Dream'Cuda

[IMNCARN82]

Here we go,1973 340 cuda.5 speed keisler,3:91's.375 h.p. 340 may be replaced with a 408 stroker crate.Or cleaned up and driven.New manifold,carb.,6AL. TTI headers,Aluminum Rad. XV rad. brace. AAR torque boxes.Has frame connectors already. The 340 needs a valve job,rings,lifters.Considering Baer brakes.Tubular UCA's,LCA plates.New strut rods.  ect...    This is a DREAM         for me.          I'm gonna' have questions.

The engine bay will get new red paint.I will relocate alot of things to clean/simplify the look. This little remodel has to be back on the road no later than May 1 st. 2008. As my B-day is the 31st. I don't have alot of money,things will happen slow,but it will happen.  This car needed some help.  Any recomendations? Any crucial upgrades I should also consider for the build?        Thank you all!   Robert.

[Street_Challenged73]

Your plans sound good so far.  For torsion bars, I'd suggest either .920's or .960's and it would probably be good to go with either the HD steel strut rods or the adjustable aluminum ones.  For the upper control arms, I'd also suggest going with the tubular UCA's with heim joints over rubber/polyurethane bushings.  You're basically planning on doing all the same things I'll be doing with my '73 Chally, so I'd be interested in how well it feels.  I probably won't be able to get all the parts I've gathered for this build together until I'm done with college, so hopefully yours will be finished well before that time.

Here's what I've gathered so far for mine: .920 T-bars, HD steel strut rods, LCA plates, Moog offset UCA bushings (probably going to tubular heim-jointed units & have these for spares), Napa Premium UCA/LCA ball joints, and all the Moog suspension bumps for both the UCA and LCA.  I'm also going with some sort of rigid lower rad support, torque boxes, and U.S. tool subframe connectors.  I'm sure doing this will definitely tighten things up on it, but I know it'll feel way different than AWD & AWS in the Stealth.

[IMNCARN82]

I've decided to keep the 340. And put the cash towards an alterKation and some brakes.   

[IMNCARN82]

Got almost everything out of the way now. Starting the prep.  It'll get there.

[IMNCARN82]

Dropped the 340 off at the shop yesterday. It's a load off my back,with all the prep. work, I've got my hands full anyways. Prep.,Prep.,Prep....   The builder is all Mopar 30+ yrs. He's got a 69.5 RR 440 11 sec. car.  I've had to go to Wis. and Fla. to help out my parents. Dad got new steps at the cottage,Mom got a new bathroom with shower.  Now my full attention is aimed at my ride.    I kinda' like winter  ...In the summer I'm too busy drivin' to get into big projects on the car. I enjoy playing with it as much as drivn' it!   

         HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYBODY!!!!!   

[Street_Challenged73]

Nice progress so far.   It's weird, but I too enjoy working on cars almost as much as driving them.

[71340RT]

Great progress and keep working while your on a roll as if you stop you may not go back and continue working on the Cuda. I miss not having a Cuda or Challenger to work on after working on my Cuda for 5 years. Take lots of pictures and keep us posted on your progress.

[farmboy70]

Looks like your well on your way
Keep at it and it will go together in no time.
Dave

[Oldschool]

Lookin' good...       Looks like you will make your self imposed deadline.....       (hopefully)...lol 

[hezzel]

Looks like your well on your way
Keep at it and it will go together in no time.
Dave

[426HEMI]

Looks like your are headed in the right direction for sure.  Make a list and cross things off as you go it will make it go better imo. 

[IMNCARN82]

Next week a buddy is coming over to do some welding for me. The lower rad. brace,weld the innerfenders to the shock towers,all kinds of little stuff. I'll get a welder soon...Just want to speed things up for now.Once I get some primer going it won't take long. The alterKation is 4 weeks out anyway. Lot's to do...  

[IMNCARN82]

  The welding will be done tomarow. No more frame brackets. Next week I'll be priming the engine bay.The alterkation will look like Travis 72's.(the green car) But with the wheelwells coated again.I like the black/silver. The drivers side frame was still full of crap.It's clean now.No word on the 340.   Back at it...!

[Travis72]

Looking good.  Isn't it fun scraping and cleaning off 30+ years of grease and grim off of there?   

Travis
72 Cuda

[IMNCARN82]

I stopped by the shop to check on the 340.He said I could come in and strip it myself to save money! So It's all apart.Found it +.030,forged pistons,floating pins,.474 cam F1414 ?Comp, Mopar? Everything looked very good! A windage tray.       So, the plan is: New crank and rod bearings,rings,lifters,pushrods, Hughes adjustable rockers.,340 Eddy RPM heads,340 Eddy air-gap intake,Holley 750,MSD 6AL,Billet dist.,ARP bolts.,Pan.  I'll use the pistons,rods,crank. Just got a new WP,Got VC's,TTI's.  I'd like an aluminum rad. too.     I found a funky stamp on the edge of the block by the ignition hold-down!  Any ideas what it means?  RCSKPC340STG2      Gotta' go down and finish cleaning everything up,The block will be blue again.I'll start a post in the small block section. Can't seem to get my pics to the computer...      back at it