billboard shaker car,  I not only would not have modified it.  I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT,  so as to not do what Alan is referring to.    I purposely looked for a car with a replacement engine,  to keep the cost down,  but also not have the guilt of modifying a true piece of history.   

   For whats its worth....

  -Bob

You go Bob!! 

[djw383]

Smart man skipping the wrath of body shop prison, skip right to the fun part! I would think hard about not making the motor to radical, I have friends with 600hp and it becomes too rough to drive on the street...plus may not be able to drive with pump gas.

[Topcat]

A few years back there was a guy on here that had an orange 70 vert and he had a monster 572 hemi in his car and if I remember correctly it was like a resto mod too.  He ended up selling the hemi and put in a I think 6.2 crate hemi in his car because the 572 hemi was way to much engine for that car. 

I just mention this because a 572 hemi isn't cheap and discovery learning that an engine like that isn't exactly what you wanted might be a real kick in the sack. 

My car has a built pump gas 493 in it, honestly that engine is a lot for the street, it is scary powerful.  I am sure most 572 hemis will be more powerful than it. 

I don't know what your experiences are with powerful cars, so please don't take this the wrong way if you are in the know and have done this type of thing before. 

Either way good luck!  Your cuda is badass!!!


Don

A 572 Hemi is alot of Power and they really are built more for straightline racing.
The Torque is insane on them and they can get away from you real quick.

I can't get into details too much, but last year, I could've been killed in a 572 Hemi car.

[onebadfish]

I run over 600 on the street with my 512 and if I want to run it hard I have to run 70-30 C12 otherwise it will detonate. That being said-I built my car the way I wanted. I too paid 50 grand for my car then spent another 40 on it but let me tell you - it is the stress reliever I need. Every time I get in that car and let it rip my heart skips a beat or two and I love it to death! If you want to build it on the wild side you won't regret it. Just keep it in between the fence posts! Kinda looks like we have the same tastes.

[BobBejeski]

What are you planning for wheels and tires?  I'm trying to keep the stock look as much as possible but haven't come across wheels and tires that I really like.  If you're going with bigger brakes like Wilwoods  then stock rallyes won't fit.

  I absolutely want to keep the rallye wheels.    I know year one makes the 17" but the few pictures I have seen with e-bodies with them installed look a little goofy.  I certainly don't want the ghetto look I see on so many cars ,  where they put waaay to big wheels on stock looking car.    I do believe I can switch over to wilwood disks with RMS' Alterkation on Rear Lynx with Dana 60 setup with the 15" Rallyes.    I still searching all that out,  and learning,  but that seems to be the way I will go.  I know the 17's allow many more breaking options and rotor sizes,  but I would need to see more pictures of Cuda's with them installed.

[BobBejeski]

I run over 600 on the street with my 512 and if I want to run it hard I have to run 70-30 C12 otherwise it will detonate. That being said-I built my car the way I wanted. I too paid 50 grand for my car then spent another 40 on it but let me tell you - it is the stress reliever I need. Every time I get in that car and let it rip my heart skips a beat or two and I love it to death! If you want to build it on the wild side you won't regret it. Just keep it in between the fence posts! Kinda looks like we have the same tastes.

  Wow,   I think your right.   Very similar tastes.   Your car is awesome,  nice setup.   And yes,  I actually DO WANT a car that's a little difficult to keep tame on the street (but with modern suspension and breaking.) That's kinda the whole purpose of it.   I have bracket raced for a while,  but never with more than 500 HP, so and 800 HP Hemi car will be a monster,  but that doesn't mean you gotta use all 800 all the time.   This is more of an attitude car, if that makes sense.   I have the Vette for when I want something easy and fun to drive,   this is supposed to be the beast.   I want that lopy idles that almost makes you have to fight it at red lights.   And I want that torque that feels like a gut punch when you hit the gas.
   But at the same time,  I don't want it to immediately look like a resto mod.  I want it to appear like the 71 cuda I would have ordered from the factory (even though the modern goodies are inside).    The only exterior difference will be the 572 HEMI badge on the SHAKER (which when I install that badge, that will be the cherry on top of the whole project )

One quick question,  when you mention you run 600 on the street and "I have to run 70-30 C12" when you run it hard, what are you referring to?  a kind of fuel?   Forgive my ignorance on the question,  this seems like something I should know.


-Bob 

[rUNCHARGER]

We're running 15 inch wheels with the Wilwoods at all 4.

Sheldon

[anlauto]

Here's the one I'm building with 17" Year One wheels....I like it