My '72 B5 'cuda Project

[IMNCARN82]

out with the old             in with the new.  yer savn her!

['cudaCruiser]

It's been a while since I've done anything to the car, but the holidays are almost over for me. I still have one more trip to make this weekend then maybe I can get back into the car full tilt.
I did get the engine and transmission out today though.
 

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Great progress............reminds me of when I started taking apart.   One of my friends said...........I took a , say  $10,000 car and made it into a $1000 car.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   But when it starts going back together..........well........ gets more valuable.

[Chlngrcrzy]

  Looks very familar. I have been there and still there. How deep are you going to go, and are you doing everything yourself? 

[Husker Cuda]

Been there done that as well.  It's a lot more fun putting all the nice shiny clean parts back on once you get everything cleaned & painted up.  Hang in there!

['cudaCruiser]

Straightened the lower radiator support and tried my hand at mig welding for the first time.







The learning curve is gonna be straight up!



This is something I've wanted to do for a long time. I'll try to do all I can myself as resources allow.

[Rare_T_A]

 

We need as many pics as you can put up!! I was wondering what you needed with a welder, everything looked fantastic untill the rad support. Best of luck and keep then comming. 

[Chlngrcrzy]

What i have done in the past when i am repairing or replacing a peice of sheetmetal that has holes in it, i have laid a peice of paper or cardboard over and tapped(very light taps) out an outline of it with a small ballpeen hammer. That way you can replace the peice and come back later and have a pattern to re-drill your holes. The radiator support you showed would be a fairly easy candidate for replacing with a little larger peice and then putting in new holes. I have tried in the past building up the metal to the hole with the wire feed, but it justs breaks out later, not strong enough like a good peice of sheet metal. Keep at it and you will love it even more when your done.

['cudaCruiser]

What i have done in the past when i am repairing or replacing a peice of sheetmetal that has holes in it, i have laid a peice of paper or cardboard over and tapped(very light taps) out an outline of it with a small ballpeen hammer. That way you can replace the peice and come back later and have a pattern to re-drill your holes. The radiator support you showed would be a fairly easy candidate for replacing with a little larger peice and then putting in new holes. I have tried in the past building up the metal to the hole with the wire feed, but it justs breaks out later, not strong enough like a good peice of sheet metal. Keep at it and you will love it even more when your done.

That's the kind of advice I'm looking for with this site and restoration project. This will be a learning experience for me all the way.
I do have a bit of welding to do all around the car both minor and major.

[Chlngrcrzy]

 :wow:You really do have abit of welding to do. Looks like you will need a new fender there. 

['cudaCruiser]

Got the front end out today.



Gonna need my rotisserie soon.

['cudaCruiser]

So here is my rendition of a rotisserie.





But because the rotation sleeve is not rigid, I have to block it up to keep it from folding under until I get the rear end rotisserie built and connect them together.



Pushed the car out and turned it around so I'd have room to work on the quarter.

[NoMope Greg]

Oooh, a little more rust underneath.  I'm hoping I don't find the same with mine when I get to that.  Mine wasn't quite so rusty in that area, so I may luck out.  Any other places on the body looking that cancerous?

['cudaCruiser]

Cut out the quarter today.
No real surprises behind it.

[30below]

I too am restoring a 73 B5 Cuda with blue interior,but rustier than yours,a 340 4speed car.Anyways i noticed the metal frame of the dash looks like it will need repainting.I got mine from Mopaints and it was dead on in color and a slight texture.