converting 73 Barracuda to 70 Cuda Clone

[360 'CUDA]

Just paint the grille black.  Heck, '70 grilles are pretty darn subtle anyways so if you want that look, blacking out a '73 grille pretty much does the same thing.

I concur, round taillights are cool,
I'm however not a fan of the side marker lights; I would just shave those completely for a smooth look.

I did that to one of my race cars.. (the red one).   The black grille looks great with the chrome inserts and I replaced the front bumper with a fiberglass repo rubber bumper. That narrows the front opening a little bit and makes the car look wider like the '70 and '71.
The quad tail light idea is good too. I have seen a couple of 'CUDAs around town like that and it's sharp and really bright at night. Also it's easy to do because tail lights are still cheap for these cars

[kamstra]

Thanks Kamstra, I can get hold of a complete front grill and header for $2,200 and back panel and tail lights.  Do they just bolt on or is there some cutting involved?   I haven't finalised payment for this car yet.  I've paid a deposit to the seller and he is very helpful and is looking around for parts/panels so they can be shipped off together with the car.  Shipping to Australia usually takes 10-12 weeks.   

The grill and header mostly bolt in.
I will try to get you some pictures of the process. 
Here are the markers required  Sometimes someone will have a patch panel for the fenders

[kamstra]

Here is the tail panel I have.  I was going for an AAR clone.
The License plate area is poor but I only wanted the section for the tail lights.  Just cut and replace

[bb71challenger]

I say do what you like. If you want a 70 look and cannot find a complete 70 then make it what you want it to be. I love round taillights but I personally prefer 70-71's. That is the beauty of it, your money, your choice! Good luck with it 

[kamstra]

  BB71

Here is the 70 Grill and Front valance.  It "cradles" the grill to support it.  I still have most of these parts (from Texas), as spares minus the fenders.

[bb71challenger]

dangit Kam, you are making me homesick for my old 70 I gave away. I searched the whole planet from the late 80's till the early 90's to find a freaking 70 grille with no luck  I gave away a saveable but rough 340 hockeystick FJ5 'Cuda because my wife was tired of it in the backyard. Not soon after that repop grilles appeared 

[4Cruizn]

I gave away a saveable but rough 340 hockeystick FJ5 'Cuda because my wife was tired of it in the backyard.

 

[antilles2000]

pardon me, bb71, but did you say you gave that car away?  if this is so, i gotta say i'm with 4c.

[bb71challenger]

yeah but its not as bad as it sounds. I stripped things like door panels, glass, rally dash, HD drum brakes and 3.23 sure grip, 'Cuda hood, etc. It did not have the motor but did have the numbers tranny which I also took. I basically gave away what was 10 years ago a previously t-boned basket case with a nice title and fender/dash tag. I did have everything except the grille to make it a nice driver, even a gallon of acrylic enamel FJ5 with all the trimmings. I sold that stuff long ago. Weird thing is I am now buying back parts I gave to this one guy. I just paid 100 dollars for a center console, shifter and sill plate. All of this was stuff I left in the 'Cuda lol.

[cudaboyandgirl]

The grill and header mostly bolt in.
I will try to get you some pictures of the process. 
Here are the markers required  Sometimes someone will have a patch panel for the fenders

Thanks matey, this is very kind of you, I appreciate all your advice and you have made this process much easier for me.  I look forward to seeing your pictures of the process whenever you can.     

[kamstra]

bb71, we have all done stuff like that.  I sold and gave stuff to friends, but thats what buddies do

bb71 Get another Cuda, have fun!

[kamstra]

Thanks matey, this is very kind of you, I appreciate all your advice and you have made this process much easier for me.  I look forward to seeing your pictures of the process whenever you can.     

No problems, good luck.  Here is my website, albeit a bit overdue for updating...    www.geocities.com/robkamstra

I was determined to have the cuda ready to drive for our wedding.  You can see both cudas in the wedding shot on that site.

Rob

[antilles2000]

i see... indeed we have all done stuff like that.  when i was 17 i had an orange 69 camaro that i sold because i was tired of messing with it and i realized it wasnt going to be the way i wanted it for less than about 10k.  it's ok now though because i have another musclecar, and i realized that everyone and their mom has three camaros or mustangs, but very few people have mopars anymore.  there's just something different about them.  i didnt mean to jump on you or anything, bb71.  i just know that if i had that orange car back i wouldnt have sold it (instead i'd have a chevy and a mopar).  my dad had a 66 chevelle ss396/375hp which he swapped for the L88 427.  eventually he sold it to a guy and within 3-4 weeks the guy slid it under a semi truck and totaled it.  for me it's not about what make or model or whatever, it's more about seeing the cars come back to life, and i especially like to be around people who love their cars as much as i do.

sorry that i've inadvertently hijacked the thread.  i guess i should probably toss in my  with regard to the 73 --> 70 conversion.  it's your car so you should do what you want, just dont do anything illegal.  personally, i wouldn't make the conversion, but to each his own.  i'm sure it'll turn out cool either way.

[Challenger6pak]

just dont do anything illegal. 

If you would really try to make it a 70 there are quite a few differences that are "unseen" when going to the 70 from 73.  It would be tough to do a unnoticable rebody of a 70 on a 73.  If that is the thought it is not worth doing on many levels.  If you just want to get the look of the 70 you can do it. 

[cudaboyandgirl]

Thanks Challenger6pak, Nothing illegal here, just wanting to get the look of the 70.   Can you expand on the "unseen" parts that you mentioned?