'70 Lemon Twist Cuda Project. Update w/ pics 4/19/08

[FY1Cuda]

I know I am a little late to the party, and it would have been way cooler to start this from the day I got the car, but I will try to chronicle the progress from here.

Here are the pictures of the car when I first got it.  Previous owner primered over everything, whether or not it was ready for paint.  And obviously, it wasnt.  The selling point of the car is that the dash was perfect.  Not a single crack.  As a bonus, it is a 3-speaker dash.   

[FY1Cuda]

First thing that needed working on was the trunk area.  The car had been rear-ended, so the tailpanel was pretty bad.  I thought I would try to hammer it out and re-shape it, but then when I started getting into it, the bondo was over an inch thick.  The previous guy provided a '70 Gran Coupe tailpanel that he cut off a parts car (I also have a ton of other parts from this car).  I ended up cutting out the trunk, cutting out the tailpanel, replacing the tail panel, then putting the new trunk in.  Everything looks rusty in the pictures, but I actually took it all down to metal, and it was all just surface rust, then I painted it just to keep it from rusting later on.

[FY1Cuda]

My next goal was to get the suspension and brakes roadworthy, and get the engine compartment ready for an engine.  I re-did all the bushings, and put a sway bar in the back.  I also went with beefier torsion bars to stiffen up the ride.  I stuck with the stock disc brakes in front and drums in the rear.  Got every part on the undercarriage cleaned up and painted them black.  I cleaned up the engine compartment and painted it yellow as well.

[FY1Cuda]

Had the short block built by the machine shop, and had the 906 heads rebuilt, and I assembled it.  Then painted it orange, and dropped the engine in and linked it to the 4-speed.  The car started up with no problem, and didn't need anything except a little fiddling with the timing.  The sound of the car firing up with no exhaust attracted the whole neighborhood, but I decided I had to take it for a spin.  A while after this, the previous owner contacted me and had found the fender tags (he had the codes written on paper but lost the tags). 

[FY1443433]

 

FY1CUDA,

Good job.  Nice that the other owner was able to find the fender tags.
 
FY1443433

[6packCuda]

Lookin' good. Nice job on the trunk pan.

[71340RT]

The Cuda looks great and coming along at a fast rate. Keep us posted on your progress with pictures.

[SilverChally]

Nice work, I saw the first engine pic, thought it was a new motor

[FY1Cuda]

I've got more that I need to get onto the computer.  I am pretty much at the final stages of body work before paint.  Can't wait to get the car painted 

[Plum6Pak]

  Looking good FY1, looks like you are doing some very nice work. We'll be looking forward to those pictures! 

[jrwoodjoe]

Wow, It's coming along really nice. I also agree that it's great that the prev. owner found the fender tags and that you were able to get them. 

Joe

[HemiDog]

Looking real good! 

[Rev-It-Up]

Looks great FY1!   

[Lunchbox]

I love that yellow, Great pics keep them coming 

[Street_Challenged73]

Great work so far FY1Cuda!!!!  That 'Cuda is going to look very nice when you're finished with it.