Hi everyone my name is Rob, I just bought my first 70' cuda project and I want to learn as much as possible since I am doing a full rotisserie restoration on my build. My cuda is basically a roller althought I have most of the interior and chrome moldings.
Throw up a couple pics...you may need to set up a photobucket account or similar and post links rather than resize.
Something else to consider if you haven't already and not knowing your experience with restoration projects, plan this project out first before doing much else. If it were mine, I'd prioritize by:
1) stripping to bare shell taking tons of photos and bagging/labeling everything you remove.
2) do all work to the shell to the level you want it at including painting. Once stripped, you can ID rust or other needed repairs. You may even want to blast the body clean but you don't always have to.
3) then with the body covered and stored in your garage, I'd turn attention to new brake and fuel lines, rear end installation, and entire front end set up. This part is way easier than it sounds and can be done little by little each night in the garage after work. Plus it's fun putting clean parts back onto a painted car.
4) I like to then do all items at the firewall next before engine. Heater box, wiper arm assembly, master cylinder set up, etc.
5) then I'd turn attention to engine and trans. Some folks like to set this up on the k frame and install as one unit with the front suspension. Not a bad way to go but dropping an engine in from the topside is also a real piece of cake. For a first timer, it might be less intimidating to get the front end all installed first and do the power train as a later step.
6) with engine in, I like to get the electrical and exhaust going next so I can break in the engine. Hearing your car for the first time is really a spectacular experience. Never tire of it.
7) Eventually, the hood and other painter sheet metal can go back on spending extra time and care on alignment.
I like to save stuff like bumpers, door handles, lights, interior for last but some of it can go on sooner if its ready. I try to save chroming, trim polishing, interior stuff for last because it's so expensive.
9) plan out glass install. You may want dash in before windshield. You also want trim clips in before glass. you may also want the headliner in first since it's harder with the glass in.
I only mention this because many folks spend a year or two gathering what they think they need before starting the project. They trip over everything, forget what they bought, lose or break stuff they are storing, go broke doing nothing but shopping and see zero forward momentum which can be a real drag. And of course we see guys like that lose interest and sell out. That's always sad to see. With my way, you will constantly see real progress from the start and you can spread the costs over a longer period which usually is important for most of us on a budget. Your engine block will store nicely in the corner of your garage until your ready. Harder to store an assembled engine and why spend $3k a year before you need to.
