1970 Cuda EK2 Build

[70chall440]

Excellent progress, had me thinking about changing my route with my Cuda and going to a modern 5.7 or 6.1. I have too much time and money in my 416 and EFI 6 Barrel, so I will stay the course.

I am sure you will be smiling during the shake down drive despite any bugs...

[usraptr]

Great news/progress!   Can't wait to hear how the shake down run goes. 

[Cazbah362]

Finally had a chance to install the fans and do a quick run down the highway.  First, I noticed the water temperature sender was way off from Dakota Digital, this discovery was while driving.  Due to this, I simply turned the fans on and headed home.  Once home, I found the sender unit was NOT a GM but a >85 Chrysler type.  Since the engine did not "officially" warm up based on the computer standards due to this issue, I had no tuning.  At home, and once warmed self tuning came on and only got to work on the idle. I also set the RPM to 6400 not 6000, I will need to wire in the shift light to the Dakota gauges. 

Before the run, I noticed a water leak and small oil leak, after the run - no leaks and plenty of fluids still in the proper place?  Hmm - I really doubt I am that lucky.  I figured the water leak came from the engine heater cross-over.  I simply crossed the left and right banks with heater hose from the big block. 

Also, the alternator I was quipping about earlier.  Well it spiked to 15, dropped to 13ish, bounced for a while, then settled at 12.4 - looks like i will get to invest in a Napa brand really soon - luckily I will have a core and bonus - I can clean up the fine metal work I did while clearing it as described earlier in the post's.  But driving it until it drops -

Its Hot August Night here and I will get to make a showing!! Looking forward to it!

CP

[70chall440]

Progress is a good thing, take the small victories 

[Cazbah362]

Well weekend was semi productive, had the opportunity to take the car out for a few shake down run and to a local car show.  Car ran great in town as well as down the highway.  As I learn to use the self-tuning side of the software and apply the settings, the car really starts to become much more enjoyable.  Power at the low end is phenomenal and not what I fully expected.  With the BB, 1st gear was generally non-existent.  Now 1st gear allows some "driving" time and there are definitely not as many shifts.  I can down shift on the freeway between 4th to 3rd for power. 

One thing I spoke about in my earlier post was the aluminum flywheel.  Right now I am not fully sure.  initially with the tune not correct, it was a little bit of a bear not stalling or driving when cold.  As the tune improves (fuel map), it becomes easier to drive and enjoy.  So more to come on this. 

Another item is weight.  I am guesstimating I reduced about 200 lbs with the swap, please note this is not all "motor."  Things like aluminum flywheel, aluminum radiator are included in this guesstimate. The BB had iron 452's etc, so there was some weight on that beefy pig.  Things I noticed so far is the ride height of the front end which is about 2" higher and the steering.  The nose moves a lot easier and is way more nimble.  With this new found height and agility, need to do some adjusting.  This brings me into plans for the future, so here they are:

1.  Back seat - need to wrap the lower seat around the roll bar, deadening material etc
2.  Radio - with the new exhaust, I believe we can now enjoy one
3.  AAR stripes
4.  Rear view mirror - any have one for sale?
5.  Wipers arms and blades -
6.  Digital headlights
7.  AAR/Rallye lights and that little plastic piece in the lower grille?
8.  Wheels and Tires - really like the year one 17's soooo and like the new Weld 5 spokes - going to be a battle
9.  Engine - Possible Arrington 5.7 heads with a 270 cam (I found a 2012 truck engine, its now in my garage for "research purposes")
10.  Pro-charger
11.  Dana?  maybe, I may look at some form of traction control through the computer.  Older 9.25's have toner rings and I believe the Ford 8.8's do the same?

Always open for suggestions -

Well here are some pictures of the car at the show this weekend
 

[YellowThumper]

Very nice. Congrats on the outing

Moke

[Cudakiller70]

Looking good and thanks for the info on your swap.

[70chall440]

Looking good and thanks for the info on your swap.

 

[Cazbah362]

Thanks gents, thing is running pretty well now, just continuous improvements through tuning.

[70chall440]

Just re-read your thread, quite a journey.

What controller/computer are you using? I have a Holley system in my Challenger and will be using a FAST system in my Cuda and like you have and am learning the EFI lingo.

As far as your AAR driving/road lamps; get a set of KC 4" lights, they have a black housing and blend in nice. I bought mine from a local Autozone for like $39. The original AAR/Cuda lights are 4" but they don't put out crap for light. Of course there are a number of other 4" lights out there ranging from LED to Halogen. I made my own brackets because I wanted my lights on the outer edges of my lower valance. 

[Cazbah362]

70 -  I am using the Hemi Gold Box, pretty cool system, lots of options and support from Mike the owner.  How do you like the FAST?  that was a consideration at one time, and which Holley?  As for the lights, I plan on using your recommendation.  I already have the brackets installed, just need to do the lights.  Thank you for the information and help.

[70chall440]

70 -  I am using the Hemi Gold Box, pretty cool system, lots of options and support from Mike the owner.  How do you like the FAST?  that was a consideration at one time, and which Holley?  As for the lights, I plan on using your recommendation.  I already have the brackets installed, just need to do the lights.  Thank you for the information and help.

I have to look up the Hemi Gold box. I cannot comment on the FAST system yet bc I haven't gotten the car together to see how it works. I am using the Holley HP system with the F&B 6 pack on my Challenger. It took (and is taking) some learning but it is good overall. Like your system, it learned more as I drove it. I think it still needs some more but I have refocused on the Cuda.

I was a bit concerned with the FAST system after working with the Holley system; the FAST system I am using is the FAST EZ and I just have the hand controller (no laptop needed). I was concerned because after seeing how the Holley system worked I wasn't sure the FAST system would work very well. However, I just found out that FAST has a new ECM that you can interface with a laptop, so if I don't like what the EZ does I have options.

[Cazbah362]

Making a little more progress:

[70chall440]

Very nice 

[Cazbah362]

Had a nice weekend and went to TnT on Friday and a Coffee and Cars on Saturday.  At TnT, I had the opportunity to run the car down the track several times.  With a full tank of gas, family in the right seat, Radial T/A's and very little understanding of how the car would react, best times was 13:68 at 101.89.  Nice thing is, once I figured out track conditions and car response, car performed consistent at that speed and between 13:68 and 14:05.  Cool part about it, family had a great time, they are still ribbing me about my first few passes, which included everything from missed gears, lots of gears with spinning tires and shamefully - stalling it.

Couple of things, this track is at about 6000 DA, and is not generally well prepped for TnT.  Could I have went faster - oh yes, kicking the person in the right seat out, dump some fuel, better tune, slicks, etc.  But, would I have the same stories - no. 

Next day was the Reno Air Races - awesome (Unlimited with old piston driven WWII type planes - SHWING!!!)

On Sunday - about a 70 mile round trip to Coffee and Cars at a common coffee shop.  Car ran great, drove on the Interstate phenomenally and no issues.  Of the 35ish cars, only two old muscle cars, mine, a 67 FireBird and a 70 Bronco, the rest - all modern tuners. 

So future improvements - Tires and wheels, found some factory seats to re-do, and slowly working on a new cam with heads.  Heads came back from the machine shop last week, so we are moving.  Looking at a 270 VVT cam - nothing too drastic.   Heads where inspected, decked, cleaned, valve job, seals, and matching valve springs. 

There's the weeks work -

V/r
CP